Mesothelioma is a rare, but deadly form of cancer. In this article, we take a look at the three most common forms of treatment a patient can expect to undergo.
Mesothelioma is one of the odder forms of cancer you will find. It is most often associated with exposure to asbestos dust. The odd thing is once exposure occurs, it can take between 30 and 50 years for the Mesothelioma tumors to present. This long period combined with the difficulty in diagnosis results in most cases being very advanced by the time the disease is discovered. Still, there are standard treatment approaches that are followed.
Surgery
The most common approach is surgical intervention. A surgeon will seek to remove the effected mesothelium and other organic material. Common surgeries include the removal of part or all of a lung, part of the diaphragm and parts of the abdomen. The mesothelium is the lining that is attacked by cancer in Mesothelioma and it runs throughout the chest and abdomen. Wherever it goes, the cancer can spread and call for surgery.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy has long been a treatment option for many different types of cancer. Known by its lay name "radiation", the goal is to use energy waves to kill cancer cells and reduce the size of cancerous tumors. There are two types of radiotherapy. The first is the external approach where rays are shot into the body in the impacted area. The second is an internal approach where radioactive material is actually inserted into the cancerous area to kill the cells in question.
Chemo
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are often mixed together, but are distinct. Chemotherapy is the introduction of anti-cancer drugs into the body to attack the cancerous cells or inhibit their spreading. Chemo can be done by taking pills, but usually involves intravenous liquid injections into veins.
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to beat, but it can be done. The process usually uses a combination of the above treatment options.
No comments:
Post a Comment