Is Mesothelioma Cancer Curable?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be an incredibly stressful and confusing experience. When doctors estimate the length of time you'll live it is important to remember that these estimates are just guesses.
The stage (extent of your mesothelioma) and subtype are the most reliable factors to determine your prognosis. The type of surgery you undergo can also affect your prognosis.
Chemotherapy
Cancer drugs, also referred to as chemotherapy, destroy tumors and stop them from spreading. They can be used alone or as part of a combination treatment program with radiation therapy and surgery called multimodal therapy. Doctors prescribe a series of chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma patients. They are administered in cycles over several weeks with intervals of rest between. The typical mesothelioma treatment will last for a few seconds and cause nausea and fatigue. These side effects will subside with each treatment cycle.
Images of the abdomen or chest are required to detect mesothelioma. The most well-known imaging test, a CT scan (computerized Tomography), provides a three-dimensional image of the organs. Doctors can request biopsy to collect a sample for the examination of mesothelioma. The sample of tissue can be examined under a microscope to determine the type of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease and often takes years before doctors can make the diagnosis. The medical community is working to find ways to diagnose mesothelioma sooner. One way to do this is by analyzing the biomarker Soluble Mesothelin Related Peptides in blood. This biomarker is elevated in mesothelioma patients.
If mesothelioma is in its infancy the biopsy could be the only procedure needed to establish a diagnosis. A biopsy is not always required, since the symptoms of a patient could be similar to other diseases. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be costly and even fatal.
Combining chemotherapy and surgery in the late mesothelioma stages can treat it. For instance, NYU Langone doctors treat peritoneal mesothelioma with a technique called cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). During the procedure, a machine injects heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity following 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.
The mesothelioma type, stage of the cancer and the results from the biopsy will determine whether a patient is able for surgery. The prognosis of patients can be affected by their age and health.
Radiation
Mesothelioma begins in mesothelium cells. It is a membrane that covers and protecting internal organs. It is a malignant tumor that may expand to other parts of your body. The mesothelium is composed of two layers that wrap around and cover various organs, such as the lungs and stomach. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. After asbestos exposure, symptoms can take as long as 50 years to show up.
In addition to surgery and chemotherapy radiation can also be employed as a mesothelioma treatment. This type of therapy utilizes high energy rays and particle to kill cancerous cells, but not healthy ones. Radiation oncologists utilize special equipment to direct the radiation where it is most needed. This helps reduce adverse effects and other complications that can result from treatment, including scarring of the chest's lining (radiation pneumonitis).
Patients with early-stage mesothelioma have a better chance of survival than those with late-stage mesothelioma. The reason is that surgery can eliminate the cancerous tissue and increase survival rates. However, many mesothelioma patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. In these instances, surgeons try to treat the symptoms to help patients live longer.
Surgeons can aid in removing the lung's lining or abdomen where mesothelioma develops. They can also remove any accumulation of fluid that causes symptoms. Mesothelioma specialists collaborate with patients to design multimodal treatments strategies. This includes traditional methods like chemotherapy and newer methods like immunotherapy.
The prognosis for a patient is also affected by the location and type of mesothelioma's cells. Certain areas, such as the lung lining (pleura) and the abdominal lining cavity (peritoneum), are more difficult to get rid of. Experts in mesothelioma can suggest the best method to reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve the quality of life.
Mesothelioma research has made great strides in recent years and there are more treatment options available than ever before. Finding a mesothelioma specialist is one of the most crucial steps that a patient can take. A specialist can make sure that patients have access to the most recent approved treatment options and surgical options such as immunotherapy.
Surgery
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage what is mesothelioma cancer that has already spread to other organs of the body. In these instances, treatment focuses on reducing the symptoms and prolonging as long a life as is possible. This kind of treatment is referred to as palliative care. It includes treatments such as regular draining of fluid build-up in the chest (pleurodesis) and powerful painkillers.
Before undergoing any surgery doctors will evaluate the patient's health to determine if they're able to manage the procedure and recovery. This usually involves a physical examination as well as imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans. Doctors may also order blood test for chemistry or heart function to check the patient's overall health.
The type of mesothelioma that a patient is diagnosed with will determine the type of surgery they receive. Epithelial and mixed mesothelioma are easier to treat than mixed or sarcomatoid types. A biopsy can help determine the mesothelioma type.
If the cancer has spread to the lungs, doctors can perform extrapleural pneumonectomy, which is also known as EPP. They will remove a small portion of the lining that is located on the lung and chest wall. This can improve breathing and decrease the pain. When combined with chemotherapy and radiation it can prolong life expectancy.
Some patients develop mesothelioma within the peritoneum (the layer of fatty tissue that surrounds the abdominal organs). The mesothelioma-related cells may cause an accumulation of abdominal fluid, a condition called peritoneal effusion or ascites. The fluid can be drained by a doctor through a procedure called paracentesis, or by placing a tube into the abdomen to allow regular drainage at home.
The pleura that surrounds the diaphragm and lungs can be affected by mesothelioma as well. A mesothelioma specialist may recommend a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery to remove part of the pleura and lymph glands in the chest. This can improve breathing and prolong life expectancy.
After surgery, tumors may return. Mesothelioma cancer is a specialized disease. This is the reason why mesothelioma experts combine surgery with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. They can kill any microscopic mesothelioma cells that surgeons might have missed during the operation.
Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that is formed in a thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of organs within. Researchers have discovered that it is caused by a number of genetic mutations in the cells. As time passes, the abnormal cells accumulate and develop out of control, forming the form of a tumor. There are many kinds of mesothelioma, but it most often affects the lining around the lungs (pleura) and, less frequently, the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).
If a patient is given mesothelioma diagnoses, doctors estimate their life expectation based on the type of mesothelioma, its stage and their overall health. However, these estimates are merely estimates and could change as a result of new treatments.
Doctors have examined a variety of immunotherapy treatments for mesothelioma. These treatments target specific mesothelioma cell proteins and trigger an immune system.
These include Ipilimumab (also known as checkpoint inhibitors) Pembrolizumab (also called nivolumab) and Nivolumab. These are called checkpoint inhibitors. They remove the protein molecules that function as an off switch for white blood cells to attack mesothelioma cell which allows the immune system to recognize and kill cancer.
Other studies have used vaccination strategies to boost the immune system. These studies included injecting patients with interferon or GM CSF in order to stimulate the body's ability to create its own antibodies against mesothelioma. However, these early trials had few or no responses and were associated with high toxicity.
Surgery can improve the quality of life of people with pleural mesothelioma by decreasing pain, shortness of breath and fluid buildup in the chest cavity. The most common operation is a pleurectomy that includes pulmonary decortication, in which surgeons remove the affected lung as well as a portion of the pleura. Another surgical option is the video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure, which uses a small tube to remove the 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 abdominal lining and the surrounding structures may aid in reducing symptoms. Doctors can combine radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. It is essential that patients with mesothelioma seek an additional opinion and talk to mesothelioma experts about their options.