Mesothelioma cancer has no cure. Up to date, scientists are looking for ways on how to treat mesothelioma successfully. The standard treatment protocols include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Physicians use these methods to improve patient's prognosis. Depending on the extent of the tumor, they may decide to use all three methods to manage symptoms. The factors they consider when choosing the mode of treatment include the cancer staging, type of mesothelioma, and the patient's characteristics.
More importantly, cancer patients in advanced stages may participate in clinical trials to take a shot at experimental treatments. A physician may also recommend therapies and palliative care for patients in their late stages.
In this regard let's take an in-depth dive into how to treat mesothelioma successfully.
Surgery
Doctors use the surgery method to remove a cancerous growth from patients who are in their early stages of mesothelioma cancer. This method provides one of the most effective ways to treat the condition.
Also, the process of conducting the operation depends on the location of the tumor. Some of the surgical options include:
- Lung tissue removal- For pleural mesothelioma, surgeons remove the lung lining and the tissue lining around the ribs and lymph node.
- Surgery to decrease fluid buildup- Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of the disease that causes a buildup of fluids on the chest cavity and hence poses problems in breathing. The surgery targets to reduce fluid buildup.
- Surgery to remove the lung and the tissue that surrounds it- This is an aggressive treatment of pleural mesothelioma that helps to relieve the symptoms of the condition.
- Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma- This procedure helps to get rid of as many cancerous tumors in peritoneal mesothelioma as possible.
Chemotherapy
Just as the name suggests, chemotherapy uses chemicals to destroy a tumor. The drugs administered during the process target and attack fast-growing cells such as cancer cells. Doctors may sometimes opt to use chemo in conjunction with surgery as it helps to eliminate the remaining cancer cells and prevent a recurrence after the latter procedure.
Sometimes the systemic travel of chemotherapy throughout the body may shrink the tumor, which can then be removed by using surgery.
Radiation Therapy
This method also known as radiotherapy includes focusing high-energy beams such as protons or X-rays to destroy a cancerous tumor. A radiotherapist will always pay attention to specific spots on a cancer patient which house a large mass of the tumor.
Sometimes doctors use surgery to remove the remaining traces of tumors after this procedure. Over the years, the method has played crucial roles in reducing symptoms in patients with advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer.
Also, in conjunction with chemotherapy, both methods help to improve a patient's prognosis.
Other Treatments
There are some exceptional situations where a doctor may decide to use optional methods to treat mesothelioma.
Some of them include:
- Targeted therapy- This is a technique that employs drugs to attack certain vulnerabilities on a tumor based on the patient's DNA profile.
- Immunotherapy- It involves the process of enhancing the immune system of a patient to help it fight cancer. In the process, doctors administer drugs to interfere the with the production of proteins from the growth that prevents the body from fighting cancer tumors. This scenario of interfering with the binding process of proteins and the immune system helps the body to fight. Remember, this is an optional treatment considered when a patient is not responding to other forms of treatment.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials involve voluntary testing of the new mesothelioma treatments under experiment. While there are no guarantees that the cure will work, people with advanced stages of the condition can opt to do clinical trials.
The process of testing a new drug may come with serious side effects but also it may provide a great way to kill a tumor. Also, by participating, the patients help in the development of better treatment methods of mesothelioma.
However, it is imperative to realize you need to talk with your doctor and weigh your options to learn more about open clinical trials available and which one suits mesothelioma treatment the best.
Always remember targeted therapy and immunotherapy may also fall under the clinical trials category.
The Best Method on how to Treat Mesothelioma Cancer Successfully
Cancer is a lifestyle disease. And what other better way to battle such a condition than living a healthy and cautious life. Watching what we eat and keeping fit is always a great plus.
Statistics show there are high cases of mesothelioma cancer in western cultures as compared to eastern cultures. But, what makes all the difference?
People in western countries rely mostly on processed foods, which weaken their immune system and results in lifestyle diseases. On the other hand, there are fewer processed foods and GMOs in eastern countries.
Embracing holistic nutrition is a whole new trend that focuses on overall body wellness. You may get more insight on this topic from the book “How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease.”
While in standard medicine doctors use symptoms to come up with a treatment approach, holistic nutrition provides non-physical causes to poor nutrition.
Apart from dieting, we should also isolate ourselves from causative agents. Exposure to asbestos can result in mesothelioma cancer. It is, therefore, imperative to get a professional asbestos remediation technician to inspect your house for the presence of this carcinogenic mineral.
Final Thoughts
Mesothelioma cancer has no cure. But, you can take proactive measures such as good dieting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to mitigate the condition. Always remember prevention is better than cure.
For more information on how to treat mesothelioma successfully, contact us.
