Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Mesothelioma patients should consult an expert in mesothelioma for a treatment plan. Many specialists provide innovative therapies that can improve prognosis and symptoms.
The doctors can treat mesothelioma through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Certain types of mesothelioma also respond to immunotherapy. Mesothelioma may recur even after treatment. Doctors can prevent it from recurring by causing the pleura to adhere to each other (pleurodesis), or drain the fluid using an incision within the chest (peritoneal mesothelioma). The best treatment plans incorporate both methods.
Surgery
The type of mesothelioma, its stage and other factors such as age will determine treatment options. In your initial examination the doctor will determine the best mesothelioma treatment for you.
The surgeon will then perform surgery to remove the biggest mesothelioma that is possible. The surgeon can also perform other procedures during the procedure or after. Mesothelioma treatment options may include radiation and chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, targeted therapy and palliative procedures can manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy can be described as a radical procedure that patients suffering from pleural cancer undergo to remove the tumor as well as the lung (pleura) is a component of the diaphragm, and the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium). Another surgery that can be performed is pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). The procedure eliminates the pleura, however, it does not affect the lung. P/D is a less invasive procedure than EPP and has been proven to increase survival times. Some cancer centers employ heated intraoperative chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells after surgery.
During surgery the patient is placed under anesthesia. They also receive medications to help them sleep and feel pain-free. During this period the medical team will gather important information about your health such as your heart rate and blood pressure.
Following the surgery, patients will undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation. Chemotherapy is used in order to stop the growth of mesothelioma cells and also to kill any cells leftover after surgery. There are a variety of chemotherapy options used to treat mesothelioma, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide and pemetrexed. These drugs are typically administered by IV.
Radiation is a highly efficient treatment for mesothelioma since it uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cells. Radiation can be used by itself or in conjunction with other treatment. It can be utilized for any mesothelioma type however it is likely to be beneficial in cases of mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region.
Some people with mesothelioma have recurrent tumors that come back after treatment. This is known as mesothelioma that is recurrent. It can be localized in the same location as before or be spread to other organs like the liver or brain. Some people with mesothelioma recurrently present may need to consider other treatments like targeted therapy or immunotherapy, which can increase the chances of survival and reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is among the most effective treatments for mesothelioma. Injecting drugs into patients to kill cancerous cells and stop them from spreading or growing is what chemotherapy involves. Mesothelioma specialists may employ chemo on its own, or in conjunction with other treatment options like radiation therapy or immunotherapy.
The type of cancer and stage of the disease will determine the most effective chemotherapy regimen for the patient. Doctors can prescribe a range of chemotherapy drugs, but pemetrexed or cisplatin are the most frequently prescribed. Pemetrexed works to kill mesothelioma tumors through targeting the cells that make proteins that cancer cells need to grow. Cisplatin is an anticancer drug which binds to the DNA of mesothelioma cells and causes them to die. These drugs can be administered intravenously or orally.
In a mesothelioma surgical procedure, doctors can also administer chemotherapy intraoperatively. The chemotherapy drugs are heated and released into the chest cavity or abdominal cavity while the surgeon is working. This procedure is used to eliminate any microscopic tumors that the surgeon can't see following surgery.
Mesothelioma patients may also receive adjuvant chemotherapy following their surgery. However, many doctors wait until there is mesothelioma that has recurred before deciding to use this option. The reason for this is that surgery procedures used to treat mesothelioma are so invasive that a patient may not be fit enough to undergo chemotherapy immediately after operation.
If mesothelioma recurs the treatment will concentrate on controlling the cancer and relieving symptoms. Some patients might opt to do everything they can to cure their cancer, while others would rather manage the disease and live with no symptoms as long as possible. If a patient is suffering from recurrent mesothelioma, it is important to discuss this with their doctor and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option together. A patient may also consider enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatments. These trials could test new combinations of standard treatments or a novel mesothelioma treatment. Certain studies have demonstrated for instance, that immunotherapy can be a beneficial treatment for mesothelioma recurrently diagnosed.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation and particles to destroy cancerous cells. Mesothelioma doctors often prescribe it after surgery or as part of a multimodal plan for treatment. It can also be used as a palliative treatment to treat symptoms like breathlessness or pain. The latest forms of radiation have improved control, allowing it to target tumors while avoiding nearby healthy tissue.
The type of mesothelioma you have and the location of it determine the treatment options that are most suitable for you. You can also talk to your doctor about treatments that are experimental such as immunotherapy. Clinical trials are research studies that test the safety and effectiveness of new procedures or medications. These trials are carried out by patients who are willing to participate.
A mesothelioma expert can help you select the right clinical trial for you.
Surgery can reduce tumor size and alleviate symptoms. Mesothelioma can't be treated with surgery. It is possible that the cancer could be recurred or spread. That's why most mesothelioma patients are treated with a combination of treatments.
For pleural mesothelioma, surgical options include pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). The pleura is removed during P/D. This thin membrane that is a part of the chest wall, lungs and the lining of the pleura. It can also eliminate any visible tumors found on the lung or chest wall. EPP is more extensive and is usually utilized for mesothelioma that is later in its stage. This operation involves removing the entire lung, and also the diaphragm, pleura and any visible tumors that are found on the chest wall.
Following pleural mesothelioma surgeries, doctors can use radiation to try to kill any tiny areas of cancer that were not removed during the procedure. Adjuvant mesothelioma radiotherapy is what this is called. treatment for sarcomatoid mesothelioma is also utilized to alleviate symptoms such as chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, or difficulties swallowing in patients with peritoneal cancer prior to a procedure known as cytoreduction using heated chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Radiation can trigger long-term effects. The most frequent side effects include the skin's changes and fatigue. In rare cases, it can cause lung damage over time, which can lead to chronic breathing problems or a narrowing of the esophagus. Before deciding to use radiation, you should discuss the risks with your doctor.
Immunotherapy
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations which cause abnormal cells to grow in uncontrolled ways. As the cells build up, they create tumors that invade and destroy healthy tissue. Over time, tumors can grow throughout the body and cause symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and difficulty breathing. The mesothelium acts as a protective cover for organs that protects them from asbestos-related lung tumors.
When doctors diagnose mesothelioma they start with a physical exam and take a detailed record of your exposure to asbestos. They will also perform medical tests, including blood tests and a variety of scans. These scans give them a high-resolution look at your body and can show symptoms of mesothelioma such as fluid accumulation around the lungs or cancerous growths. X-rays, CT, PET, and MRI are typically ordered by doctors to carry out more advanced scans. Doctors can also perform a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and to make sure that the cancer hasn't progressed.
Doctors are not able to treat the majority of patients with mesothelioma however, they can manage the disease by limiting it with chemotherapy and other treatments. The aim is to eliminate as much mesothelioma as is possible and to reduce the likelihood that the cancer will return.
In patients with advanced mesothelioma doctors can perform pleurodesis to stop the accumulation of fluid in the lungs or place a chest tube to ensure regular drainage of excess liquid. They might also try to stop the growth of tumors by making the outer layer of the lungs adhere to the inside layer of the lung (extrapleural pneumonectomy) or shrink them with radiation therapy (extrapleural and pleurectomy).
Immunotherapy is a novel treatment that makes use of drugs to boost your immune system to fight cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved these medicines including Keytruda and Opdivo for use in clinical trials for mesothelioma. This treatment is promising and could result in better outcomes for certain patients. Immunotherapy can trigger side effects such as fatigue chills, fever, and fatigue. However, these side effects are less severe than treatments that are more aggressive.