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This page was medically reviewed by Benjamin Wei on February 11, 2026. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have comments or questions on our content please contact us.

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Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma patients typically receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy or surgery. Doctors often recommend a combination of these treatments to better extend survival. These treatments can reduce symptoms and improve life expectancy.

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Key Points

  • 1

    Common mesothelioma treatments include chemo, immunotherapy and surgery.

  • 2

    Multimodal therapy is a combination of mesothelioma treatments.

  • 3

    Emerging therapies may be an option if standard treatments are ineffective.

  • 4

    Palliative treatments aim to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

What Are Common Treatments for Mesothelioma?

Standard mesothelioma treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery. Patients often receive a combination of therapies. This approach tends to extend survival more effectively than solo treatments.

Doctors consider the tumor’s location, stage and patient characteristics when making treatment recommendations. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, mesothelioma patients have the treatment options below:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells, including mesothelioma cancer cells. Chemo can be used alongside many other types of treatment. It is commonly used before or after surgery.

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Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to find and destroy cancer cells. Patients may find its side effects more tolerable than those of chemo.

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Combination Therapy

Doctors often combine therapies to form a multimodal treatment plan. Using two or more approaches can extend survival more effectively than an individual therapy alone.

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Surgery

Mesothelioma surgeries aim to remove as much tumor tissue as possible. Patients usually have surgery alongside other treatments that help kill cancer cells surgeons can’t get to.

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Radiation

Radiation uses energy to kill mesothelioma cells. It may be used after surgery or alongside other treatments to help control symptoms.

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Doctors use the treatments above to reduce the size and number of mesothelioma tumors. But these therapies may cause bothersome side effects. Patients can explore supportive therapy options to help address these complications. Options include complementary, alternative and palliative treatments.

If at all possible, it’s important to seek care from a cancer center with experience treating mesothelioma. The provider teams at these hospitals know which therapies are most likely to help in specific cases. They can also help patients understand if clinical trials could be a beneficial option.

Supportive Care for Mesothelioma

Supportive care is also known as palliative care, which patients often confuse with end-of-life care or hospice. But palliative approaches simply prioritize the patient’s goals and quality of life, meaning they can help at any stage of a cancer journey. Even survivors can benefit from this type of care.

Supportive care is a holistic approach for cancer care. Rather than targeting tumors, it considers the patient’s medical, mental health, practical and spiritual needs. Supportive care can help patients at any stage of a mesothelioma journey.

Supportive therapies may include any of the following:

  • Management of symptoms and/or treatment side effects
  • Mental healthcare
  • Rehabilitation
  • Social care

Patients have many options for managing symptoms and side effects. Some standard treatments can help when used at lower doses. But many people explore complementary and alternative approaches for reducing symptoms and treatment side effects.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma

Many patients decide to supplement their treatment plan with alternative therapies. Alternative options often focus on the body as a whole, instead of the cancer cells. This may entail:

  • A new diet and working with a nutritionist
  • Herbal supplements
  • Medical marijuana
  • Physical therapy or occupational therapy
  • Yoga or meditation

Patients should discuss all alternative treatments with their physician. This communication is crucial to ensure alternative options don’t affect other aspects of their treatment plan.

Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma Patients

Doctors and researchers are continually looking for more effective ways to treat mesothelioma. They test emerging treatments in clinical trials to understand if and how they work.

You can discuss the benefits and risks of a clinical trial with your doctor. They can help you understand which – if any – may be right for you. For eligible patients, enrolling may offer access to cutting-edge therapies. Clinical trial participation also helps future patients by expanding our understanding of this rare cancer.

Examples of experimental therapies for mesothelioma include:

Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

Mesothelioma treatment can be costly, but financial help is available. Insurance plans will often cover some medical costs of mesothelioma cancer treatment.

Costs for Mesothelioma Patients to Consider
  • Home care assistance
  • Insurance limitations
  • Loss of income from being out of work
  • Travel costs to see distant specialists

Patients should establish a financial plan to understand and address mesothelioma treatment costs.

Mesothelioma victims or their loved ones may also be eligible for compensation to help pay for treatment. There are several options available to asbestos victims to help with associated costs.

Compensation options include veterans’ benefits, a mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuit, trust fund claims or workers’ compensation. Ideally, patients can receive financial help to cover costs associated with getting the best treatment possible.

To review these compensation options, mesothelioma patients should contact an asbestos attorney. Asbestos lawyers can help patients throughout the entire legal process. This allows victims and their loved ones to focus on their treatment journey.

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