Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer that attacks the protective lining of the bodies internal organs. Because mesothelioma has a 20-50 year latency period and it is so hard to diagnose, the prognosis that a patient or family member might receive is usually not favorable.
Before we answer the question to the title of this blog post, we want to first talk about the widely used mesothelioma treatment methods which have been around for some time, followed by newer methods that have been discovered through the latest research and clinical trials.
Standard Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Most oncologists have been taught and practice these treatment methods on patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, and they are actually very effective for preventing the advance of the condition.
Traditional mesothelioma treatment options include:
Surgery
Basically, this involves making an incision to access the affected cells and removing them. For pleural mesothelioma, the entire affected lung can be removed in a process known as a pneumonectomy. If the damage is limited to the lung lining only, just this lining is removed through a pleurectomy.
The idea behind surgery is to remove the cancer cells before they spread and infect other regions of the body, thus stopping the advance of the disease.
Chemotherapy
This is where drugs are administered to the patient either intravenously or orally. These drugs attack the cancer cells in the body, causing them to shrink and stop their advance.
Chemotherapy is often used in combination with surgery, to attack any remaining cancer cells, although it could also be the primary mesothelioma treatment option for patients who are unfit for surgery.
Radiation therapy
The radiation technology uses high frequency, high - energy rays to shrink the cancer cells by destroying their DNA after directed exposure. It is not the most effective treatment on its own, though, and has to be used in combination with either a surgical operation or chemotherapy medication. It is also most effective in the earlier stages of mesothelioma, but in the late stages, it only acts as a palliative measure. This means that it is only effective for reducing the symptoms of mesothelioma, but can’t actually stop cancer in the late stages.
Multimodal approach
All the above methods are often used together since no single one can be effective on its own. By combining the collective benefits of all methods, this increases the chances of survival for the patient as well.
Newer treatment options
Clinical trials are ongoing all over the world, and these have led to the discovery of more advanced treatments for cancer. Some that can be used for mesothelioma include:
Immunotherapy
The immune system is supposed to kill cancer cells but isn’t strong enough to do so on its own. By introducing antigens, though, the immune system gets a boost and can attack the cancer cells thus stopping the cancer. This treatment has been shown to be very promising and is already approved by the FDA.
Gene therapy
This works in a similar way to vaccines, whereby a genetically modified virus is introduced to the patient’s body. This modified virus then targets the cancer cells and kills them without affecting the healthy cells.
Photodynamic therapy
PDT involves injecting the patient with a drug that responds to light. When injected, the drug is absorbed by the whole body, but after some time, it leaves the healthy cells and remains in the cancer cells. A few days later, when the drug has left all healthy cells, the oncologist directs light at the areas with cancer cells, and the chemical in the drug is activated, killing just the cancer cells.
Conclusion
While there are many treatment options available as well as a plethora of alternative medicines and therapies… one must know that there is still no cure for mesothelioma. All of the treatment options offered right now are aimed to help improve the patient’s quality of life, prognosis, and life expectancy.
REFERENCES:
- Types of treatment for mesothelioma by type. Cancer Research UK. Accessed at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/mesothelioma/treatment/types/
- Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Accessed at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3886874
- National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query (PDQ). Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment. Accessed at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/HealthProfessional
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