The treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors, like the stage of the cancer, how far the cancer has spread, where the cancer is, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires too.
TIME IMPORTANCES
People suffered by this disease are often told to live from ten to twelve months .In some case, survival rate has been reached 40% for selected patients. But for this survival rate one of them is being in the early stages of the disease, so time is of the essence.
TRADITIONAL CARE
There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy is contained chemical substances, as the treatment of cancer. Abnormal cells are controlled, Anticancer, or chemotherapy drugs, work to destroy cancer cells by preventing them from multiplying.
Reason of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used to achieve different goals, considering the stage of the cancer, the age and health of the patient, chemotherapy may be solution of many goals. Since chemotherapy for mesothelioma is not curative, the goals of chemotherapy are:
- To destroy microscopic disease.
- To control the cancer by stopping its spread or slowing its growth with time.
- To shrink tumors prior to other treatments, such as surgery.
- To relieve symptoms, such as pain.
The most common use for chemotherapy in mesothelioma patients, is as an option for those who are not able for surgy. Many cancer centers are now conducting trials focusing on it. For eample, Alimta (pemetrexed) is a new drug in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose disease is either unresectable or who are not candidates for curative surgery. The Alimta/Cisplatin chemotherapy regimen is the first approved treatment specifically for malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is currently considered the most effective first-line treatment for mesothelioma patients who are not surgical candidates. During the clinical trial process, Alimta/Cisplatin has improved median survival for pleural mesothelioma patients by three months over treatment with Cisplatin as a single agent.
But side effects of Alimta/Cisplatin are mild to moderate for most mesothelioma patients, i.e., nausea, vomiting and fatigue. For some patients, however, side effects may be more effectible, and may require a decrease in dosage or removal from the program.
Administration of Chemotherapy
The most common way to administer chemotherapy is intravenously, or through a vein. A needle is inserted into a vein in the hand or in the lower arm. Drugs may also be delivered via catheters and/or ports. Intravenous administration of drugs may allow for rapid entry into the blood stream.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may also be delivered through a catheter or a port. The catheter is inserted through the abdominal wall. Chemotherapy drugs can then be infused directly into the abdominal cavity through catheter.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells, but some normal cells also multiply quickly, based on particular area like, in the digestive tract, hair follicles, and reproduction system. The type of side effects depends on how severe they are, the dosage given, depend on the type of chemotherapy you are receiving and how your own body reacts. Before beginning any chemotherapy treatment, you will be asked to sign a consent form.