More Mesothelioma Information
There are treatments for all patients with malignant mesothelioma. Three kinds of treatment are used:
- Surgery (taking out the cancer)
- Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays
to kill cancer cells)
- Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
Surgery is a common treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The doctor
may remove 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 in an operation called a pneumonectomy.
Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that
helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells
and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the
body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that
produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in
the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
If fluid has collected in the chest or abdomen, the doctor may
drain the fluid out of the body by putting a needle into the chest
or abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. If fluid
is removed from the chest, this is called thoracentesis. If fluid
is removed from the abdomen, this is called paracentesis. The doctor
may also put drugs through a tube into the chest to prevent more
fluid from accumulating.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. 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 systemic treatment
because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body,
and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. In mesothelioma,
chemotherapy may be put directly into the chest (intrapleural chemotherapy).
Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is a new type of treatment
that uses special drugs and light to kill cancer cells during surgery.
A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected
into a vein several days before surgery. 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 studied for early stages
of mesothelioma in the chest.
Treatment depends on where the cancer is, how far it has spread,
and the patient’s age and general health.
Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness
in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial
may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy
and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are
desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to find
better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date
information. Clinical trials are ongoing in many parts of the country
for many patients with malignant mesothelioma. To learn more about
clinical trials, ask your physician.
Source: National Cancer Institute
