Everything You Need To Know About Mesothelioma

Types Of Chemotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy can help shrink or stop mesothelioma from growing and is sometimes used on patients who have cancerous cells and growths that cannot be removed surgically. Sometimes chemotherapy drugs can be administered directly to the abdominal cavity in order to reach the cancer without harming healthy cells. Chemotherapy may be followed by radiation to pinpoint and treat specific areas of cancer or simply to alleviate painful symptoms of the disease. There are also clinical trials investigating gene therapy, biological therapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to battle the cancer, and targeted therapy, which uses certain drugs to specifically target cancer cells in certain parts of the body.

Possible Outcomes

Currently, the prognosis for those suffering from mesothelioma is not great, as the survival rate varies depending on the stage of the cancer. For instance, the rates are generally measured in one to five year increments, as within the first year of the diagnoses, patients are given approximately thirty-eight percent of a survival rate of living one year or longer. The way a patient chooses to handle the situation is something that should be discussed straightforwardly with their physician but is ultimately the patient’s choice. Some prefer to try any experimental therapies available, while others would rather go with palliative care for the pain and symptoms so that they can remain comfortable for as long as possible.