How Is Mesothelioma Treated?
Mesothelioma is treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The type of treatment used is dependent upon the patient's level of health, the location and size of the tumor and the extent to which it has spread. Treatment is most successful when a combination of the three is utilized.
The most common treatment modality is surgery. Surgery is done when the patient is healthy enough to undergo the procedure, and the tumor is localized to one organ.
Radiation therapy utilizes x-rays to shrink or kill the cancer cells. Though it is not considered a cure for asbestos cancer, it is used to alleviate symptoms or shrink the tumor to a size that would make surgery an option.
The use of medications to treat mesothelioma is known as chemotherapy. The medication can be delivered orally or intravenously. The medication can also be injected directly into the chest or abdominal cavity.
