10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma
As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the
location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age
as well as state of health of the patient.
It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will
decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to
treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options
include:
1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be
recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means
thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery,
mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often,
doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube
drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis,
pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms
of mesothelioma rather than the disease.
2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma
patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in
order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using
radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in
progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding
healthy tissue.
3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients
respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and
prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not
considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the
disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant
therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post
surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative
chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along
with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and
this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by
surgery.
4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.
5. Immunotherapy where the body's own immune system is
stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers,
BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the
immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth
of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse
processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread
of cancer.
6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene
sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds,
replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.
7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.
8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is
activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical
removal of cancerous tissues.
9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed
by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid
accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid
accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.
10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery
accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.
Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be
holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient's physical,
mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.
In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for
clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in
several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on
the line of treatment would be that recommended by the
oncologist or physician.