How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Patients with mesothelioma can experience many different symptoms, depending on the region where the tumors are located. The symptoms may develop slowly and may be mistaken for other illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by using the use of imaging tests and blood tests. They can also eliminate any fluid that has accumulated around the lungs by performing a procedure called thoracentesis.
Surgery
When possible, surgeons remove mesothelioma tumours to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients. Surgery may aid doctors in understanding a patient's mesothelioma or detect other smaller tumors. Mesothelioma surgeons are skilled in removing the affected tissue in a manner that doesn't cause damage to healthy organs, tissues and nerves.
The surgical options available to treat mesothelioma are based on the type and stage of cancer. A physician will consider the health of the patient, their age, and other aspects to determine the best procedure for them.
Pleurectomy, extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurodesis are all surgical procedures to treat mesothelioma. Each mesothelioma treatment has its own risks and benefits. 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 complex surgery than an extrapleural pneumonectomy or EPP. In P/D, surgeons remove the lung's lining and any visible tumours. However, they don't remove the lung or the diaphragm muscle. This is a fantastic mesothelioma surgery for patients who wish to prolong their life and avoid the complications that come with removing the diaphragm muscle or both lungs.
P/D surgery is often coupled with hyperthermic intra-thoracic chemotherapy that adds chemotherapy drugs that are heated to fight cancer to a solution of saltwater and then delivers directly into the chest cavity. This can reduce the amount of time patients spend in hospital and allows patients to receive multiple treatments more quickly.
Pleural effusion is a common symptom of pleural mesothelioma. This can lead to breathing problems and chest pain. This fluid can be drained by a doctor using a minimally-invasive surgery called a Thoracentesis. This procedure involves needles are inserted into the chest to draw out fluid.
Another surgical option for pleural mesothelioma is a peritoneal effusion draining procedure, or a Pyeloplasty. During this procedure, doctors place a tube in the abdomen to allow the accumulation of fluid to be removed regularly. This can ease symptoms such as nausea or abdominal pain, fever and difficulty breathing. The tube can be removed once the accumulated fluid has decreased dramatically.
Chemotherapy
The type of treatment that you receive depends on a variety of factors such as the stage of your mesothelioma (the extent of it), whether your tumor is believed by doctors to be curable can be surgically removed, and your overall health. You could also be offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial that will try a new drug or treatment combination.
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the standard treatments. These treatments can ease mesothelioma-related symptoms, but will not eliminate it.
Mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from multiplying. They are usually given by injection into a vein or intravenously. Patients are given them in cycles. Each cycle is followed by a time of rest to give the body to heal. The most commonly used mesothelioma chemotherapy treatments are pemetrexed and cisplatin.
Before surgery, chemo can be administered to shrink tumors and make surgery less painful. This is known as neoadjuvant therapy. It is also used after surgery to eliminate microscopic cancerous cells that aren't visible to the naked eye. This is known as adjuvant treatment.
The use of radiation therapy is often used to treat pleural mesothelioma, and it can be administered in different ways. Doctors can utilize conventional proton or photon radiation. They can also utilize intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to reduce the damage to healthy tissue and increase the doses.
For peritoneal mesothelioma doctors can administer the chemotherapy drug combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin via an intravenous line through the abdomen. They can also administer it via pump into the peritoneal cavity via the tube known as catheter.
Side effects can be severe or mild They are manageable with medication and support services. Side effects can range from mild to severe. It is important to report all your symptoms to your medical team. A recent study found that women experience more side reactions from mesothelioma treatments than men. Researchers aren't sure why this happens. They speculate that it could be because women are more likely to seek medical attention when they suffer from an illness that is serious, and to tell their doctor about the symptoms.
Radiation Therapy
Mesothelioma treatments are focused on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, but they often do not cure the disease. This is why it's crucial to discuss your goals with your care team prior to starting treatment. Some patients are determined to do everything possible to improve their chance of a cure, whereas others prefer a treatment plan that makes them as comfortable as possible in the time remaining.
pericardial mesothelioma treatment is usually part of any mesothelioma treatment plan. Doctors remove cancerous tissues to relieve symptoms and prolong survival. There are three types of mesothelioma surgery:
Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D) removes the pleura, or lining around the lungs. It also removes any visible tumors within the chest cavity. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is the removal of all lungs and part of diaphragm.
Radiation therapy utilizes x-ray beams to kill cells of mesothelioma. The procedure is painless and noninvasive. Doctors may employ a method known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which alters the strength shape, form and pattern of radiation beams to better treat cancerous cells without harming healthy tissue.
Although mesothelioma isn't completely cured with radiation however it could help reduce the size of the tumor prior to surgery or kill remaining cancerous cells that weren't removed during an operation. It is also used to alleviate discomfort and pain in patients with mesothelioma at late-stage.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that grows rapidly, so it responds better to radiation than cells that grow slower. Radiation destroys cancerous cells' DNA and kills them within days, weeks, or even months. A doctor can alter a patient's radiation session length to suit their individual needs.
Even with the most effective treatment options, side effects are common in the majority of cancer treatments. Fatigue, weight loss, and nausea are a few of the most common side-effects. However, many of them are manageable and can be managed with medication.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy drugs boost your body's own defenses to combat cancer cells. They are typically given as intravenous (IV) infusions and may be used in conjunction with other treatments. Some studies show that immunotherapy increases survival times for patients with pleural mesothelioma when used with chemotherapy or radiation.
Mesothelioma doctors can tell whether you are suffering from the disease through an examination and ordering imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans. They can also conduct an invasive biopsy, where they take a small portion of tissue to be examined in the laboratory. The results of your biopsy as well as other tests will help your doctor determine the treatment.
Most doctors treat mesothelioma according to the area of the tumor and if it has spread. You might want to get rid of all cancer or reduce symptoms to prolong your life. Your doctor will develop a plan for you that might comprise chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. These treatments are usually used in conjunction by doctors to create a multimodal plan.
The mesothelioma surgery procedure can remove cancerous tissue, shrink tumors, and ease symptoms. However, not all people suffers from mesothelioma is able to undergo surgery. Some patients suffering from mesothelioma of the peritoneal region or pleural tumor suffer from scarring that hinders surgeons from accessing cancerous tissue. For those with scarring targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy are the most effective treatment options.
Targeted therapy limits a cancer's growth by depriving it of oxygen or slowing its cell division. One type of targeted therapy used to treat mesothelioma is a drug known as Avastin (bevacizumab). It is given in the form of an IV infusion every couple of weeks.
Mesothelioma Immunotherapy aids your immune system to find and destroy mesothelioma cancer cells. It is achieved by blocking the proteins that could hinder your immune system from recognizing mesothelioma cells. Nivolumab (also known as pembrolizumab) and nivolumab are the two mesothelioma-specific immune therapies.
Treatment options can improve quality of life and help patients live longer with the majority of types of mesothelioma. Speak with your mesothelioma doctor about the pros and cons of each treatment option. Your care team should be informed of your objectives.