Mesothelioma TreatmentA diagnosis of mesothelioma is always difficult, no matter what type of mesothelioma the patient has developed or what circumstances surround the development of the disease. Because this is such an aggressive and stubborn form of cancer, patients and their families may have a difficult time addressing the issue of treatment, but because options for mesothelioma patients are steadily increasing, the discussion of treatment is quite important, even if all hope seems lost.

Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no right or wrong treatment for the disease. What’s best for you or your loved one will depend on a number of factors. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist the doctor and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the patient in question.

What are the Options?

Cancer treatment usually focuses upon destroying malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. At present, mesothelioma patients are faced with three major options for treatment of their disease – surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. What course of treatment is recommended will largely depend on these issues:

The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor

The size of the tumor(s)

The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized

The stage of the cancer – beginning, advanced, etc.

The age of the patient

The overall physical health of the patient

Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary, but doctors will no doubt set up treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis.

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