Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a frightening and confusing experience. When doctors estimate how long you have to live it's important to keep in mind that these estimates are only 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 receive also plays a role.
Chemotherapy
Cancer drugs, also referred to as chemotherapy, destroy cancerous tumors and stop them from spreading. They can be used alone or as part of a combination treatment plan that includes radiation therapy and surgery also known as multimodal therapy. Doctors prescribe a variety of chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma patients. They are administered in cycles over a period of time, with rest periods in between. The typical mesothelioma treatment will last for a few minutes and can cause fatigue and nausea. These side effects are usually temporary and will improve with each treatment cycle.
Images of the abdomen or chest are required to diagnose mesothelioma. The most well-known imaging test, the CT scan (computerized Tomography), provides a three-dimensional image of the organs. Doctors can order biopsy to obtain a sample of tissue for examination of mesothelioma. The tissue sample can be examined under a microscope in order to determine the type mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and it often takes years before doctors make the diagnosis. This is the reason why the medical community is focusing on ways to diagnose mesothelioma earlier. One method to accomplish this is by analyzing the biomarker known as Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides in blood. This biomarker is found to be elevated in mesothelioma patients.
A biopsy may be all that is required to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. However, a biopsy is not always necessary, since a patient's symptoms can be similar to those of a number of illnesses. A mesothelioma diagnosis mistakenly made can be costly and dangerous.
In the last stages of mesothelioma combination of chemotherapy and surgery could lead to the possibility of a cure. For example, NYU Langone doctors treat mesothelioma of the peritoneal region using a procedure known as cytoreductive surgery, and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). In the course of treatment the machine injects heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity after surgical removal of visible tumors as well as tissue. This has helped to extend survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients, which range from 38-92 months following the surgical/chemotherapy treatment combination.
If a patient is able to undergo surgery is contingent upon the type of mesothelioma that they have, the stage and the results of their biopsy. The prognosis for patients can be affected by their age and health.
Radiation
Mesothelioma begins in cells of the mesothelium membrane that protects and covers internal organs. It is a malignant tumour that can spread to other organs in your body. The mesothelium is made up of two layers that wrap around different organs such as the stomach and lungs. Mesothelioma symptoms are often akin to other illnesses, such as the flu or pneumonia. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms may take between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos.
In addition to surgery and chemotherapy radiation can also be employed as a mesothelioma treatment. This kind of therapy makes use of high-energy rays and particles to kill cancer cells however, not healthy cells. Radiation oncologists direct the radiation using special equipment. This helps reduce adverse effects and other complications that can result from the treatment, such as scarring of the lining of the chest (radiation pneumonitis).
Patients with mesothelioma in the early stages have a better chance of survival than those who have mesothelioma in late-stage. This is due to the fact that surgery can remove cancerous tissues, which improves survival rates. The majority of mesothelioma cases are discovered in later stages. In these cases, surgeons try to address the symptoms to help patients live longer.
Surgeons are able to remove the lining from the lungs or abdomen, where the mesothelioma begins. They can also eliminate any fluid buildup that creates symptoms. Mesothelioma specialists work with patients to create multimodal treatment plans. They can use traditional methods such as chemotherapy as well as more recent methods such as immunotherapy.
The location and the type of cell of mesothelioma is also a factor in the prognosis of a patient. Certain locations, such as the lung lining (pleura) and the abdominal lining cavity (peritoneum), are more difficult to eliminate. Mesothelioma experts can advise on the most effective treatment options to reduce the chance of recurrence and improve the quality of life.
Mesothelioma research has made significant advancements in recent years with more treatment options available than ever before. Finding a mesothelioma specialist one of the most crucial steps a patient can take. A specialist can guarantee the patient has access to surgical options and latest approved treatments, including immunotherapy.
Surgery
Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in an advanced stage if it has already expanded. In these cases treatment is focused on reducing symptoms and extending life as long as is possible. Palliative care is the term used to describe the process of this type of treatment. It includes treatments like regular draining of fluid build-up in the chest (pleurodesis) and powerful painkillers.
Before any procedure, doctors carefully evaluate the health of the patient to make sure they are capable of handling the procedure and recovery. The evaluation includes physical examinations and imaging tests like X radiations and CT scanners. Doctors can also order blood test for chemistry or heart function to assess the patient's overall health.
The type of mesothelioma that a patient is diagnosed with will determine the type of surgery they receive. Mixed and epithelial mesothelioma are easier to treat than mixed or sarcomatoid types. A biopsy can help to determine the mesothelioma type.
If the cancer has spread into the lungs, doctors could carry out extrapleural pneumonectomy. It is also called EPP. They will remove some of the lining of the chest wall and lung. This will improve breathing and lessen pain. When combined with radiation and chemotherapy it can prolong life expectancy.
In certain patients, mesothelioma could extend to the peritoneum which is the fatty tissue that covers the abdominal organs. The mesothelioma cells can then cause a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, a condition called peritoneal effusion or ascites. Doctors may drain the fluid with a procedure called paracentesis, or put a tube in the abdomen to drain it regularly at home.
Mesothelioma cancer cells can also expand to the pleura which surrounds the lungs and diaphragm. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery to remove part of the lung cancer from mesothelioma pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This can improve breathing and can even increase the lifespan.
Even after surgery, the cancers can recur. Mesothelioma cancer is a complex disease. This is why mesothelioma specialists combine surgery with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. These can kill any microscopic mesothelioma cells that the surgeons may have missed during the surgery.
Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor is formed in the form of a thin layer of tissue covering the majority of organs within. Researchers have discovered that it develops because of a series of genetic mutations within the cells. As time passes these abnormal cells build up and expand uncontrollably, creating tumors. There are many types of mesothelioma. It most commonly affects the lining that surrounds the lung (pleura), and less frequently the abdominal lining (peritoneum).
If a patient is given mesothelioma-related diagnosis, doctors estimate their life expectancy based on the type of mesothelioma, the stage, and their overall health. However these estimates are just estimates and could change as a result of new treatments.
Doctors have examined a variety of immunotherapy treatment options for mesothelioma. The drugs target specific proteins on the mesothelioma cell and triggering an immune response in the immune system of the body.
These drugs include Ipilimumab (also called checkpoint inhibitors), pembrolizumab (also known as nivolumab) and nivolumab. They are referred to as "checkpoint inhibitors". They eliminate the protein molecules that function as an off switch for white blood cells to attack mesothelioma cell and allow the immune system to recognize and kill cancer.
Other studies have used strategies for vaccination to boost the immune system. These studies involved injecting patients with interferon and GM CSF to stimulate their bodies to produce antibodies against mesothelioma. However, these early trials had few or no responses and were associated with high toxicity.
By reducing pain, shortness in breath and the accumulation of fluids in the chest cavity, surgery can enhance the quality-of-life for people with the pleural Msothelioma. The most common surgery is a pleurectomy, which involves removing the affected lung as well as a part of the pleura. A video-assisted procedure is a different surgical option. This involves using a small tubing to drain fluid from the chest cavity.
Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may also benefit from surgery. If the cancer has not been able to spread, a surgical resection of the lining of the abdomen and the surrounding structures may aid in reducing symptoms. Doctors may use a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. It is important for those with mesothelioma to seek second opinions and talk to mesothelioma specialists regarding their options.