Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Methods

There are several mesothelioma cancer treatment methods available for treating this cancer.

The mesothelioma cancer is the growth of the malignant or cancerous cells in the pleura or the peritoneum.

Therefore the mesothelioma cancer is classified into two types depending on its origin the pleura mesothelioma cancer and the peritoneum mesothelioma cancer. The main cause in almost all the cases of this disease is the asbestos and in very few cases may be due to virus.

There different standard methods of mesothelioma cancer treatment. The method of mesothelioma cancer treatment opted for a patient depends on the type of the disease and the overall health condition of the patient and of course the stage of the cancer. Apart from the standard treatment methods the patients may even participate in the clinical trials.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment with Surgery

The following surgical treatments may be used for malignant mesothelioma cancer:

• Wide local excision: This type of mesothelioma cancer treatment method involves surgical removal of the cancer and the surrounding healthy tissue to a certain extent.

• Pleurectomy and decortication: The surgical removal of the just the part of the covering of the lungs and lining of the chest and part of the outside surface of the lungs is called the pleurectomy.
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy: This is performed in advanced cases where the lung is damaged completely and when no other option left. This involves the removal of lung one, part of the lining of the chest, the diaphragm, and the lining of the sac around the heart.
• Pleurodesis: This is done to remove the fluid from the lungs and also controlling the fluid formation in the lungs.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a mesothelioma cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer.

Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment with Chemotherapy

The chemotherapy method of mesothelioma cancer treatment involves the administration of drugs either orally or through the veins. This method may use a combination of drugs at a time. In pleural mesothelioma treatment the chemotherapy may slow the growth.

The chemotherapy which is used before surgery is called the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and after the surgery is called adjuvant chemotherapy. Both of these are used to reduce the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma cancerand give a bit of relief to the patient.

Biologic Therapy or Immunotherapy

Biologic therapy is a method of mesothelioma cancer treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. In this method of mesothelioma cancer treatment the substances which are made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to restore the body’s natural defenses. This in turn helps in boosting or directing the immune mechanism in fighting against any infection for that matter cancer.