Treatments for Malignant Mesothelioma – Overview
- Pleural Mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lung;
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity;
- Pericardial Mesothelioma, which occurs lining of the heart
Symptoms of the disease do not usually appear until anywhere from ten to forty years after time of exposure. Sypmtoms can include:
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abdominal pain and bloating
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chest pain and breathing difficulties
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cough and swelling of the nec and face
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fatigue, decreased appetite and weight loss
Because the symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other conditions, diagnosing can be delayed and difficult. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms like above, it is important to get the right diagnosis from an experienced, qualified doctor.
Early diagnosis is one key to prolonging survival time. Other key factors are age, general health, stage of the cancer, and whether surgery is an option. Malignant mesothelioma affects more men than women and the average age of diagnosis is sixty years old, however the number of cases for women and the younger population has been increasing in recent years. The average survival time varies from four to eighteen months, however new treatment options are showing promise in extending life expectancy.
Research for treatments and cures for mesothelioma is being conducted worldwide, although at present there is no known cure. The three most common and standard types of treatment are:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Chemotherapy combined with drug therapy
- Multimodality Therapy – uses combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and drug therapy
- Immunotherapy – activates immune system cells to attack the cancer
- Gene Therapy – replacing or suppressing cancerous cells to cure or stop the spreading of cancer
- Laser Therapy or Targeted Radiation combined with drug therapy
- Antiangiogenesis Therapy- uses drugs or other substances to stop tumors from making new blood vessels
