 |
free hosting image hosting hosting reseller online album e-shop famous people |  |
  |
||
|
free hosting image hosting hosting reseller online album e-shop famous people | |
|
||
Mesothelioma Cancer Online
|
|
Mesothelioma treatment depends on several factors, including the location of the tumor, the stage of mesothelioma, and the age and overall health of the patient. Surgical removal of the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissue may be used depending on how far the mesothelioma cancer has spread (the stage). The more advanced the stage, the less likely that surgery will be effective in treating mesothelioma cancer. Surgery for malignant mesothelioma can be used for long-term control or to cure the disease (aggressive surgery) or can be used to relieve pain (palliative). Aggressive mesothelioma cancer surgery involves removal of the diaphragm, lung, pleura, or pericardim. (The type involving removal of the pleura is called extrapleural pheumonectomy.) The goal is to remove as much of the mesothelioma tumor as possible. This type of surgery, also called extraplueral pneumonectomy, typically is performed on younger patients in Stage 1 of mesothelioma cancer. Because of the complexity and the high risks involved with this type of surgery, some mesothelioma hospitals do not perform the procedure. Also, different mesothelioma cancer treatment centers may have different criteria for accepting patients for surgery. Therefore, it is important to check with a mesothelioma hospital to see if you meet its criteria. Palliative surgery is typically used in the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer. The goal is to relieve or control symptoms caused by fluid collection or by the tumor compressing the lung or other organs. It is not intended to cure mesothelioma cancer. Pleurectomy/decortization is usually a palliative operation. It is used in situations where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It is effective in controlling the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (effusion), and the pain caused by mesothelioma.
Thoracentesis is also used to treat effusion in pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer treatment involves inserting a needle into the chest in order to drain the fluid. Thoracentesis does not involve surgical removal of the mesothelial cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and to shrink cancer tumors. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body that beams x-rays to the location of the mesothelioma. Brachytherapy involves putting chemicals that produce radiation directly into the site of the mesothelioma cancer. This is done by inserting a thin plastic tube into the chest or abdomen. It is very difficult to deliver high-enough doses of radiation to kill the cancer tumor without damaging surrounding organs, because of the location of malignant mesothelioma. As a result, it is unclear whether radiation therapy is a successful method of treating mesothelioma cancer. It has, however, been effective in killing remaining tumor cells after surgery has been performed. Radiation therapy is also used as a palliative therapy to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and internal bleeding. Radiation therapy has several side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Since they often can be controlled, and these side effects are sometimes temporary, you should let your doctor know. Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat mesothelioma cancer. It is administered either orally (through pills) or by injecting the drugs directly into the muscles, the veins (intravenously), the chest cavity (intrapleurally), or the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneally). The goal of mesothelioma chemotherapy is for the drug to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body in order to destroy the cancer cells. Several drugs have been used, either individually or in combination with others, to treat mesothelioma cancer. Some of the single-agent drugs include: Adriamycin (doxorubicin), which is the most studied and, currently, the most effective single agent; epirubicin carboplatin detorubicin pirarubucin mitomucin cisplatin. Single-agent therapy has been only modestly successful in treating mesothelioma cancer, with studies showing a response rate in the 10 to 20% range. Because of the relatively low response rate of single-agent therapy in treating mesothelioma cancer, combinations of these drugs have been used to increase their effectiveness. Although some researchers have reported high response rates to these therapies, these rates have not been consistent, and more research is necessary. A doctor must be very careful in monitoring the condition of a patient during therapy, because chemotherapy drugs are generally very toxic. Some of the more common side effects include hair loss, vomiting, nausea, loss or appetite, and fatigue. Chemotherapy can also result in low blood cell counts, which increases the risk of infection and bleeding or bruising. Side effects vary depending on the cancer treatment, and generally disappear after mesothelioma treatment is completed. Given the relatively unsuccessful results of conventional medicine in treating mesothelioma and that there is still no mesothelioma cure, a number of persons have turned to alternative mesothelioma treatments. These have included holistic forms of treatment, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs, and other forms of Eastern medicine to treat mesothelioma cancer. These alternative cancer treatment approaches can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional treatments for mesothelioma. However, most hospitals do not offer these forms of treatment, and insurance companies, generally, do not cover these cancer treatments. Certain mesothelioma doctors have used unconventional methods to treat mesothelioma cancer patients. |