Mesothelioma Treatments

Available treatment options for mesothelioma

Surgery can be performed to remove the affected tissue. It also may mean that part of the diseased organ be removed, depending on the size of the affected area. A pneumonectomy may be performed on patients with pleural mesothelioma. This is a high risk factor surgery which removes a lung or a lung and parts of the diaphragm, depending on how far the disease has spread. A pleurectomy is another surgery that involves removing part of the chest, abdominal lining and surrounding tissue.

Radiation therapy is beneficial because it treats the affected area without harming healthy cells and organs. Radiation kills off abnormal cells and continues to kill tumors for a year after the therapy is performed. It works through the placements of radioactive sources in the affected area.

Chemotherapy can be injected or in the form of pills. Usually, patients can become quite ill because of the high levels of toxins in the injection or pills. Along with this, there are a number of different post-chemo drugs to alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy. Side affects may also be caused because the injections or pills have to make their way through healthy areas to get to the cancer.

Clinical trials give hope to patients with mesothelioma because of the chance for finding a cure through experiments. Clinical trials follow a plan of very strict scientific guidelines. It must be approved by review boards that consist of health care professionals and other qualified people before the study can enroll patients.

In addition to treatments, doctors may wish to drain the excess fluid that normally accompanies mesothelioma. This will also alleviate some pain and discomfort that the excess fluid is known to cause.

All of the above treatments are used to prolong the life of the patient and to try to alleviate the painful symptoms associated with mesothelioma. Any questions about any of these treatments should be asked to a doctor or other health professional.