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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment
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Your choice of treatment will depend on a number of factors The stage of your cancer Any other medical conditions you may have Your general fitness Unfortunately mesothelioma does not always respond to cancer treatments. Doctors and researchers are working to improve mesothelioma treatment all the time. You may be offered treatment as part of a clinical trial and not as a standard treatment. The results of the trials will be used to improve treatment in the future. There is information about taking part in a clinical trial in CancerHelp UK. Mesothelioma treatment is designed to treat the immediate area of the primary mesothelioma growth or the whole body. Whole body treatments are called systemic treatments. Localised treatments include surgery and radiotherapy. Systemic treatments act on cancer cells no matter where they may be in the body and include chemotherapy. Surgery It is often not possible to operate on peritoneal mesothelioma. But if it is found very early, it may be possible to remove it with surgery. The operation is called a peritonectomy. This means removing the peritoneum – the lining of the abdomen where the mesothelioma has started growing. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs, which are usually injected into a vein. For mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given directly into the abdomen. Depending on the type of chemotherapy drugs used, this treatment can be given weekly or every two to three weeks. Usually the treatment is given as an outpatient. Chemotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma is given to help control symptoms and to try to slow the cancer down. Supportive care (Palliative care) Unfortunately peritoneal mesothelioma is often diagnosed when it is quite advanced. Some people may be too ill to cope with intensive chemotherapy. But you can still have treatment to try to relieve symptoms such as pain, weight loss and other symptoms such as fluid in the abdomen. With more advanced peritoneal mesothelioma, fluid may collect inside your abdomen. If too much fluid collects, it makes your abdomen swell. This can be uncomfortable and heavy. You can have the fluid drained off. This is called abdominal paracentesis. It is sometimes called an ascitic tap. Your care will be managed by a palliative care team. This is a team of doctors and nurses who are expert in controlling the symptoms of advanced cancer. The team may also include a physiotherapist and a dietician. Content Courtesy : http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk |
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