Treatment
At this time there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, the average life expectancy is about 12-18 months. However, the following may extend or add quality to the patient's life:
- Radiation therapy is able to offer patient palliative therapy
- Chemotherapy with Doxorubicin is recommended for ambulatory patients and is continued as long as patient shows no progression in the disease
- Surgical options include:
- Peritonectomy or pluerectomy which is surgical removal of the involved lining. This alleviates some of the pain associated with the tumor.
- Debulking of the tumor which includes removing the affected lining and underlying tissues which show tumor involvement.
- Pluerodesis for management of pleural mesothelioma. The procedure entails either surgical or chemical scaring of the pleural and parietal lining of the lung, which in turn eliminates accumulation of fluid.
- Thoracentesis in which a needle is inserted into the pleural cavity to remove fluid from the pleural lining.
