Mesothelioma Treatment Options

There are different mesothelioma treatment options available today. The treatment plan you choose will depend on the type of mesothelioma you have and how far the mesothelioma has progressed.

There is no cure for mesothelioma. There are, however, mesothelioma treatment options to help with the pain as well as to extend your life. There are three major types of treatments that can be used independently or together. These treatments are chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and surgery. To determine which treatment plan would be good for you will depend on an evaluation from medical professionals. An oncologist, a radiologist, a pulmonary therapist and others can all have a say in what the best treatment plan for you would be.

Chemotherapy for mesothelioma

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals that attempts to destroy and kill the disease-causing cells.

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Radiation Therapy and mesothelioma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays that can damage the cancer cells so that these cells can no longer grow or divide. This therapy can be administered from a machine or implanted inside the body.

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Surgery for mesothelioma

Part of determining the progression and location of the mesothelioma includes doing a biopsy. A biopsy allows a physician to examine a specific area of the body to determine if the cells are malignant or benign. If a physician suspects you may have mesothelioma, the first test ordered may be a CT scan or MRI. Based on the results of these tests, the physician will determine what type of biopsy should be done since there are different types of biopsies. One biopsy is most prominently used. This type is called an open lung biopsy that requires surgery with general anesthesia. The physician removes a small piece of the lung tissue which is then examined and a diagnosis can be made.

The mesothelioma treatment options very greatly. Once you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you need to work with your medical team to determine what mesothelioma treatment options would be best for you. The location of the cancer, the size, the number of other areas that have been infected, the type and stage, your age, and other medical conditions all play a factor in making this kind of decision.