Conventional therapies are of little use in Mesothelioma Treatment. The survival time after diagnosis is around 6 to 12 months. The spread of malignant cells to the underlying tissue and other organs in the pleural cavity, the pleural cavity encouraging local metastasis by exfoliated cells, the long inactive period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease are among the chief reasons for the malignancy not responding to treatments.
Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor or to cure the patient. Palliative surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove or in cases where the patient is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed.
Mesothelioma is highly resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are mainly used relieve symptoms due to tumor metastasis. The Food and Drug Administration approved in February 2004 the use of pemetrexed, brand named Alimta, for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma has reacted positively to certain treatments using immunotherapy. The attempt to boost immune response using intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guxe9rin (BCG) had not effect in Mesothelioma treatment and the patients who underwent this treatment had several side effects. Immunotherapy involving interferon alpha has been able to reduce tumor by 50% in certain patients. The side effects of this treatment were minimal.
Heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, a procedure developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute is a breakthrough in Mesothelioma treatment. He is able to remove a larger amount of tumor by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent in the abdomen. In this treatment, high concentrations of selected drugs can be administrated into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. The fluid used is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained out. When the drug is heated to 40 to 48 degree Celsius, it increases the penetration of drugs into tissues. The heating also damages the malignant cells.
New treatment approaches such as gene therapy are under clinical trials. Age, contributing health problems, or advanced state of disease may make aggressive treatment impossible. In these cases, palliative care which treats the symptoms is ideal.
Related Articles of Interest :
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Mesothelioma Treatment: What You Should Know
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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There are certain factors that influence the type of treatment a patient with malignant mesothelioma may undergo. These include the type of cancer, the location of the cancer, the stage or extent to which it has spread at diagnosis, whether the cancer can be removed...
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Mesothelioma Treatment Options
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Mesothelioma treatment options vary according to the age and over-all health of the patient, and the extent of the disease. Treatment options are often determined by the intensity of damage caused by the tumor. There are three staging systems currently in use for pleural mesothelioma....
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Mesothelioma Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) for use in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is the first drug approved for this condition. Mesothelioma treatment can involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination...
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Traditional Mesothelioma Treatment
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Traditional mesothelioma treatments are the standard treatments for malignant mesothelioma, which is a cancerous disease affecting the mesothelial cells in tissues of the human body. Treatment methods of mesothelioma diverge due to a number of factors, such as the location of the cancer cell, the...
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Mesothelioma Treatment Costs: A Guide
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Mesothelioma is a deadly form cancer developed through exposure to asbestos. Treatment for mesothelioma depends on various factors, such as where the cancer is located, the actual stage of the disease, the patient’s age, and the patient’s general health. Generally, mesothelioma treatment is considered to...
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A Guide To Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma is neoplasm arising from the serosal lining of the peritoneal and pericardial cavities. Primary tumors arising from the peritoneal mesothelioma are extremely rare. The accurate diagnosis of the diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma is important because it almost invariably has a fatal outcome. In...
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Mesothelioma Treatment: An Overview
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Mesothelioma is a deadly form cancer developed through exposure to asbestos. The treatment procedure for mesothelioma depends on various factors, such as where the cancer is located, the actual stage of the disease, patient’s age, and the patient’s general health. The most common treatment procedures...
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Mesothelioma Treatment Forums
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Mesothelioma is the term used for a cancerous tumor, which involves the mesothelioma cells of lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Medical specialists in mesothelioma provide treatment to the patients after assessing the stage of the mesothelioma in their specific case. They analyze the location of...
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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment
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Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a dreadful and life-threatening cancer, caused by continuous and long exposure to asbestos. It is a tumor that affects the lining of the abdomen that protects the contents of the abdomen and provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move...
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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Information
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Peritoneal mesothelioma is a malignancy that targets the lining of the abdomen. This form of cancer, like pleural mesothelioma, is mostly a result of exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining that guards the abdomen’s insides, and which also gives a lubricating fluid that...