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The treatment program
for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage
of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread,
how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s
age and desires.While there is at present no cure existing for
malignant mesothelioma, there are treatments presented. The
types of treatments may include:
• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Intraoperative photodynamic therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Gene therapy
Surgery
Surgery is generally used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.
The doctor may eliminate part of the lining of the chest or
abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Depending on how far
the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed. The following
are some of the most normally used surgical treatments of mesothelioma:
Pleurodesis
Pleurodesis is a treatment administered through a thoracoscopy
or existing chest tube. Pleurodesis creates inflammation effectively
eliminating the pleural space. The elimination of this space
then inhibits the accumulation of a pleural effusion. Generally
used when the pleural effusion is symptomatic.
Pleurectomy
Surgery to remove part of the chest or stomach lining and some
of the tissue surrounding it. This procedure is performed for
a selection of disorders including pleural effusion, malignant
pleural mesothelioma, and trauma.
Pleurectomy/decortication
This procedure may be performed to reduce pain caused by the
tumor mass or to avoid the recurrence of pleural effusion. For
peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery is normally aimed at relieving
symptoms, such as recurrent ascites or bowel obstruction. As
with pleural mesothelioma, complete surgical exclusion of the
entire tumor is improbable.
Pneumonectomy (new-mo-NEK-to-me)
Surgery to remove a lung.
Radiation therapy
High power x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources of
radiation are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation
coming from a machine outside the body is referred to as external
radiation therapy or external beam radiation therapy. Radiation
may also come from equipment that produce radiation called radioisotopes.
Radioisotopes can be inserted in or near the cancerous cells
or tumors; this type of radiation therapy is called internal
radiation therapy, implant radiation, interstitial radiation,
or brachytherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the
body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called
a complete treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream,
travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells right through
the body. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be put straight
into the chest.
Intraoperative photodynamic therapy
A new type of treatment that uses particular drugs and light
to kill cancer cells during surgery. A drug that makes cancer
cells more receptive to light is injected into a vein several
days before operation. During surgery to remove as much of the
cancer as possible, a special light is used to shine on the
pleura. This treatment is being calculated for early stages
of mesothelioma in the chest.
Immunotherapy
This new approach uses the body's own immune system to fight
the cancer within the body. Immunotherapy treatments are at
present being evaluated in clinical trials.
Gene therapy
This move toward is designed to treat mesothelioma by correcting
the genes that permit a cancerous tumor to grow, potentially
scheming tumor size and spread. Like immunotherapy, gene therapy
clinical trials are at this time underway.
Regarding these treatments
It should be renowned that recent studies point out using a
single one of the above listed treatments for malignant mesothelioma
has failed to improve patient survival rates; instead, patient
endurance is being increased when handling includes a combination
of approaches for instance surgery followed by chemotherapy
and radiotherapy.
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