Treatment

There is no cure for mesothelioma, but treatments are available to slow its spread and reduce symptoms.

Receiving a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis is difficult. Because the disease has such an aggressive malignancy, the discussion of treatment with one’s primary oncologist, family members, and loved ones is important. Nearly all mesothelioma patients have treatment options – be they curative or palliative that can extend survival, alleviate pain, and increase quality of life.

Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no singular prescribed roadmap for the management of malignant mesothelioma. What’s best for each individual patient will depend on any number of factors. Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist your primary care physician and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the individual and their particular circumstances.

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Diagnosis
The first step is a mesothelioma diagnosis, which often includes ruling out other forms of cancer, such as adenocarcinoma, or ailments like asbestosis.
Testing
After diagnosis, testing will help specialists determine what stage the mesothelioma is at, and provide useful insights about which treatments may be most effective. This stage may include taking a biopsy of the cancerous tumor(s).
Treatment Plan
Once the tests are done, mesothelioma patients and doctors will consult with each other to determine the best course of action in accordance with the patient’s wishes.
Neoadjuvant Treatment
Before the primary treatment, a preliminary treatment may be given to shrink the mesothelioma tumor or reduce the amount of cancer in the body, in an attempt to make the primary treatment more effective.
Primary Treatment
The primary treatment may be surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or some form of emerging treatment, to provide the most effective attempt to meet treatment goals.
Adjuvant Treatment
After the primary treatment is administered, an adjuvant treatment may be required to enhance the effectiveness of the primary treatment and help with recovery and survivorship.
Recovery
Given the invasive and taxing nature of cancer treatments, there will be a period of recovery. Recovery may also take place between various phases of treatment.
Follow-Up
After treatment and recovery, mesothelioma survivors will continue to have follow-up visits with their primary care doctors and specialists to assess the effectiveness of the treatments and watch for any signs of recurrence.

Surgery has two goals with respect to mesothelioma. Foremost, it can be used as a curative attempt to remove as much of the cancer as possible, an option that is suitable especially for patients diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. For patients with mesothelioma that has metastasized beyond the pleural cavity, surgery can be a palliative therapy to help reduce pain, discomfort, or other symptoms.

Chemotherapy can be used in several ways to treat mesothelioma. First, it may be used as a neoadjuvant therapy to help shrink mesothelioma tumors before surgery. Secondly, it may be used after surgery in an attempt to destroy any cancerous cells that remain (adjuvant therapy). Finally, it can be used on its own or in combination with radiation therapy as a palliative effort to stall the cancer’s growth or reduce tumor size.

Chemotherapy Info

Radiation therapy targets cancer cells and destroys them at the molecular level to prevent them from reproducing. Because radiation generally has fewer side effects than surgery or chemotherapy, it’s often recommended for mesothelioma patients with fragile health. Radiation therapy comes in two forms: external beam, which uses an x-ray machine to transmit radioactive waves into the body, and internal, which requires a device to be implanted.

Radiation Options

Emerging and Experimental Treatments

Emerging and Experimental Treatments

Scientists and doctors are continuously researching innovative and more effective options to treat, and hopefully one day cure, deadly cancers like mesothelioma. Some of these methods involve adapting techniques used to fight other forms of cancer to the particular needs of mesothelioma patients, while other forms of treatment target mesothelioma-specific problems. Clinical trials are being conducted that focus on every aspect of treating mesothelioma, from earlier detection and diagnosis—which allows more treatment options and improves prognosis—to enhancing patients’ quality of life, extending survivorship, and preventing remission.

Emerging Treatment Details »

Multimodal Therapy

Multimodal Therapy

Multimodal therapy combines multiple forms of treatment (“modalities”) to improve a mesothelioma patient’s chances of long-term survival.

The most common form of multimodal therapy is trimodal therapy, which uses a three-step treatment plan using neoadjuvant therapy, primary therapy, and adjuvant therapy. Trimodal therapy often uses surgery as the primary treatment, with chemotherapy and radiation used in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant stages. However, the actual treatment plan followed depends on many factors, including the patient’s diagnosis, age, overall health, and the stage of the cancer.

Emerging treatments may also be used as part of a multimodal therapy approach.

Multimodal Therapy »

1 Neoadjuvant Therapy Treatment given before the primary therapy to improve results.
2 Primary Therapy The main course of treatment for mesothelioma (often surgery).
3 Adjuvant Therapy Additional treatments to alleviate symptoms and protect against remission.

Curative vs. Palliative Treatment

Curative vs. Palliative Treatment

The treatment plan for mesothelioma patients can differ significantly based on whether their diagnosis calls for curative or palliative treatment.

Curative treatments are anticancer therapies that aim to completely eradicate the disease from the body. Due to their aggressive nature, curative treatments are often reserved for mesothelioma patients who are younger, in relatively good health, and whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Palliative treatments are designed to help reduce the amount of pain and discomfort caused by the symptoms mesothelioma. While the same methods may be used as with curative treatments—including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—the intent in using them is to make terminally ill patients more comfortable, rather than to completely remove the cancer.

The type of mesothelioma
The stage of the cancer
The location and size of the tumor(s)
The degree to which the cancer has metastasized
The age and overall health of the patient

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Across the country, there are many cancer centers that focus specifically on treating mesothelioma. In addition to providing traditional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, these clinics are continually conducting research and experimental trials to develop future treatment options.

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After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, patients are often referred to a specialist who has experience in treating the disease. The majority of mesothelioma doctors are thoracic specialists who have expertise on cancers of the lungs, chest, and esophagus. However, you may need to find other specialists, depending on your specific situation.

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Upon receiving a diagnosis of cancer, a mesothelioma patient is often confronted with a number of thoughts—and usually at least one of those is about money. How can I afford treatment? How will I be able to pay for all my own needs, as well as those of my family? How will I be able to make ends meet? Even patients who have health insurance can quickly find the expenses piling up, especially if they have to leave work and experience a loss of income during their treatment and recovery.

While there are some financial assistance programs that can help mesothelioma patients pay for certain aspects of treatment and ongoing care, they are far apart and often only cover a small portion of costs. Because mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, patients or their families may also be eligible to receive compensation from asbestos trust funds or a settlement from the companies responsible for the exposure. Talking to an experienced lawyer about your financial options may be the best way to ease your mind on the financial front when battling cancer.

Doctors’ visits (primary care and specialists)
Testing and procedure fees
Prescriptions
Travel to clinics/treatment centers
Lodging and food for patient and family members while traveling
Home care or other assistance
Ongoing bills and services