SOme Of The Factors that Affect Survival Rate

Survival rates for mesothelioma cancer vary by the patient’s age, gender, race and several other factors. The location, stage and cell type of the cancer, as well as your overall health, have the strongest influence on your mesothelioma prognosis.

Age

Overall, older mesothelioma patients have a much lower survival rate than younger ones. More than 55 percent of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 live one year, but less than 30 percent of patients 75 or older live the same amount of time.

This difference is largely because younger patients are eligible for more intensive treatments such as surgery. Older individuals may not be candidates for these procedures because of poor overall health or a high risk of complications.

Mesothelioma One-Year Survival by Age Range

However, it is rare for someone younger than 50 to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. The average age at diagnosis is 69.Rates are similar for long-term survival. Patients diagnosed before age 50 have nearly a 25 percent chance of surviving a decade, while that drops sharply — to 5.4 percent — for patients between the ages of 50 and 64.

The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed between ages 65-74 is 6.7 percent. That rate falls to 3.8 percent for those 75 or older.

Gender

Research shows women with mesothelioma experience nearly three-fold better survival rate compared to men. After analyzing mesothelioma cases reported in the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database from 1988 to 2013, researchers found the overall five-year survival rate for men was 7 percent, compared with 15 percent for women.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Gender

When asbestos use was far more pervasive decades ago, the few women who did develop a related illness were usually exposed because they lived near mines or factories — especially those that processed the mineral. Women also found themselves exposed by spouses, family members or friends who worked around asbestos and brought home the tiny fibers on their clothes.Most asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace, particularly in industrial jobs traditionally held by men. That helps explain why men account for the majority of all mesothelioma cases.

Although numerous factors contribute to patient survival, women with mesothelioma appear to survive longer than men regardless of age, cancer stage, race or type of treatment. For every age group studied in the SEER program, women fared significantly better than men.

There is currently no conclusive answer as to why, but some researchers believe the improved survival could be explained by hormonal differences between genders.

Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, which carries a better prognosis compared to the more common pleural type.

Race

Mesothelioma is almost exclusive to white individuals, who make up 95 percent of patients.

This vast difference may be in large part because black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to be diagnosed with any type of cancer, mesothelioma included. Data from SEER shows blacks and Hispanics account for only 8 percent of all cancer diagnoses.

Although race does not appear to impact mesothelioma survival rate much initially, race becomes a more telling factor as time passes. From three years on, the survival rate of white patients is slightly worse than black patients.

Five-year survival among whites is 7.8 percent, compared with 12 percent for blacks. After 10 years, only 4.4 percent of white patients survive, while 8.2 percent of blacks are alive a decade after diagnosis.

SEER data used to calculate these survival rates includes Hispanics among patients who identify as both black and white. Because mesothelioma is rarer among other races, reliable survival statistics are not available.

According to a 2015 study analyzing 13,734 pleural mesothelioma cases in the SEER database, black patients lived longer than white patients despite being less likely to undergo aggressive surgery. Only 18 percent of black patients in the study had surgery, compared to 24 percent of white patients.

Typically, mesothelioma patients who have surgery survive longer than those who do not.

There are four types of mesothelioma, and the site where the cancer originates can greatly affect patient survival.

Of the two most common mesothelioma types — pleural and peritoneal — survival is significantly better for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. This, however, has not always been the case.

Before the emergence of an advanced peritoneal mesothelioma therapy called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) that combines cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, median survival for untreated patients was about six months.

This compares to a median survival of less than 12 months for patients with untreated pleural mesothelioma. In select studies, heated chemotherapy has boosted peritoneal mesothelioma survival to between 40 and 92 months.

According to a 2015 meta-study analyzing 20 years of data from 1992 to 2012, the five-year survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma patients is more than five-times higher than the rate for pleural patients.

The remaining two types — pericardial and testicular mesothelioma — when combined, account for less than 2 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Median survival for testicular mesothelioma, the rarest type, is 24 months. About 40 percent of patients die from the disease.

Pericardial mesothelioma, which develops on the lining of the heart, has a median survival ranging from six to 10 months.

Stage of Cancer

The stage of your cancer at diagnosis is a strong predictor of overall survival. Survival is best among people diagnosed with mesothelioma at an early stage, before cancer spread starts to limit treatment options.

Early-stage patients who receive prompt treatment experience improved survival because they are more likely to qualify for surgery and other aggressive treatments associated with better outcomes.

Typically, pleural mesothelioma is not diagnosed until it reaches stage 3 or stage 4, the last stages of development. This can include a larger tumor or extensive cancer spread throughout the body. Later stages of mesothelioma are more difficult to treat effectively, so these patients have worse survival rates.

A late diagnosis is common because it can take 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop, and many people don’t experience symptoms until the cancer has already reached an advanced stage.

While there is no established staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma, some researchers have proposed their own systems based on the TNM system, which uses tumor size, lymph node involvement and cancer spread to describe the extent of many types of cancer.

One such novel staging system has three stages based on TNM characteristics and a measure of tumor burden called the peritoneal cancer index (PCI). In a 2011 international study involving 294 peritoneal mesothelioma patients treated with cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, researchers used this system to describe patient survival.

One-year survival for stage 1 patients was 94 percent, 87 percent for stage 2 and 66 percent for stage 3. The researchers also calculated five-year survival, which was 87 percent for stage 1, 53 percent for stage 2 and 29 percent for stage 3.

Tumor Histology

The histology, or cellular makeup, of a mesothelioma tumor is also an accurate predictor for patient survival. Mesothelioma has three primary cell types: Epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. They differ not only in appearance, but also in behavior.

With a median survival of 12 to 24 months, epithelioid mesothelioma — the most common cell type — has the best prognosis. Epithelioid cells are the least aggressive and respond best to treatment.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, on the other hand, has a median survival of six months. Sarcomatoid tumors exhibit more aggressive behavior in terms of cell growth and invasive spread. Biphasic mesothelioma, which has both epithelioid and sarcomatoid features, has a median survival of 12 months.

In a large, multi-institutional study that investigated how tumor histology and other factors affect survival, researchers observed similar survival rates. Among more than 3,000 pleural mesothelioma patients, the epithelioid cell type had the best survival rate, with a median survival of 19 months. Sarcomatoid patients experienced a median survival of eight months, the worst outcome of all cell types. Median survival for biphasic patients was 13 months.

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SOme Of The Factors that Affect Survival Rate

Survival rates for mesothelioma cancer vary by the patient’s age, gender, race and several other factors. The location, stage and cell type of the cancer, as well as your overall health, have the strongest influence on your mesothelioma prognosis.

Age

Overall, older mesothelioma patients have a much lower survival rate than younger ones. More than 55 percent of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 live one year, but less than 30 percent of patients 75 or older live the same amount of time.

This difference is largely because younger patients are eligible for more intensive treatments such as surgery. Older individuals may not be candidates for these procedures because of poor overall health or a high risk of complications.

Mesothelioma One-Year Survival by Age Range

However, it is rare for someone younger than 50 to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. The average age at diagnosis is 69.Rates are similar for long-term survival. Patients diagnosed before age 50 have nearly a 25 percent chance of surviving a decade, while that drops sharply — to 5.4 percent — for patients between the ages of 50 and 64.

The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed between ages 65-74 is 6.7 percent. That rate falls to 3.8 percent for those 75 or older.

Gender

Research shows women with mesothelioma experience nearly three-fold better survival rate compared to men. After analyzing mesothelioma cases reported in the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database from 1988 to 2013, researchers found the overall five-year survival rate for men was 7 percent, compared with 15 percent for women.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Gender

When asbestos use was far more pervasive decades ago, the few women who did develop a related illness were usually exposed because they lived near mines or factories — especially those that processed the mineral. Women also found themselves exposed by spouses, family members or friends who worked around asbestos and brought home the tiny fibers on their clothes.Most asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace, particularly in industrial jobs traditionally held by men. That helps explain why men account for the majority of all mesothelioma cases.

Although numerous factors contribute to patient survival, women with mesothelioma appear to survive longer than men regardless of age, cancer stage, race or type of treatment. For every age group studied in the SEER program, women fared significantly better than men.

There is currently no conclusive answer as to why, but some researchers believe the improved survival could be explained by hormonal differences between genders.

Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, which carries a better prognosis compared to the more common pleural type.

Race

Mesothelioma is almost exclusive to white individuals, who make up 95 percent of patients.

This vast difference may be in large part because black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to be diagnosed with any type of cancer, mesothelioma included. Data from SEER shows blacks and Hispanics account for only 8 percent of all cancer diagnoses.

Although race does not appear to impact mesothelioma survival rate much initially, race becomes a more telling factor as time passes. From three years on, the survival rate of white patients is slightly worse than black patients.

Five-year survival among whites is 7.8 percent, compared with 12 percent for blacks. After 10 years, only 4.4 percent of white patients survive, while 8.2 percent of blacks are alive a decade after diagnosis.

SEER data used to calculate these survival rates includes Hispanics among patients who identify as both black and white. Because mesothelioma is rarer among other races, reliable survival statistics are not available.

According to a 2015 study analyzing 13,734 pleural mesothelioma cases in the SEER database, black patients lived longer than white patients despite being less likely to undergo aggressive surgery. Only 18 percent of black patients in the study had surgery, compared to 24 percent of white patients.

Typically, mesothelioma patients who have surgery survive longer than those who do not.

There are four types of mesothelioma, and the site where the cancer originates can greatly affect patient survival.

Of the two most common mesothelioma types — pleural and peritoneal — survival is significantly better for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. This, however, has not always been the case.

Before the emergence of an advanced peritoneal mesothelioma therapy called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) that combines cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, median survival for untreated patients was about six months.

This compares to a median survival of less than 12 months for patients with untreated pleural mesothelioma. In select studies, heated chemotherapy has boosted peritoneal mesothelioma survival to between 40 and 92 months.

According to a 2015 meta-study analyzing 20 years of data from 1992 to 2012, the five-year survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma patients is more than five-times higher than the rate for pleural patients.

The remaining two types — pericardial and testicular mesothelioma — when combined, account for less than 2 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Median survival for testicular mesothelioma, the rarest type, is 24 months. About 40 percent of patients die from the disease.

Pericardial mesothelioma, which develops on the lining of the heart, has a median survival ranging from six to 10 months.

Stage of Cancer

The stage of your cancer at diagnosis is a strong predictor of overall survival. Survival is best among people diagnosed with mesothelioma at an early stage, before cancer spread starts to limit treatment options.

Early-stage patients who receive prompt treatment experience improved survival because they are more likely to qualify for surgery and other aggressive treatments associated with better outcomes.

Typically, pleural mesothelioma is not diagnosed until it reaches stage 3 or stage 4, the last stages of development. This can include a larger tumor or extensive cancer spread throughout the body. Later stages of mesothelioma are more difficult to treat effectively, so these patients have worse survival rates.

A late diagnosis is common because it can take 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop, and many people don’t experience symptoms until the cancer has already reached an advanced stage.

While there is no established staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma, some researchers have proposed their own systems based on the TNM system, which uses tumor size, lymph node involvement and cancer spread to describe the extent of many types of cancer.

One such novel staging system has three stages based on TNM characteristics and a measure of tumor burden called the peritoneal cancer index (PCI). In a 2011 international study involving 294 peritoneal mesothelioma patients treated with cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, researchers used this system to describe patient survival.

One-year survival for stage 1 patients was 94 percent, 87 percent for stage 2 and 66 percent for stage 3. The researchers also calculated five-year survival, which was 87 percent for stage 1, 53 percent for stage 2 and 29 percent for stage 3.

Tumor Histology

The histology, or cellular makeup, of a mesothelioma tumor is also an accurate predictor for patient survival. Mesothelioma has three primary cell types: Epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. They differ not only in appearance, but also in behavior.

With a median survival of 12 to 24 months, epithelioid mesothelioma — the most common cell type — has the best prognosis. Epithelioid cells are the least aggressive and respond best to treatment.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, on the other hand, has a median survival of six months. Sarcomatoid tumors exhibit more aggressive behavior in terms of cell growth and invasive spread. Biphasic mesothelioma, which has both epithelioid and sarcomatoid features, has a median survival of 12 months.

In a large, multi-institutional study that investigated how tumor histology and other factors affect survival, researchers observed similar survival rates. Among more than 3,000 pleural mesothelioma patients, the epithelioid cell type had the best survival rate, with a median survival of 19 months. Sarcomatoid patients experienced a median survival of eight months, the worst outcome of all cell types. Median survival for biphasic patients was 13 months.

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Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Historically, survival rates for mesothelioma are measured in terms of one-year survival. However, many mesothelioma patients are beating the odds and living far beyond median survival rates thanks to advances in treatment.

Additionally, five-year survival for mesothelioma patients has steadily improved since 1999, according to the latest report from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Long-term survivors attribute their success to a multidisciplinary approach to treatment from mesothelioma specialists, alternative medicine, clinical trials and nutritional changes.

While these terms are often used interchangeably, mesothelioma life expectancy and survival rates carry different meanings.

Life expectancy refers to the average age a person is expected to live based on the year they were born, where they were born and other demographic factors. An aggressive cancer, such as mesothelioma, can shorten this average.

Survival rates come into play after a person is diagnosed with cancer or another serious health condition. These rates show the percentage of patients in a study or treatment group who are still alive for a certain period of time following a diagnosis.

Researchers describe the mesothelioma survival rate in several ways — usually six-month and one-year survival, but also the percentage of patients who live two years, three years and five years.

Mesothelioma has no definitive cure and most cases are diagnosed in the latter stages, after tumors have spread — a main reason why survival rates are generally lower compared to other cancers.

Read More

Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Historically, survival rates for mesothelioma are measured in terms of one-year survival. However, many mesothelioma patients are beating the odds and living far beyond median survival rates thanks to advances in treatment.

Additionally, five-year survival for mesothelioma patients has steadily improved since 1999, according to the latest report from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Long-term survivors attribute their success to a multidisciplinary approach to treatment from mesothelioma specialists, alternative medicine, clinical trials and nutritional changes.

While these terms are often used interchangeably, mesothelioma life expectancy and survival rates carry different meanings.

Life expectancy refers to the average age a person is expected to live based on the year they were born, where they were born and other demographic factors. An aggressive cancer, such as mesothelioma, can shorten this average.

Survival rates come into play after a person is diagnosed with cancer or another serious health condition. These rates show the percentage of patients in a study or treatment group who are still alive for a certain period of time following a diagnosis.

Researchers describe the mesothelioma survival rate in several ways — usually six-month and one-year survival, but also the percentage of patients who live two years, three years and five years.

Mesothelioma has no definitive cure and most cases are diagnosed in the latter stages, after tumors have spread — a main reason why survival rates are generally lower compared to other cancers.

Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Anyone whose life has been touched by mesothelioma understands that it is necessary to locate the best care available for this rare form of cancer which often proves difficult to treat. Finding excellent doctors and other medical professionals who are noted experts in their field and who specialize in mesothelioma is essential to ensuring the most favorable outcome.

Most of the major cancer centers and clinics in the United States that are devoted specifically to mesothelioma care offer the latest and most advanced treatment options available for managing the disease. In addition, these centers employ physicians who are involved in the latest research and who stay abreast of new and emerging treatment protocols. The medical approaches of these physicians provide the best opportunities for extending a patient’s life expectancy and improving overall quality of life during the fight against asbestos-caused cancer.

Finding a Mesothelioma Clinic/Cancer Center

Those who live in large cities are often fortunate enough to have a major cancer center located in their proverbial backyard. Many of these cancer centers can be found at the nation’s leading universities. This makes mesothelioma treatment convenient for many, with little travel required for doctor’s appointments, treatments, or hospital stays.

Others are not so fortunate. mesothelioma patients who live in rural areas or away from large cities may be required to travel in order to find the best care available for their disease. Most of these cancer centers understand that many patients travel quite a distance to take advantage of their services and they are eager to assist the patient and their family in making their visit(s) to the hospital as easy as possible.

Hence, these cancer centers employ helpful staff members that can assist with issues like long-term or short-term housing for patients and their families, especially for those who will remain in that location for treatment for an extended period of time. Most also provide other essential information for family members who will be staying with the patient including info on public transportation, dining, shopping, and more.

In most cases, these cancer centers also offer emotional and spiritual support for patients and families, including those nearby and those who’ve traveled many miles to take advantage of the top-notch services available at their institution.

National Comprehensive Cancer Centers

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) has bestowed Comprehensive Cancer Center designation on those medical facilities that have demonstrated excellence in cancer care. Today, the NCCN alliance includes 21 of the nation’s best cancer institutes, working individually and together to eradicate cancer and promote programs that further cancer prevention. An estimated 160,000 new patients receive care at these member centers in any given year and many firsts have happened at these facilities through the years.

For example, NCCN member institutions were the first to devise the multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment, organizing teams of doctors from different specialties who would all work together to design treatment protocols for each individual patient that walked through the doors of their facility. In addition, NCCN offers guidelines for cancer care to non-member medical institutions who wish to duplicate their models for care.

Seeking treatment at one of these NCCN facilities means that patients will have the opportunity to consult with some of the best mesothelioma experts available and will receive cutting-edge care that includes the latest in treatments designed to fight asbestos-caused cancer. These centers are located across the country, mostly in major U.S. cities.

NCI-designated Cancer Centers

Since the 1970s, the National Cancer Institute, a division of the U.S. government’s National Institutes for Health, has been bestowing their designation upon those institutions that have been recognized for their scientific excellence; specifically, for their diagnosis and treatment of individuals with all types of cancer as well as for their development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention. NCI designation is voluntary; hospitals must apply for the designation.

The National Cancer Institute recognizes both Cancer Centers and Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the designation solely based on the type of grant received from the NCI. (There is no difference between the two as far as the quality of care offered.) Currently, there are 65 NCI-designated Cancer Centers throughout the U.S., including 58 that offer patient care and seven that conduct research only.

A visit to any NCI-designated center means patients will have access to some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the world, such as Dr. David Sugarbaker of Boston. These facilities also offer some of the most advanced treatment options available including mesothelioma brachytherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and mesothelioma photo-dynamic therapy. Many also conduct ongoing clinical trials that test new drugs or therapies for mesothelioma.

Cancer Clinics for Veterans

Because veterans - especially U.S. Navy vets - represent a large number of individuals who suffer from mesothelioma, there are numerous facilities that cater to their care. These facilities understand the needs of the veteran and his family and sympathize with the plight of the veteran who has been diagnosed with asbestos-caused cancer. In addition, these veteran-specific facilities can help vets determine what kind of services they are entitled to receive - often without charge - and also provide programs for spouses and other family members who need support through this difficult journey.

Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Anyone whose life has been touched by mesothelioma understands that it is necessary to locate the best care available for this rare form of cancer which often proves difficult to treat. Finding excellent doctors and other medical professionals who are noted experts in their field and who specialize in mesothelioma is essential to ensuring the most favorable outcome.

Most of the major cancer centers and clinics in the United States that are devoted specifically to mesothelioma care offer the latest and most advanced treatment options available for managing the disease. In addition, these centers employ physicians who are involved in the latest research and who stay abreast of new and emerging treatment protocols. The medical approaches of these physicians provide the best opportunities for extending a patient’s life expectancy and improving overall quality of life during the fight against asbestos-caused cancer.

Finding a Mesothelioma Clinic/Cancer Center

Those who live in large cities are often fortunate enough to have a major cancer center located in their proverbial backyard. Many of these cancer centers can be found at the nation’s leading universities. This makes mesothelioma treatment convenient for many, with little travel required for doctor’s appointments, treatments, or hospital stays.

Others are not so fortunate. mesothelioma patients who live in rural areas or away from large cities may be required to travel in order to find the best care available for their disease. Most of these cancer centers understand that many patients travel quite a distance to take advantage of their services and they are eager to assist the patient and their family in making their visit(s) to the hospital as easy as possible.

Hence, these cancer centers employ helpful staff members that can assist with issues like long-term or short-term housing for patients and their families, especially for those who will remain in that location for treatment for an extended period of time. Most also provide other essential information for family members who will be staying with the patient including info on public transportation, dining, shopping, and more.

In most cases, these cancer centers also offer emotional and spiritual support for patients and families, including those nearby and those who’ve traveled many miles to take advantage of the top-notch services available at their institution.

National Comprehensive Cancer Centers

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) has bestowed Comprehensive Cancer Center designation on those medical facilities that have demonstrated excellence in cancer care. Today, the NCCN alliance includes 21 of the nation’s best cancer institutes, working individually and together to eradicate cancer and promote programs that further cancer prevention. An estimated 160,000 new patients receive care at these member centers in any given year and many firsts have happened at these facilities through the years.

For example, NCCN member institutions were the first to devise the multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment, organizing teams of doctors from different specialties who would all work together to design treatment protocols for each individual patient that walked through the doors of their facility. In addition, NCCN offers guidelines for cancer care to non-member medical institutions who wish to duplicate their models for care.

Seeking treatment at one of these NCCN facilities means that patients will have the opportunity to consult with some of the best mesothelioma experts available and will receive cutting-edge care that includes the latest in treatments designed to fight asbestos-caused cancer. These centers are located across the country, mostly in major U.S. cities.

NCI-designated Cancer Centers

Since the 1970s, the National Cancer Institute, a division of the U.S. government’s National Institutes for Health, has been bestowing their designation upon those institutions that have been recognized for their scientific excellence; specifically, for their diagnosis and treatment of individuals with all types of cancer as well as for their development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention. NCI designation is voluntary; hospitals must apply for the designation.

The National Cancer Institute recognizes both Cancer Centers and Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the designation solely based on the type of grant received from the NCI. (There is no difference between the two as far as the quality of care offered.) Currently, there are 65 NCI-designated Cancer Centers throughout the U.S., including 58 that offer patient care and seven that conduct research only.

A visit to any NCI-designated center means patients will have access to some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the world, such as Dr. David Sugarbaker of Boston. These facilities also offer some of the most advanced treatment options available including mesothelioma brachytherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and mesothelioma photo-dynamic therapy. Many also conduct ongoing clinical trials that test new drugs or therapies for mesothelioma.

Cancer Clinics for Veterans

Because veterans - especially U.S. Navy vets - represent a large number of individuals who suffer from mesothelioma, there are numerous facilities that cater to their care. These facilities understand the needs of the veteran and his family and sympathize with the plight of the veteran who has been diagnosed with asbestos-caused cancer. In addition, these veteran-specific facilities can help vets determine what kind of services they are entitled to receive - often without charge - and also provide programs for spouses and other family members who need support through this difficult journey.

Read More

Mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In cases where standard treatments do not work, mesothelioma patients may also be able to try experimental treatments through clinical trials.

While no cure currently exists, mesothelioma patients can usually improve their prognosis through some form of treatment. Even in cases where improving lifespan is not viable, palliative care and alternative therapies often help reduce pain and suffering from symptoms for many individuals with mesothelioma.

Standard Mesothelioma Treatments

Important considerations in determining a mesothelioma treatment plan include the cancer stage, primary site affected and cell type. Treatment options also depend on whether the cancer is localized to the chest or has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, or lymph nodes as well as your age and overall health. The three standard therapies used to treat mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

• 

  Surgery

  For patients with an early-stage mesothelioma diagnosis, surgery can be used to remove all or most of the tumor(s). Depending on the tumor location, surgery may include removing the mesothelial lining, one or more lymph nodes, or part or all of a lung or other organ.
• 

  Chemotherapy

  Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. Often used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy can kill any remaining mesothelioma cells that the surgeon was unable to remove physically.
• 

  Radiation Therapy

  Through the use of targeted radiation, mesothelioma tumors can often be shrunk, making them easier to be removed through surgery. Depending on the tumor location, the radiation can be delivered using an external or an internal source.

In many cases, mesothelioma specialists will recommend a multimodal approach, which uses a combination of these three types of treatment. In various studies, multimodal treatment has been shown to be more effective than any of these individual treatments alone. For example, surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has resulted in an increase in the life expectancy of peritoneal mesothelioma patients in recent years.

Multimodal treatment typically consists of a primary treatment used in combination with a neoadjuvant therapy (a “helper” treatment before the primary treatment) or an adjuvant treatment (a helper treatment after the primary treatment). For example, one multimodal approach might include:

• Neoadjuvant therapy: Radiation to shrink the tumor size
• Primary treatment: Surgery to remove the tumor
• Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy to kill any remaining cells

The treatment plan will be developed in conjunction with a mesothelioma specialist who can provide details about the specific therapy approach being taken.

Mesothelioma Doctors and Cancer Centers

In most cases, mesothelioma patients are treated by specialists who have experience with this particular form of cancer. These doctors are often thoracic oncologists (doctors who specialize in cancers of the chest), although some may specialize in other areas as well.

It is likely that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will be referred by your personal physician to a larger scale comprehensive cancer center. Most mesothelioma treatments are provided in cancer centers that provide care specifically for cancer patients – some of which are even designed specifically to treat mesothelioma. Cancer centers are available throughout the country, and many are linked to top medical universities.

Learn more about finding a mesothelioma expert near you. You should be prepared when you meet with your doctor by being ready to ask these questions.

Experimental Mesothelioma Treatments

In addition to more conventional therapies, researchers are constantly looking for new ways to treat mesothelioma patients. Some extremely promising emerging treatments have come out of clinical trials, in some cases extending the lives of mesothelioma patients by months or years.

• ImmunotherapyBy kickstarting or boosting the immune system, it is possible to enhance the body’s own defenses against cancer.
• Gene TherapySince cancer is caused by faults in cell DNA, one new way of fighting cancer is by fixing or overwriting problematic genes.
• Photodynamic TherapyThrough the novel use of light and photosensitizing drugs, researchers have found a way to kill cancer cells with few side effects.
• Clinical Trials and Emerging Treatments
• While the treatments above account for the most promising experimental therapies for mesothelioma, ongoing clinical trials which look for new ways to fight mesothelioma, occur in cancer clinics all over the world. These trials may offer opportunities to patients who have not found effective treatment for their mesothelioma.
  Researchers are investigating new targeted drugs and chemotherapies, as well as new protocols for giving the medications. Some trials focus on immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to fight the disease. Other trials look at phototherapy, in which you are injected with a drug that bonds to cancer cells and is activated by high-intensity light. Additionally genetic therapies and novel radiotherapy techniques like tomotherapy are being evaluated.
  We encourage you to learn more about participating in an active clinical trial.
• Complementary Mesothelioma Treatments
• Treatment for mesothelioma is usually provided by a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, or by an emerging treatment such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. However, complementary treatments can provide additional relief from symptoms or help patients during recovery after their primary treatment is delivered.

  Palliative Care

  In cases where a cure for mesothelioma is not likely, such as with a Stage 4 diagnosis when the cancer has spread throughout the body, palliative care may still be an option. This type of care uses many of the techniques described above, but focuses on relieving the pain and suffering of the patient, rather than trying to eradicate the disease.
  For example, one of the most debilitating symptoms of pleural mesotheliomais the build-up of fluid in the pleural space around the lungs. This collection of fluid makes it very difficult to breathe and also can cause severe pain. It greatly impacts the quality of life for the patient and can make it difficult to do every day tasks. The best way to relieve this discomfort is to have the fluid removed by means of a pleurocentesis.
  In addition to or as an alternative to invasive procedures, medication to help with pain, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms that may be experienced is often prescribed. Click on the following link to learn more about pain management as well as its associated risks.

  Physical Therapy

  After the primary treatment, physical therapy is often required to help patients recover from the trauma of the treatment itself. The specific form of physical therapy a patient undergoes will depend on the specific type of treatment they receive, and how their body reacts to it. Common types of physical therapy include cardiovascular training, scar tissue healing, fatigue management, and strength training. While physical therapy will not necessarily help eradicate cancer or prevent recurrence, it can improve a mesothelioma survivor’s quality of life and overall health.

  Alternative Therapies

  Many patients have found relief from physical and emotional symptoms through different forms of alternative treatment, including everything from massage and acupuncture to yoga and art therapy. The important thing is to consult your doctor before trying one of these alternative treatments, to make sure it will not interfere with your primary treatment plan.
• Costs Associated with Mesothelioma Treatment
• Mesothelioma treatment costs can be significant, and sometimes insurance companies may not cover the full costs of mesothelioma treatments, especially for clinical trials or experimental therapies.
  The good news is that there may be other ways to pay for mesothelioma treatment, depending on your situation and how you were exposed to asbestos. Special programs and funds exist for veterans, certain industrial workers, those exposed during 9/11 attacks, and others.
  Learn more about the financial assistance that is available to you if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and exposed to asbestos.

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