A mesothelioma diagnosis can be overwhelming, but understanding your treatment options is an important step in managing the disease. If you or a loved one has been affected, it’s crucial to know that treatments are available to help alleviate symptoms and potentially slow the disease’s progression. Learn more about mesothelioma treatment options and how you can obtain care.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs within the tissue lining your chest wall, and it could include the tissue that covers your abdomen, heart, or lungs. This happens when cells start to change and divide in a way that is not normal. The name mesothelioma is derived from the name of the chest wall lining or membrane, which is the mesothelium.
Cancer of that membrane or lining is mesothelioma, which is different from lung cancer. The origin of mesothelioma is unknown. There is evidence to show that some cases of mesothelioma resulted from asbestos exposure. However, not every instance of mesothelioma is a result of exposure. Some people can develop mesothelioma who have never been exposed to the product.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a disease that develops over time, and it can take a while before an individual who has mesothelioma realizes any abnormalities or adverse effects. Because mesothelioma often affects the chest wall and lungs, people will first experience symptoms that don’t seem quite right there.
Some common symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue (feeling very tired and run down)
- Pain or discomfort in the chest or abdomen
- Swelling or unexplained lumps in the chest or abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
How Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose mesothelioma, your doctor will likely order several tests and procedures to confirm whether or not you have mesothelioma. Other conditions could appear similar to mesothelioma, so your doctor will want to be sure.
Tests that your doctor may perform could include:
- Imaging: this could include chest X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or even PET scans
- Biopsy: by taking a sample of tissue or fluid, doctors can assess whether cancer cells are present, and if so, what type
- Blood testing: your doctor sends your blood to be evaluated by a lab, which will look for the presence of some substances linked to mesothelioma
Obtaining a diagnosis does not definitively require the above testing, but these are often ways that doctors look for evidence of mesothelioma.
Common Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Surgery for Mesothelioma
Depending on how far the disease has progressed and whether it is practical to excise the cancerous cells, your doctor may recommend surgery as a mesothelioma treatment option. This involves surgically removing the affected cells along with some of the cells surrounding the cancerous tissue. Removing the healthy tissue bordering the cancer cells could help remove cells that may later develop into cancer but that haven’t yet.
Mesothelioma Chemotherapy
Another mesothelioma treatment option is chemotherapy, which is a medication that you can take orally or through an IV to kill cancer cells and prevent them from spreading to healthy cells. This can be an effective option for cells or tumors (a mass of cells). Chemotherapy can also be rubbed onto the skin or injected. Your particular chemotherapy regimen will depend on your disease progression.
Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy
After chemotherapy is used, some mesothelioma treatment plans include radiation therapy. This is when high-energy beams like X-rays are targeted at the treatment area to kill any remaining mesothelioma cells that chemotherapy did not kill. A machine outside the body will target these rays to the treatment area.
Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma
Another form of mesothelioma treatment includes immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that works by strengthening your immune system and manipulating it to fight against the cancerous cells in your body. Immunotherapy medications may be prescribed to help your immune system. Clinical researchers are working to bring forth new types of immunotherapy treatments every day, and studies have shown that they can be very effective in treating different types of cancers.
Mesothelioma Targeted Therapy
Mesothelioma targeted therapy is a new type of mesothelioma treatment. Essentially, people living with mesothelioma are prescribed specific medications (that are not chemotherapy or immunotherapy medications) that can help treat the disease.
The medications approved for mesothelioma treatment work to block certain proteins that cancer cells need. By blocking that protein the cancer cells cannot survive, and in theory, do not spread. Some of these targeted treatments are not typically the first line of defense against mesothelioma, but your doctor may prescribe them if other options are not performing as anticipated. Your oncologist or doctor will tell you what is right for your case.
Treatment for Mesothelioma at The CHC
The Cancer & Hematology Centers brings together world-class resources, top oncologists, and access to the latest clinical trials. We care about the people who come to us, which is why we don’t think of you as a case or a patient—you’re a person whose life matters to us.
We will do everything possible to help you navigate mesothelioma treatment and give you back your quality of life. Our goal is to give you a sense of peace, hope, and access to the best care possible. We’ll not only provide you with the best in mesothelioma treatment, we also offer behavioral oncology to help you work through the fear, stress, and sadness that a mesothelioma diagnosis can present. You’re in good hands at The CHC.
Find Out More About Mesothelioma treatment in Michigan
If you’re interested in learning about mesothelioma treatment, our team of doctors and specialists can help you navigate your options. Call 800-411-7999 today to connect with an oncologist at The CHC.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is often caused by exposure to asbestos, a building material sometimes found in flooring, walls, and more prior to 1989. However, not everyone who is diagnosed with mesothelioma has been exposed to asbestos, and some people may have no known risk factors. It is not always known the exact cause of mesothelioma.
Is Mesothelioma Always Fatal?
While we cannot guarantee an outcome, the good news is that mesothelioma does not have to be a death sentence. Your personal outcome will depend on several unique factors, such as your age, general health, and how far the disease had progressed at the time of first treatment, among others.