How Doctors Treat Mesothelioma
Doctors can combine treatment strategies when diagnosing mesothelioma. They might recommend surgery to remove cancerous tissues or reduce symptoms. They might also prescribe chemotherapy drugs such as pemetrexed or Cisplatin to shrink tumors or reduce symptoms.
They might also try a procedure called pleurodesis that can make the lung lining scar and stick together, stopping the build-up of fluid. You can receive chemotherapy orally or injections into a vein order to penetrate all mesothelioma cancerous cells.
Surgery
In addition to conducting a physical exam your doctor might also order imaging scans of your chest or abdomen. These tests will help determine whether your symptoms are due to mesothelioma or another condition. Your doctor may also require a biopsy in order to collect a small sample of tissue for lab examination. These samples will help determine the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from and help you plan your treatment.
The purpose of mesothelioma surgery removal is to remove as much tumor material as possible. This may cure the cancer in certain cases but is generally utilized to ease symptoms and improve quality of life for those suffering from advanced mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma cancer which has spread to the lining of the chest cavity can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. Surgeons can insert tubes to drain this fluid (pleurodesis) and inject medicine into the chest to prevent it from re-accumulating (pleurectomy/decortication). This surgery won’t cure mesothelioma, but it can reduce symptoms like pressure on the lungs.
Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma which has spread into the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum). The most popular procedure is two-part surgery referred to as hyperthermic and cytoreductive intraperitoneal therapy, or HIPEC. This involves removing both the tumors and a part of the abdominal tissues including the gallbladder and liver as well as the pancreas and stomach.
Before having mesothelioma surgery doctors will request tests for pulmonary function to determine how well your lungs work. These tests will also inform your doctor know if it is safe to undergo the procedure.
Chemotherapy
Doctors may prescribe chemotherapy drugs for people with pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer. These medications are used to kill cancerous cells within the body. These drugs are administered intravenously or through a vein and are usually used in conjunction with surgery and/or radiotherapy. They can also be the only option for those who cannot undergo surgery because of their health.
Mesothelioma is often treated using the combination of cisplatin and carboplatin. These drugs are delivered via intravenously, and they kill cancerous cells that grow too fast. They also stop tumors from growing after surgery or if cancer has already spread.
Patients with mesothelioma who are receiving chemotherapy should ask their doctor for advice on how to manage possible side-effects, such as nausea and vomit. They must also inform their doctor about any other supplements or medications they’re taking, because many drugs can interact with chemotherapy.
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they must consult with a specialist such as an oncologist or pulmonologist, to understand the treatment options available to them. Anyone considering treatments should be aware of their goals, as well as the possible adverse effects and how long they will last.
If you suffer from recurrent mesothelioma, which is the time when cancer returns after treatment, doctors may try a different type of medication or targeted therapy to stop tumors from advancing. The targeted therapies aim to block the blood flow to tumors, so that they don’t get the nutrients they need. A form of targeted therapy known as bevacizumab (Avastin) is often used to treat mesothelioma recurrently and other cancers, such as lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy involves sending X-rays with high energy or particle beams to malignant cells of mesothelioma which causes them to die. It has been shown to extend survival and improve the quality of life in patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural by shrinking tumors. It also stops mesothelioma tumor cells from replicating and spreading which reduces the risk of the recurrence. It is most effective when used in combination with other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy.
Radiation oncologists are the ones who deliver mesothelioma treatment. They work with a team to ensure that you receive the highest quality treatment. They will mark the part of your body they intend to treat using the machine, and they may utilize immobilization devices or molds to keep you in place during treatment.
During radiation, the doctor will monitor your condition through video and audio connections. The actual treatment only lasts for a few seconds during each session, however the setting up can take a few hours. You will probably need to schedule several sessions over a period of time.
One type of mesothelioma radiation therapy called intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses a computer program to help provide precise radiation doses. It can improve outcomes for patients as it allows radiation specialists to concentrate on tumors more precisely and also avoid healthy tissues around.
External beam radiation (EBRT) is the most common form of radiation that is used to treat mesothelioma. This is a linear accelerator machine that emits ionizing radiation. Radiation Oncologists can target specific areas in the abdomen and chest with this treatment. They usually apply it prior to or during extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery for mesothelioma of the pleural region. They may also apply it prior to or during pleurectomy using decortication (P/D), an operation to spare the lungs of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle aspiration
This test is performed by the use of a flexible, narrow tube to examine the airways of your lungs. An ultrasound probe is connected to the tube. This probe creates computerized, three-dimensional images of the structures inside the body, including lymph nodes and any tumors that may be present. Doctors then search for abnormalities, such mesothelioma for instance and then collect tissue or fluid samples to test them for cancer cells. Doctors can inject dye into your blood to highlight the areas they are examining. This aids doctors in determining the extent of mesothelioma in your body.
This procedure is used for confirming a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma and determining if are at a point that surgical treatment is required. It can also be used to determine whether your mesothelioma is spreading to lymph nodes, which can help your physician determine the best course action for you.
The EBUS-TBNA system combines endoscopic visualization with high frequency ultrasound imaging to permit the doctor to identify the lymph node lesions that require to be examined and collect cytological samples. Studies have shown that EBUS-TBNA can provide a more accurate and less invasive alternative to mediastinoscopy in the staging of MPM patients.
The sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA was 94.6% and the sensitivity was 100%, compared to a 50% sensitivity for traditional transbronchial needle aspiration on its own. The EBUS TBNA procedure led to an accurate assessment of the underlying lesions, including a diagnosis for sarcoidosis (34 epithelioid; 7 biphasic; and 1 sarcomatoid) in all 48 evaluated cases. The effectiveness of EBUS TBNA in detecting metastatic nodal diseases is comparable to MRI for this patient group. However, its effectiveness is dependent on the precision of quick on-site assessment.
Mediastinoscopy
This procedure involves examining the lung area between, and behind the breastbone, or sternum. Mesothelioma is a common occurrence in this region, and doctors use mediastinoscopy to identify the condition, as well as other pleural diseases, like sarcoidosis or tuberculosis. Once treatment mesothelioma is numb by local anesthesia, doctors insert an instrument that is lit called a mediastinoscope in the chest cavity. They can then take samples of tissue and look for signs of cancer like enlarged lymph nodes.
A doctor might also employ a needle to remove fluids from the pleura, the lung’s lining. This procedure is performed for examination under a microscop. This procedure is typically performed when a person has symptoms such as wheezing or difficulty breathing. This procedure is called a needle biopsy and is less invasive than surgical mesothelioma removal.
Our mesothelioma specialists are able to perform mediastinoscopy, an even more invasive procedure. A doctor inserts a bronchoscope, or a similar tool into the trachea and lungs of your in order to check for abnormalities or enlarged nodes. The doctor will take a sample of tissue and send it off to a lab for testing.
Mediastinoscopy is an outpatient procedure which means the patient can go home following the procedure. It is important to know the risks involved with surgery before deciding whether it is the right choice for you. This involves serious risks, such as bleeding, blood clots inside the lung or lung, lung damage, changes in the heart rhythm, and pneumonia. Additionally the surgical incision may be painful for a few days following the procedure. The doctor can wrap the incision with wound glue or tape-like strips to help it heal.
