In addition to innovations we’ve made in safely delivering radiation therapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering often has radiation-related clinical trials open for enrollment to people with mesothelioma.

The radiation approach we recommend for you depends on what type of mesothelioma you have.

Radiation Therapy for Pleural Mesothelioma

Our mesothelioma experts can use intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to treat the lining around your lung. IMRT focuses a precise dose of radiation on the tumor. This approach protects other parts of your body from being exposed to radiation. CT, PET, and MRI scans can be used to help your team identify all the places in the body to target IMRT during treatment.

If your surgeon removes one of your lungs in a procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, we may recommend radiation therapy after the procedure. Done at this point, radiation therapy can lower the risk that the disease will come back.

We usually start radiation therapy four to six weeks after surgery. It involves daily sessions for five to six weeks.

Radiation Therapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

There are no commonly used radiation therapy options for people with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Depending on your situation, we may recommend palliative radiation therapy techniques designed to lessen pain and relieve symptoms you may be experiencing.