Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer Treament Therapies

Asbestos Cancer - Recomended Treatments for Mesothelioma Treatments

This page provides description of treatments for asbestos cancer (mesothelioma) that a doctor may recommend. Whether a treatment is recommended depends on factors individual to each case. While there is no known cure for the disease, these treatments can help to make the patient more comfortable or help to slow the progression of mesothelioma cancer.

1. Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be indicated to give relieve of symptoms or slow the progression of mesothelioma cancer. Surgery may be performed in tandem with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. This is called "multi-modal therapy."

Whether surgery is recommended will depend on factors unique to each individual situation. These factors include the type and location of the cancer, the level of development of the cancer and your overall health. Whether or not your doctor recommends surgery, chemotherapy or radiation will depend on factors individual to your case.

1a. Pleural Mesothelioma Surgeries

Thoracentesis This procedure involves the draining of excess fluid that may have built up in the chest between the lung and the sac lining ( the "pleura"). This excess build up of fluid is called a "pleural effusion". A tube is placed in the chest in order to drain out the excess fluid. Thoracentesis is a treatment that is meant to help relieve discomfort caused by the fluid build up.

Pleurodesis Pleurodesis is a surgical procedure to help control the excess buildup of fluid between the lungs and the lung sac lining. Pleurodesis closes the space between the lung and the lung lining, reducing the chance for fluid to accumulate.

There are two approaches to performing a pleurodesis fluid reduction. In the first, a tube that is inserted into the chest drains the excess fluid. After this fluid is drained, a substance that causes tissue to scar or harden, such as sterile talc powder, is injected through the chest tube and into the pleural space. This substance, called a schlerosing agent, is allowed to spread itself through the pleural space. The patient is usually asked to move about in order to facilitate the distribution of the agent. Once the agent is distributed, suction is applied to the tube in the chest. Similar to collapsing a plastic bag, the suction brings the two pleural surfaces together, allowing them to "scar" together.

The second method of pleurodesis treatment uses thoracoscopy. In this treatment a small incision, or a series of small incisions, are made in the skin. A thoracoscope is passed through the incision in order to get a better look at the pleura. The schlerosing agent is then applied to the area. Pleurectomy/Decortication

Pleurectomy/decortication involves removing the pleura, where most of the tumor is located. This procedure may help control pleural effusions (fluid build-up) and help to decrease the pain caused by the tumor. This is another treatment that is meant to help to lessen the discomfort caused by mesothelioma cancer. Doctors call this type of discomfort relieving treatment a palliative treatment. Pneumonectomy

A pneumonectomy is the removal of all or part of the lung. Your surgeon will make an incision in the side of the chest. When the lung is revealed, the surgeon visually assesses the tumor and decides how much tissue should be removed. Extrapleural pneumonectomy

This extensive surgery usually involves the removal of the pleura, pericardium, diaphragm, and the whole lung on the side of the cancerous tumor. Your surgeon may decide to remove some of the surrounding tissues, as well.

1b. Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgeries

Paracentesis

Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause fluid to build up in the abdomen in a process called peritoneal effusion. This excess fluid is drained through a needle and tube inserted into the abdomen. Paracentesis (sometimes called an "ascitic tap") can help take the pressure off the internal organs, and also helps reduce the risk of infection that may be caused by the fluid buildup. This is a "palliative" procedure, meaning that the goal of paracentesis is to help to relieve the discomfort associated with peritoneal mesothelioma cancer.

Peritonectomy

A "peritonectomy" involves removing the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen where the mesothelioma cancer first develops. This form of surgery is most often used when the cancer is detected in the very early stages of the disease. Your surgeon might recommend that a peritonectomy be performed in tandem with "intraperitoneal hypothermic perfusion," a form of heated chemotherapy where the chemotherapy drugs are administered directly into the abdomen during and/or after surgery.

Cytoreductive (or "debulking") surgery

During cytoreductive or debulking surgery, the surgeon opens the abdominal cavity (a procedure known as a "laparotomy") to look for all signs of cancer and attempt to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This surgery can be long in duration due to the amount of detail the surgeon must use to search for and remove signs of cancer in the abdominal area. This surgery is sometimes suggested to be performed in tandem with "intraperitoneal hypothermic perfusion," a form of heated chemotherapy administered into the abdominal cavity.

1c. Pericardial Mesothelioma Surgeries

Pericardiocentesis

This is the process for drawing fluid out of the affected area to help to relieve the discomfort associated with pericardial mesothelioma. For this procedure, a needle is inserted into the pericardium (the sac around the heart) to drain the fluid and relieve circulatory problems. The draining of this fluid can be associated with complications, however.

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses chemical agents or drugs that are specifically destructive to malignant tissues and cells. Doctors may recommend single agent chemotherapy or a combination chemotherapy treatment. The single agent chemotherapy treatment involves the use one type of chemical or drug. The combination chemotherapy method involves the use of more than one chemical or drug. While it is not a cure for mesothelioma cancer, chemotherapy treatment may slow the progression of the cancer. What follows is a partial listing of the chemotherapy treatments a doctor might recommend for treatment of mesothelioma:

• Alimta (Pemetrexed) Alimta, when used with Cisplatin is indicated for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and is usually given through an intravenous tube (IV infusion).

• Onconase (Ranpirnase) A new drug that may help slow the growth of mesothelioma tumors.

• Navelbine (Vinorelbine) - Like Alimta, when combined with other drugs in chemotherapy, Navelbine is used to treat mesothelioma tumors. Clinical trials are still underway and testing on some patients has begun. Navelbine is usually given intravenously.

• Carbonplatin (Paraplatin) - A chemotherapy medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It has been shown to slow the spread of cancer. Some serious side effects have been reported with the use of Carboplatin.

• Cisplatin (Platinol) - Cisplatin is a clear fluid given in combination with other drugs in the treatment of certain types of cancer, including mesothelioma. In treatment for mesothelioma, Cisplatin is usually administered with Alimta. As with many chemotherapy drugs, certain side effects may occur. Cisplatin is usually given by IV infusion.

• Related Drugs and Therapy - Besides the chemotherapy drugs doctors prescribe for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, there are other drugs intended for post-chemotherapy use. Doctors will also prescribe drugs, intended for use at the same time chemotherapy or radiation treatment is underway, that are meant to minimize the side effects that can accompany these treatments.

• Taxotere, Taxol - Tumors can return after chemotherapy in some cases. Taxotere and Taxol are drugs that are used to help rid the body of cancer cells when cancer recurs following a previous chemotherapy treatment. These drugs inhibit the duplication or reproduction of cancerous cells. They are delivered through intravenous infusion.

• Zofran and Anti Nausea Drugs - One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy treatment is nausea. Zofran is a drug used to ease nausea. Others are Emeset, Oncoden and Zofron. These drugs can help to control radiation therapy induced nausea, as well as post-op nausea and other kinds of nausea also cause by increased radiaton treatment.

• Endostatin - A natural protein shown to inhibit the growth of blood vessels. The administration of Endostatin results in cancerous tumors "starving" due to lack of blood. This drug is still in clinical trials and has not been approved for general prescription, however.

3. Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is an intense X-ray treatment to damage or kill cancer cells. Although not a cure for mesothelioma, radiation therapy treatment nonetheless may be used at different stages of the disease to slow its growth. Radiation is often the main treatment for patients in weak health. Radiation is also used to destroy small clusters of cancer cells that may have been missed in surgery. When used in conjunction with surgery, radiation treatment is referred to as adjuvant radiation.

External Beam Radiation

The form of radiation therapy used most often is external radiation, in which a machine very similar to an X-ray machine directs strong beams of light radiation at the cancerous cells from outside the body, killing the tumor cells underneath.

Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy)

Internal radiation therapy, also called brachytherapy, involves the placement of radiation sources in the body. With mesothelioma cancer patients, the radioactive material is positioned inside the abdomen or the chest. The radiation treatment is targeted at the area of cancer tumors.

4. Supportive or Palliative Therapies

Palliative treatments refer to those procedures that relieve symptoms and help make the patient more comfortable. Here are some palliative therapies that may be used to treat mesothelioma.

• Pleurodesis - Pleurodesis is a procedure that is sometimes used to control pleural effusion, or the buildup of fluid between the lungs and the lung lining. Pleurodesis causes the space between the lungs and the lung lining to close, reducing the chance for fluid to accumulate. One method of pleurodesis uses thoracoscopy where a few small incisions are made in the skin and a thoracoscope is passed through the incision to get a better look at the pleura. The sclerosing agent is then applied.

• Pain Management - Pain management is another way to treat the discomfort associated with mesothelioma.