The treatment for mesothelioma depends on whether or not it has spread. Unfortunately, when mesothelioma is diagnosed, it has usually already spread beyond the point where it could be removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer medicines which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying.
Chemotherapy is sometimes given and can slow the growth of mesothelioma and also improve symptoms you may have.
Surgery
An operation may be an option if your mesothelioma is only in one area of your pleura. This operation may involve removing part, or all, of your pleura and part of your lung that is close to it. This type of operation is called a pleurectomy.
It is not yet known if having an operation improves symptoms more or can even help people to live for longer compared with not having an operation. There is a large study currently underway to look at this.
It is much less likely for you to have an operation if you have peritoneal mesothelioma, as this surgery is less likely to cure this type of mesothelioma.
Note: in some cases, treatment aims to cure the cancer. Doctors tend to use the word 'remission' rather than the word 'cured'. Remission means there is no evidence of cancer following treatment. If you are 'in remission', you may be cured. However, in some cases a cancer returns months or years later. This is why doctors are sometimes reluctant to use the word cured.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a treatment which uses high-energy beams of radiation which are focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying.
Radiotherapy is often used to improve symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath and also to reduce the size of any nodules that may have formed. Radiotherapy may also be given to your chest wall at the place where you have had a biopsy or a drainage tube has been inserted. This can be effective at preventing any mesothelioma from growing out through your chest wall.
Other treatments
If you have recurrent effusions, where the fluid keeps building up between the linings of your lungs, then it is possible to have a procedure to reduce the risk of this happening in the future. This is called a pleurodesis. During a pleurodesis, a chest drain to drain the fluid is placed into the space between the linings of your lungs. A chemical is then injected into this space, which prevents the fluid from forming again. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the skin so it is painless.
You should have a full discussion with a specialist who knows your case. They will be able to give the pros and cons, likely success rate, possible side-effects, and other details about the various possible treatment options for mesothelioma.
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