Understanding Radiation Therapy in Mesothelioma Care

Radiation therapy doesn’t get talked about as much as chemotherapy or immunotherapy in mesothelioma care - but it can make a real difference. In this episode, James O’Loghlin speaks with Radiation Oncologist A/Prof Susan Harden who brings her extensive experience across the UK and Australia to explain how targeted radiation can help manage pain, what new technologies like proton therapy could mean for the future, and why specialist mesothelioma nurses are so essential for patients and families.

And Susan shares an important message for people newly diagnosed – you don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out to specialist nurses - whether at your hospital or through ADDRI. Ask about trials, second opinions and support options – and be assured that there is a growing network of people working to help you live better and longer with mesothelioma.

Associate Professor Susan Harden works as a Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She is Research Lead for the Department of Radiation Oncology and is an honorary Associate Professor for the Cancer Registries Research Programme at Monash University. Read more about Susan here: https://www.petermac.org/expert-finder/details/susan-harden

Susan is also part of the specialist group that ADDRI has brought together under the Commonwealth Mesothelioma Alliance – a partnership between ADDRI and Mesothelioma UK, funded by the Biaggio Signorelli Foundation. Mesothelioma UK has a network of trained specialist mesothelioma nurses around the UK - Australia has none. The aim is to replicate the UK mesothelioma nurse model in Australia, as well as share research and training.

You can read more about the Australian Mesothelioma Registry here.

To find out more about ADDRI, visit: www.addri.org.au

Thank you to our podcast interviewer and host, James O’Loghlin and producer Rod Morri from Sydney Podcast Studios.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@addri.org.au.