Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be an incredibly stressful and confusing experience. When doctors estimate the length of time you'll live, it's important to remember that these estimates are just guesses.
The stage (extent of your mesothelioma) and subtype are the most reliable indicators to determine your prognosis. The type of surgery you receive is also a factor.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, also known as chemotherapy, destroy tumors, and impede their spread. They can be used by themselves or as part of a treatment program with radiation therapy and surgery, known as multimodal therapy. Doctors prescribe a variety of chemotherapy mesothelioma drugs that are given in a series of cycles over a number of weeks, with rest periods in between. The typical mesothelioma treatment lasts for about an hour and can trigger side effects such as nausea and fatigue. These side effects will diminish with each treatment cycle.
The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is to obtain imaging scans of the chest or abdomen. The most common imaging test is a CT (computerized tomography) scan, which provides a three-dimensional view of the organs and tissues. Doctors may also request a biopsy to obtain mesothelioma tissues to be tested. The sample of tissue can be viewed under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma type.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease that can take years before doctors can make the diagnosis. The medical community is trying to discover ways to recognize mesothelioma earlier. One method is by measuring the biomarker found in blood, called Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides which is elevated in people with mesothelioma.
If mesothelioma is in its early stages, a biopsy may be the only option to make a diagnosis. A biopsy is not always required, since the symptoms of a patient can be similar to those of other illnesses. A mesothelioma mistaken diagnosis could be costly and dangerous.
In the late mesothelioma stage, a combination of surgery and chemotherapy can result in a cure. For example, NYU Langone doctors treat mesothelioma of the peritoneal region using a procedure known as cytoreductive surgery, and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). In this procedure, a machine injects chemotherapy drugs that are heated directly into the abdominal cavity, immediately following the surgical removal of visible cancerous tumors and tissues. This has helped to extend survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients, which range from 38-92 months following the surgical/chemotherapy treatment combination.
The mesothelioma type, stage of the cancer, and the results of the biopsy will determine if a patient is eligible for surgery. Additionally the patient's age as well as health status can affect their prognosis.
Radiation
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in mesothelium cells. It is a membrane that covers and protecting internal organs. It is an aggressive tumor that may grow (metastasize) to other organs of the body. The mesothelium is composed of two layers that wrap around various organs, including the stomach and lungs. Mesothelioma symptoms often mimic other diseases, like the flu or pneumonia. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms can take 10 to 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos.
Radiation therapy can be used to treat mesothelioma, in addition to surgery and chemo. This kind of therapy makes use of high-energy rays and particles to kill cancerous cells, but not healthy ones. Radiation oncologists make use of special equipment to direct the radiation exactly where it's needed most. This helps reduce the adverse effects and complications that could result from the treatment. For instance, scarring on the tissue of your chest (radiation pneumonia).
Patients with early-stage mesothelioma have a better chance of survival than those with late-stage mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that surgery can remove cancerous tissue, improving the chances of survival. However, a lot of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. In these cases, surgeons try to treat the symptoms in order to allow patients to live longer.
Surgeons are able to remove the lining from the abdomen or lungs where mesothelioma starts. They can also get rid of any accumulation of fluid that causes symptoms. Specialists in mesothelioma collaborate with patients to create multimodal treatment strategies. This includes traditional methods such as chemotherapy as well as more recent ones like immunotherapy.
The location and type of mesothelioma also determines a patient's prognosis. Certain locations are more difficult to get rid of, such as the lung linings as well as the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma experts can recommend the most effective treatment options to reduce the likelihood of recurrence as well as improve the quality of your life.
Mesothelioma research has made great advancements in recent years, with more treatment options now available than ever before. Finding a specialist in mesothelioma is one of the best decisions that a patient can take. A specialist can make sure that the patient has access the most up-to-date approved treatments and surgical options, like immunotherapy.
Surgery
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in advanced stages in which it has already expanded to other organs of the body. In these instances treatment is focused on reducing symptoms and prolonging life for as long as is possible. Palliative care is the name of this type of treatment. This kind of treatment includes powerful painkillers and treatments like regular drainage of fluid accumulation in the chest.
Before any procedure doctors will take a close look at the patient's health to determine if they're healthy enough to undergo surgery and recovery. This usually involves a physical exam and imaging tests such as Xrays and CT scans. Doctors may request blood chemistry tests and heart function testing to assess the patient's general health.
The type of mesothelioma a patient has will determine the type of surgery they receive. Mixed and epithelial mesothelioma is more manageable than sarcomatoid or mixed types. A biopsy can help determine the mesothelioma type.
If the cancer has progressed to the lungs doctors may undergo lung-removal surgery. This is known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). They will remove some of the linings of the chest wall and lung. This can improve breathing and decrease the pain. It also increases life expectancy when combined with radiation and chemotherapy.
In some patients, mesothelioma can spread to the peritoneum, which is the layer of fat tissue that protects the abdominal organs. The mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in the abdomen. This condition is known as the peritoneal effusion or ascites. The fluid can be eliminated by a doctor through a paracentesis procedure or by inserting a tube in the abdomen to drain it at home.
Mesothelioma cells may also extend to the pleura, which covers the lungs and diaphragm. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery to remove part of the pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This can improve breathing, and even extend life expectancy.
After surgery, tumors could recur. Mesothelioma cancer is a complex disease. Mesothelioma specialists combine surgery with other treatment options including chemotherapy and radiation. They can kill any microscopic cells of mesothelioma that the surgeons may have missed during the procedure.
Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor forms in a thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of organs within. Researchers have discovered that it develops because of an array of genetic mutations within the cells. Over time, these abnormal cells multiply and then grow out of control and form an abnormality that is later diagnosed as a tumor. There are many types of mesothelioma. However, it usually affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and, less frequently, the abdomen's lining (peritoneum).
When a person receives a mesothelioma diagnosis doctors calculate their life potential based on the kind of mesothelioma, the stage and their overall health. These estimates are just estimates and may change as a result of new treatments.
Doctors have studied several immunotherapy treatment options for mesothelioma. These drugs work by targeting certain proteins in mesothelioma cells and trigger an immune response from the immune system of the body.
Some of these drugs include pembrolizumab, ipilimumab and Nivolumab. These are known as "checkpoint inhibitors". They eliminate the proteins that function as a switch to stop white blood cells from attacking mesothelioma. which allows the immune system to recognize and kill the cancer.
Other studies have used vaccine strategies to stimulate immune system. These trials included injecting the patients with interferon or GM-CSF in order to stimulate the body's ability to produce its own antibodies against mesothelioma. However, these initial trials saw few or no responses and were associated with high toxicity.
Surgery can improve the quality of life of those suffering from pleural mesothelioma by reducing the pain, breathlessness and the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The most popular procedure is a pleurectomy. mesothelioma lung involves the removal of the affected lung as well as a portion of the pleura. Another option for surgery is a video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure that requires a small tube to eliminate the the chest cavity.
Surgery can be beneficial to those suffering from asbestosis of the peritoneal region. If the cancer isn't yet spreading the resection procedure could be performed on the lining and surrounding structures of the abdomen to reduce symptoms. Doctors may combine chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. It is crucial that patients with mesothelioma seek an alternative opinion and talk to mesothelioma specialists about their options.