The treatment of malignant mesothelioma

Treatment selection depends on several factors including the stage of the tumor, general condition of the patient and his views. Given the rarity of mesothelioma, it is advisable to carry out treatment in specialized oncology institutions that have experience in treating such patients.

The operation can be performed as a palliative or therapeutic purposes. Under palliative operation meant surgery, with which you can eliminate or reduce pain or discomfort caused by the growth of tumors. Such operations are used in the inability to remove the tumor because of the prevalence of the process or the serious condition of the patient.



Plevroektomiya / decortication is usually palliative operation and involves the removal of the pleura that prevents the accumulation of fluid and reduce pain.

Torakotsentez - a procedure in which a needle is removed from the liquid from the pleural cavity to facilitate the patient's condition.

The introduction of talc or antibiotics into the pleural cavity in order to temporarily prevent the accumulation of fluid in her effective in 90% of patients with pleural mesothelioma .

Puncture the anterior abdominal wall allows you to remove the accumulated fluid in the stomach in patients with mesothelioma of the peritoneum.

In patients with mesothelioma of the pericardium execution pericardiocentesis provides an opportunity to remove fluid and improve cardiac function.

Patients in a satisfactory condition, with a localized tumor, performing radical surgery, ie complete removal of mesothelioma. It should be borne in mind that often after the alleged radical operations are microscopic foci of tumor. In this regard, the importance of radical surgery in patients with mesothelioma is disputed.

Vneplevralnaya pneumonectomy is the removal of the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium and the lung on the affected side. This extended operation can be performed only highly skilled surgeons in patients with good general condition without major concomitant diseases.

Patients with localized mezotelimoy peritoneum may be an attempt to remove the tumor along with part of the abdominal wall. Unfortunately, the majority of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, the implementation of radical surgery is impossible due to the prevalence of the process.

In the case of localized lesions of the pericardium being uninstalled, as circulated in the process - palliative interventions, preventing the accumulation of fluid.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy - a method of treating cancer with cytotoxic drugs, whose action is aimed at the destruction of tumor cells or slowing the malignant growth. When you receive chemotherapy by mouth, intravenously or intramuscularly, the introduction of a drug enters the general circulation, destroying circulating tumor cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is injected directly into the spinal canal, in the diseased organ, or any body cavity, for example, in the abdominal, it is called regional chemotherapy. In combination chemotherapy used several anticancer drugs . Method of administration of chemotherapy depends on the stage and type of malignant process. In clinical studies, the search for new treatments. Information about these studies can be found at NCI (National Cancer Institute, USA) or from your doctor with whom you can also discuss the participation in such research. Localized malignant mesothelioma (stage I) With the localization of malignant mesothelioma only in one area, carried out surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy - a method of treating cancer of the esophagus with high-frequency X-rays or other types of radiation. The method allows to achieve complete destruction of malignant cells or slowing tumor growth. There are 2 types of radiation therapy. With external radiation therapy beams from the apparatus, located next to the patient, directed to the tumor. With internal radiation therapy, radioactive substances are gaining in needles, tubes or catheters that are introduced into the tissue adjacent to the tumor or directly into the tumor. The method of radiation therapy depends on the type and stage of the malignant process.

With the localization of malignant mesothelioma in more than one area, can be performed following treatment:

• Plevroektomiya and decortication, with or without radiation therapy as palliative treatment to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
• extrapleural plevroektomiya.
• Radiation therapy as palliative treatment to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Participation in clinical trials of anticancer drugs that are injected directly into the chest cavity after surgical removal of the tumor.
• Participation in clinical studies, combinations of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
• Participation in clinical trials of new treatments.

Relapse of malignant mesothelioma Relapse of malignant mesothelioma can be treated by the following methods:

• Clinical trials of biological therapy.
• Clinical trials of chemotherapy.
• Clinical studies of surgical treatment.