Mesothelioma

Options for the Treatment of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, while an uncommon form of cancer, is also one of the most devastating and usually carries a poor prognosis because it is so often diagnosed in its late stages. By this point, the available mesothelioma treatment options are used mostly with the intent of increasing the comfort of the patient, improving quality of life and minimizing symptoms.

The standard mesothelioma treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, but may involve a combination of the three. The type or types of treatment used are determined by a variety of factors such as the type of mesothelioma, tumor size and location, how far the cancer has spread, the stage of cancer, the patient’s age and overall health and their personal preferences.

Surgery is used as either an attempt to remove tumors or to alleviate symptoms and make the patient more comfortable. When mesothelioma is diagnosed in a late stage, surgery for tumor removal is not an option. Surgical procedures in this case may consist of draining fluid from the lungs and removal of the lung lining to reduce fluid buildup, control pain and aid breathing ability. An injection of talc into the affected lung may also be used to prevent it from filling with more fluid.

Chemotherapy typically involves the use of more than one drug via a systemic injection, and is one of the most difficult mesothelioma treatment options to deal with. The side effects are often severe, with such extreme nausea and vomiting that the use of prescription antiemetics becomes necessary. Some people find the side effects so intolerable that they choose to forgo chemotherapy.

Radiation is often used if the patient is too fragile to undergo surgery, and may be better tolerated than chemotherapy due to its less severe side effects. It is preferable that radiation therapy be used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment options for the best results. Therapy of this type is divided into two methods. Brachytherapy is rarely used, but involves placing small amounts of radioactive material inside of the lung or abdominal cavity. External beam radiation is non invasive, and seems to be the preferred method of radiation therapy. It involves administration by a machine that is aimed at the affected area, and may be used 5 days a week for up to 5 weeks.