Mesothelioma Cure — Is a cure for mesothelioma available or even possible?
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Share ArticleMesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a protective covering or membrane surrounding several organs in the body, including the lungs. Mesothelioma is most commonly diagnosed in the chest cavity and lung area, as malignant pleural mesothelioma, but it can also affect the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Approximately 3,000 new patients receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in the United States each year, and, while research continues into the possibility, tragically there is not currently any form of mesothelioma cure available to the vast majority of those that suffer from this disease.
Exposure to asbestos, a fireproof and durable material commonly used in insulation and construction materials during the twentieth century, is the leading cause of mesothelioma. A mineral which occurs naturally, asbestos becomes toxic when it is damaged, because it disintegrates into a respirable particulate composed of microscopic, needle-like fibers. These fibers can be inhaled or ingested, after which they become embedded in the mesothelium. There they can develop into tumors, leading to an eventual diagnosis of mesothelioma.
This form of asbestos cancer is unusual in that it can take between 10 and 50 years to become symptomatic. This means that people may be living with mesothelioma and not even know it. Moreover, its symptoms—chest pain, breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and fatigue—mimic the symptoms of other, more common respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis, emphysema, and even the common cold. Because of this, mesothelioma is frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed until it has reached a very advanced stage.
Diagnostic tools and methods such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and biopsies can help an oncologist not only stage the disease, evaluating its progression, but also determine what kind of treatment may be best. CT (computer topography) is particularly valuable in terms of detecting and treating mesothelioma effectively, since CT scans map three-dimensional images of the internal organs. In this way the cancerous areas can more easily be targeted by either chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
As with all cancers, the success of treatment depends heavily on early detection. In the rare instance that mesothelioma is diagnosed in Stage I, curative surgery may be possible, depending on the location and size of the tumor and the patient’s overall state of health. In curative surgery, the tumor or tumors, and possibly some of the surrounding tissue, will be removed. There is another form of surgery, called palliative surgery, that can be performed even at a later stage. One form of palliative surgery, pleurodesis, involved injecting talc into the lungs, which is intended to prevent fluid from returning. Another procedure, thoracentesis, uses a thin needle to removed fluid from the lungs. Lastly, the lining of the lung itself may be removed in a pleurectomy, in order to control fluid build-up and reduce pain.
Patients with more advanced stages of malignant mesothelioma may opt for radiation or chemotherapy. Neither of these methods of treatment can be considered cures, but they can provide relief from pain and other symptoms of the disease. Chemotherapy drugs are usually given in combination, and currently the most effective combination has been found to be Alimta and Cisplatin. In other cases, a different combination of drugs, or only a single medication, may be used. Mostly, chemotherapy is given by intravenous injection, or can be injected in either the chest cavity (intrapleurally) or into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneally). Since chemotherapy can result in some very unpleasant side effects, the patient will often be prescribed additional drugs in order to help combat nausea, vitamin loss, and a decline in the immune system.
A technique which shows a great deal of promise in the treatment of mesothelioma is called intracavity heated chemotherapy. This is a procedure which accompanies surgery. After removal of the tumor or tumors, a heated chemotherapeutic agent is administered directly to the site of the cancer. There it destroys any remaining cancerous cells. In studies, intracavity heated chemotherapy treatment has been shown to extend the patient’s life expectancy significantly.
Radiation is a type of treatment that can be used for mesothelioma patients that are considered too weak for chemotherapy. External beam radiation, the most common type used for mesothelioma patients, is administered five days a week for up to five weeks. Again, radiation is not intended as a cure, since it will not generally affect the tumor itself. Instead, it is intended to help ease breathing difficulties, difficulty swallowing, pain, and bleeding. Another type of radiation, brachytherapy, is more rarely employed in mesothelioma patients, but involves placing radioactive material directly inside the body at the location of the tumor. Radiation tends to produce fewer side effects than chemotherapy, and is usually easier for the patient to tolerate.
Often, these traditional treatment options are offered in conjunction with one another. Radiation or chemotherapy may be offered before surgery, in order to shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove, or after surgery, to help eradicate any remaining cancer left in the body.
Clinical trials are another option. These trials, which serve to investigate the efficacy of a certain treatment before it goes to the Food and Drug Administration for review, are almost always looking for volunteers. Patients who are interested in trying experimental treatments should discuss the option of qualifying for a clinical trial with their doctor.
Many mesothelioma patients have found relief from their painful and debilitating symptoms through alternative treatments, such as yoga, acupuncture, massage, dietary changes, hypnosis, aromatherapy and others. These treatments are not effective in removing the cancerous cells, of course, but they can help alleviate pain and make the patient more comfortable.
Since it has such a long latency period, and is so often not diagnosed until it has reached a very late stage, the prognosis for mesothelioma is usually rather grim. On average, patients live only 18 months after diagnosis, with only 10 percent surviving past the two-year mark. Although there is not currently a cure for mesothelioma, research into this devastating disease and ways to improve survival rates for mesothelioma patients continues. Through technological and medical advancements, oncologists, patients and their families alike have hope that mesothelioma will someday become a disease that, like asbestos itself, is associated with a bygone era.
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