Mesothelioma Treatment Options

The following contains details of mesothelioma treatment options, symptoms, and help for victims of mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused from exposure to asbestos.  There are many medically approved types of treatments for each type of mesothelioma which include pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial mesothelioma.  The types are based on where the mesothelioma is located or where it started in the body.  The symptoms and treatments for each type of mesothelioma will vary.

There is not a cure for mesothelioma, at least not yet.  There are clinical trials being conducted with the hopes of finding a cure one day soon.  But there are treatment options that will help patients with the pain as well as extend their lives.  The three major options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.  These three options can be used as a combination strategy. 

In order to determine which of these options would be best for the patient will depend on a very thorough medical examination by the physician.  There are many factors that will affect which option or options are best for you.  There are alternative therapies as well, including hypnosis or homeopathic methods.  Speak to your doctor to learn more about what treatment is best for you.
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New Research Findings on Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma Patients

Findings of a recent medical research study are favoring a less extensive surgery treatment for victims of pleural mesothelioma were recently published in an important medical journal that tracks new developments in cancer research. The study showed that a surgery called pleurectomy/decortications (P/D), in which surgeons operate and remove part of the lining surrounding the lungs and possibly part, but not all of a lung is more effective than a more extensive surgery.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of the types of asbestos-caused cancers that have killed hundreds of thousands of victims. It develops after people are exposed to asbestos, usually in a workplace or occupational environment, and inhale tiny, microscopic particles of the material. These particles then work their way into the linings of a victim’s lungs, heart or abdominal organs and, over a span of several decades, generate cancer cells which form deadly tumors or spread to other parts of the body.

The findings, which were published in the April 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, were posted on the United Kingdom’s Medical News Today, one of the leading in independent health and medical news websites on the Internet.

The site report said that patients with early stage malignant pleural mesothelioma may be eligible for aggressive multi-modality therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and there has been a controversy over which of two main approaches is superior. One is called extrapleural pnemonectomy (EPP), a very extensive surgery where surgeons remove the entire diseased lung, lung lining (pleura), part of the membrane covering the heart (pericardium) and part of the diaphragm. The other approach, P/D involves a less extensive surgery called pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), where surgeons remove part of the lining around the lungs, potentially part, but not all, of the lung, and potentially part of the diaphragm and/or membrane around the heart.

Medical News Today said that according to the study, "EPP resulted in higher mortality and morbidity than P/D, and P/D resulted in significantly better survival in our experience as in others." The authors of the study "propose that P/D becomes the standard surgical procedure offered as part of multi-modality therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma." Until recently, EPP was the considered the standard of treatment. But this latest study along with other recent research seems to point to P/D becoming the new standard of treatment.

The report said that Dr. Michael Weyant, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Colorado, wrote an editorial in the April JTO about this topic. He concludes that, "the results of the current study by Lang-Lazdunksi et al provide additional data that should lead us to consider P/D in all trials of treatment for MPM. It is too early based on this data to completely abandon EPP altogether as there may be patient subsets where the potential reward outweighs the risks of the procedure."

Medical News Today said the lead author of this work is Dr. Loïc Lang-Lazdunski, and co-authors include Dr. David Landau and Dr. James Spicer, all at King's College London-Division of Cancer Studies for the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
In the United States health officials say there are about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma diagnosed each year. Treatment of this form of cancer is very difficult because few cases are diagnosed early enough to treat effectively because the disease has such a long latency period. Published data shows that most victims are told they will have less than 18 months to live after being diagnosed.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma has a poor prognosis, especially since by the time the doctor has determined a patient has mesothelioma, the cancer has progressed greatly.  The symptoms of mesothelioma are common with other types of health conditions.  Unless the doctor is aware that someone was exposed to asbestos, he or she will not necessarily be looking for mesothelioma.  Being exposed to asbestos is the only known manner of contracting this cancer.

Symptoms of mesothelioma will vary based on the type of mesothelioma, the progression of the cancer, the location of the tumor, the health status of the patient, and so on.  A person can experience symptoms such as back aches and muscles aches.  Their breathing can be interrupted or the patient can experience shortness of breath in general.  Other symptoms could be a bad cough that persists for a prolonged period, chest pain, weight loss, or general fatigue. 

Again, unless the doctor is aware there has been exposure to asbestos, these symptoms can be a result of numerous health conditions, which may not lead to a clear diagnosis.
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Informational Sites on the Web Related to Asbestos:

http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/
Asbestos site of the US Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.slideshare.net/LReinstein/adao-usgs-asbestos-consumption-in-the-usa-11282040
Slide show of US Asbestos Facts From USGS & Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization - ADAO

http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/
ADAO is an independent global organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education, advocacy and community. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease.

http://www.epa.gov/region2/ahera/
US Environmental Protection Agency page for the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

My Cancer Place
A cancer support group

Mesothelioma Legal Options

Since mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease, it’s important to determine where exactly you were exposed to the asbestos, how often the exposure occurred, etc.  This information will be helpful to your physician, as well as your attorney.  Most likely you were unaware of being exposed to the asbestos; therefore you should know what your rights are.  Contact an attorney today with experience in asbestos law.
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