There Is No Cure For Mesothelioma
In the past, mesothelioma treatment consisted primarily of surgery. However, according to a 2009 report by Oncology Today, this method has proven only 16.3% effective in extending lifespan with remission - extending life expectancy by 5 years. By contrast, using a combination of mesothelioma treatment options increases that percentage to 74.6%. These courses of therapy depend upon the stage of the cancer. In January 2009, the U.S. FDA changed its recommendations to reflect the results of a study performed by Duke University. The study showed that combining the conventional therapy of surgery with other methods increased the remission rate by 50%. In response, the FDA approved the practice of mesothelioma treatment combination. The most commonly available include: • Surgery: Only some cases in a highly selected population fit the physical cancer profile, making them eligible for this option. • Radiation: The disease often resists this if it is used by itself; however this targeting of a mass helps reduce the number of the cells and size of the tumor. It is also called radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or prefaced by the words implant or interstitial, depending on the area targeted. • Chemotherapy: Every case is different, but for the most, this is the only allowable option. It is also the only one proven to increase survivability in controlled clinical trials. One important variant of this is a procedure where the drugs administered to tissues are heated, known as intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. If available, this technique stimulates delivery of the chemical drugs and kills more malignant cells. • Immunotherapy: Boosting immune response with inoculations and other drugs have variable results - some positive, but with unacceptable levels of toxicity as a side effect. • Photodynamic Therapy: This combines a light source with a drug activated by light to destroy cancer cells. It is most effective in treating local cancer that has not spread. • Vitamin supplements: Doses of Folate and B12 have been beneficial in some trials, when combined with other therapeutic regimens. The behavior of the malignant mesothelioma in response to these is specific to each case because the tissue itself is a variable. For example, extremely long latency periods and the continuity of the mesothelium itself in the body both present situations that will cause varying results. If underlying tissue or other organs are affected, the body’s response can prove less effective. There are also many blends of medicines and therapies to help alleviate associated discomfort. Cancer pain management involves finding the right combination to control it. Pain may be caused by the tumor itself by pressing on parts of the body, and the treatments themselves can also cause discomfort. Another factor is that they work by suppressing the immune system, which can allow other pain-causing conditions to develop. Options for controlling pain and alleviating symptoms include: • Oxygen therapy • Nebulized medicine • Integrative therapy The first two help mainly by diluting and eliminating secretions that accumulate from drainage in the lungs. They can also assist with shortness of breath, chest constriction, and pain. This life-threatening condition is nearly always caused by the inhalation of asbestos particles, and is particularly common among those who once worked in construction or around World War II ships, including Navy veterans. Given the substantial financial and emotional cost of coping with the disease and the mesothelioma treatment itself, those diagnosed should consider the compensatory benefits of an asbestos lawsuit.
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