Once an individual has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the oncologist will create an appropriate treatment plan based on several factors which will vary from patient to patient. Since every case is unique, a tailor-made treatment method based on the patient’s individual needs is most likely to result in positive prognosis and increased life expectancy.
Traditional Mesothelioma Treatment Methods
There are a number of known curative and palliative treatments available for combating mesothelioma. Some of the most widely used treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and multimodal therapy (a combination of all three methods). By creating a combination of all these treatment techniques, oncologists attempt to tackle the disease from different angles. This holistic treatment approach is known to enhance the life expectancy of several mesothelioma affected individuals.
Surgery – Surgical procedures are generally curative treatment options, which involve removing the tumor from the affected area or curbing the spread of cancerous cells to other body parts. Another radical surgical strategy comprises removal of the affected lung with a curative intent. The oncologist will plan the type of surgical treatment based of a variety of factors including the stage at which the mesothelioma has been diagnosed, the location and size of the tumor and other similar determinants.
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy comprises the administration of drugs and other chemical medications to destroy cancer cells. It is a highly systematic and streamlined treatment approach since these drugs are released into the individual’s bloodstream and directly take on the cancerous cells in a bid to prevent them from spreading. The recently introduced Pemetrexed chemotherapy technique has significantly improved the efficiency of chemotherapy treatments.
Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy utilizes ions to obliterate cancerous cells and reduce tumors. It can be used as part of a combination treatment or as a stand-alone palliative treatment to alleviate the patient’s physical pain and discomfort during the advanced stages of mesothelioma.
Clinical Trials
In addition to the established mesothelioma treatment options, there are several other ground-breaking treatment methods which are still in the nascent stages of research and development. Some prominent experimental treatment procedures include photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, ozone therapy, gene therapy and anti-giogenesis therapy. These advanced treatment approaches are being created to attack the disease from its roots by applying dynamic and practical scientific principles.
Since the treatment methods are still in the experimental stage, researchers need several mesothelioma patients to act as participants during clinical trials. Sometimes these treatments have produced highly positive results in patients, giving them a sense of fulfillment about being a part of an encouraging study. However, the specific criteria laid down by researchers qualify only few mesothelioma patients to be a part of these trials.
Alternate Healing Methods
Apart from standard medical treatments, mesothelioma patients have also responded positively to alternate healing therapies and complimentary treatment methods such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, breathing exercises and massage. These therapies are known to reduce stress/pain levels, infuse positivity in the patient and improve the quality of his/her life.