Mesothelioma Treatment
Posted on 7:47 AM | By esbis | In Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma Treatment
Conventional treatments for mesothelioma involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
For your convenience, we have consolidated mesothelioma treatment information for your review. This section is updated on a weekly basis. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.Typical treatment strategies are often developed based on the stage (using the Butchart staging system) of a pleural mesothelioma. Stage 1 mesothelioma can be treated with any number of different methods, depending on the patient's health, including surgical resection of the disease or more advanced procedures like extrapleural pnemonectomy and lung pneumonectomy. Patients diagnosed with advanced-stage disease will likely manage their disease and its symptoms through some combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and alternative therapies.
Chemotherapy options include the FDA-approved combination of Alimta® and Cisplatin, as well as other drugs which are currently in active clinical trials. Other drugs showing positive results in trial include Gemcitabine and Navelbine. Conjunctive treatments include the approach which combines one conventional therapy with another such as surgery in combination with chemotherapy. Multi-modal mesothelioma treatment includes heated intra-operative chemotherapy which applies a potent dose of chemotherapy to the surface of the actual affected area. For mesothelioma patients, radiation is sometimes used in conjunction with chemotherapy for optimal results.
Other experimental therapies for mesothelioma, although used much less frequently, include gene therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy. These therapies are still in their experimental stages.
Topics in this Section
Conventional Therapies
Conventional therapies for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.Experimental Therapies
Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their preliminary stages.Alternative Treatments
These untraditional treatment approaches can complement conventional therapies and allow the patient to be more at peace and comfortable during this difficult time.Treatment by Stage
This section lists typical treatment strategies based on the stage of the mesothelioma.Mesothelioma Doctors
Medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating mesothelioma cancer state by state.Mesothelioma Experts
Medical doctors with a longstanding expertise in treating malignant mesothelioma.Clinical Trials
Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.Mesothelioma Clinics
Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience.Ask Your Doctor
We have listed some questions that you might want to ask your doctor in this section.Treatment Side Effects
While undergoing treatment for mesothelioma, you should be prepared for the following treatment side effects.Caregiver Resources
Resources for family members and loved ones responsible for caring for mesothelioma patients.Mesothelioma Research
Selected abstracts relating to malignant mesothelioma from PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's search service.Mesothelioma Treatment Alerts
Articles regarding the most recent advances in mesothelioma treatment that are helping to improve longevity and quality of life in patients.More Mesothelioma Treatment Information
Choosing the right Mesothelioma doctor is an important first step in planning for treatment.
Some of the more notable mesothelioma doctors include Dr. David Sugarbaker of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Valerie Rusch of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Dr. Harvey Pass of the New York University Medical Center Division of Thoracic Surgery. Each of these oncologists have an acute knowledge of the behavior and pathology of malignant mesothelioma and its treatments. It is likely that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will be referred by your personal physician to a larger scale comprehensive cancer center like those discussed here.Mesothelioma treatment programs are featured at many of the country’s leading cancer centers and comprehensive medical facilities.
Some of the most exciting and advanced mesothelioma treatment techniques are being researched and explored through the International Mesothelioma Program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's Harvard University Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston under the auspices of Dr. Sugarbaker. Multi-modal therapies, including combination therapies including advanced surgical procedures in conjunction with chemotherapy are some of the many exploratory therapies being researched at the IMP. Exciting studies are also arising out of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of California San Francisco under the auspices of Dr. David Jablons.Experimental mesothelioma treatments are explored through clinical and surgical trials at many of the nation’s top cancer centers.
Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments. Several clinical trials are actively recruiting patients of malignant mesothelioma. Patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment should strongly consider participating in a clinical trial. Mesothelioma survival rate can be dramatically extended in those who are treated with as-yet unapproved/experimental therapies. Given the lack of a mesothelioma cure, participation in clinical trials among mesothelioma patients is common. A patient's ability to participate in a clinical trial will be dependent on a number of factors including age, general health, and stage of disease at diagnosis.As you deal with your cancer and the process of treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. We have listed some questions that you might want to ask in this section. We urge not only patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment, but also family members and loved ones to read this section carefully, and pursue answers not only these questions but all mesothelioma treatment-related questions with your oncologist or mesothelioma specialist.
Alternative therapies for mesothelioma can be used to ease side effects of traditional cancer treatment.
Many of those being treated for serious illness find comfort in different alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture. These untraditional methods of disease management can complement conventional therapies and allow the patient to be more at peace and comfortable during this difficult time. Meditation and Yoga are common methods used by many to reach a state of relaxation, and release endorphins, our body's natural pain relievers The majority of these treatments are based upon patient preference but patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment are encouraged to utilize one or many of these options, which can dramatically improve patient stamina and strength while undergoing treatment for mesothelioma. Nutritional supplements and other health enhancers should also be considered by all patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment, as the disease can deplete strength and general immune health.This section of our web site is updated frequently as we know how important it is for those diagnosed with mesothelioma to be kept informed about the latest mesothelioma research. We have also provided a wide range of information specifically designed for caregivers and loved ones. You can even find providers of cancer care related services in your geographic area.
Source
National Cancer Institute - Treatment Options for Malignant Mesotheliomahttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/Patient/page5
Comments (0)
Post a Comment