Emerging Mesothelioma Treatment Options

by Brayton Purcell LLP Mar 12, 2014 Mesothelioma

If you have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might be wondering what your treatment options are. It is estimated that patients have twelve to eighteen months to live after diagnosis, but that is not the case for everyone. There are several treatments available for mesothelioma patients, with new ones emerging each day. Surgery for pleural mesothelioma patients, the most common surgery for early stages is a pleurectomy/decortication. During this procedure, the patient’s pleura is removed – the initial site of asbestos exposure. It is advised that surgery be followed up with chemotherapy and/or radiation to eradicate all irregular growth. Chemotherapy aims to attack cells that are dividing quickly. This treats the diagnosed mesothelioma, as well as results in mess of side effects within the body. Combinations of drugs are being experimented with to lower side effects among patients. Radiotherapy