Radiotherapy for pleural mesothelioma

Radiotherapy uses high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. It is normally given as a series of short, daily outpatient treatments in the radiotherapy department.

You may develop side effects while you are having your radiotherapy treatment, and for some time afterwards. These usually improve gradually over a few weeks or months after treatment finishes. Your doctor, radiographer, or nurse will tell you what to expect. Tell them about any side effects you have during or after treatment. There are often things that can be done to help.

Side effects should slowly improve after your course of treatment overfishes. But it is important to tell your doctor know if they continue.

Radiotherapy often makes people feel tired. Tiredness may get worse as treatment goes on. If you are having radiotherapy alongside other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, you may feel more tired. But there are things you can do to help, such as:

• get plenty of rest
• do some gentle exercise, such as short walks
• eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids
• ask others for help with everyday jobs.

After treatment finishes, you may continue to feel tired for weeks or months. If it does not get better, tell your cancer doctor or specialist nurse.

We have more information about coping with tiredness (fatigue).

Some people develop a skin reaction while having radiotherapy. How your skin reacts will depend on the amount of radiotherapy you are having. Your doctor, radiographer, or nurse will tell you how to look after your skin during and after treatment.

After 1 to 2 weeks of treatment, you may have difficulty swallowing. You may also have heartburn and indigestion. This happens because radiotherapy to the chest can cause inflammation in the tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach (called the oesophagus).

Tell your doctors if you have problems swallowing. They can give you medicines to help. If you do not feel like eating, or have problems swallowing, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. They may recommend you have some high-calorie drinks to help. You can get these from your GP or from most chemists.

You may develop a cough during or after radiotherapy. This usually improves within a few weeks of finishing your treatment. Always tell your doctor, radiographer, or specialist nurse if:

• the cough does not get better
• you develop a temperature or become short of breath, as you may have an infection.

Your treatment may make you feel sick (nausea) and be sick (vomit). Tell your doctor if this happens. They can give you anti-sickness drugs (anti-emetics) to help.