What Are the Best Mesothelioma Treatment Options Available Today?
When you go to see your doctor complaining of a health problem, there are many things that you want them to say that is wrong with you. The one thing that you never want to hear come out of their mouth, is that you have mesothelioma cancer. If your physician has told you that you have this disease, and you are in the process of researching the various mesothelioma treatment options that are presently available, you might find the following information beneficial.
Why Do People Get Mesothelioma Cancer?
Most, if not all, people that come down with a serious disease, want to know how come they were one of the unlucky ones that caught it. If you get lung cancer for example and you are a smoker, you already know the answer to that question. If you have mesothelioma cancer, you might know why you got it, but it is one of a very few diseases that the doctors know exactly what caused it.
What Causes Mesothelioma Cancer?
You can only get mesothelioma cancer one way, and that is coming in contact with a very toxic material, named asbestos. According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma worldwide. People have been using asbestos for over 4,500 years. However, it was not until the 1930s that the first research proved it was a harmful material.
Unfortunately for everybody, those studies were carried out by the suppliers of asbestos, and they did not release them to the general public at that time. They were making so much money off of it, they just kept selling it, even though they knew how bad it was for humans to come in contact with it. CDC research confirms that long-term exposure significantly increases cancer risks.
What Are the Mesothelioma Treatment Options?
If your cancer is in stage III of its development, there are very few mesothelioma treatment options that will be able to save your life. However, if you catch it quickly enough, there is a small chance that the cancer could be completely removed from your body.
The problem with this particular form of cancer is that since it is so rare, general practitioners do not usually suspect that you have it when you first go into their office for an examination. That is true even if all the symptoms you are complaining of match it perfectly.
Common Mesothelioma Treatment Options
| Treatment Type | Description | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery | Removes tumors and affected tissues to slow disease progression. | Attempt to remove or reduce cancer. |
| Radiation Therapy | Uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. | Reduce symptoms and pain. |
| Chemotherapy | Involves anti-cancer drugs to destroy remaining cancer cells. | Prevent cancer spread and relieve symptoms. |
| Palliative Therapies | Focus on symptom relief and improving life quality. | Enhance comfort and support care. |
The following are a few of the more widely used mesothelioma treatment options: radiation therapy, palliative therapies, surgery, and chemotherapy. Your doctor could decide to use one of the above, or a combination of the treatments, depending on your individual case.
How Do Doctors Decide the Right Treatment Plan?
Your doctor, in conjunction with you, will decide which path to follow based on a few factors. Some of them are the following: how far the disease has already progressed, the size of the tumor, your overall health, and the likelihood that a treatment of some kind could be successful.
Unfortunately, today there are not any mesothelioma treatment options that are recognized as being 100% successful. Your best bet of being able to survive an encounter with this horrendous disease is to catch it as soon as possible and begin treatment for it immediately. Learn more at the American Cancer Society.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is mesothelioma cancer?
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. It affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
Is mesothelioma curable?
Currently, there is no complete cure, but early diagnosis and aggressive treatment can extend life expectancy and improve quality of life.
How long after asbestos exposure does mesothelioma appear?
Symptoms typically appear 20–50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.
What are the first symptoms of mesothelioma?
Common symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and weight loss.
Where can I get help if I’ve been exposed to asbestos?
You can seek help from national organizations like the National Cancer Institute or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance and treatment options.
