Mesothelioma Between Disease and Law: Treatment for Mesothelioma I

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Treatment for Mesothelioma I

This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.

The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.
Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

If you have mesothelioma, you doctor will suggest one or more ways to treat the cancer. This is an important decision and you should take time to think about all of your choices.
You may want to get a second opinion. A second opinion can give you more information and help you feel more secure about the treatment choice you make. Also, some insurance companies require a second opinion before they will agree to pay for certain treatments.
Because this is such a rare cancer, it has been hard for doctors to compare the value of different treatments. Since many doctors have little or no experience treating this disease, you may be referred to a specialist at a large medical center. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Surgery
Surgery for some types of mesothelioma might be done to try to bring about a cure or to relieve symptoms. Surgery to relieve symptoms (called palliative surgery) is often done in cases where the tumor has already spread, or when the patient is too ill to withstand more involved surgery.
To attempt a cure, extensive surgery might be needed. This might be done if the patient is in good health (other than the cancer) and if it seems as if the tumor is confined to one place. This type of surgery is complex and is done only by surgeons in large medical centers.
Unfortunately, the cancer has often spread to other places before it is found. So the role of surgery in treating this cancer is open to debate. If your doctor recommends surgery, you can ask for more details about the operation and what the goal is.
In many cases, methods other than surgery are used to relieve symptoms. Fluid in the chest can be removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity and drawing the fluid out. Sometimes talc or drugs that cause scarring are injected into the chest to keep the fluid from coming back. A similar method can be used to remove fluid around the abdomen or heart. While these methods can relieve symptoms, they are not meant to cure the cancer.