Radiation Therapy for Kaposi Sarcoma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It can often be helpful in treating bothersome Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lesions on or near the surface of the body, such as on the skin or in the mouth. These usually respond well to radiation treatments.

When is radiation therapy used to treat KS?

Radiation therapy is often effective as a local treatment for KS lesions on or near the surface of your body, such as your skin or inside your mouth. It can usually help reduce symptoms like pain or swelling from the lesions. Radiation can also improve the appearance of skin lesions that are very visible, like lesions on your face.

This type of treatment is most useful if there are only a few lesions confined to a small area. More extensive lesions might require systemic (whole body) treatments like chemotherapy.

Radiation might also be used to help relieve symptoms if you can’t get chemotherapy for some reason.

Types of radiation therapy used to treat KS

Different types of radiation therapy might be used depending on where the lesions are and how large they are.

The types of radiation therapy used most often for KS lesions on the skin are:

• Electron-beam therapy (EBT)
• Superficial x-rays

These types of radiation therapy don’t pass very far below your skin into deeper parts of your body, which helps limit non-skin side effects.

Radiation therapy made up of x-rays (photons) or protons might be used for lesions that have grown deeper into your body.

For more on the different types of radiation therapy, see Getting External Beam Radiation Therapy.

How is radiation therapy given for KS?

Radiation treatments for KS lesions are often given for several weeks. The number of treatments you get each week depends on the type of radiation, why it’s being given, and how well the lesions respond to it.

Getting treatment is much like getting an x-ray, but the radiation is stronger. The procedure itself is painless. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes, although the initial setup time takes longer.

Side effects of radiation therapy

Side effects of radiation therapy depend on where the radiation is aimed and how high the doses are.

• Radiation aimed at your skin can cause skin changes such as redness or soreness, similar to a sunburn. In some people, treated KS lesions can become painful, although this usually goes away within a couple of weeks.
• Radiation to treat lesions in your mouth or throat can cause pain and open sores in the area, which might make it hard to eat for a time.

Sometimes radiation causes other side effects as well. For more on this, see Radiation Therapy Side Effects.