Mesothelioma Cancer- Multimodal Treatments

Symptoms for Peritoneal Mesothelioma are often confused for other ailments. Symptoms include: difficulty breathing, fever, anemia, fatigue or weakness, fluid in the abdomen, acute to severe abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, weight loss due to loss of appetite. Diagnosis is often at the later stages of this cancer, because this cancer is sometimes mistaken for other illnesses. A patient’s history is crucial, especially any asbestos exposure events. An X-ray of the abdominal area is taken, followed by a CT or MRI scan. Imaging tests like these help determine whether or not the cancer has spread. Biopsies are also taken. Since Peritoneal Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in the later stages, treatment quite often includes surgical removal of the tumor. A combination of chemotherapy and radiation is often used. Particularly, intra-peritoneal chemotherapy where chemo drugs are injected directly into the peritoneal cavity. Radiation may be used for palliative measure, to reduce severity of the symptoms. Prognosis if generally poor, though alternative treatments are available.

Even though doctors and scientists have not yet found a cure for mesothelioma cancer, varieties of treatments are available. Sometimes using one or more treatments simultaneously can yield better results than just one option alone. When treatments are used in conjunction with one another, the process is known as a multimodal mesothelioma treatment. For example: a patient who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma may undergo surgery to remove the cancerous tissue from the body. The doctor may then administer direct chemotherapy to the site where the tumor was taken out. The patient may also receive chemical treatments of general chemotherapy. The idea: to attack the cancerous cells from as many angles as possible using a variety of treatments to lessen the chance that the cancer will return and to ensure that it has been completely removed. Radiation is another treatment option that eradicates cancerous mesothelioma cells. While there is no known cure for mesothelioma, the use of multimodal treatments produces the most benefits when eliminating the cancer.

Alternative treatment is a term used to indicate something not wholly accepted by the medical community. Despite this lack of support these alternatives are making plenty of headway in the medical field towards the treatment of cancer. Many mesothelioma victims choose these alternative treatments as palliative measures, because they are good at reducing the stress and pain caused by said cancer, and the chemo tests. Acupuncture: is an ancient Chinese for of medicine, known to provide relief from chronic pain and inflammation, and also to relieve stress and promote relaxation. It involves placing thin needles at certain trigger points in the body. Meditation: reduces stress and helps with pain management. Studies indicate meditation helps reduce tumor growth, but this is yet unproven. Massage: helps promote circulation and blood flow and relieves muscle tension. The massage therapist should be aware of the cancer’s location so they do not cause further pain. Aromatherapy: is good for emotional calm. Yoga: helps strengthen mind and body. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy: involves stimulating certain body parts with mild electrical shocks with electrodes. Supplements are great, as ordered by a good physician.

When it comes to treatment there are three basic ones: chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. More experimental and alternative treatments are constantly being incorporated into traditional approaches. Most physicians suggest a multimodal method of treatment. Combinations of traditional methods are used to get the best possible outcome for the patient and their quality of life. Treatments for mesothelioma are more palliative than curative in nature. Palliatives aim to relieve symptoms but not to cure the disease. Unfortunately there is no known cure for mesothelioma, as of now. As of now clinical trials are the best bet for patients with rare or aggressive cancers like mesothelioma. These trials have risks but various promising drugs and treatments have come out of them. Surgery is performed for three reasons: as part of a diagnostic process, an attempt to cure the malignancy by removing it, or for palliative care. Through the use of image scans, doctors know if the tumor(s) has spread to other body parts.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are particular symptoms for the different types of Mesothelioma. Symptoms for pleural mesothelioma are: shortness of breath, horarseness or wheezing, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, lumps under the skin in the chest area, fever or night sweats, chest pain or pain in the rib areas, painful breathing, fatigue and fluid buildup in the lungs. Symptoms for peritoneal mesothelioma are: abdominal pain or pain in stomach area, vomiting or nausea, fatigue, buildup of fluid in stomach area, diarrhea or constipation, lumps under skin in abdominal area, unexplained weight loss and fever or night sweats. Symptoms for pericardial mesothelioma are: fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and shortness of breath even when resting, fever or night sweat and irregular heart beat or heart palpitations. Symptoms for testicular mesothelioma are: extremely rare, because only about 100 cases have been reported in the last 50 years. The only known symptoms include testicular lumps, which may or may not be painful.