Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment:

In determining which type of treatment is best for the patient, mesothelioma doctors will consider the type of mesothelioma, the type of cell and the characteristics of the patient. The patient's age and general health can limit the practicable treatment options. The cancer stage is also an influential factor. If the disease is localized, more treatment options are available than the spread.

How Surgery Treats Mesothelioma:

Surgery can be part of the primary treatment for mesothelioma, but it can also be used before treatment, during diagnosis. Early diagnosis is the best way to improve the patient's prognosis and surgical biopsies can help doctors collect a tissue or fluid sample for analysis to confirm malignancy, type of cancer, cell type and contribute to staging.
Mesothelioma surgeries aim to remove the tumor as much as possible, including mesothelioma tumors and affected organs or tissues, if possible. This option is more common for patients with stage 1 or stage 2 mesothelioma when mesothelioma tumors are still localized.
During phase 3 and phase 4, the tumor has spread to distant lymph nodes or organs and patients may also have poor general health, eliminating surgery as a viable option. However, surgery can be used palliatively for people with any stage of the disease to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Common symptoms of malignant mesothelioma include chest or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath caused by fluid accumulation (peritoneal effusion and pleural effusion). Palliative surgical procedures are common to reduce tumor size and drain excess fluid of Mesothelioma patient, relieving pressure and offering symptomatic relief.

Mesothelioma Surgery Options: