Mesothelioma treatment depends on various factors including the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and health. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure that attacks the lining of the organs – lung, heart and abdomen. The most common is malignant pleural mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the lungs. Mesothelioma has a long latency period and symptoms are non-specific, so in most cases diagnosis is difficult before the advanced stages of the disease. Typical mesothelioma treatment includes chemotherapy, surgery and radiation in an effort to extend the patient’s life.
Surgery: Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma wherein the doctor removes part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and the surrounding tissue. For pleural mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the lung, a lung may be removed. This surgery is called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm is also removed during this procedure.
Radiation: Radiation or radiotherapy involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).