Mesothelioma can be a horrific disease to deal with when it is allowed
to go untreated or ignored until it is too late for a positive outcome.
However, when one knows the medical history of family genetics or can
point to specific work environment that may have contributed to the
onset of the disease then early testing is always wise. Many times
mesothelioma, when caught early enough, can be treated effectively.
One needs to consult with an oncologist who specializes in mesothelioma cancer. One should trust the oncologist to determine the most promising treatment regime. No doubt, this type of cancer is difficult to treat and in the majority of cases the outcome is not encouraging mainly because efforts at early detection were not taken in a majority of cases. The outcome depends largely on where the cancer is located, how far along the disease has progressed, and both the age and current health of the mesothelioma victim.
Here are the primary treatment options:
1. If the diagnosis is made early on it is likely that surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. As a rule this will be thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. The oncologist may also recommend palliative procedures such as chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease as a means of giving some comfort.
2. Aggressive radiation treatment is usually prescribed for mesothelioma patients as well. Such treatment is usually given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms. Optional radiation therapy that employs implants or UV light therapy may be used because traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue. The doctors advise whether these options have merit on a case-by-case basis.
3. Chemotherapy is another approach where patients respond well to drug therapy. While such anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread, for mesothelioma patients, chemotherapy is not considered to be a viable cure. The aim of drug therapy is to stop the spread of the disease; shrink tumors prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to eradicate any remnants of the tumor after surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort through the application of palliative chemotherapy. Experts favor treatment with premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and are now the preferred methodology for Mesothelioma that is not treatable by surgery.
4. Interleukin 2 is yet another level of drug therapy that does not have the negative impact of full scale chemotherapy.
5. Immunotherapy has shown some promise. This is where the immune system of the patient is stimulated to help fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in this form of treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; mitigate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell multiplication; block or reverse biological processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent the spread of cancer.
6. Genetic or gene manipulation, where attempts are made to alter the gene sequence that causes the cancer involves two approaches: replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.
7. Prescribing lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug which aids in blood chemistry.
8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.
9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid buildup is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort it causes.
10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.
Complementary medicines and treatments may also be used that focus on a variety of issues such as a patient's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. It is a holistic approach that is usually combined with a surgical approach.
Should the Mesothelioma be untreatable, the patient may try clinical trials of new treatments that are being tested in several research laboratories and centers. As always, the best advice as to experimental treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.
The Legal Options
One should also consider whether there is a case for legal remedy to offset the costs of treatment and subsequent impact on family finances. This is quite common where employment exposure can be established and if it can be proven that the employer ignored available safety measures to protect workers from exposure. Judgments in mesothelioma civil cases can be quite high.
While filing a civil case against a former or current employer may seem the route to go, the victim should not settle for a general attorney to handle the case. Mesothelioma civil cases require expert legal counsel with a good amount of experience in litigating such cases for maximum financial compensation.
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