Mesothelioma Information - Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment

If there is a large amount of fluid causing breathlessness, the best treatment is to drain it. A local anesthetic is given and then a small flexible plastic tube is inserted into the chest. Once the fluid has fully drained away, a chemical is introduced into the area around the lung to stick the lining of the lung to the chest wall. This procedure, termed pleurodesis, reduces the chance of the pleural fluid reaccumulating. The tube is then removed. Pleurodesis is only done when the diagnosis has been confirmed. Should it be necessary to use thoracoscopy to make the diagnosis, the biopsies, drainage and pleurodesis are done at the same session. Biopsy involves putting an instrument through the chest wall, and mesothelioma may then grow outwards towards the skin. This can be prevented by early radiotherapy, which can also be extremely helpful in controlling any pain. At present the role of chemotherapy is uncertain. Although a proportion of patients have obtained benefit, results are often disappointing. All patients with mesothelioma are given have the opportunity to discuss treatment options with a specialist oncologist and respiratory physician. Recently there has been interest in chest surgery to remove the entire tumor, but this is a major undertaking which can only be considered in a minority of patients, and would need to be considered very carefully by an experienced chest surgeon. Although it is usually possible to keep pleural fluid under control, breathlessness due to the tumor enlarging and becoming thicker can be a problem. In those who have chest pain, radiotherapy may not be as effective as well-managed medication prescribed by an experienced professional. Survival depends, usually between six months and three years, the average being 18 months. Where mesothelioma has been caused by occupation, doctors must report death to the local coroner.

The Stages of Mesothelioma Treatment

Localized Malignant Mesothelioma (Stage I) If the cancer is only in one place in the chest or abdomen, mesothelioma treatment will probably be surgery to remove part of the pleura and some of the tissue around it.

If the cancer is found in a larger part of the pleura, treatment may need one of the following:
- Surgery to remove the pleura and the tissue near it to relieve symptoms, with or without radiation therapy after surgery.
- Surgery to remove sections of the pleura, the lung, part of the diaphragm, and part of the lining around the heart.
- External beam radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
- A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy given inside the chest.
- A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.

Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma (Stages II, III, and IV)
for advanced malignant mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment may be one of the following:
- Draining of fluid in the chest or abdomen (thoracentesis or paracentesis) to reduce discomfort.
- Surgery to relieve symptoms.
- Radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
- Chemotherapy.
- A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy given in the chest or abdomen.


Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma
Treatment depends on many factors, including where the cancer came back and what treatment the patient received before. Clinical trials are testing new treatments.



Mesothelioma Treatment Centers