A diagnosis
is always
difficult,
whether it
is pleural
mesothelioma or another
variety. Because this is such an
aggressive malignancy,
patients and their families may
have a difficult time
addressing the issue of
treatment. However, because
options for mesothelioma
patients are steadily
increasing, the discussion of
treatment with one’s primary
oncologist, family members,
and loved ones is important.
Nearly all mesothelioma
patients have treatment
options-be they curative or
palliative that can extend
survival, alleviate pain, and
increase quality of life.
Each mesothelioma case is
considered individually and
there is no singular prescribed
roadmap for the management
of malignant mesothelioma.
What's best for each individual
patient will depend on any
number of factors. Diagnostic
procedures such as x-rays,
MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies
will be used to determine
these factors and these tests
will assist your primary care
physician and/or oncologist in
determining the best
treatment for the individual
and their particular
circumstances.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Options
Cancer treatment usually
focuses upon destroying
malignant cells and preserving
healthy ones. This can be
accomplished in a number of
ways. At the present, patients
will typically utilize three
primary mechanisms for
mesothelioma treatment.
Either surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy, or some
combination of the three are
considered the most effective
for the treatment of malignant
mesothelioma. What course of
treatment is recommended
will largely depend on these
issues:
The type of mesothelioma
and location of the tumor
The size of the tumor(s)
The degree to which the
cancer has spread or
metastasized
The staging of the cancer –
I, II, III, etc.
The age of the patient
The overall physical health
of the patient
Setting up any type of
treatment may involve
seeing a variety of doctors,
including an oncologist
(cancer specialist),
pulmonologist (lung
specialist), or radiologist.
Patience is sometimes
necessary to determine the
exact malignancy variety
and location, but knowing
these factors will
undoubtedly assist the
oncologist in prescribing
the best possible method of
mesothelioma treatment.
Surgery for Mesothelioma
Treatment
Surgery can be performed
on mesothelioma patients
for one of two reasons: in
an attempt to cure the
disease or for palliative
reasons in order to keep
the patient more
comfortable and improve
the quality of life. Because
mesothelioma is nearly
always diagnosed in its
later stages, curative
surgery is typically not an
option. Once the tumor has
metastasized outside the
pleural cavity, palliation is
typically the only ends for
which surgery is utilized.
As tests are developed that
may help to diagnose
mesothelioma at an earlier
stage, surgery may become
more of an option in the
future. At that point,
doctors may be able to
attempt to remove the
cancer and some of the
surrounding tissue in an
attempt to stabilize the
disease.
More often, however,
surgery is used as a
palliative measure. For
example, doctors may opt
for a surgery called a
pleurodesis, which involves
injecting talc into the lungs
to prevent fluid from
returning. A thoracentesis,
a surgical procedure that
removes fluid from the
lungs by means of a thin
needle, may also be
recommended.
In severe cases, a
pleurectomy may be
recommended for palliative
purposes. This involves
removing the pleura - the
lining of the lung - and can
control fluid build-up and
lessen pain and breathing
difficulties.
