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Mesothelioma faq (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, thoracentesis)
By | July 6, 2007
How is surgery carried out?
Surgery is a very usual treatment for mesothelioma. The surgeon will take some part of the lining of the abdomen or chest, and part of the tissues surrounding it. In pleural mesothelioma, pneumonectomy which is the procedure of removing the lung, is carried out. At times, part of the diaphragm is also removed.
How is radiation therapy carried out?
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, involving the application of high-energy rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumors. Ony cancerous cells in targeted specific areas are destroyed by radiation therapy. This therapy exist either from the application through a machine, or the deposition of radiation materials at targeted areas of the body.
How is chemotherapy carried out?
Chemotherapy applies the use of anticancer drugs to destroy cancerous cells all through the body. Most of the chemotherapeutic drugs used for mesothelioma treatments are administered intravenously. Mesothelioma doctors are studying the efficiency of administering chemotherapeutic drugs into the abdomen or chest directly (intracavitary chemotherapy).
In order to reduce symptoms and pain control, mesothelioma doctors can use a thin tube for fluid drainage that has a accummulated in the abdomen or chest.
What is thoracentesis?
Thoracentesis is the process of draining fluid from the chest. In addition to that, drugs can be administered to prevent further fluid accummulation. Surgery and radiation therapy may also be needed to relieve symptoms.
Are new mesothelioma treatments being studied?
Of course yes. Due to the difficulty in controlling mesothelioma, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is currently financing clinical trials (research studies using people) which are meant to discover new mesothelioma treatments and improved ways in addition to current procedures. Before a new treatment of mesothelioma can be endorsed for public use, mesothelioma doctors carry out clinical trials to determine if the treatment is ideal for mesothelioma patients and efficient in treating the disease. It is advised that mesothelioma patients take part in clinical trials. This is very important for mesothelioma patients.
Topics: Mesothelioma faq |