10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

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.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on
the line of treatment. The disease is difficult 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 radiation therapy 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.

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 and intense 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 a patient'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 would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.