| Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer | | | | surgeons usually opt for a less-invasive procedure if |
| resulting from exposure to asbestos. Choosing a | | | | possible. However, a pneumonectomy is probably the |
| doctor with an established reputation in treating | | | | best option when a tumor is located in the middle of |
| Mesothelioma can make all the difference in your | | | | the lung and involves a significant portion of the |
| treatment experience. | | | | pulmonary artery or veins. |
| A mesothelioma diagnosis is a very serious matter | | | | Gene Therapy Genes are the biological units of |
| and understanding your treatment options is very | | | | heredity. Genes determine obvious traits, such as hair |
| important. That is why consulting with your primary | | | | and eye color, as well as more subtle characteristics, |
| care physician is an essential first step in finding what | | | | such as the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. |
| mesothelioma treatments are available and which one | | | | Complex traits, such as physical strength, may be |
| is right for you. Your doctor will provide you with the | | | | shaped by the interaction of a number of different |
| latest mesothelioma treatments available in your area | | | | genes along with environmental influences. |
| if possible. However, if there are no treatments for | | | | Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is treatment that |
| mesothelioma in your area then your doctor or | | | | uses certain parts of the immune system to fight |
| oncologist may refer you to mesothelioma specialists | | | | disease, including cancer. This can include stimulating |
| in the surrounding states. | | | | your own immune system to work harder, or using |
| Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location | | | | an outside source, such as man made immune |
| of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the | | | | system proteins. |
| patient's age and general health. | | | | Photodynamic Therapy Photodynamic therapy (also |
| Treatments available for Mesothelioma include: | | | | called PDT, photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or |
| Surgery A procedure to remove or repair a part of | | | | photochemotherapy) is a treatment for some types |
| the body or to find out whether disease is present. | | | | of cancer. It is based on the discovery that certain |
| The objective is to remove the body tissue with the | | | | chemicals known as photosensitizing agents can kill |
| most cancerous cells possible. In some cases, it is | | | | one-celled organisms when the organisms are |
| impossible to remove all of the tissue infected with | | | | exposed to a particular type of light. PDT destroys |
| cancer if the cancer has spread to several organs. In | | | | cancer cells through the use of a fixed-frequency |
| such cases, surgery can only be used to relieve pain | | | | laser light in combination with a photosensitizing agent. |
| and suffering. | | | | These treatments are sometimes combined. |
| Pneumonectomy This is an aggressive type of | | | | Currently, there are many clinical trials being |
| surgery in which a lung is removed. There are two | | | | conducted through the United States. A clinical trial is |
| types of this procedure, which are Traditional | | | | a research study that involves people and is designed |
| Pneumonectomy and Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. | | | | to find new treatments and better ways to use |
| Traditional pneumonectomy involves removing only | | | | current treatments. These clinical trials are conducted |
| the disease lung. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, | | | | by doctors in order to find out if a particular |
| involves removal of the diseased lung, along with part | | | | treatment is effective against the disease and safe |
| of the pericardium, part of the diaphragm and the | | | | for patients before it is recommended for general |
| parietal pleura on the same side of the chest. | | | | use. Participation in clinical trials is a very important |
| A Pneumonectomy removes half the breathing | | | | option to consider for those who have been |
| capacity of a cancer patient and because of this, | | | | diagnosed with mesothelioma. |