Mesothelioma Treatments.

As explained in treatment of cancer, there are various treatment options such as surgery for cancer, radiation for cancer and chemotherapy for cancer. These form the mainstay for treating any cancer and these treatment options may be used alone or in combination, depending on the stage of cancer and type of mesothelioma cancer. Treatment of mesothelioma or asbestos mesothelioma as it is also called,  follows along the same guidelines.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options.

In the treatment of mesothelioma, usually combination of these cancer therapies are used because as mentioned in mesothelioma, detection is quite late. As a result of late diagnosis of mesothelioma, mesothelioma cure can be more of palliative than curative.

 1) Surgery for Mesothelioma.

This involves surgical removal of the malignant mesothelioma tissue. There are several types of mesothelioma surgeries and the option will depend on the type of mesothelioma and its spread.  Surgery option will also depend on the age and general condition of the patient, whether there is any pleural effusion or not, and whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is primary or a recurrence.

 Surgery for Pleural or Lung Mesothelioma.

Depending on how much the mesothelioma has spread, the surgery may be less or more extensive. The following surgery options may be needed

• With a wide incision, the mesothelioma tumor along with some tissue around is removed.
• Pleurectomy and Decortication. This involves removal of part of the affected pleura along with part of the adjacent lung.
• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. This involves removing of the affected lung, the pleura, the part of the diaphragm on the affected side and part of the pericardium.
• Pleural mesothelioma often causes pleural effusion which causes breathing problems to the patient. Pleurodesis is a surgical procedure wherein, a catheter or chest tube is inserted into the plural cavity and the pleural fluid is drained with the help of mild suction. Medicines and drugs are then injected into the pleural cavity to stop more pleural fluid from building up. This is called thoracentesis.

 Surgery for Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

• Peritoneal mesothelioma is often diagnosed late and when it has advanced. As a result surgery has a very limited role in treating peritoneal mesothelioma. When indicated, surgery involves removal of the affected peritoneum.
• As in thoracentesis explained above, a needle or catheter may be introduced into the peritoneum in the abdomen to relieve symptoms and introduce medicines and drugs. This is called paracentesis.

 2) Radiation for Mesothelioma.

Radiation for mesothelioma involves targeting the malignant tissue by high energy X rays which destroy the cancer cells and shrink the mesothelioma tumor. Radiation has its side effects which are explained in side effects of radiation. Radiation for mesothelioma may be given by

• external radiation therapy where radiation is given by a machine from outside, or
• internal radiation therapy where radiation is given by placing radioactive substances such as seeds, needles or catheters inside the malignant tissue or near it. This is called brachytherapy treatment for mesothelioma.

 3) Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma.

This involves using chemotherapy medicines or drugs to kill the cancer cells of the mesothelioma. This treatment is not without side effects which are explained under side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be administered in different ways depending on the location, size and stage of mesothelioma.

• Chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma may be administered either orally or by injection into the veins. The drugs reach the cancer site through the blood stream and destroy the cancer cells. This is called systemic chemotherapy.
• At times, the chemotherapy drugs are placed directly into an organ or in the body cavity (such as the pleura or peritoneum) where the cancer cells are destroyed by direct action. This is called regional chemotherapy.
• Sometimes a combination of chemotherapy drugs is used for better effect. This is called combination chemotherapy.

 4) Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma.

Immunotherapy, also called biotherapy or biologic therapy, is therapy for mesothelioma which uses the immune system of the body to fight cancer. This is done in two ways:

• By stimulating the immune system to fight the cancer cells by administration of a cancer vaccine. This is called Active Immunotherapy.
• Or by administration of antibodies which fight the cancer cells with the help of the immune system. This is called Passive Immunotherapy.

This is explained in detail in lmmunotherapy for cancer.

Related posts:

1. Mesothelioma Prognosis.
2. Mesothelioma Attorneys.
3. Stages of Mesothelioma.
4. Mesothelioma.
5. Symptoms of Mesothelioma.
6. Causes and Risk Factors of Mesothelioma.
7. How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed.