The most common problem which is associated with the effective treatment of Mesothelioma is that by the time the symptoms appear and the doctor is able to diagnose it to be Mesothelioma by that time the cancer generally reaches a stage from which its cure becomes very difficult. Prompt attention to symptoms, leading to early diagnosis and treatment can is most cases result in a cure for some patients. For others, prompt attention to symptoms can improve the likelihood that treatment can extend their life and relieve many of their symptoms. Keeping all this mind there are present several treatment options which a patient suffering from Mesothelioma can try out.
Out of these treatment options it is the duty of your doctor to decide which of these options is best suited in your case. this decision is made by him keeping in mind several factors like the stage in which the Mesothelioma has reached, the age of the patient, the location of the Mesothelioma cancer as well as your present health status. All this information will help him in deciding the best medical treatment which suits you the best.
In general, there are present three different types of mesothelioma namely Pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma… Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal cavity and pericardial mesothelioma attacks the lining around the heart.
The most prevalent and widely used forms of malignant mesothelioma include:
Surgery, where in the cancer is removed surgically from the body. Further, the surgery could be of 3 types; it could be diagnostic, palliative, or potentially curative.
The second treatment method used for curing mesothelioma is that of Chemotherapy where effective drugs are used to fight the cancerous mass of cells. Here chemicals are added to the body with the aim of allowing them to stop the growth of the cancerous cells and to destroy the ones already present. Anticancer, or chemotherapy drugs, work to prevent cancer cells from multiplying.
Generally it is seen that most mesothelioma patients undergo some type of chemotherapy. Several types of chemicals are used, either alone or in combination. Drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein or muscle which go through the entire body. In some cases, specialists can administer the chemotherapy directly into the pleural or peritoneal cavity. Chemotherapy drugs are generally very toxic. Some of the more common side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss or appetite, hair loss, and fatigue.
Radiation Therapy employs the use of high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells and as a treatment option for mesothelioma. High-energy x-rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
It is seen that when treatment plans are made for patient suffering from mesothelioma often two or more of these treatment regimens are combined together to bring about a more comprehensive and an effective treatment regime. .This is also because of the fact that relatively low response rate of single-agent therapy is seen in treating mesothelioma, therefore a combinations of these drugs have been used to increase their effectiveness. Although some researchers have reported high response rates to these therapies, these rates have not been consistent, and more research is necessary.