How is malignant mesothelioma treated, and what is the goal of each treatment?
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are standard for all types of malignant mesothelioma. Treatment is often focused on reducing symptoms (palliative therapy) and giving the patient more time, rather than getting rid of the cancer and going into remission (curative therapy). This is because mortality is high despite treatment; it is often not caught until at an advanced stage; the cancerous cells are often very spread out; and because patients are often too weak for extensive treatment.
Surgery: A palliative and/or curative therapy. It is the only curative therapy, usually used in Stage I (hasn’t spread) in a healthy patient. Used to remove the cancer and possibly nearby tissue or a lung. May also be used palliatively for procedures such as draining accumulated fluid that is causing discomfort.
Chemotherapy: Palliative. Can be taken intravenously or intramuscularly, by mouth as a pill or locally injected into affected area.
Radiation: Palliative. Also used after surgery to avoid spreading mesothelioma to the incision site.
Combination therapy: Using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, it is the most effective, but the most difficult; and in most cases the cancer will still return at some point.