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10 Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable Tricks All Experts Recommend
Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be a frightening and difficult experience. When doctors estimate the length of time you'll live, it's important to remember that these estimates are only estimates.

The most reliable factors that determine your prognosis are the stage (extent) of your mesothelioma as well as the subtype. The type of surgery that you receive can also have an impact.

Chemotherapy

Cancer drugs, or chemotherapy, destroy tumors, and stop their growth. They are a part of a multimodal treatment program that includes surgery as well as radiation therapy. Doctors prescribe a variety of chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma patients that are given in a series of cycles over several weeks with intervals of rest between. The typical mesothelioma chemotherapy lasts for about an hour and can trigger side effects such as fatigue and nausea. These side effects will subside with each treatment cycle.

Images of the abdomen or chest are needed to detect mesothelioma. The most commonly used imaging test is a CT (computerized tomography) scan, which provides an image of three dimensions of the organs and tissues. Doctors can also request a biopsy to obtain mesothelioma tissues to be tested. This tissue sample can be examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma type.

It can take a long time for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma because it is a rare disease. The medical community is trying to discover ways to detect mesothelioma sooner. One method is to measure the biomarker found in blood, called Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides, which is elevated in people with mesothelioma.

A biopsy may be all that is needed to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. A biopsy is not always required, as the symptoms of a patient may be similar to those of other illnesses. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be costly, and possibly fatal.

Combining surgery and chemotherapy in the last mesothelioma stages can treat it. For example, NYU Langone doctors treat peritoneal mesothelioma with a technique called cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). During this procedure, a machine pumps chemotherapy drugs heated directly into the abdominal cavity immediately following surgical removal of cancerous tumors visible and tissues. This has helped to extend survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients, which range from 38-92 months following the surgical/chemotherapy treatment combination.

The mesothelioma type, the stage of the cancer as well as the results of the biopsy will determine whether a patient is able for surgery. In addition the patient's age and health status can also affect their prognosis.

Radiation

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in cells of the mesothelium. It is a membrane that covers and protecting internal organs. It is a malignant tumor that can be spread (metastasize) to other organs in the body. The mesothelium is composed of two layers that wrap around various organs such as the lungs and stomach. Mesothelioma symptoms can be a sign of other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. After asbestos exposure symptoms can take up to 50 years to show up.


Radiation therapy can be used to treat mesothelioma in addition to surgery and chemo. This type of therapy utilizes high energy rays and particle to kill cancerous cells, but not healthy ones. Radiation oncologists use special machines to direct the radiation exactly where it is most needed. This reduces side effects and other complications that can result from the treatment, like scarring of the chest's lining (radiation pneumonitis).

Patients who have early-stage or late-stage msothelioma will have more success. This is due to the fact that surgery can eliminate cancerous tissues, which improves survival rates. The majority of mesothelioma cases are discovered in later stages. In these instances, surgeons try to treat the symptoms to help patients live longer.

Surgeons are able to remove the lining from the lungs or abdomen where the mesothelioma begins. They can also eliminate any fluid accumulation that causes symptoms. The specialists in mesothelioma work with patients to develop multimodal treatment strategies. They can use conventional methods like chemotherapy and newer ones like immunotherapy.

The prognosis for patients is also affected by the location and type of mesothelioma's cells. Some locations are more difficult to get rid of like the lung linings as well as the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma experts can recommend the most effective treatments to decrease the chance of recurrence and improve the quality of your life.

Mesothelioma research has made significant advances in recent times with more treatment options available than ever before. Finding a specialist in mesothelioma is one of the best steps patients can take. A specialist can ensure patients access to surgical options and the latest approved treatments, such as immunotherapy.

Surgery

Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in advanced stages in which it has already taken over other areas of the body. In asbestos mesothelioma cancer is focused on reducing symptoms and prolonging the life of patients for as long as it is possible. Palliative care is the name of this type of treatment. This treatment is comprised of powerful painkillers as well as treatments like regular drainage of fluid accumulation in the chest.

Before any procedure doctors evaluate the health of the patient to make sure they are capable of handling the procedure and recovering. The evaluation includes physical examinations and imaging tests, such as X radiations and CT scanners. Doctors may request blood chemistry tests and heart function tests to assess the general health of the patient.

The type of mesothelioma that a patient is diagnosed with will determine the kind of surgery they will receive. Mixed and epithelial mesothelioma are easier to treat than sarcomatoid and mixed types. A biopsy can be used to identify the mesothelioma type.

If the cancer has been spread to the lungs, doctors will undergo lung-removal surgery. This is known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). They will take out some of the linings of the lung and chest wall. This will improve breathing and lessen the pain. It also increases the lifespan when combined with chemotherapy and radiation.

In certain patients, mesothelioma could extend to the peritoneum which is the fat tissue that covers the abdominal organs. The mesothelioma could cause fluid to accumulate in the abdomen. This condition is known as peritoneal effusion, also known as ascites. The fluid can be drained by a physician using the procedure of paracentesis or inserting a tube into the abdomen to drain it at home.

The pleura that covers the diaphragm and lungs could be affected by mesothelioma too. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery to remove part of the pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This will improve breathing and increase life expectancy.

Even after surgery, cancers can recur. Mesothelioma cancer is a complex disease. Mesothelioma specialists combine surgery with other treatment options including chemotherapy and radiation. These can kill any microscopic mesothelioma cells that the surgeons may have missed during the surgery.

Immunotherapy

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority internal organs. Researchers have discovered that it develops due to several genetic mutations that occur in the cells. Over time the abnormal cells accumulate and grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. There are many types of mesothelioma. It is most often affecting the lining around the lung (pleura) and less frequently the abdomen's lining (peritoneum).

Doctors estimate a patient's life expectancy when they diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of their type, stage, and overall health. However, these estimates are merely estimates and could change as a result of new treatments.

Doctors have researched a variety of immunotherapy treatments for mesothelioma. These treatments target specific mesothelioma-specific proteins and trigger an immune system.

These include Ipilimumab (also called checkpoint inhibitors) and pembrolizumab (also known as Nivolumab) and the drug nivolumab. These are called checkpoint inhibitors. They take out the protein molecules acting as an off switch for white blood cells to attack mesothelioma cells and allow the immune system to recognize and kill the cancer.

Other studies have used strategies to boost the immune system. These trials included injecting patients with interferon as well as GM-CSF to stimulate their bodies to create antibodies against mesothelioma. However, these initial trials saw few or no responses and were associated with high toxicity.

Surgery can improve the quality of life for people with pleural mesothelioma by reducing the pain, breathlessness and fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The most common surgery is a pleurectomy. This involves removing the affected lungs as well as a part of the pleura. Another option for surgery is a video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure that requires a small tube to drain the the chest cavity.

Surgery can be beneficial for those suffering from peritoneal asbestosis. If the cancer is not yet spreading, a resection may be performed on the lining as well as the surrounding abdominal structures to ease symptoms. Doctors may opt for a mix of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. It is crucial for patients suffering from mesothelioma to get second opinions and consult with mesothelioma specialists about their options.

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