How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Mesothelioma patients exhibit many symptoms, based on the location where the tumors develop. The symptoms usually develop slowly and can be confused with common illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu.
The doctors diagnose mesothelioma through the use of imaging tests and blood tests. They can also remove any fluid that has accumulated around the lungs by performing a procedure called thoracentesis.
Surgery
If possible, surgeons remove mesothelioma cancers to minimize symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients. Surgery may also help doctors better understand the mesothelioma that a patient has or to detect additional smaller tumors. Mesothelioma surgeons are trained to remove affected tissue without damaging healthy organs, tissues, or nerves.
The options for mesothelioma surgery vary depending on the type of cancer and the stage. A physician will take into account the patient's health, age, and other factors to determine the most appropriate method of treatment.
Pleurectomy, extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurodesis are all surgical procedures to treat mesothelioma. Each mesothelioma therapy has its own advantages and disadvantages. A mesothelioma expert can provide you details about the various options and suggest which surgical procedure is best for you.
A pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) mesothelioma surgery is a less extensive surgery than an extrapleural pneumonectomy or EPP. In P/D, surgeons remove the lung's lining and any visible tumours. They do not remove either the diaphragm or the lung. This is a fantastic mesothelioma procedure for patients who wish to prolong their life and avoid complications associated with removing the diaphragm muscle or both lung.
P/D surgery is typically combined with hyperthermic intra-thoracic chemotherapy which involves adding the most effective cancer-fighting drugs in a solution of saltwater and delivers directly into the chest cavity. This can reduce the time a patient spends in hospital and allows patients to receive multiple treatments more efficiently.
Pleural mesothelioma is a common cause of an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, or an effusion in the pleura. This can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain. This fluid can be drained by a physician using a minimally-invasive surgery called a thoracentesis. During this procedure, an instrument is inserted into the chest to draw out fluid.
A pyeloplasty procedure is a different surgical option to treat mesothelioma of the pleural region. During the procedure, surgeons insert an abdominal tube to ensure that the fluid is drained regularly. This can help ease symptoms like nausea and abdominal pain, fever and breathing problems. The tube is removed when the volume of fluid has diminished significantly.
Chemotherapy
The kind of treatment you receive will depend on a variety of variables, including the stage of your mesothelioma (the extent of it), whether your tumor is believed by doctors to be curable can be removed surgically and your overall health. You may also be offered a clinical trial to try a new drug or treatment combination.
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery are the most common treatments. These treatments can alleviate mesothelioma symptoms but they cannot cure it.
The medications used to treat mesothelioma have been designed to stop cancerous cells from multiplying and kill them. They are usually administered via injection into veins, or intravenously. Patients receive them in a series that are followed by a rest period to allow the body to recover. Pemetrexed, cisplatin, and other chemotherapies are the most frequently used to treat mesothelioma.
In pleural mesothelioma, chemo is often given before surgery to help shrink tumors and make surgery less invasive. Neoadjuvant treatment is what it is known as. It is also used following surgery to destroy any microscopic cancerous cells that are not visible to the eye. This is known as adjuvant therapy.
The use of radiation therapy is often used to treat pleural mesothelioma, and it can be delivered in various ways. Doctors can use traditional photon or proton radiation. They can also utilize intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to reduce the damage to healthy tissues and increase doses.
Doctors are able to administer the chemotherapy drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin by an intravenous catheter through the abdomen to treat the peritoneal msothelioma. They can also inject it into the peritoneal cavity by using the catheter.
Some people may experience side effects of mesothelioma treatment, but these are easily managed by taking medications and support services. The severity of side effects can be different. It is essential to report all your symptoms to your healthcare team. Recent research has shown that women are more likely to suffer mesothelioma-related side effects than men. Researchers aren't sure why. Researchers speculate that this could be due to women's tendency to seek medical attention more often when they are sick and tell their doctor what symptoms they are experiencing.
Radiation Therapy
Treatments for mesothelioma aim at relieving symptoms and enhancing the quality of life, but usually they are not able to cure the condition. That is why it's important to discuss your goals with your care team prior to starting treatment. Some patients would like to do everything they can to increase their chances of a cure. However, others prefer a treatment plan that allows them to feel as relaxed as they can during the time remaining.
Surgery is a typical component of mesothelioma treatment. Doctors remove cancerous tissues to relieve symptoms and extend survival. There are three types of mesothelioma surgery:
Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D) removes the pleura, or lining around the lungs. The procedure also removes any visible tumors in the chest cavity. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is the removal of all diaphragm as well as the lungs.
Radiation therapy employs x-ray beams to kill cancerous cells of mesothelioma. The procedure is non-invasive and painless. Doctors may opt for a procedure called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in which the radiation beams are modified to target cancerous cells more effectively, without damaging healthy tissue.
It is not proven to cure mesothelioma, but it can help reduce the size of tumors prior surgery, or kill cancerous cells that weren't removed during surgery. It can also be used to relieve discomfort and pain in patients with late-stage mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rapidly growing cancer, so it responds better to radiation than slower-growing cells. Radiation destroys cancerous cells' DNA and kills them within days, weeks or months. A doctor can adjust the length of a radiation session to accommodate each patient's specific needs.
Even with the best cancer treatments the risk of side effects is common. Fatigue, weight loss, and nausea are among the most frequent side effects. The majority of these side effects can be managed and controlled by medication.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy drugs spur your body's natural defenses in order to fight cancer cells. They are typically administered as intravenous infusions (IV) and can be paired with other treatments. Some studies show that immunotherapy improves survival times in people with pleural mesothelioma when combined in conjunction with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma doctors can determine if you have the disease by doing an examination and ordering imaging tests, like X-rays or CT scans. They might also perform a biopsy, in which they remove a small piece of tissue to test for lab tests. The results of your biopsy and other tests will help your doctor determine the treatment.
Most doctors treat mesothelioma depending on the location of the cancer and whether it has spread. It is possible to eliminate all cancers or minimize symptoms to extend your life. Your doctor will create a plan for you, which could include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Many doctors will combine these treatments to create a multimodal treatment plan.
Surgery can be used to eliminate cancerous tissue, shrink tumors and ease symptoms. Not all mesothelioma patients are eligible for surgery. Some patients with mesothelioma of the pleural or peritoneal region suffer from scarring that prevents surgeons from gaining access to cancerous tissues. For those with scarring targeted therapy or immunotherapy are the most effective treatment options.
A targeted therapy can slow the growth of sarcomatoid mesothelioma treatment cancer by depriving it of oxygen or by slowing down the division of cells. Avastin, also called bevacizumab is a form of targeted treatment that is used to treat mesothelioma. It is administered in the form of an IV infusion every couple of weeks.
Mesothelioma Immunotherapy aids your immune system find and destroy mesothelioma cancer cells. It works by blocking the proteins that impede your immune system and block it from acknowledging mesothelioma. Two mesothelioma immunotherapy options include nivolumab and pembrolizumab.
The majority of mesothelioma types aren't curable, but treatment options can help patients live longer and improve their quality of life. Talk to your mesothelioma specialist about the pros and cons of each treatment option. Discuss your goals with your care team, too.