Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is an overwhelming and confusing experience. When doctors estimate the length of time you'll live, it's important to remember that these estimates are just guesses.
The most reliable variables that determine your prognosis are the stage (extent) of your mesothelioma as well as the subtype. The type of surgery you have is also a factor.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs, also known as cancer drugs can kill tumors and stop their growth. They can be used as part of a multimodal therapy program that includes surgery and radiation therapy. Doctors prescribe a number of chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma patients. These are given in cycles, over several weeks, with a period of rest between. The typical mesothelioma treatment will last for a few seconds and cause nausea and fatigue. These side effects are not permanent and improve with each treatment.
The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is to obtain imaging scans of the chest or abdomen. The most commonly used imaging test is the CT scan (computerized Tomography) offers a three-dimensional image of the organs. Doctors can order an examination to obtain a sample of tissue for testing of mesothelioma. The tissue sample can be examined under microscopes to determine the type of mesothelioma.
It can take years for doctors to identify mesothelioma, as it is a rare condition. This is why the medical community is trying to find ways to detect mesothelioma earlier. One method to accomplish this is to test the biomarker known as Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides in the blood. This biomarker is high in mesothelioma patients.
When mesothelioma has reached its early stages the biopsy could be the only option to make a diagnosis. A biopsy isn't always required, since the symptoms of a patient may be similar to other illnesses. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be costly and even fatal.
In the last stages of mesothelioma, a combination of chemotherapy and surgery could lead to a cure. NYU Langone doctors, for instance, can treat peritoneal tumors by using a procedure known as cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC (hyperthermic intratperitoneal chemotherapy). In this procedure, a machine pumps chemotherapy drugs heated directly into the abdominal cavity immediately after surgical removal of cancerous tumors visible and tissue. This has helped to extend survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients, which range from 38-92 months following the surgical/chemotherapy treatment combination.
The mesothelioma type, the stage of the cancer, and the results of a biopsy will determine whether a patient is suitable for surgery. Additionally the patient's age as well as health status can affect their prognosis.
Radiation
Mesothelioma starts in cells in the mesothelium, a layer of skin that protects and covers organs within the body. It is a malignant tumor that can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The mesothelium has 2 layers that wrap around different organs, including the lungs and stomach. Mesothelioma symptoms are often akin to other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms can take 10 to 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos.
In addition to chemotherapy and surgery radiation can also be used to treat mesothelioma. This kind of therapy makes use of high energy rays and particle to kill cancerous cells but not healthy ones. Radiation oncologists direct the radiation using special machines. This helps reduce the adverse effects and complications that can result from the treatment. For example, scarring on the chest's lining (radiation pneumonia).
Patients with mesothelioma in the early stages have a better outlook than those who have mesothelioma in late-stage. This is due to the fact that surgery can remove cancerous tissues, which improves survival rates. However, a lot of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. In these instances surgeons try their best to treat the symptoms and help patients live longer.
Surgeons can remove the lining in the abdomen or lungs in which mesothelioma first appears. They can also remove any accumulation of fluids that cause symptoms. Mesothelioma specialists collaborate with patients to design multimodal treatment plans. This includes conventional methods like chemotherapy as well as more recent ones like immunotherapy.
The location and cell type of mesothelioma can also affect the prognosis of a patient. Some locations are more difficult to get rid of like the lung linings as well as the abdominal cavity. Experts in mesothelioma can recommend the best treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve the quality of life.
In recent years, research on mesothelioma's progress has been incredibly. There are now more treatment options than before. Finding a specialist for mesothelioma is among the best decisions that a patient can take. A specialist can ensure that patients have access the latest approved treatment options and surgical options such as immunotherapy.
Surgery
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in advanced stages in which it has already taken over other parts of the body. In these instances, treatment focuses on improving the symptoms and extending as long a life as possible. This type of treatment is referred to as palliative care. It includes treatments such as regular drainage of fluid accumulation in the chest (pleurodesis) and powerful painkillers.
Before any procedure doctors thoroughly assess the health of the patient to make sure they are able to handle surgery and recovery. This assessment involves physical examinations and imaging tests, such as X scans and CT scanners. Doctors may also order blood test for chemistry or heart function to assess the health of the patient in general.
The type of mesothelioma a patient is suffering from will determine the type of surgery they undergo. Epithelial and mixed mesothelioma are more easily treated than sarcomatoid and mixed types. A biopsy can help to determine the mesothelioma type.
If the cancer has progressed to the lungs doctors will perform lung-removal surgery, known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). They will take out some of the linings of the chest wall and lung. This will improve breathing and lessen pain. When combined with chemotherapy and radiation, it can extend the duration of life.
In certain patients, mesothelioma could expand to the peritoneum, which is the fat tissue that protects the abdominal organs. The mesothelioma can cause fluid to build up in the abdomen. This condition is known as peritoneal effusion or ascites. Doctors can drain the fluid through paracentesis, a procedure that is known as a surgical procedure, or place a tube into the abdomen to drain it regularly at home.
Mesothelioma cells can also expand to the pleura which is the lung's protective layer and diaphragm. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) symptoms of mesothelioma cancer surgery to remove part of the pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This will improve breathing and increase life duration.
Even after surgery, the tumors could recur. Mesothelioma cancer is a complex disease. This is why mesothelioma specialists combine surgery with other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments can kill mesothelioma-like cells that the surgeons might have missed during the procedure.
Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers most internal organs. Scientists have found that it develops because of a series of genetic mutations in the cells. Over time these abnormal cells build up and expand uncontrollably, creating a tumour. There are many types of mesothelioma. It is most often affecting the lining that surrounds the lung (pleura), and less often, the lining in the abdomen (peritoneum).
When someone is given a mesothelioma diagnosis doctors calculate their life expectation based on the type of mesothelioma, the stage and their overall health. These estimates are only estimates and may change as a result of new treatments.
Doctors have examined a variety of immunotherapy treatments for mesothelioma. These drugs work by targeting certain proteins on mesothelioma cells and trigger an immune response from the immune system of the body.
These drugs include Ipilimumab (also called checkpoint inhibitors), pembrolizumab (also called Nivolumab) and nivolumab. They are referred to as "checkpoint inhibitors". They eliminate the proteins that function as a switch that stops white blood cells from attacking mesothelioma. allowing the immunity system to recognize and kill the cancer.
Other studies have utilized vaccination strategies to stimulate the immune system. These studies included injecting patients with interferon or GM CSF to encourage the body to make its own antibodies against mesothelioma. These early trials were characterised by low or no response rates and high toxicity.
Surgery can improve the quality of life for people with pleural mesothelioma by reducing pain, breathlessness and fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The most commonly performed procedure is a pleurectomy and pulmonary decortication. In this procedure, surgeons remove the affected lung and a portion of the pleura. A video-assisted procedure is a different option for surgery. This involves using a small tube to drain the fluid from the chest cavity.
People suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma could also benefit from surgery. If the cancer has not spread, a surgical removal of the abdominal lining and the surrounding structures can aid in reducing symptoms. Doctors may combine chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. It is important for those suffering from mesothelioma to get second opinions and consult with mesothelioma specialists about the options available to them.