Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill or shrink cancerous cells. When used in combination with the other traditional mesothelioma treatments, radiation therapy has been effective in increasing survival rates for malignant mesothelioma patients. However, because radiation therapy will destroy normal cells as well as abnormal cells, doctors must carefully plan how to carry out this type of treatment.

Radiation therapy can be administered in one of two ways:

External radiation refers to radiation that comes from a machine outside the body
Internal radiation is delivered by inserting radioisotopes into the body at the location of the cancerous cells.

Side Effects

Side effects from radiation therapy vary from patient to patient. The most common adverse responses to the treatment include: fatigue, skin reactions, shortness of breath, and low blood count levels. These issues should be discussed with your doctor before radiation therapy begins.

Mesothelioma diagnosis is a life-changing event with serious health and legal implications. The first thing on one’s mind when battling a life-threatening illness may not be a lawsuit, but the cold truth is that mesothelioma patients have a serious disease that, in most cases, could have been prevented. Companies that produced asbestos products, or whose employees regularly worked around asbestos, were often aware of the risks their employees were unknowingly taking every day. These negligent actions have led to the proliferation of thousands of cases of asbestos disease including asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Seeking legal assistance from a qualified asbestos attorney may help you get the compensation you need for yourself and your family. An experienced attorney with an understanding of the asbestos industry can help hold negligent parties responsible to recover financial damages. Please fill out the form below or click here to contact a mesothelioma attorney.