Mesothelioma Treatment Options by Stage

Mesothelioma Treatment Options by Stage
Mesothelioma Resource Center

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there are many different mesothelioma treatment options. Standard treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes doctors may use a combination of these mesothelioma treatments. Most current treatment usually includes some form of surgery and may be combined with chemotherapy or radiation.

Because the various stages of malignant mesothelioma indicate how far the cancer has progressed, each stage may respond to different forms of treatment. Below is a look at common mesothelioma treatment options for each stage of the disease.

Stage I
Since the cancer in Stage I is confined to certain areas of the body and has not spread, it can often be removed using surgery or other means. Mesothelioma treatment options for Stage I patients include:

Pleurectomy and decortication: The surgical removal of part or all of the surface of a diseased organ, such as tissue covering the lungs and pleural cavity. This may help relieve the pain associated with mesothelioma and improve the patient's quality of life.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy: Surgery in which the cancerous lung is removed, as well as portions of the pericardium, diaphragm and parietal pleura.
Radiation therapy: This mesothelioma treatment involves the use of high-energy radiation to help shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells, often used when a patient is too ill to undergo major surgery.
Clinical trials: The patient may benefit from treatment using a new anticancer drug or a combined treatment using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Stages II and III
Mesothelioma treatment options during these stages typically focus on palliative care, which involves relieving the painful symptoms of the illness. A cure at Stages II and III is usually not likely. For patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma, treatment may include one or a combination of the following:

Surgery: To remove the tumor and/or to reduce the accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdomen.
Pleurodesis or paracentesis: Removal of accumulated fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity using a needle or catheter.
Pleurectomy and decortication: The removal of part or all of the surface of a diseased organ, such as tissue covering the lungs and pleural cavity. This mesothelioma treatment may help relieve the pain associated with the disease and improve the patient's quality of life.
Chemotherapy: With an anticancer agent.
Clinical Trials: Combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agents or chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. A clinical trial may also involve placing chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdominal cavity to reduce fluid build-up and help shrink the tumor.
Stage IV
In this stage of mesothelioma, treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to help relieve symptoms. In some cases, participation in a clinical trial will allow the patient to benefit from the latest mesothelioma treatment alternatives. However, since the cancer has spread to other tissues or organs of the body, a cure is not possible. In general, the goal of care in Stage IV malignant mesothelioma is to manage pain as effectively as possible. This can be done through various pain medications, medical procedures or alternative methods for pain management.

Unfortunately, there are no known approaches to mesothelioma treatment that result in a complete response, or disappearance of the cancer. Most treatments are only palliative, meaning they provide relief, but no cure.

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