If malignant mesothelioma is found, the doctor will order tests to determine if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is a process called staging. The doctor will need to know the stages of the cancer to make a treatment plan.
The following are stages and usual methods of treatment of malignant mesothelioma:
Localized malignant mesothelioma
Stage(s) I
The cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.
Treatment :
If the cancer is only in one place in the chest or abdomen, treatment will probably be surgery to remove part of the pleura and some of the tissue around it.
If the cancer is found in a larger part of the pleura, treatment may be one of the following:
- Surgery to remove the pleura and the tissue near it to relieve symptoms, with or without radiation therapy after surgery.
- Surgery to remove sections of the pleura, the lung, part of the diaphragm, and part of the lining around the heart.
- External beam radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
- A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy given inside the chest.
- A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Advanced malignant mesothelioma
Stage(s) II
The cancer has spread beyond the lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage(s) III
Cancer has spread into the chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.
Stage(s) IV
Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.
Treatment :
- Draining of fluid in the chest or abdomen to reduce stages of discomfort. Drugs also may be put into the chest or abdomen to prevent further collection of fluid.
- Surgery to relieve symptoms.
- Radiation therapy to relieve stage(s) symptoms.
- Chemotherapy.
- A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy given in the chest or abdomen.
|
