Traditional Mesothelioma Treatment

Find Traditional Mesothelioma Treatments

The most common treatment option for mesothelioma patients is chemotherapy which can be administered through a pill, injection or intravenously. Chemotherapy uses a drug or a combination of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drug can be administered systemically or directly into an area such as the pleural cavity.
 There are new chemotherapy advances as researchers continue to attempt to find successful treatment protocols. In a recent clinical trial study, researchers reported that mesothelioma patients on a new chemotherapy drug regimen lived longer and had less pain. The results show that tumors shrank in 41% of patients on pemetrexed, a popular chemotherapy drug, in combination with cisplatin, another popular chemotherapy drug. According to the study, only 17% of patients receiving cisplatin alone experienced tumor shrinkage and those on the pemetrexed/cisplatin combination, on average, lived almost 3 months longer.
 

Radiation

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or shrinks tumors using high-energy x-rays. This treatment is most effective because it kills the most mount of cancerous tissue, but in the process the radiation also kills the more healthy tissue than any other treatment. Research is now examining ways of delivering radiation directly to the tumor. In radiation therapy, a machine may be used to emit radiation, or radioisotopes (materials that produce radiation) may be administered through plastic tubes in the part of the body where the cancer cells are found.

Surgey

In some rare cases, surgery for a patient with mesothelioma may be the most viable option. In most cases surgery can extend and improve the quality of life. However, mesothelioma surgery is serious and complicated. Consultation with a specialist is always best if considering this treatment option.

 The two most popular mesothelioma surgery treatment techniques are:

One type of surgery, called a pleurectomy or decortication, involves opening the chest and         removing the tumor from the lung. This procedure relieves chest pain and prevents the recurrence of effusions (pain due to pressure of the lining of fluid) in the pleura.

Another type of surgery, extra pleural pneumonectomy, involves the removal of the lung, the diaphragm, or the lining of the heart (whichever is affected). Gortex, a synthetic fabric, replaces the heart lining or diaphragm. After surgery, the patient undergoes chemotherapy and radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Since a pneumonectomy involves the removal of a lung. This procedure generally occurs during a late stage of mesothelioma. Or in any other case where there are no treatment options left.

Thoracentesis or Paracentesis

Thoracentesis and Paracentesis are two forms of surgical treatment in which the fluid that causes pressure is removed. Thoracentesis removes fluid from the lung lining, or pleura. The fluid that accumulates as part of mesothelioma can cause discomfort or shortness of breath. Once fluid is drained from the pleura, a form of talcum powder or other material may be applied that causes the lung to stick to the chest wall. Paracentesis is a similar procedure used to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity. If there is a chronic problem with fluid buildup, a catheter can be inserted to drain fluid on an as needed basis. Fluid removal can alleviate difficulty with breathing and chest pain. Consultation with a specialist is always best before pursuing thoracentesis or paracentesis or any other form of treatment.

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