A tissue known as the mesothelium wraps organs like the heart, lungs, and stomach. This tissue keeps these organs from rubbing against each other.
In some cases, a type of cancer might develop on this lining causing various health problems.
Malignant mesothelioma is the medical name for this condition which makes up 0.3% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. Unfortunately, up to date, mesothelioma has no cure.
However, scientists recommend standard treatment protocols like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy to manage this medical condition.
Depending on the extent and severity of the tumor, a patient also has the option of choosing holistic treatments that take an alternative care approach.
Read on to understand more about mesothelioma medicine and the options you have.
Standard Mesothelioma Medicine and Treatment
There are four different types of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma. These four standard treatments include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Targeted Therapy
- Surgery
Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where drugs are used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or stopping them from dividing.
However, hypothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a treatment commonly used to treat mesothelioma which has spread to the peritoneum. During treatment, a surgeon removes all the visible cancer cells, then pours a heated solution of anti-cancer drugs into and out of the abdomen to finish off any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
This treatment utilizes high energy x-rays or other kinds of radiation to eradicate cancerous cells or to inhibit their growth. There are two types of radiation therapy:
- Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive substances such as seeds, wires, or needles to kill cancer cells by placing them directly on the cells.
- External radiation therapy utilizes a machine outside the body to direct radiation towards the cancer cells.
How this type of treatment is administered depends on the type and stage of the cancer being targeted. However, many physicians prefer external radiation when treating malignant mesothelioma.
Targeted Therapy for Mesothelioma
This type of treatment uses drugs or other substances to invade specific cancer cells. Targeted therapies cause less harm to healthy cells compared to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Monoclonal therapy, in particular, is a type of targeted therapy that uses man-made antibodies. These antibodies identify cancer cells or substances that might aid the growth of the cancer cells.
After identifying, these antibodies then attach to the substances to kill the cancer cells or to inhibit their spread and growth.
Bevacizumab is an antibody and used to treat advanced cases of malignant mesothelioma.
Surgery for Mesothelioma
Surgery involves removing any visible cancer cells during the procedure. In other words, some patients may receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy after the surgery to kill any cancer cell remnants.
The standard surgical treatments in mesothelioma medicine include:
- Wide local excision: Involves removing cancer and any healthy tissue around
- Pleurodesis: Involves using chemicals or drugs to make a tear in the space between layers of the pleura. The fluid is then drained and chemicals are put into the space to kill cancer cells.
- Pneumectomy and decortication: This delicate procedure involves removing part of the lungs, the lining of the chest, and parts of the outside surface of the lungs.
- External pneumectomy: Which involves removing a whole lung and parts of the lining of the chest.
Drugs Approved for Malignant Mesothelioma
First, any anti-cancer drug is a form of chemotherapy. The main difference between conventional chemotherapy and newer anti-cancer drugs is that chemotherapy terminates cancerous cells while the latter blocks cancer cells from growing or spreading.
According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pemetrexed, and cisplatin are the only effective and approved drugs in mesothelioma medicine. However, patients are free to try other drugs through clinical trials or compassionate use programs.
Thus, doctors combine these drugs with other treatments to attack cancer cells in many ways for the best chance of killing all the cancer cells.
Other chemotherapy medications in mesothelioma medicine include:
- Gemcitabine
- Carboplatin
- Doxorubicin
- Raltitrexed
- Vinorelbine
When trying out new medication it is crucial for all mesothelioma patients to understand what they are doing. Consider speaking to an oncologist to find the right trials for you.
Holistic Mesothelioma Medicine and Treatments
Holistic treatment is a different approach that treats the patient as a whole as opposed to simply treating the signs and symptoms like in standard treatments.
In most cases, people misunderstand holistic treatments. Partly because this type of treatment involves some practices, products, and procedures which are sometimes not backed by scientific evidence.
Some patients prefer these treatments with the doctor's advice. Although, to date, no alternative treatment has cured mesothelioma through a scientific study.
In fact, specific types of holistic treatments might even negatively affect a mesothelioma patient.
With that said, here are some holistic treatment options used in mesothelioma medicine:
Oncology Nutrition
Doctors around the world recommend a healthy diet in cancer care. This is because a healthy diet helps to accommodate the common medically induced symptoms of difficulty swallowing and nausea associated with cancer treatment.
Additionally, some cancer centers have registered oncology dieticians to help mesothelioma patients to offer guidance on nutrition.
Balanced nutrition is important before, during, and after cancer treatment.
Herbal Mesothelioma Medicine
This type of medicine comes from plants and might be administered in the form of capsules, creams, teas, or powders. Some examples of herbal mesothelioma medicine include:
- Mistletoe Extracts
- Essiac Tea
- And Turmeric
According to a 2020 study published in Molecules, four plant extracts traditionally used in Thailand for lung cancer proved effective in killing cancer cells and promote the effects of chemotherapy.
Medical Marijuana also helps to relieve pain and drug-induced nausea in mesothelioma patients.
Mind-Body Therapies
Certain mind-body therapies have been scientifically studied in cancer patients for producing positive results. These therapies include:
Yoga
According to Supportive Care in Cancer, a study published in 2017 showed that cancer patients undergoing treatment who participated in yoga experienced improved sleep, reduces stress, and lesser fatigue.
Further, practicing yoga is also proven to improve respiratory functions in lung cancer patients.
Meditation
This form of therapy at its core is simply a practice of awareness. In meditation, the theme can be spiritually-focused or just a focus on mindfulness. This form of therapy is excellent for mesothelioma patients since it reduces anxiety, fatigue, and improves the quality of life.
However, it is best for mesothelioma patients to refrain from any form of meditation that involves fasting from food or water.
Final Thoughts
No medicine completely cures mesothelioma in patients. However, doctors can use a combination of standard and holistic mesothelioma medicine procedures to control the growth of tumors and reduce discomfort.
By following the laid out treatment plan and maintaining a healthy diet, patients increase their chances of survival.
Read Malignant Mesothelioma: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Translational Therapies, to learn more about mesothelioma medicine.
For more information on mesothelioma medicine, contact us.
