Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer which most often seen the outer layer covering of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). But can also infect area around the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and heart (Pericardial mesothelioma). The main agent which causes Mesothelioma lung cancer is asbestos. And the treatment for mesothelioma lung cancer is mainly three types, which you can read in the coming paragraphs.
Even though medical science is so advanced that there are no diseases on the planet which cannot be cured, Except for few rare ones. Unfortunately, Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer which does not have a complete cure but is possible is prevent the disease to the maximum level. The treatments available in the medical field intent mainly to extend the life expectancy of mesothelioma lung cancer.
Knowing the fact that there is no complete cure for mesothelioma cancer, Let’s see what all treatment options are available to tackle the disease.
Treatment for mesothelioma lung cancer
Mesothelioma has the same treatments same like any other types of cancers. They are mentioned below
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method of using medicines or drugs. Most common chemotherapeutic agents used for pleural mesothelioma are cisplatin and pemetrexed. Some drugs, such as cisplatin, carboplatin, pemetrexed and gemcitabine are commonly used for treating both mesothelioma and lung cancer.
- Radiation
Radiation therapy another method for treating mesothelioma. It aims to ease the pain of mesothelioma patients, does not intend to cure these cancers. But when combined with other treatments, like surgery and chemo it can reduce recurrence of the local tumor.
- Surgery
Doing a surgery for mesothelioma lung cancer is an attempt to remove a portion of the affected lung, a lobe or the whole lung. Surgery is a treatment option if none of chemotherapy or radiation will help to reduce the intensity of cancer is spreading. And surgery is an extreme treatment for cancer.
These are the options for mesothelioma patients which can lengthen their lives, reduce pain and provide better quality lifestyles to a good extent. In united states, the percentage of people that survive five years after Mesothelioma diagnosis is on average 8%.
Diagnosis typically occurs after the age of 65 and most deaths occur around 70 years old. Prevention centers around reducing exposure to asbestos.
Surgery is not an option in all cases
In the case of Pericardial mesothelioma, surgery can be done only if the patient is assumed to be healthy enough. If the patient is unhealthy to bear a surgery. Then chemotherapy, radiation therapy or their combination might be an alternate option. Your oncologist will take the necessary treatment method depending on the intensity of the disease.
Treatment for testicular mesothelioma involves removing a portion of the infected testicle, and if the extent of cancer has moved to affect most part of the testicles then, removing entire testicle would be necessary to sustain life.
About half of the people who are affected by the pericardial and testicular type of mesothelioma can survive longer than six months. and rest depends on the progress in the health condition and it’s severity of.
We all know prevention is better than cure. So as an advance safeguard for going behind the treatment for mesothelioma lung cancer, try your best to prevent it.
Well, let see how could we prevent mesothelioma lung cancer.
The best prevention measure you can adopt is reducing exposure to asbestos. Since Asbestos is the number one agent which cause mesothelioma lung cancer. Even though treatments often include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. They cannot cure the disease completely but can reduce the intensity, if disease and pain to a minimum level. And can contribute to better mesothelioma life expectancy.
Another effective way of prevention is close analysis of the symptoms of Mesothelioma lung cancer and take treatments at the initial stage itself.