How to Treat Malignant Mesothelioma

The major organs of the body, namely the heart, stomach and lungs, are lined with a tissue called mesothelium. People that have been exposed to asbestos inhalation due to job related atmosphere or the environment they live in are susceptible and prone to developing a rare type of cancer known as mesothelioma (cancerous tumor), which attacks the mesothelium tissue lining of major organs. Since this is due to asbestos inhalation, the mesothelium of the lungs is generally where this type of rare cancer begins, creating a deterioration of the respiratory tract. What makes this type of cancer so serious is that it can often take years, 30 to 40 years, between actual asbestos exposure and the time the cancer turns up. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is detected and diagnosed in the latent stage of the disease, which makes treatment limited and prognosis grim; though when detected early enough, there are treatments available.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Surgically removing the cancerous portion of the lung or the pleura, which is the lining of the lung, are options that may be utilized for treating mesothelioma. However, this type of surgical treatment is done to generally keep the patient more comfortable and improve their quality of life, but it will not cure the cancer. It can help decrease the fluid build up, lessen pain and improve the patient’s ability to breath.

2. Chemotherapy is often used to hinder the spread of the cancer through the use of drugs that are given in pill form or injected. Chemotherapy injections for mesothelioma are either administered intrapleurally (straight into the chest cavity) or intraperotineally (straight into the abdominal cavity). Chemotherapy can help prolong the patient’s life.

3. Radiation therapy is the most recommended and preferred treatment for mesothelioma. The type of radiation therapy used for mesothelioma is external beam radiation, which directs a beam of radiation from the outside of the body at the affected lung area. Radiation therapy for mesothelioma is another treatment that helps to improve the quality of life of the patient, but does not cure the cancer. It is usually done in conjunction with surgical treatment for mesothelioma.

4. Clinical trials are experimental treatments that mesothelioma patients can volunteer to be part of. They are not a guarantee cure, but are studies that utilize possible new and better treatments that may one day prove valuable in treating that specific disease.

5. Alternative therapies and treatments are options that some patients choose to try. These types of treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, vitamin therapy, massage and even hypnosis. Some patients even choose to pursue alternative treatments that are available in other countries.

Tips & Warnings

• A person that knows they have been exposed to asbestos at some point in their life should disclose this information to their doctor. This will help and encourage your doctor to aggressively monitor your health and scrutinize possible symptoms that are pointing more directly at mesothelioma.
• Early diagnosis and intervention is truly the key toward treating mesothelioma.