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Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer that begins in the mesothelial cells of the pleura. The pleura is a thin membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity. The pleura consists of a visceral surface, which covers the lungs and a parietal surface, which lines the walls of the chest cavity and covers the upper surface of the diaphragm and lungs. The two layers are one continuous sheet of tissue that contains mesothelial cells. There is normally a very small amount of watery fluid within the pleural cavity that lubricates the pleural surfaces and allows the lungs to move freely over the inner surface of the chest wall during breathing.
Source: http://www.ufscc.ufl.edu/Patient/content.aspx?section=typesofcancer&id=30342
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Similar to surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment used to eliminate or eradicate cancer in a defined area. Radiation therapy is not typically useful in eradicating cancer cells that have already spread to other parts of the body. Radiation may be used to cure or control cancer, or to ease some of the symptoms caused by cancer. Visit the Radiation Therapy Center for in-depth information on how radiation therapy is delivered, common side effects and answers to frequently asked questions. The following information discusses the role of radiation therapy in the management of mesothelioma.
Source: http://www.ufscc.ufl.edu/Patient/content.aspx?section=ufscc&id=30346
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