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Mesothelioma Treatment Information
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the
cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health.
Standard mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and
chemotherapy. Sometimes, these mesothelioma treatment options are combined.
Check out the clinical trials on mesothelioma treatment for more information.
Surgery is a common mesothelioma cancer treatment. The doctor may remove part of
the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer
of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma treatment), a lung may be removed in an
operation called a pneumonectomy. For mesothelioma treatment, sometimes part of
the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also
removed.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy
rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the
cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine
(external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through
thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal
radiation therapy).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the
body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein
(intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting
chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To relieve mesothelioma symptom and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or
a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The
procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of
fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube
in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and
surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.
Are New Mesothelioma Treatments Being Studied?
Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) is sponsoring mesothelioma treatment & clinical trials (research studies
with people) that are designed to find new mesothelioma treatments and better
ways to use for current mesothelioma treatment option. Before any new treatment
can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out
whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease.
Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many
patients with mesothelioma. People interested in taking part in a clinical trial
should talk with their doctor.
For more free legal information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Lawsuits, please use the
links below:
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