News: Getting to the Points
News: Getting to the Points
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. The type of treatment used for mesothelioma depends upon the stage and location of the cancer. Surgery is a possible treatment for mesothelioma when the disease is caught early. It may involve removing an entire lung or parts of the affected area in a lung or the abdomen. Doctors also perform surgery to eliminate fluid buildup caused by mesothelioma or to "debulk" or remove as much of the cancer as possible. When mesothelioma occurs in areas that cannot be surgically removed or are widespread, doctors frequently rely upon chemotherapy. This treatment involves administered drugs intravenously that target and destroy cancer cells. When mesothelioma affects the tissue around the lungs, doctors sometimes use radiation therapy that targets and destroys cancer cells using highly focused beams of radioactive energy. Radiation is also a common follow-up treatment after surgery to ensure that all cancerous cells are destroyed in order to prevent the return of mesothelioma. For very aggressive forms of mesothelioma, doctors sometimes combine surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. When used concurrently, these treatments are particularly hard on the body. Doctors usually reserve combination therapy for younger patients. A number of clinical trials using target therapy medications are under way throughout the U.S. to test the effectiveness of drugs that attack cancer cells in specialized areas in order to weaken them. Some patients choose to participate in these clinical trials in hopes of being cured of mesothelioma, but these drugs cannot be guaranteed effective, according to the Mayo Clinic.Types of Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Combination therapy
Target therapy drugs
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