Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Options Treatment

Cancer treatment usually focuses on the destruction of malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can happen in several ways. At present, patients typically use three primary mechanisms for the treatment of mesothelioma. Either surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, or a combination of three is considered the most effective for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. What treatment is recommended will depend greatly on these topics:

Surgery for Treatment Mesothelioma

Surgery can be performed mesothelioma patients for two reasons: to try to cure the disease or palliative reasons to maintain patient comfort and improve the quality of life. Because mesothelioma is almost always diagnosed in later stages, curative surgery is usually not an option. When the tumor has metastasized outside the pleural cavity, the relief is usually only a witness in which the intervention is used.

As tests are developed that can help diagnose mesothelioma at an early stage, surgery may be a possibility in the future. At that time, doctors may be able to try to remove the cancer and some surrounding tissue in an attempt to stabilize the disease.

However, surgery is most often used in palliative measure. For example, doctors may choose surgery called pleurisy, which involves injecting talc into the lungs to prevent the return of the fluid. Amniocentesis, a surgical procedure to remove fluid in the lungs using a thin needle, may be recommended

In severe cases, a lumpectomy is recommended for palliative care. This involves the removal of the pleura - the lining of the lung - and can control the accumulation of fluid and reduce the pain and difficulty breathing.

Advancements in Mesothelioma Surgery

In recent years, doctors have made some of the clinics that have large cuts leading cancer survival rates for a long time for those diagnosed with early-stage disease. Among the exciting aspects of these treatments is the so-called extra pleural tonsillectomy. This procedure, which requires the expertise of leading surgeons mesothelioma, surgery dimension affects the lungs, lumpectomy, removal of the pericardium (membrane that surrounds the heart) and diaphragm. During surgery, intro-operative chemotherapy (eg cisplatin and Gemzar) is applied directly onto the affected area to remove all remaining malignant cells. After the application of chemotherapy, the diaphragm and the pericardium was reconstructed with prosthetic material.

Radiation Therapy for Treatment Mesothelioma

If a patient's health is too fragile for surgery or chemotherapy, radiotherapy is often recommended. The radiation is associated with fewer side effects and are generally more tolerable than chemotherapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. There are a few different methods of radiation treatment available to mesothelioma patients. Radiation is often used in conjunction with another type of treatment, as additional capacity to existing chemotherapy.

External radiation therapy - the preferred form for the treatment of mesothelioma, this kind of radiation comes from a machine outside the body and is the affected areas. Usually, five days a week for 5 weeks, this type of radiation is often used for palliative - to reduce respiratory problems, pain, bleeding or difficulty swallowing - but rarely showed the true power as a curative treatment of mesothelioma. This type of radiation can also be used as an adjunct to surgery.

Brachytherapy - rarely prescribed for mesothelioma, as the radiation places radioactive material directly into the lungs and stomach.



Chemotherapy for the treatment of mesothelioma

AOther drugs given to patients to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, such as medicine to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace those lost essential during chemotherapy. Some patients, for one reason or another to make an informed decision about the side effects of chemotherapy are too serious and chooses not to receive this treatment.

s radiotherapy, chemotherapy offers no cure for mesothelioma, but can be very effective in providing relief from severe symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to try different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients will continue to receive their results. Hops are one day chemotherapy drugs can go much further by extending the life of a patient and develop a cure for mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy drugs, in general, is either ingested in pill form or injected into the patient systemically. In cases of mesothelioma patients, the drugs administered intravenously. The doctors generally combine two drugs for the best results. We will serve the primary cytotoxin and another will serve as an alkalizing agent to stabilize the surrounding healthy cells. Currently, the only combination that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is Alimta ® (pemetrexed) and cisplatin ®, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable to a specific patient participating in a clinical trial. In some cases, patients can not tolerate a single substance, while only one is used for treatment.

Other drugs given to patients to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, such as medicine to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace those lost essential during chemotherapy. Some patients, for one reason or another to make an informed decision about the side effects of chemotherapy are too serious and chooses not to receive this treatment.