There are treatments for all patients with malignant
Mesothelioma. However, the treatment option that is chosen for a
particular patient depends on a number of factors such as the
location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, patient's age
and general health, the extent of the damage, etc. treatment is
generally of three kinds,
1. Surgery in which case the cancerous portion is removed from
the body. 2. Radiation therapy (using x-rays or other
high-energy rays to kill cancer cells). 3. Chemotherapy (using
drugs to fight the cancer).
Surgery Surgery is the physical way of treating Mesothelioma in
which the cancerous cells are physically removed. Surgery is a
common way to treat malignant Mesothelioma. The doctor may
remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of
the tissue around it. Sometimes, if the cancer has spread
widely, a lung can be totally removed in a surgical procedure
called a pneumonectomy. Along with the lung, part of the
diaphragm, is also sometimes removed, diaphragm is the muscle
below the lungs that helps with breathing. This will temporarily
solve the problem of difficulty in breathing.
Radiation Therapy In radiation therapy high-energy x-rays are
used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. There are two kinds
of radiation therapy, external radiation therapy and internal
radiation therapy. When the radiation comes from a machine
outside the body it is called external radiation therapy. When
materials that produce radiation, are put inside the body
through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells
are found, it is called internal radiation therapy.
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a
needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the
chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the
chest is called thoracocentesis. Removal of fluid from the
abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a
tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating.
Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving
symptoms.
Chemotherapy 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).
Treatment options for people with Mesothelioma have improved
significantly. This is more so in cases where the diagnosis has
been early and treatment has been aggressive. Many people are
treated with a combination of the above-discussed therapies and
this is known as multimodal therapy. Mesothelioma is a fatal
disease and so far no cure has been found for the disease.
However, treatments can reduce pain and improve lung function.
Easily administered pain killers are now used to control pain.
About the author:
Rob Mellor owns the free to use
www.mesotheliomasupportonline.com website helping people find
out more about
mesothelioma. Please visit the site for
more information on
mesothelioma
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