Different Mesothelioma Treatments

Mesothelioma treatments depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for many people a cure won't be possible. Mesothelioma diagnosis usually appears at its advanced stage when it isn't possible to remove the cancer through surgery.

Mesothelioma treatments options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials.

1) Surgery - Surgery work to remove mesothelioma from your body. Sometimes it isn't possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the mesothelioma symptoms and signs spreading in your body.

2) Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your body and kill rapidly growing cells. This works against cancer cells, but also affects other rapidly growing cells in your body, such as those in your hair follicles and those in your gastrointestinal system. Chemotherapy may slow the growth of pleural mesothelioma.

3) Radiation Therapy - Radiation therapy focuses high-energy radiation to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs reside in the chest, such as the heart, lungs and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs.

4) Combination Therapy - Here, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in mesothelioma treatments. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite this aggressive treatment.

5) Clinical Trials - Clinical trials are studies of new mesothelioma treatment methods. People with mesothelioma may opt for a clinical trial for a chance to try new types of treatment. However, a cure isn't guaranteed. Carefully consider your treatment options and talk to your doctor about what clinical trials are open to you.