malignant pleural mesothelioma Treatment Options 168

The most important factor in a pleural mesothelioma prognosis is the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Staging is how doctors describe cancer's progression. An early stage cancer offers a better change of long-term survival than a late-stage cancer. Patients in otherwise good health who can still perform normal daily tasks tend to respond better to treatment, which is also a significant factor for survival.

Surgery

Surgery may be a treatment option for pleural mesothelioma patients. One common procedure is pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), in which doctors remove the tumor and affected pleura. A more aggressive surgical option, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), aims to remove the pleura, the entire cancerous lung, the diaphragm and the pericardium, a protective membrane that covers the heart.

Chemotherapy

One of the most common mesothelioma treatments is chemotherapy, which uses one or more drugs to kill cancer cells and decrease the size of tumors. While recent advancements have improved how well patients respond to chemotherapy, success rates have been low overall.

However, clinical trials that combine several chemotherapy drugs in one treatment have shown great potential. While researchers have not yet found a combination of chemotherapy drugs that can cure pleural mesothelioma, this is a primary goal of countless clinical trials.

Radiation Therapy

During radiation therapy, doctors administer targeted radiation that destroys cancer cells and decreases tumor size. Pleural mesothelioma often resists radiation therapy, but it can be effective for managing symptoms like chest pain.

One of the most successful radiotherapy techniques is called intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Usually given in intervals after a radical surgery like EPP, this technique prevents cancer recurrence in many cases.

Multimodal Therapies

While there is no single course of treatment for pleural mesothelioma that all doctors agree on, the majority of experts believe that survival is best when several treatments are used. This approach is known as multimodal therapy. Researchers are constantly experimenting with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to uncover the most effective combination and timing for these treatments.

In one example of a multimodal pleural mesothelioma treatment, doctors first perform extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery. Radiation therapy is then administered to reduce the risk of local cancer recurrence, and distant spread is prevented with chemotherapy.

Symptoms of disease

• In general, early stage lung cancer is often asymptomatic. But when the disease then spread Symptoms may be found below.

• Chronic cough (dry cough or cough with phlegm).
• Breathing problems such as shortness of breath.
• Wheezing
• Chest pain all the time
• Coughing up blood
• Hoarse
• Frequent lung infections such as pneumonia.
• Fatigue or feeling tired all the time.
• Unexplained weight loss

These symptoms may be associated with cancer. Since there are many diseases that can cause these symptoms, however, the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

The initial screening and diagnosis

If you have symptoms of lung cancer network. The doctor will perform a physical examination, chest radiography, sputum examination if irregularities are found. May require additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Biopsy for analysis (biopsy).

Using a small needle biopsy (fine-needle aspiration), the doctor will use a small needle to penetrate the chest cavity to the lungs. And absorbs liquid tissue sample suspected to be analyzed. Generally made with X-ray or CT scan to determine the correct location of the tissue being inspected.

Bronchial endoscopy (Bronchoscopy) doctor will insert a small tube with a light through the nose or mouth into the lungs. The pipe can be cut tissue or fluid suspected to analyze thoroughly.

Using a needle pierced through the chest wall, pleural effusion. (Thoracentesis) Doctors use a needle piercing the area between the lungs and the chest wall of the chest cavity. To store liquids such areas examined for cancer cells.

The central chest cavity by endoscopy. (Mediastinoscopy), doctors will perform surgery at the top of the sternum. Then, insert the camera into the chest cavity. And take samples of tissue or lymph nodes to check.

The thoracic cavity by endoscopy. (Thorocoscopy) doctor uses a camera is inserted through the chest wall to cut the tumor from the lungs to detect.

Radiation Detection

Check with computed tomography (CT scan) and detected by using electromagnetic waves (MRI) is a way to help doctors find abnormal position and size of a lump in the lung.

Detection by PET scan (positron emission tomography scan) is injected with a radioactive molecule of sugar into the blood. Lung cancer cells absorb sugar more quickly, and this type of cells. Make a difference in the cancer cells glow.

Self-care after malignant pleural mesothelioma Treatment 

If smokers should stop immediately.

When patients begin to feel better. Exercise by walking at least 15-30 minutes to promote better working of the lungs and heart.

Regular doctor appointment To prevent a recurrence and to prevent other cancers.