Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, a membrane that lines many of the body’s most important organs. While not always the case, this disease typically occurs in the lining of the lungs.
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are a variety of treatment options that have been proven effective over the years. Generally speaking, there are three types of treatment to discuss with your medical team:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
In many cases, the best way to treat mesothelioma is with a combination of all three types of treatment.
Surgery, for example, is often the first thing your medical team will suggest. There is more than one type of surgery for mesothelioma, with the four most common procedures including:
- Local excision
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy
- Pleurodesis
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy
All four of these surgeries do something different. For instance, a local excision is used to remove the cancer, as well as some of the healthy tissue in the area.
An extrapleural pneumonectomy, however, is much more extensive, as this includes the removal of one lung and some of the lining in the chest cavity.
Just the same as other forms of cancer, both radiation and chemotherapy are successful in treating mesothelioma.
For example, depending on your medical team’s approach, you may take more than one chemotherapy drug at the same time, all with the idea of generating the best possible outcome.
It goes without saying that a mesothelioma diagnosis will change your life forever. This is a serious disease that requires advanced treatment.
As you learn more about mesothelioma, including the best way to treat the disease, you should also turn your attention to the cause.
Many people who are suffering from mesothelioma find that they are in this position because of asbestos exposure at some point in their past.
If you find this to be true, you may be in position to seek compensation from a negligent party, such as an employer who did not do their part in providing the proper protection.