Apr 15, 2010 - Treatment Options for Advanced Mesothelioma (Stages II, III, and IV)
Mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. Malignant pleural mesothelioma, which starts in the lungs, is the most common type. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, there is a long latency period between time of exposure and time of diagnosis, so often mesothelioma is not caught until it has reached more advanced stages.
Determining the stage of mesothelioma is used to help decide which treatment options are best and to make a better prognosis. Other factors in determining treatments and prognosis are: age, general health, lymph node status, histology, and particular type of mesothelioma. Learning and understanding your diagnosis is best for managing the cancer and deciding the best course of treatment.
Stages describe how large the tumor is and how far it has spread to other parts of the body. Basic stages of mesothelioma are divided into four categories:
- Stage 1 – tumors are smaller in size and cancerous cells are localized and have not spread to lymph nodes
- Stage 2 – either the cancer has spread into nearby lymph nodes or tumor size is large and has invaded the lining of the lung
- Stage 3 – cancer has spread to surrounding tissues and distant lymph nodes and tumors are large
- Stage 4 – cancer has spread to other side of the lung as well as other parts of the body, including the lymph nodal system
- Treatment for symptom relief, such as drainage of effusions, chest tube pleurodesis, or thoracoscopic pleurodesis.
- Palliative surgical resection, not an option for all patients
- Radiation therapy.
- Single-agent chemotherapy, commonly pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin, and ifosfamide.
- Combination or multimodality therapies, offered in clinical trials.
- Intracavitary therapy, where chemotherapeutic agents are administered into the pleural or peritoneal cavities, further studies to verify efficacy are warranted.
Multimodality treatments for mesothelioma have been found to be most effective. Surgery, when possible, along with combined treatments have been shown to provide palliative relief and extend life expectancy, yet no cure is currently known.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, consult with your oncologist about which treatments are best for you. Consult the National Cancer Institute website to find out which clinical trials are currently being offered and see if you are eligible to participate. For help with medical costs of treatment, seek the legal services of a mesothelioma attorney who only specializes in handling asbestos cases. Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be overwhelming – enlist the support of your medical team as well as your family and friends.
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