Treatment Options pleural mesothelioma
These are based on diagnosis, stage of cancer and other factors. The primary treatment options available are chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, or a combination of these options, known as a multimodal approach.-
Surgery
Understanding Your Options -
Chemotherapy
Attacking Cancer Cells -
Radiation Therapy
Used in Multimodal Treatment
Surgery
generally offers the best chance for long-term survival; however,
early-stage malignant mesothelioma patients are usually the only
candidates who qualify for surgery. If this is an option, there are two
surgeries that can potentially remove the cancer. There is the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and the pleurectomy/decortication (P/D).
- The EPP involves the removal of the affected lung, the lining around it and the heart, and part of the diaphragm.
- The P/D involves the removal of the lining around the lung, but not the lung itself.
Diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma? Connect to a Mesothelioma Specialist
Alternative Treatments
Many pleural malignant mesothelioma patients also use complementary and alternative treatments such as massage and yoga to relieve pain and ease side effects of treatment. These therapies cannot cure the cancer, but they can improve your quality of life and relieve stress.Many people with cancer take an integrative approach that unites traditional cancer treatment with complementary therapies. Known as integrative oncology, this approach empowers patients with therapies that help them control symptoms and side effects.
- Alternative Medical Systems
- Manipulative & Body-Based Methods
- Energy Therapies
- Exercise Therapies
- Mind-Body Interventions
- Spiritual Therapies
- Nutritional Therapeutics
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain, shortness of breath, slight fatigue and weight loss. They are often confused with less serious illnesses like pneumonia or the flu. This can contribute to a delay in diagnosis.Unfortunately, many of the more serious symptoms, such as painful breathing, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing and pain in the lower back, aren’t noticeable until the cancer has reached its later stages, which usually limits the treatment options. The range of symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Pain in the lower back or side of the chest
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Sweating
- Weight Loss
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling in the face and arms
Other signs of mesothelioma can include certain benign
asbestos-related diseases. For example, research shows that people with
pleural plaques (areas of fibrous thickening on the lung lining that can
become calcified) are at an increased risk of developing pleural
mesothelioma. Pleural thickening is another benign condition that
sometimes develops before PM. Approximately 15 percent of people with
asbestosis will develop pleural mesothelioma.
Diagnosing the Disease
It can be difficult to diagnose, and it can take months, and sometimes up to a year, before a definitive diagnosis is made. That is why it's important for you to discuss any exposure to asbestos with a physician as early as possible. You also need to seek out a specialist.To ensure a definitive diagnosis, your doctor will first conduct a full medical and occupational history review. Then you will typically undergo multiple imaging tests to make a more accurate diagnosis, such as X-rays, CT scans or PET scans.
| Step | Diagnostic Method |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Body scans (X-ray, CT, PET, or MRI) |
| Step 2 |
|
| Optional Step | Blood tests using biomarkers |
These imaging scans help determine the stage of the cancer. There are
four stages. In the first stage, tumors are limited to the pleural
lining and remain small. In stage II, the tumors begin to spread to the
lung or diaphragm, but haven’t yet reached any lymph nodes. By the third
stage, tumors have spread to the chest wall or heart lining and have
reached nearby lymph nodes. In the fourth stage, tumors have spread
throughout the chest cavity, including lymph nodes, and may have spread
to the spine or other distant locations in the body.
The most definitive step of the diagnostic process is the biopsy.
Samples of the tumor are collected with a minor outpatient surgical
procedure known as a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopic
surgery (VATS). The samples are analyzed by a pathologist, who will
determine what kind of disease or cancer is present. This is the most
important step in confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis.
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Improve Your Prognosis
A prognosis is your doctor’s best guess of how the cancer may affect your health and life span. There are many factors that determine your prognosis, but pleural mesothelioma typically comes with an unfavorable one. Most patients have a life expectancy ranging from four to 18 months. People who qualify for aggressive treatment may live more than three years and long-term survivors are not unheard of.Although you can’t change factors such as your age, the stage of your cancer or the cell type you have, there are some factors that you can take into your own hands that may improve your prognosis.
Catch the Cancer Early
If you have been exposed to asbestos, tell your physician immediately
so they know to keep an eye out for anything that may indicate
mesothelioma. If the cancer is caught early, your prognosis is much
better.
