Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
The treatment for pleural mesothelioma depends on the stage and whether the tumour is irresectable (can be removed surgically). Doctors also take into consideration a patient’s health and whether the cancer has recurred after previous treatments.
Immunotherapy medications like pembrolizumab Keytruda and Opdivo, nivolumab, aid immune cells recognize and destroy mesothelioma cancer cells. Other immunotherapies are available through clinical trials.
Treatment Options
The positive side is that new treatments are continuing to improve the outlook for patients suffering from mesothelioma. These treatments can extend the life of patients and reduce symptoms like pain.
Mesothelioma specialists can develop an extensive treatment plan for each patient, which can include several types of treatments. Many patients with mesothelioma also participate in clinical trials to test new treatments. They are usually available at cancer centers that specialize in treating mesothelioma.
Surgery is the most effective method of treating mesothelioma since it eliminates tumors directly. Doctors are able to use various surgical techniques to treat mesothelioma that is pleural. Extrapleural pneumonectomy consists of removing part of the diaphragm, pericardium and the lining surrounding the lung. If necessary, doctors may also remove organs.
Chemotherapy is a treatment used to eliminate cancerous cells and stop their growth or spreading. This type of treatment can be administered before or after surgery. In some cases doctors may combine chemotherapy with other procedures or radiation.
Radiation therapy can reduce discomfort by shrinking tumors that are pressing on bones, nerves or major blood vessels. It is available prior to or after EPP surgery. Doctors can also administer radiation after a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery as an alternative to more invasive procedures.
Some patients respond to immunotherapy with interleukin-2. IL-2 is a monoclonal antibody that targets malignant pleural cells of mesothelioma. It can be in the chest cavity or given via an intravenous line (IV).
Palliative therapy is a form of treatment which aims to improve the quality of life for patients and lessen the negative side effects of mesothelioma. It may involve medication to treat discomfort and other issues such as nausea and vomiting. It could also involve alternative treatments such as yoga, acupuncture and meditation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, a systemic treatment makes use of cancer-killing agents in order to stop the growth of tumors. Patients typically receive chemotherapy drugs such as pemetrexed or cisplatin, which combine to improve effectiveness and improve outcomes. These drugs can be administered before, during or after surgery (neoadjuvant), or in place of surgery (adjuvant).
Doctors may suggest different treatments based on the stage of mesothelioma, and other factors. It is essential to discuss your options with your physician. This is called shared decision making. It lets you and your doctor to choose a treatment plan that fits the objectives of your treatment.
Your doctor will perform the biopsy to determine the stage mesothelioma. A doctor will insert a thin tube through the abdomen or chest and use special instruments to collect a tissue sample. The tissue sample is then analyzed to determine whether it is contaminated with cancerous cells.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers enter the lungs and inflame the cells. Mesothelial cells then mutate and develop into tumors. The biopsy is the only way to determine whether or not you have mesothelioma.
radiation treatment in mesothelioma can improve the chances of a successful outcome if you have pleural mesothelioma in its initial stages. There are two surgical treatments that can be used: extrapleural lung pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). During EPP, doctors remove the diseased lung and often some or all of the diaphragm. P/D surgery involves the removal of the pleura and, in many cases, portions of the pericardium.
A surgical procedure like this can be utilized to treat mesothelioma peritoneal. In addition, a patient with pleural mesothelioma that is not resectable could benefit from radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy. Combining ipilimumab and nivolumab, also referred to Opdivo and Yervoy along with standard mesothelioma treatments can improve the chance of survival.
Epigenetic therapy is a new treatment for mesothelioma that seeks to reverse the effects of asbestos-induced damage and restore normal DNA expression. Tazemetostat is currently in clinical trials in the second phase and targets BAP1 enzymes that play a role in epigenetic regulation. This is an effective treatment for patients who have recurrent mesothelioma.
Radiation
Radiation therapy can reduce symptoms and prolong life by shrinking tumors that relieve pressure on the lungs. Mesothelioma experts use several types radiation treatment. One alternative is three-dimensional conformal therapy (3DCRT) which targets multiple beams of radiation toward the cancerous tissue at different angles. Doctors may also opt for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) which targets specific parts of the tumour and reduces the risk of radiation to healthy tissue around it.
Immunotherapy may enhance the effectiveness of traditional treatments. This type of therapy boosts the body’s natural defenses against mesothelioma cancer cells and may decrease the chance of recurrence. It is available through clinical trials or as an adjunct to the standard mesothelioma treatment. Two immunotherapy drugs, Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab), were approved by the FDA in 2020 to treat mesothelioma pleural. Additional immunotherapy drugs are promising in clinical studies.
Surgery can reduce the symptoms and also eliminate mesothelioma. Pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) is a typical procedure utilized by surgeons to treat pleural mesothelioma. The lungs are not affected by P/D, which eliminates only the pleura, which is where the majority of cancerous cells are found. It is most effective for early-stage mesothelioma and is sometimes used in conjunction with chemotherapy prior to or after surgery.
Doctors can drain the fluid from the chest in a less invasive procedure to alleviate breathing problems caused by excess fluid. They can also inject drugs in the chest to prevent the accumulation of fluid (pleurodesis).
Palliative treatment for mesothelioma is not a cure but it can help reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should discuss their treatment goals and expectations with a doctor.
Mesothelioma specialist physicians can provide an extensive mesothelioma treatment strategy. They will review the latest research and your health history to formulate a treatment plan that will enable you to live longer and reduce your symptoms. Your mesothelioma specialist will work with other health professionals, including nurses, social workers, physician assistants and counselors to ensure you receive the best care possible. A mesothelioma expert can also recommend clinical trial to test new treatments.
Surgery
If mesothelioma does not have spread it is possible to remove the tumor in order to relieve symptoms. However, most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed at more advanced stages, which means that the cancer has grown and is unable to be surgically removed. The goal then is to manage symptoms and extend the duration of survival.
Your doctor could suggest a variety of treatments to treat your mesothelioma pleural. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. A newer treatment option known as immunotherapy can boost a patient’s immune system to fight mesothelioma. These treatments may prolong the life of a patient and improve the quality of life, however they cannot eliminate the disease.
To diagnose pleural mesothelioma, your doctor will collect an in-tissue sample to check for cancerous cells. They will use a biopsy or a different procedure, like bronchoscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), to make the sample. A doctor may also perform a lung function test to assess breathing capacity or a chest x-ray to examine how the lungs function.
If your doctor has confirmed that you are suffering from pleural msothelioma they will assign a stage of cancer based on the location and other factors. These stages are indicated by Roman numerals with one being the least advanced, and four being the most advanced.
The stage of a pleural mesothelioma determines whether it can be treated by surgery. Stage I or II pleural cancer is most curable as it hasn’t spread beyond the pleura.
If your mesothelioma has reached a more advanced stage, doctors may undergo surgery to relieve symptoms. They can perform either an extrapleural lung pneumonectomy (EPP) in which the entire lung is removed or a pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) that removes only the visible tumor, as well as the diseased pleura.
You will probably be in the hospital after surgery. Your nurses will administer pain medication to help you feel comfortable in the event that you feel dizzy or confused after the anesthesia wears off. If you’re staying overnight and you are in a hospital bed, you will be transferred into a standard hospital bed. If not, you’ll be monitored in the outpatient facility until you go home.
PHOENIX GAMING PC