How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Patients with mesothelioma may suffer from various symptoms, depending on the area where the tumors are. Symptoms often take time to develop and can be confused with common illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by using the use of imaging tests and blood tests. They also remove any accumulation of fluid around the lungs with the procedure known as thoracentesis.
Surgery
The surgeons remove mesothelioma tumours whenever possible to reduce symptoms and improve a patient's overall quality of life. Surgery can also help doctors better identify a patient's condition of mesothelioma. It can also help detect smaller tumors. Mesothelioma surgeons are trained to remove affected tissue in a way that doesn't cause injury to healthy organs, tissues and nerves.
The options for mesothelioma surgery vary depending on the type of cancer and the stage. A doctor will take into consideration the health of the patient, their age, and other aspects to determine the best method of treatment.
The surgical options for mesothelioma are pleurectomy, pleurodesis and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Each mesothelioma treatment has its own risks and benefits. A mesothelioma expert can provide you information about the different options and suggest the procedure that is most suitable for you.
A pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) mesothelioma procedure is a less invasive procedure than an extrapleural pneumonectomy or EPP. During P/D the surgeons removes the lining of the lung and any visible tumors. They do not remove the diaphragm or lung. This surgery is an excellent mesothelioma treatment for patients that want to maintain their quality of life and avoid the complications associated with removing both the lungs.
P/D surgery is typically performed in conjunction with hyperthermic intra-thoracic chemotherapies which involves adding heated cancer fighting medicines to saltwater solutions and delivers directly into the chest cavity. This decreases the time a patient spends in the hospital and allows them to receive multiple treatments more quickly.
Pleural mesothelioma often causes an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, causing pleural effusion. This can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain. A doctor can drain this fluid with a minimally invasive surgery known as a thoracentesis. which a needle is inserted into the chest to collect the fluid.
Another option for treating mesothelioma in the pleural region is a peritone drainage procedure, or a pyeloplasty. In the course of the procedure, doctors insert an abdominal tube to allow fluid to be drained regularly. This can ease symptoms like nausea, fever, and abdominal pain. After the amount of fluid is reduced it is time to take out the tube.
Chemotherapy
The kind of treatment you get depends on a number of factors including the stage (extent) of mesothelioma, if doctors believe the tumor is irresectable (can be removed surgically) and your general health. You may be offered to participate in a clinical trial that evaluates a novel drug combination or test.
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery are the standard treatments. These treatments can relieve mesothelioma-related symptoms but they cannot cure it.
Mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from multiplying. They are typically administered intravenously or into the vein. Patients receive them in a series of. Each cycle is followed by a period of rest to give the body time to recover. The most commonly used mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are cisplatin and pemetrexed.
Prior to surgery, chemo therapy can be used to reduce tumors and make it less invasive. This is known as neoadjuvant therapy. After surgery, it's also used to eliminate tiny cancerous cells that are not visible by the eye. This is known as adjuvant therapy.
Radiation therapy can be used to treat pleural Sarcoidosis in a number of ways. Doctors can opt for traditional photon or proton radiation. They can also utilize intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to reduce the damage to healthy tissues and increase the doses.
For mesothelioma of the peritoneal region, doctors can deliver the chemotherapy drug combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin via an IV through the abdomen. They can also administer it by injecting it into the peritoneal cavity via an instrument known as catheter.
The side effects can be severe or mild, but they can be managed by medication and support services. The severity of side effects can differ. It is crucial to not ignore any symptoms to your care team. Recent research has proven that women are more likely to suffer side effects of mesothelioma treatment than men. Researchers aren't able to pinpoint the reason. Researchers speculate that this could be because women tend to seek medical care more often when they're sick and tell their doctor what symptoms they are experiencing.
Radiation Therapy
Treatments for mesothelioma aim at relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life, but they often don't cure the disease. It's important to talk about your goals with your healthcare team prior to starting treatment. Some patients want to test every option to increase their chances of finding a cure. Others prefer a treatment plan to ensure they are as comfortable as they can be throughout their final days.
Surgery is usually part of any mesothelioma therapy plan. Doctors remove cancerous tissue to ease symptoms and prolong the duration of. There are three kinds of mesothelioma surgery:
Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D) removes the pleura, or lining around the lungs. This procedure also removes any visible tumours in the chest cavity. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy eliminates the entire diaphragm as well as the lungs.
Radiation therapy utilizes beams of x-rays to destroy mesothelioma tumor cells. The procedure is noninvasive and painful for the patient. Doctors can use a technique known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which alters the strength and shape of radiation beams in order to better target cancerous cells without affecting healthy tissue.
Radiation alone has not been confirmed to cure mesothelioma however it can reduce the size of tumors prior surgery or kill cancer cells that weren't removed during surgery. It is a method to alleviate pain and discomfort for patients suffering from cancer that is in late-stage.
Mesothelioma, a cancer that is rapidly growing, responds better to radiotherapy than slow-growing tumors. Radiation causes DNA damage to cancerous cells and kills them in days, weeks or even months. A doctor can alter the duration of a patient's treatment to meet their specific requirements.
Even with the most mesothelioma treatment and prognosis effective cancer treatments the risk of side effects is common. Fatigue, weight loss and nausea are a few of the most frequently reported side effects. Most of these side effects can be managed and controlled with medication.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy drugs spur your body's natural defenses to fight cancerous cells. They are typically administered as intravenous infusions (IV), and may be paired with other treatments. Certain studies have demonstrated that immunotherapy can increase the survival rate of patients suffering from pleural msothelioma, when combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma through conducting a physical exam and requesting imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans. They can also conduct a biopsy in which they remove a small sample of tissue for testing in the laboratory. The results of the biopsy as well as other tests will assist your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
The majority of doctors treat mesothelioma based on the location of the cancer and whether it has spread. The goal could be to get rid of all cancers or reduce the symptoms and prolong your life. Your doctor will create a treatment plan that may comprise chemo, surgery, and radiation therapy. Many doctors combine these treatment methods to create a multimodal treatment plan.
Surgery can be used to remove cancerous tissue, shrink tumors, and relieve symptoms. However, not all people suffers from mesothelioma is able to undergo surgery. Certain patients with mesothelioma of the pleural or peritoneal region have scarring that prevents surgeons from gaining access to cancerous tissues. Patients with these conditions are best treated with targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
Targeted therapy slows cancer's growth by depriving it of oxygen or slowing its cell division. Avastin, also referred to as bevacizumab is a form of targeted treatment that is used to treat mesothelioma. It is administered as an IV infusion once every few weeks.
Mesothelioma Immunotherapy aids your immune system detect and destroy mesothelioma cancer cells. It works by blocking proteins that distract your immune system and prevent it from recognizing mesothelioma. Nivolumab (also called pembrolizumab) and nivolumab are the two examples of mesothelioma immunotherapy.
Treatment options can improve the quality of life and allow people to live longer with most types of mesothelioma. Talk to a mesothelioma expert about all your treatment options and what the pros and cons for each. Discuss your goals with your medical team as well.