Traditional Mesothelioma Treatments

There are a number of standard treatments for mesothelioma.  These standard treatments  can provide relief for patients (palliative care) suffering from malignant mesothelioma.  There are no known curative treatments at this time.

Standard Mesothelioma Treatments

Traditional mesothelioma treatments are the same as those used to combat a variety of other types of cancer:

  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy (using medicines to kills cancer cells)
  • Radiation therapy (radiotherapy - using high energy x-rays or other rays to kill cancer cells)

Surgery for mesothelioma is divided into three main categories:  diagnostic surgery, palliative surgery and curative surgery.  Diagnostic and palliative mesothelioma surgeries are most often performed on people suffering from the mesothelioma because attempts at curative surgeries have proven incapable of yielding successful results (although they may provide a brief extension of life).  As such, mesothelioma surgery is typically focused on staging a case of malignant mesothelioma and providing sufferers with pain relief through palliative measures.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy treatments are simmilar to standard chemotherapy treatments used to combat a variety of cancer types.  One of the chemotherapy agents that is commonly used to treat mesothelioma sufferers is the platinum-based drug, Cisplatin.  Although considered to be a traditional mesothelioma treatment modality, chemotherapy also falls into the category of new mesothelioma treatment because new mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs (Alimta, Onconase, anti-angiogenesis drugs, etc.) are constantly being researched and developed.  Standard mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are often used in conjunction with the newly developed agents to better treat malignant mesothelioma.  For example, Alimta, when used in combination with cisplatin, is the only mesothelioma drug approved by the FDA for the specific treatment of pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma radiation therapy is the same type of radiotherapy that is used to treat all cancer patients.   Mesothelioma radiation therapy uses high dose radiation (x-rays) to shrink the tumor by destroying cells at the tumor site.  Once the size of tumor is reduced, the patient may feel better and may be able to breathe more deeply.  Radiation may also keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.  Side effects of radiation can include tiredness, skin rashes, and throat irritation or hoarseness.

Traditional Mesothelioma Treatments vs. New Mesothelioma Treatments

Unfortunately, traditional mesothelioma treatments have proven to be ineffective in combating malignant mesothelioma. The cancer remains incurable.  Because of this cancer doctors are researching a variety of new mesothelioma treatment modalities designed to succeed where traditional methods have not.  Some new mesothelioma treatments serve as extensions of the traditional modalities, while others are spawned from a wholly unique perspective.  For further information and the most current listing of clinical trials see the National Cancer Institute's clinical trial database.

Legal Questions

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