Surgical Treatment of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The treatment of mesothelioma is determined depending on the location of where the cancer lies, the stage of the cancer and the age and overall health condition of the one’s affected. The average treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. In some cases, treatment is a combination of these three options, or patient qualified for an experimental procedure, he can undergo this treatment also.

The surgical treatment of mesothelioma takes away the cancer by removing part of the lining of the chest wherein the cancer has developed or depending how far the cancer has spread over the affected area. There are cases wherein lung was removed also. Cancer can be eliminated by surgical treatment.

The treatment of mesothelioma may include radiation therapy or better known as the radiotherapy which uses a higher dose of x-rays require in killing the cancer cells, however it can only affect the cancer cells in the treated area.

 

In chemotherapy, drugs such as intravenous are used to destroy the cancer cells. These are given in a form of injection, to be injected in the vein, while for some doctors; they choose intracavitary chemotherapy to fight the cancer. This is usually done through putting chemotherapy directly into the chest.

Aside form these three treatments; thoracentesis is another helpful treatment for mesothelioma. It can manage the pain felt by the patient as well as alleviate the symptoms. It is done by placing a needle to draw off the fluid that has already developed in the chest.

Treatment of mesothelioma may require follow up medication such as nutritional assistance, pulmonary rehabilitation, psychosocial care and pain management assistance. The doctor will determine which of these supports go well with the involved patient.

Often times, Mesothelioma is hard to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are similar to other health condition problems. Rarely a small clinic in a particular place will deal with two or more cases of mesothelioma. If a doctor diagnosed his patient being in this condition, he advised the patient to visit a larger health center or hospital where medical technologies are more advanced.

Mesothelioma is acquired by people who have been exposed to asbestos particles, but not with smoking habit. On the other hand smoking may cause higher risk of mesothelioma if one person has already this kind of disease.

The symptoms of mesothelioma may be easy to recognize as it involve shortness of breath, chest pain, and weight loss. Usually when a person is diagnosed under this condition, he will undergo a chest x-ray and CT scan, then biopsy and microscopic examination will confirm the case. These days, screening tests are being study to detect in advance mesothelioma.

 

Mesothelioma – How To Spot Mesothelioma and What To Do About It
Mesothelioma is a disease not many people have heard about. As a result most people do not know what to look for as the trouble signs. This is unfortunate seeing as the disease effects many of the people who have had any exposure to asbestos. This is true whether you have been working directly with asbestos or washing the clothes of someone who has been working with asbestos. While there is no cure for the disease, there are ways in which it can be treated.