Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment

 

There are several different types of mesothelioma cancer treatments available to patients. Some of these treatments include radiation therapy, surgery, and photodynamic therapy. Your doctor will discuss your options with you and help you choose which is best for your situation. Some patients may also opt for a combination of these treatment options. Listed below are some of the treatment options available for patients with this cancer. Read on to learn more about your options and determine what is right for you.

Photodynamic therapy

While there are some possible side effects of photodynamic therapy for mesotheliomas, they are minimal compared to other forms of cancer treatment. Patients can expect to experience swelling in the area treated, but there are usually few to no other side effects. Patients may be a bit sensitive to sunlight and bright indoor lights for a couple of days after treatment. Nevertheless, photodynamic therapy is safe and easy to perform. The main disadvantage of photodynamic therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment is that it is not appropriate for mesothelioma that has spread to other parts of the body. Hence, patients should discuss any possible side effects with their doctors before receiving the treatment.

This treatment involves a laser light application to the patient's lungs. The laser light is powerful enough to activate the photosensitizer, but the dose is small enough that it does not harm healthy tissue. Doctors apply the light for 5 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the tumor. The therapy may be given intraoperatively, which is commonly done for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Its aim is to destroy microscopic cancer cells in the lungs and chest.

In 2004, a study showed that the addition of photodynamic therapy to surgery improved patients' survival times. Patients with mesothelioma who received surgery and PDT lived an average of 13 to 14 months. The researchers concluded that the therapy is promising but should be further studied. A more recent study in 2019 used PDT combined with chemotherapy and proton radiation therapy to treat mesothelioma patients. It resulted in a median survival of 30.3 months, which is a significant improvement over the life expectancy of those with mesothelioma.

Photodynamic therapy has fewer side effects than other non-surgical methods. The photosynthesizer used in the phototherapy treatment is absorbed by most of the mesothelioma cells, so it is less likely to kill healthy tissue near the tumor. The treatment can be performed using an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube that helps the surgeon focus on the tumor. As a result, patients typically recover quickly after the procedure, making it an excellent choice for patients with mesothelioma.

Radiation therapy

Radiation is a common cancer treatment, and it is often used to kill mesothelioma cells. The radiation may be delivered through X-rays, gamma rays, or high-energy charged particles. It works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. When a cancer cell becomes damaged, it cannot grow or divide, and its DNA will break down over time. This type of therapy can kill cancer cells while minimizing side effects.

When considering radiation therapy, physicians must carefully evaluate the tumor size and location. Because tumors often form in separate areas of the body, it can be difficult to accurately target them with radiation. To help avoid damaging nearby tissue, doctors may use intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which can vary the strength, pattern, and shape of radiation beams. This allows doctors to precisely target the cancer and minimize side effects.

Another treatment for mesothelioma is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually delivered directly into the abdomen. It may also be administered through an IV. The two most common chemotherapies used for peritoneal mesothelioma are pemetrexed and carboplatin. Patients should discuss side effects with their doctors before they undergo radiation therapy.

Other cancer treatments include immunotherapy. These treatments can help boost the body's immune system's natural defenses against cancer. Two recently approved immunotherapy drugs are ipilimumab and nivolumab. These drugs can improve the symptoms of all types of mesothelioma and improve the immune system's function. The combination of these drugs has shown great promise in biphasic mesothelioma, and is now available for the treatment of recurrent malignancies.

The use of radiation therapy with immunotherapy is a promising way to improve the immune system response and kill tumor cells. Immunotherapy and radiation therapy can improve each other's efficacy. Radiation therapy and immunotherapy can work together to increase tumor antigen presentation and enhance antitumor responses. Combined therapy may be the most effective treatment for mesothelioma.

Surgery

While the stage and location of mesothelioma cancer determine the treatment options, there are other considerations, such as patient preference, as well as the type of tumor. For stage I mesotheliomas, surgery may be a viable option, as the tumor may be resectable. It is also important to note that the extent of the cancer and whether it has spread to nearby tissues will all influence the treatment option.

During the surgery, the surgeon will make an incision between the ribs or in the abdominal wall. A thin camera-like instrument is inserted through this incision. The surgeon will then remove tissue samples from the affected area and conduct a cytological examination. In some cases, the surgeon will also collect fluid from the chest or abdomen to be analyzed by a pathologist. For patients with advanced mesothelioma, this procedure will help them get the cancer under control.

Some surgeons perform surgery for mesothelioma patients to relieve the pain associated with the disease. In some cases, this type of surgery is a last resort. It is effective in easing pain and improving breathing. But there are some risks and side effects associated with this procedure. It is important to discuss all of the details of your treatment plan with your surgeon before undergoing surgery.

While surgery is not an effective treatment for all patients with mesothelioma, it can significantly extend your life. A doctor will remove the cancer and then use chemotherapy to relieve symptoms and improve the condition. In addition, doctors often combine surgery with radiation therapy and chemotherapy to improve the overall outcome of mesothelioma. When it is performed correctly, this form of mesothelioma cancer treatment can improve your quality of life, and is the best choice if you are diagnosed with stage one or two disease.

The most common side effects associated with mesothelioma surgery are swelling and pain around the incision. Depending on the extent of the operation, the pain will lessen in a few days. Some patients experience coughing up a small amount of blood. It usually goes away within a few days. In addition, mild bleeding and oozing may occur. The overall side effects of this surgery are minimal and should not last longer than four to six weeks.

Chemotherapy

In the early stages, mesotheliomas grow slowly and don't cause any symptoms. However, if the cancer begins to grow rapidly and symptoms start appearing, treatment can be started. While early stage mesotheliomas are usually difficult to treat, clinical trials are an option for some patients. These trials are run in large medical centers and involve thousands of people.

There are different types of chemotherapy drugs used by doctors for mesothelioma patients. Each has its own benefits and side effects. Some are best for first-line treatment of mesothelioma patients, while others are more effective for patients with recurring cancer. You should discuss all treatment options with your doctor, as there isn't one single cure for the disease.

To identify which drugs work best, doctors may use immunotherapy first. This type of treatment is similar to standard chemotherapy, but it's often given to patients who have failed other treatments. The goal is to improve patient survival by using a combination of drugs. For instance, some patients may respond better to a combination of drugs than others, and researchers are investigating new combinations of drugs that may be more effective.

The most common type of chemotherapy for mesothelioma involves repeated sessions every three or four weeks. These sessions last about an hour or so. In total, patients typically receive six to eight cycles of chemotherapy, with rest periods in between. The effectiveness of the treatment is assessed after every two to three cycles. If the treatment is working, it may be continued longer. During the chemotherapy sessions, doctors introduce potent drugs into the body. To make sure the drugs are effective, the patients have to be prepared for them. The doctors will discuss the types of chemotherapy and what alternative treatments are available.

The type of chemotherapy used for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the disease. Early treatment is crucial to prevent the cancer from recurring. During these treatments, the cancer cells may be present outside the peritoneum and pleura. The doctor will perform a series of tests to identify whether there are any cells outside these structures. This will help determine the best type of chemotherapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment.