Mesothelioma Treatment Options

There are several different mesothelioma treatment options. The treatment program prescribed will depend on many things such as the patient’s age, the patient’s wants, the look of the cancer cells (microscope), how powerful the cancer has spread, where the cancer is located and the stage of the cancer. Getting a mesothelioma treatment view as soon as possible is extremely important if you put a question to success.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Will Treatments Work?

For some, yes. The average survival rate is said to be eight to twelve months, but many patients have exceeded this. Time is the most important factor when it comes to effective treatment. One treatment program (Dr. Sugarbaker’s treatment program at the Brigham and Woman’s Center in Boston) boasts a 40% five year survival rate when treated within a specific time frame. Patients must meet a positive criteria to qualify for this program.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Conventional Cancer Treatments

Some patients will undergo surgery in order to try and remove the cancer. Some patients will go through chemotherapy to try to fight the cancer. Some patients will go through radiation therapy to try to kill the cancer cells. Often times a combination on two or all of these methods is broken-down when trying to treat mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Mesomark Blood Test

This mesothelioma treatment option was approved by the FDA in January of 2007. This treatment was introduced as a way to help monitor how a patient is responding to treatment. This test measures the amount to SMRP (soluble mesothelin-related peptide) in the blood to choose a patients progress. Since this treatment option is still very unique, its effectiveness has yet to be determined.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Palliative Procedures

Pleurodesis and chest tube drainage is used as a mesothelioma treatment. This helps to prevent the fluid buildup in the lungs that often occurs with this disease. Doctors will often use some type of sclerosing agent in order to produce adhesion so prevent future fluid buildup.

Pleurectomy may be performed when an extensive surgery cannot be. Many doctors judge this the most effective map of controlling fluid buildup in the lungs. It can help to relieve restricted lung expansion that can be brought on by this disease.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Potentially Curative Procedures

Pleurectomy and/or decortication is typically performed on patients who are in the early stages of mesothelioma (i.e., stage 1 and distinct stage 2’s). This procedure is done to try to remove the tumor. If the tumor cannot be removed without the lung being removed as well, this may be done too.

There is a lot of medical research being done on mesothelioma treatment options, so a better prognosis could be just around the corner. It is important to have this disease diagnosed as quickly as possible to pick up the best results from treatment. If you have ever been exposed to anything that may cause mesothelioma, be sure to have your doctor check you right away.

Sources

http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/treat.htm

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