Mesothelioma Treatment OptionsPatients with mesothelioma should consult a specialist to determine the best treatment plan. Many specialists provide innovative and new treatments that can improve the prognosis and symptoms.The doctors can treat mesothelioma through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Certain types of mesothelioma also respond to immunotherapy. Mesothelioma may recur even after treatment. Doctors can stop it from recurring by making the pleura stick to each other (pleurodesis), or drain the fluid using tubes placed inside the chest (peritoneal mesothelioma). The best treatment plans incorporate these methods. how is mesothelioma treated , stage and other factors like age will determine treatment options. The doctor determines the best mesothelioma treatment option for you during the initial assessment.The surgeon will then perform surgery to remove the largest mesothelioma that is possible. The surgeon can also perform other treatments either during or following the surgery. Mesothelioma treatment options may include radiation and chemotherapy. Patients can improve their quality of life by using targeted therapy, immunotherapy and palliative therapies.Extrapleural pneumonectomy can be described as a radical procedure that patients suffering from cancer of the pleural region undergo to remove the tumor and the lung (pleura) which is a part of the diaphragm and the heart's sac (pericardium). Another surgery that can be performed is pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). The procedure removes the pleura but leaves the lung intact. P/D is less invasive than EPP and has been successful in extending the time to survival. Some cancer centers offer heated intraoperative chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells following surgery.During the procedure the patient is placed under anesthesia. They are also given medications to help them rest and feel pain-free. During this period the medical team will collect important information about your health like your blood pressure and heart rate.After surgery the patient will receive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy can help stop mesothelioma's growth and to kill any cancerous cells that remain after surgery. Several types of chemotherapy are used for mesothelioma, including doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide and pemetrexed. These drugs are typically administered by intravenous.Radiation is an effective mesothelioma treatment as it uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be utilized by itself or in conjunction with another treatment. It can be used for all types of mesothelioma but is likely to be beneficial in cases of mesothelioma that is pericardial or peritoneal.Recurrent tumors may occur in people who have mesothelioma regardless of treatment. This is called mesothelioma that is recurrent. It can be located in the same area as before or be spread to other organs like the liver or brain. Some people with recurrent cancer may need to think about other treatments, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy, which can improve their survival and reduce the chances of the tumor recurring.ChemotherapyChemotherapy is one of the most powerful treatments for mesothelioma. Injecting drugs into patients to kill cancerous cells and stop their growth or spreading is what chemotherapy involves. The doctors treating mesothelioma can use chemotherapy alone or in conjunction with other treatments such as radiation therapy or immunotherapy.The type of mesothelioma that a patient is diagnosed with and the stage it is in will help determine which chemotherapy regimen is appropriate for them. Doctors are able to prescribe a variety of chemotherapy drugs, however pemetrexed and cisplatin are most common. Pemetrexed works to kill mesothelioma tumors through targeting the cells that make proteins that cancer cells require to develop. Cisplatin is an anticancer drug that attaches to the DNA of mesothelioma cells and causes them to die. The drugs can be administered intravenously or by mouth.Doctors can administer intraoperative chemotherapy during a mesothelioma operation. The heated chemotherapy drugs are released into the chest cavity or abdominal cavity while the surgeon is working. This procedure is used to eliminate any microscopic tumors that the surgeon cannot see after surgery.Patients with mesothelioma may also undergo adjuvant chemotherapy following their surgeries. However, many doctors wait until there is a recurrence of mesothelioma before considering this option. This is due to the fact that the surgical methods used to treat mesothelioma can be so that they are invasive, and a patient may not be fit enough to undergo chemotherapy right after surgery.If mesothelioma develops again the treatment will be focused on removing the cancer and relieving symptoms. Some patients might opt to do everything they can to cure their cancer, while others would rather manage the disease and live symptom-free for as long as they can. If a patient is suffering from mesothelioma recurrently it is essential to discuss the issue with their doctor and evaluate the pros and cons of each choice. A patient may also want to take part in a clinical study of mesothelioma treatments that are new. These trials could test a new combination of conventional treatments or a totally new type of treatment for mesothelioma. Certain studies have demonstrated for instance, that immunotherapy is a successful treatment for mesothelioma that has recurred.Radiation TherapyRadiation therapy uses particles or rays with high energy to kill cancer cells. The doctors treating mesothelioma typically prescribe radiation therapy after surgery or in conjunction with other treatment options. It can also be employed as a treatment for symptoms such as pain or breathlessness. The most recent types of radiation are more controlled, making it easier for them to target tumors, and also avoid the healthy tissue that is nearby.Treatment options will be based on the type of mesothelioma that you have and where it is located. You can also discuss alternative treatments with your physician for example, immunotherapy. Clinical trials are research studies which examine the safety and effectiveness of new treatments or medications. These trials are carried out by patients who are willing to participate.A mesothelioma specialist can help you select the right clinical trial for you.Surgery can reduce the size of tumors and relieve symptoms. However, it's not a cure for mesothelioma. It is possible that the cancer will return or spread to other parts of the body. The majority of patients with mesothelioma are treated with different therapies.For pleural mesothelioma, surgical options include pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). P/D eliminates the pleura, the thin membrane that runs between the chest wall and lungs. It can also remove visible tumors on the chest or lung wall. EPP is more extensive and is typically used for later-stage mesothelioma. This procedure involves the removal of the entire lung along with the pleura, diaphragm and any visible tumors that are found on the chest wall.The use of radiation can be a part of a pleural mesothelioma operation to eliminate any cancerous microscopic areas that were not eliminated during the surgery. This is referred to as adjuvant mesothelioma radiation. It can also be used to relieve symptoms like chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, or difficulties swallowing in peritoneal cancer patients before a procedure referred to as cytoreduction with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC).Radiation can have long-term effects. The most frequent side effects are skin and fatigue. In rare instances, it can cause lung damage over time and can cause persistent breathing problems or a narrowing of the esophagus. Before you decide to utilize radiation, you should discuss the potential risks with your doctor.ImmunotherapyCancer is caused by genetic mutations that cause abnormal cells to multiply out of control. As the cells multiply, they create tumors that invade and destroy healthy tissue. In time the tumors grow throughout the body, causing symptoms such fatigue, pain, coughing and difficulty breathing. The mesothelium is a covering around the organs that shields them from lung cancers caused by asbestos.When doctors diagnose mesothelioma, they start with an examination of the body and take a detailed history of your exposure to asbestos. They will also perform medical tests, including blood tests and various types of scans. These scans offer a high-resolution look at your body, and may reveal signs of mesothelioma, like the accumulation of fluid around the lungs or cancerous growths. X-rays, CT, PET, and MRI are typically ordered by doctors to perform more advanced scans. In addition, doctors may perform a biopsy in order to confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis and ensure that the cancer is not spreading.Mesothelioma is not curable by doctors in most patients, but can manage the disease with chemotherapy and other treatments. The aim is to eliminate mesothelioma in the maximum amount and reducing the risk that the cancer will recur.In mesothelioma patients who are advanced doctors may recommend a pleurodesis in order to stop the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Or, they may place an incision in the chest for regular drainage of liquids that are not needed. They may also attempt to stop the growth of tumors by making the outer layer of the lungs stick to the inside of the lung (extrapleural pneumonectomy) or shrink them using radiation therapy (extrapleural and pleurectomy).Immunotherapy is a new treatment that makes use of medications to stimulate your immune system to fight the cancer. These medications, including Keytruda and Opdivo have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in mesothelioma clinical trials. This is an effective treatment that could improve the outcomes of certain patients. Immunotherapy may cause negative side effects, including fatigue, chills, fevers however they are generally less serious than the more aggressive treatments for mesothelioma.