Treatment Options
Mesothelioma treatment involves a combination of therapies aimed at either removing tumors, shrinking them, or managing symptoms. These treatments include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Multimodal Therapy (combination of treatments)
Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient, focusing on maximizing survival while maintaining quality of life.
Our dedicated Patient Advocates can provide you with personalized support, helping you find the right treatment, access financial assistance, and connect with leading mesothelioma doctors.
Get Help NowSurgery
Surgery is a medical procedure to remove tumors and affected tissues to reduce the tumor mass and alleviate symptoms. Surgical treatments are more effective for patients diagnosed in the early stages of mesothelioma when the cancer has not yet spread to other organs.
Types of Mesothelioma Surgery:
- Cytoreductive Surgery with Heated Chemotherapy: Used primarily for peritoneal mesothelioma, this involves the removal of visible tumors followed by heated chemotherapy to kill remaining cancer cells.
- Extrapleural Pneumonectomy: A radical procedure that removes a lung, part of the diaphragm, and affected tissues to treat pleural mesothelioma.
- Pleurectomy and Decortication: A lung-sparing surgery that removes the tumor-laden pleura, leaving the lung intact.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses intensive drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. It is one of the most common treatments for mesothelioma, particularly for patients who are not eligible for surgery. Chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with surgery and radiation.
Common Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs:
- Alimta
- Carboplatin
- Doxorubicin
- Gemzar
Chemotherapy helps shrink tumors, relieve symptoms, and may extend survival. In a recent survey, 32% of mesothelioma patients received chemotherapy, making it the most common treatment.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is often used after surgery to target any remaining cancer cells or as palliative care to reduce pain and improve quality of life for patients who are not eligible for surgery.
Most Common Mesothelioma Radiation:
- Brachytherapy
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- Photoradiation therapy
- Volumetric-modulated arc therapy
While radiation is effective in managing symptoms and extending life expectancy, it can cause side effects like fatigue and skin irritation. In a survey, only 12% of respondents had received radiation therapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a promising treatment for mesothelioma that boosts the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses drugs that activate the immune system to recognize and destroy mesothelioma cells.
The combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) has shown significant success in treating mesothelioma that cannot be removed surgically. Immunotherapy has fewer side effects than chemotherapy and is increasingly being used in clinical trials to extend survival in patients.
Benefits of Immunotherapy:
- Fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy
- Targets cancer cells more precisely
- Offers hope for patients with advanced mesothelioma
In a survey, 26% of mesothelioma patients reported receiving immunotherapy, making it the second most common treatment option. Among patients who experienced remission, 17% had undergone immunotherapy.
Multimodal Therapy
Multimodal therapy combines multiple treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, to give patients the best chance of controlling their cancer. This approach is often used for patients who are healthy enough to tolerate several treatments and are diagnosed at an early stage.
Common Multimodal Treatments:
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Immunotherapy
- Palliative treatment
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Targeted therapy
Palliative Care
Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for mesothelioma patients by relieving symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Palliative care can include pain management, low-dose chemotherapy, and procedures to drain fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen.
Palliative Care Options:
- Pleurodesis: A procedure to prevent fluid buildup in the chest.
- Respiratory therapy: Helps improve breathing.
- Catheter placement: Relieves fluid buildup in the chest or abdomen.
- Alternative therapies: Such as acupuncture, massage, and relaxation techniques.
Palliative care is often recommended early in the treatment process to help patients manage symptoms and maintain comfort throughout their cancer journey.
Emerging Treatments and Clinical Trials
Mesothelioma research is constantly evolving, and clinical trials are a crucial avenue for testing new and emerging treatments. Participation in clinical trials allows patients access to cutting-edge therapies that are not yet widely available.
Emerging Treatments:
- Tumor Treating Fields: Uses electric fields to disrupt cancer cell growth.
- Ofev (nintedanib): A pulmonary fibrosis drug in clinical trials for pleural mesothelioma.
- Gene Therapy: Modifies genes to deliver cancer-killing cells into tumors.
- Mesothelioma Vaccine Therapy: Teaches the immune system to target mesothelioma cells.
Clinical trials provide a unique opportunity for patients who have exhausted standard treatment options or are ineligible for other therapies
Next Steps
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s essential to act quickly and seek out specialized treatment. Finding a mesothelioma expert can potentially greatly improve your treatment outcomes and survival. Patient Advocates are available to guide you through the next steps, including finding a top doctor and exploring financial assistance options.