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Overview
Mesothelioma---a cancer that develops due to asbestos exposure---is one of the hardest types of malignancies to treat. Because the disease is so aggressive, it oftentimes can't be fully removed with surgery. Therefore, common treatments aim to lessen the amount of cancer in the body and lessen the impact of painful symptoms, rather than cure mesothelioma entirely. Several new anti-cancer techniques are being developed that may hold some promise against mesothelioma.
Treatment Overview
There are 3 common treatment options for mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Some patients may undergo all 3 of these common treatments in their battle against cancer. Other patients---especially those with late-stage mesothelioma---may opt not to undergo potentially painful and debilitating aggressive treatments. There are also experimental clinical treatment trials available for mesothelioma patients.
Surgery
Surgery helps slow disease progression and ease symptoms. If the mesothelioma is at an early stage, surgeons may be able to remove the cancer. Otherwise, the surgeons may try to take out as much of the malignancy as possible. They may remove the protective linings of the lungs or abdomen or remove a cancerous lung. In cases of pleural mesothelioma, surgery may be needed to relieve fluid that builds up in the chest.
Radiation
Radiation is usually used to treat pleural mesothelioma. Because so many organs lie near the lungs, like the heart and spinal cord, low doses must be used. In some cases, surgeons may remove a lung so that more radiation can be administered to the surrounding area. In patients with late-stage mesothelioma, radiation can be used to ease symptoms such as pain or labored breathing.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is generally a palliative treatment for mesothelioma---it helps shrink tumors but not get rid of them entirely. Chemotherapy is usually injected or administered in pill form, but in some cases heated chemotherapy drugs may be applied to the chest or abdominal cavity itself. This allows the drugs to have a greater effect without damaging tissues in other areas of the body.
Potential
Several new treatments may hold hope for mesothelioma patients. Anti-angiogenic therapy---drugs that shrink the blood vessels that feed tumors---is one type of treatment that may help against mesothelioma. Immunotherapy is another cancer-fighting technique being studied. This type of treatment encourages the body's own immune system to destroy cancerous cells. Patients who are interested in participating in a clinical trial can contact the National Cancer Institute for information (see Resources).
