Treatment Options

While there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, there are a variety of treatment options that can help patients improve their prognosis and reduce symptoms.

Thousands of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, leading many patients and families down a difficult path of determining a treatment plan. Standard treatments for malignant mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. If possible, treatment plans incorporate a combination of the three and the patient’s age, overall health, and stage of cancer may limit available treatment options.

Tumor Removal

For patients receiving an early-stage mesothelioma diagnosis, surgery can be used to remove all or most of the tumor(s). Depending on the tumor location, surgery may include removing the mesothelial lining, one or more lymph nodes, or part or all of a lung or other organ. Surgery is often combined with chemotherapy and radiation.

Destroying Cancer Cells

Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. Often used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy can kill any remaining mesothelioma cells and help prevent recurrence. While chemotherapy can bring a wide range of side effects, the treatment has been shown to extend life expectancy on average between 12 and 16 months.

Tumor Reduction

Radiation therapy is a non-invasive mesothelioma treatment option primarily used to to treat pleural mesothelioma and has been proven to reduce the size of tumors and alleviate symptoms. Radiation therapy is often used in combination with other cancer treatments. The two primary types of radiation include external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and internal beam radiation therapy (IMRT).

Mesothelioma Palliative Care

Palliative care focuses on easing symptoms and improving quality of life, rather than attempting to cure the mesothelioma. While palliative care can be administered to anyone, this treatment is often reserved for those diagnosed at a late stage of mesothelioma. Common palliative treatments include pleurocentesis and paracentesis, which are used to drain excess fluid buildup around the lungs or abdomen. This helps alleviate symptoms associated with the fluid buildup, including chest or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath.

Free Mesothelioma Guide

Do you have more questions about the stages of mesothelioma? Find the support you and your loved ones need with an information guide that includes the latest mesothelioma treatment options, top mesothelioma doctors and financial compensation assistance.

Types

There are four main types of mesothelioma based on the location in the body where tumors originate—most commonly affecting the lungs.

Stages

Mesothelioma can be categorized into one of four stages, which classify how far the cancer has progressed in the body.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and is often confused with other diseases. Currently, only a biopsy can definitively confirm mesothelioma.

Prognosis

Unfortunately, mesothelioma has a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of only 9 percent. Most patients have a life-expectancy of about 1 year.

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Want to learn more about mesothelioma? We are here to help patients, caregivers, advocates, and others get the information they need about the disease. Please send us a message or call our support team at (800) 336-0086.

Understand Your Legal Rights

Because so many companies knowingly put employees at risk of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma patients and their loved ones have legal rights. Talk to an attorney to learn about your compensation options.