Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?A mesothelioma diagnosis can be an overwhelming and difficult experience. It's important to keep in mind that doctors are only able to guess at your life expectancy.The most reliable variables that determine your prognosis are the stage (extent) of mesothelioma and the subtype. The type of surgery you receive is also a factor.ChemotherapyCancer drugs, or chemotherapy can kill tumors and impede their spread. They can be used as part of a multimodal treatment program that includes surgery as well as radiation therapy. Doctors prescribe various chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma patients. They are administered in a series, spread over several weeks, with periods of rest between. A typical mesothelioma chemotherapy treatment lasts a few hours and can cause adverse effects like nausea and fatigue. asbestos mesothelioma cancer are not permanent and improve with each treatment.The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is by obtaining scans of the chest or abdomen. The most common imaging test, a CT scan (computerized Tomography), provides a three-dimensional image of the organs. Doctors can request biopsy to obtain a sample for testing of mesothelioma. The sample of tissue can be examined under microscopes to determine the type of mesothelioma.It could take years for doctors to identify mesothelioma because it is a rare condition. The medical community is trying to discover ways to recognize mesothelioma sooner. One method to do this is by measuring the biomarker known as Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides in the blood. This biomarker is elevated in mesothelioma patients.A biopsy might be all that is needed to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. However the procedure isn't always required, as a patient's symptoms can be similar to symptoms of a number of illnesses. A mesothelioma mistaken diagnosis could be costly and fatal.In the final stages of mesothelioma combination of chemotherapy and surgery could lead to a cure. NYU Langone doctors, for example, treat peritoneal cancer by using a procedure called cytoreductive surgery, which is a procedure that is combined with HIPEC (hyperthermic intratperitoneal chemotherapy). In this procedure, a machine injects chemotherapy drugs heated directly into the abdominal cavity immediately following the surgical removal of visible cancerous tumors and tissues. This has helped to extend survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients, which range from 38-92 months following the surgical/chemotherapy treatment combination.The possibility of a patient receiving surgery depends on the type of mesothelioma that they have, the stage and the results of the biopsy. The prognosis of patients can be affected by their health and age.RadiationMesothelioma develops in cells in the mesothelium, a layer of skin that protects organs inside the body. It is an aggressive tumor that may be spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The mesothelium consists of two layers that wrap around and surround different organs, including the lungs and stomach. Mesothelioma symptoms can be a sign of other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. This can delay diagnosis or treatment. After exposure to asbestos symptoms can take as long as 50 years to manifest.In addition to surgery and chemotherapy, radiation may also be used to treat mesothelioma. This type of therapy uses high-energy rays and particles to kill cancer cells however, not healthy cells. Radiation oncologists direct the radiation using special machines. This helps reduce the adverse effects and complications that may result from the treatment. For instance, scarring of the lining of your chest (radiation pneumonia).Patients with early-stage mesothelioma have a better outlook than those with late-stage mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that surgery can eliminate cancerous tissues, which improves survival rates. However, a lot of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. In these cases, surgeons do their best to alleviate symptoms and help patients live longer.Surgeons can aid in taking out the lining of the lung or abdomen, where mesothelioma begins. They can also get rid of any accumulation of fluid that creates symptoms. Mesothelioma specialists collaborate with patients to design multimodal treatment plans. They can use traditional methods such as chemotherapy and newer ones like immunotherapy.The prognosis for patients is also influenced by the condition and type of cells in mesothelioma. Certain locations are more difficult to get rid of like the lung linings as well as the abdominal cavity. Experts in mesothelioma will recommend the most effective treatment to decrease the risk of recurrence, and improve the quality of life.Mesothelioma research has made significant advances in recent times, with more treatment options available than ever before. Finding a specialist in mesothelioma is one of the most beneficial decisions patients can take. A specialist can make sure that patients have access to the most up-to-date approved treatments and surgical options, including immunotherapy.SurgeryMesothelioma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage that has already expanded to other organs of the body. In these cases the treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and prolonging the life of patients for as long as it is possible. This type of treatment is called palliative care. This kind of treatment includes powerful painkillers as well as treatments such as regular drainage of fluids in the chest.Before undergoing any surgery doctors will evaluate the patient's health to determine if they're healthy enough to undergo the procedure and recovery. This assessment involves an examination of the body and imaging tests like X scans and CT scanners. Doctors may also order blood tests for chemistry and heart function to assess the overall health of the patient.The kind of surgery that a patient receives depends on the mesothelioma type they have. Epithelial mesothelioma is more easily treated than sarcomatoid and mixed types. A biopsy can be used to identify the mesothelioma type.If the cancer has progressed to the lungs doctors may perform lung-removal surgery, known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). They will remove some of the lining of the chest wall and lung. This can improve breathing and reduce the pain. It can also extend the lifespan when combined with chemotherapy and radiation.In certain patients, mesothelioma could expand to the peritoneum, which is the layer of fatty tissue that protects the abdominal organs. The mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in the abdomen. This condition is known as peritoneal effusion, also known as ascites. The fluid can be removed by a physician using the procedure of paracentesis or placing a tube into the abdomen to allow regular drainage at home.Mesothelioma cancer cells can also extend to the pleura, which covers the lungs and diaphragm. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery to remove part of the pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This can improve breathing and can even increase the lifespan.Mesothelioma is an extremely complex cancer, and even after surgery, there's still a chance the tumors may recur. Mesothelioma specialists combine surgery with other treatment options including chemotherapy and radiation. They can kill any mesothelioma-like cells that surgeons might have missed during the procedure.ImmunotherapyMesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that forms in an extremely thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of internal organs. Researchers have discovered that it forms because of a series of genetic mutations within the cells. As time passes, these abnormal cells multiply and then expand beyond their limits and form a tumor. There are a variety of mesothelioma. It most commonly affects the lining around the lung (pleura), and less frequently, the lining in the abdomen (peritoneum).When someone is given mesothelioma-related diagnosis, doctors estimate their life expectancy based on the type of mesothelioma, its stage and their overall health. These estimates are merely predictions and could change with new treatments.Doctors have researched a variety of immunotherapy treatment options for mesothelioma. The drugs target certain proteins in the mesothelioma cancer cell and then triggering an immune response from the body's immune system.Some of these drugs include pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, and the drug nivolumab. These are called "checkpoint inhibitors". They remove the protein molecules that function as an off switch for white blood cells to attack mesothelioma cells which allows the immune system to recognize and kill the cancer.Other studies have employed strategies for vaccination to boost the immune system. These trials involved injecting patients with interferon as well as GM-CSF to stimulate their bodies to create antibodies against mesothelioma. However, these early trials saw few or no responses and were associated with high toxicity.Surgery can improve the quality of life for patients with pleural mesothelioma, by reducing discomfort, breathlessness and fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The most common surgery is a pleurectomy, which involves removing the affected lungs as well as a portion of the pleura. Another option for surgery is the video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure, which uses tiny tubes to eliminate the the chest cavity.People with peritoneal mesothelioma can also benefit from surgery. If the cancer hasn't spread, a surgical removal of the lining of the abdomen and the surrounding structures may aid in reducing symptoms. Doctors can combine radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. It is essential that patients with mesothelioma seek a second opinion and speak to mesothelioma experts about their options.