Treatment Options for Mesothelioma

There are several options for treatment of mesothelioma. Which treatment, or combination of treatments depends on factors such as: location of the cancer; stage of the disease; patient age, general health and personal circumstance. 'Standard' cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments are often combined.

Surgery
Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma, removing part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), removal of a lung may be performed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes removal of part of the diaphragm may be required, depending on extent of spreading of the cancer.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, involving use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors may be used. Radiation therapy aims to attack the cancer cells in the affected treated area. The radiation may be administered externally from a machine or by introducing radioactive materials through thin plastic tubes directly to the area where the cancer cells are found - this is known as internal radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer in order to attack and kill the cancer cells. These anti-cancer mesothelioma drugs are administered by injection directly into a vein.

Paracentesis
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be painful and are caused by a build up of fluid in the chest or abdomen. A procedure may be recommended to drain this fluid and help reduce these painful symptoms. This procedure of removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis.

New Treatments for Mesothelioma
There have been ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to find new and more effective treatments. This process allows doctors to determine how safe and effective these new treatments are before recommending them to other patients. Participation in clinical trials is an option that may be offered to patients with mesothelioma. Your doctor will advise if this is appropriate.