10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. Biological therapy using interleukin 2. 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. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.

Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician. 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. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.

Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. 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. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. 2.

In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.

Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. 9. 10. Immunotherapy where the body's own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease.

Often, complementary medicines are also used. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. 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. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.

Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. 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. 3. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively.

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. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug. 5. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser.