Mesothelioma Treatment

Cancer therapies can be highly individualized – your treatment may differ from what is described below.

• There is no cure for mesothelioma.
• The length of survival depends on the extent of the disease. Patients usually live up to one year after being diagnosed.

Surgery

• Some patients may be considered for the surgical removal of the lining or part of an organ.
• Surgery needs to be performed by very experienced surgeons.
• If surgery is considered, it is typically combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
• Often, surgery is not an option because of the local extent of the cancer or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Radiation

• Radiation therapy does not have the power to cure mesothelioma but it may be used to control symptoms.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is routinely considered in those fit enough to receive treatment.
• Up to forty percent of patients may have a temporary shrinkage of the tumour with currently available drugs.

General Support and Symptom Control

• Prescription drugs can control pain that is associated with mesothelioma.
• Fluid build up (pleural effusions) can be treated by surgery that removes the fluid.  This enables the lung to re-expand and improves breathlessness.
• Some patients with mesothelioma may have very slow growing tumours.  If the patient does not have symptoms, regular chest X-rays without specific therapy will track the tumour’s growth.

 

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