Although there are treatment options for mesothelioma, it is key for patients to discuss their options directly with a physician. An experienced doctor can help you determine the current stage of your cancer and which of the treatment options for mesothelioma makes the most sense given this information.

What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a lining or membrane that covers the body’s internal organs. This tissue protects the internal organs and the inside of the body. Mesothelium is found on the inside of the abdomen and around the lungs and chest cavity. When abnormal cell growth or tumors begin in this tissue, it is called mesothelioma.

Being diagnosed with this condition is a serious situation. Doctors will likely present one or more treatment options for mesothelioma to a patient who has been recently diagnosed in an effort to help the patient with ongoing symptoms.

Malignant mesothelioma refers to malignant cancer cells being present in the abdomen or the lining of the chest. More than 80% of victims of mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, or mesothelioma affecting the tissue surrounding the lungs. Although the cancer may also affect the lining of the abdomen or the tissue surrounding the heart, these types of mesothelioma are more rare.

Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of malignant mesothelioma.

Between 70 and 80% of mesothelioma cases are believed to be caused by asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, as it generally takes many decades for the cancer to develop, it may be hard for victims to pinpoint exactly when and where they were exposed to the dangerous material. Additionally, due to the length of time before this type of cancer is usually diagnosed, victims may have few treatment options for mesothlioma available to them.

Some of the first symptoms of this condition include shortness of breath and persistent pain under the rib cage.

How Do I Know if I Have Mesothelioma?

A doctor’s diagnosis is the only way to determine whether you have malignant mesothelioma. As this type of cancer is slow-growing, it may take several decades for the condition to develop and become apparent. In many cases, people who have developed mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos, which causes the disease, 20 to 40 years before their diagnosis.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, pain in the ribs, fatigue, appetite loss, bloating, nausea, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.

Several occupations may put workers at increased risk of asbestos exposure. The carcinogen is found in many products designed to be heat resistant and strong, including brake pads and auto parts, roofing materials, ceiling, and flooring tiles, and insulation. If you have worked in a high-risk occupation, you may be at risk of developing the dangerous health condition. These occupations may include railroad workers, train operators, shipbuilders, factory workers, construction workers, carpenters, roofers, maintenance workers, and miners.

Even people who have not worked in a high-risk occupation may have come in contact with asbestos during their lives. The carcinogen is often found as a contaminant in common household products including baby powder and makeup. As asbestos is often mined in close proximity to talc, talc-based products may be contaminated with asbestos particles.

Additionally, family members and friends of people who work in high-risk occupations may also be at risk. Although it is unknown how many people have developed mesothelioma as a result of secondary asbestos exposure, second hand exposure to the substance may be just as dangerous as first hand exposure. In one study of more than 90 women who had been diagnosed with the condition, more than 60 percent of them were found to have contracted the disease after secondary exposure. As the disease often takes decades to develop, it may be difficult to determine the original source of exposure. Treatment options for mesothelioma caused by both first hand and secondary exposure are limited, due to the length of time that usually passes before the condition is diagnosed.

When people who work in high-risk occupations fail to change out of contaminated clothing or shoes, or do not shower before coming home from a job site, they risk bringing asbestos fibers back home. These fibers may cling to the skin, hair, clothing, or shoes of workers, and contaminated clothing should be removed and bagged after wearing. Additionally, this clothing may need to be washed separately from non-contaminated clothing in order to prevent fibers from transferring.

In at least one state, employers may be liable for not only mesothelioma caused by first hand exposure, but also secondary exposure if the employer did not take reasonable care to prevent workers from carrying asbestos fibers home with them. The California Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that companies have a duty to protect workers as well as members of their household from the potentially dangerous side effects of asbestos exposure.

Can I Be Cured of Mesothelioma?

Even though there are many treatment options available to those victims who have developed this medical condition, there is no cure. Often, the disease has progressed to an advanced stage by the time the patient gets a formal diagnosis. For that reason, a lot of the treatment focuses instead on making the patient as comfortable as possible and minimizing symptoms wherever possible.

Approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are discovered every year. Although these cases make up less than half of one percent of all cancer cases in the U.S., mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers. The median survival rate of patients with pleural mesothelioma is only approximately 1 year following their diagnosis. The five year survival rate for mesothelioma patients is less than 10%.

What Is Targeted Therapy?

There are four main kinds of treatment options for a patient who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. These are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Targeted therapy involves the use of drugs and similar substances to attack certain cancer cells inside the body. This usually is recommended for those patients who do not want their other cells to experience as much damage as might occur with radiation or chemo.

Will Surgery Help?

Your doctor might recommend surgery for the pain relief process for any form of mesothelioma. It is important to remember that surgery of any type comes with its own set of risks and issues, such as developing an infection. In general, recovery from surgery can last for several weeks.

Can I Use Chemotherapy or Radiation to Treat Mesothelioma?

Since mesothelioma is a type of cancer, one thing your doctor might recommend is using chemo or radiation. For patients who are in any of the four stages of malignant mesothelioma, chemotherapy can help to manage some of the symptoms.

Radiation therapy is usually recommended before and after a patient has gone through surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells and to shrink tumors. In some cases, these can be used to help increase the life expectancy of the affected patient.

Are There Any Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma?

Due to the fact that there is no cure for this condition as of yet, scientific and medical researchers are attempting to develop new treatment options all the time. These clinical trials are early in their development and therefore their effectiveness is yet unknown, but a patient who is looking for other options might be interested in participating.

One such example is biologic therapy. This is a treatment that involves the use of the body’s immune system to attack cancer. This cancer treatment can also be called immunotherapy or biotherapy.