Accelerated Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Immediately Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed epithelioid predominantly (\> 70%) subtype malignant pleural mesothelioma * Patient must have been evaluated by a University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) thoracic surgeon, and deemed medically and technically suitable for a pleurectomy/decortication procedure * Karnofsky performance status (KPS) \>= 70 or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2 * If a woman is of childbearing potential, a negative urine or serum pregnancy test must be documented; women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; or abstinence) for duration of study participation and for up to 4 weeks following the study Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have previously received therapeutic radiation therapy to the chest * Active systemic, pulmonary, or pericardial infection * Use of chemotherapy within 4 weeks of the planned start of radiation therapy * Pregnant women, or women of childbearing potential who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception for the entire study period and for up to 4 weeks after the study * Refusal to sign the informed consent * Patients who are participating in a concurrent treatment protocol