Treating Mesothelioma 10 Best Methods in Treating Mesothelioma
2
This Article Is Bro ugh t To You By http: //ww w.asbestos-mesothe lioma-help.info This Article Is Bro ugh t To You By http: //ww w.asbestos-mesothe lioma-help.info Treating Mesothelioma: 10 best methods in treating Mesothelioma By Desmond U. Okosi As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on t he 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 diff icult 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 thora coscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laprosco py. Ofte n, doc tors will a dvise palliativ e procedures like chest t ube drainage and pleurodesis, th oraco scopy and pleurod esis, pleuroperitonia l shunt , or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease. 2. Radiation is prescribed aggressivel y fo r mesothelio ma patients and is of ten given in combination with surgery or in order to c ontrol symptoms, palliativ ely. Resea rch on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiatio n 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 ce lls and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. T he aim is t o preve nt spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuva nt therapy; to annihilate any re mains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relie ve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend p rescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positiv e results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery. 4. Biolo gical thera py using interleukin 2. 5. Immun otherapy where the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biolo gical response modifier s, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immun e system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote g row th of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.
Transcript of Treating Mesothelioma 10 Best Methods in Treating Mesothelioma
8/8/2019 Treating Mesothelioma 10 Best Methods in Treating Mesothelioma
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/treating-mesothelioma-10-best-methods-in-treating-mesothelioma 1/2
This Article Is Brought To You By http://www.asbestos-mesothelioma-help.info
This Article Is Brought To You By http://www.asbestos-mesothelioma-help.info
Treating Mesothelioma: 10 best methods in treating
MesotheliomaBy Desmond U. Okosi
As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progressionof 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 isdifficult 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 radiationtherapy 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.
8/8/2019 Treating Mesothelioma 10 Best Methods in Treating Mesothelioma
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/treating-mesothelioma-10-best-methods-in-treating-mesothelioma 2/2
This Article Is Brought To You By http://www.asbestos-mesothelioma-help.info
This Article Is Brought To You By http://www.asbestos-mesothelioma-help.info
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 andintense 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 apatient’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 wouldbe that recommended by the oncologist or physician.
If you or a member of your family or friends are looking to start a Mesothelioma Lawsuit or more infoabout Asbestos Mesothelioma , you should check out http://www.asbestos-mesothelioma-help.info .
They provide all the information you'll ever need
