Mesothelioma Stage 3 Treatment
In addition to surgery, patients suffering from mesothelioma stages 3 and 4 are able to receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments can reduce symptoms and improve the chance of survival.
Doctors rely on the American Joint Committee on Cancer's TNM system to stage mesothelioma that is pleural. The system measures tumor size, extent, lymph node involvement, and much more.
Palliative Treatments
As someone progresses to the last stages of mesothelioma, their treatment options are less extensive and they tend to focus on palliative therapies. The goal of this is to ease symptoms, pain and other discomforts associated with the disease and its treatments. Palliative Care can help patients concentrate on their loved family members and improve their quality of life.
It is essential that patients suffering from mesothelioma consult a second doctor and discuss their treatment plan. This can help them determine whether their current treatment works or if they can benefit from alternative methods. It could also help them to find new treatment options they were not previously aware of.
Stage 3 mesothelioma is characterized by cancer that has spread to adjacent organs. This can result in pain, such as stomachaches, chest pains and breathing difficulties. Patients suffering from these symptoms should see a doctor immediately to avoid misdiagnosis, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Although surgical procedures are typically not available for mesothelioma patients in advanced stages, a mesothelioma specialist may suggest alternative therapies to improve the quality of life for patients. These include chemotherapy, pain management and radiation therapy.
These procedures don't cure the disease or increase a patient's lifespan. However, they can help reduce or alleviate many symptoms, such as pain. Doctors can, for instance employ electrical devices to send a pulse to nerves in order to block pain signals reaching the brain. Patients can also receive injections of anesthetics in order to block pain signals.
Chemotherapy
For those suffering from mesothelioma stage 3. treatment may be able to improve their outlook. Doctors can offer hope to patients based on their individual response they have had to treatment as well as other factors, including age and general health.
Mesothelioma can be diagnosed using chest X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. These tests can reveal abnormalities that may be indicative of mesothelioma, such as the accumulation of fluid or pleural thickness. These tests can confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
After mesothelioma spreads to lymph nodes it becomes more difficult to treat since cancer cells are more likely be introduced into bloodstreams and spread to other organs. This is why doctors often give patients who have mesothelioma stage 3 a lower chance of survival than patients with stages 1 and 2.
If the mesothelioma has reached stage 3, some surgeons can still remove tumors and other affected tissues that are visible on an imaging test. Extrapleural pneumonectomy can be performed in cases of pleural cancer.
However, many mesothelioma patients are unable to endure the removal of their lung, and so some surgeons recommend a less invasive procedure called pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). This procedure removes the cancer-ridden tissue, but not the lung or diaphragm.
Doctors can use chemotherapy to eliminate mesothelioma cancerous cells that are left after surgery or that have spread elsewhere, such as lymph nodes. They can administer chemotherapy via intravenous (IV) infusions or subcutaneous injections. Some patients prefer to have an IV connection or port device implanted under the skin to avoid needles. Some patients receive oral chemotherapy in pill form or via a vein.
Radiation Therapy
The use of radiation therapy is for patients who are not candidates for surgery to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. The two therapies are frequently combined to maximize the efficacy of both treatments. This multimodal approach can help improve the median mesothelioma stage 3 life duration.
Imaging tests are utilized by doctors to determine the severity of mesothelioma that has formed in the lining on the chest wall. These tests include Xrays CT scans and PET scans. These tests can detect changes in the lining of the chest wall which can be a sign of cancerous tumors. These tests can detect fluid in the chest cavity, which is known as an pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed or a procedure called pleurodesis is performed to prevent fluid accumulation.
The ability of patients to undergo surgery is contingent upon many factors, including the type of mesothelioma cells present in their tumors, their location and their response to treatment. Small localized tumors are more straightforward to remove than larger, more extensive ones. Doctors also consider the patient's overall health and well-being when deciding whether or not they are able to undergo surgery.
If a patient with pleural cancer cannot undergo surgery, they can undergo other surgeries to alleviate symptoms, like pleurectomy and decortication. This less invasive procedure eliminates only the mesothelioma life expectancy with treatment pleural lining and any visible tumors, while leaving the lung intact. Doctors perform this procedure in conjunction with a combination of chemotherapy such as pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin.
Mesothelioma clinical trials offer patients the opportunity to receive new treatments that could increase survival rates. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the right trial. Patients can also join a support group to help them keep their focus and fight for survival.
Immunotherapy
In this stage, cancer has spread from the place of its origin to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Mesothelioma symptoms, like chest pain or difficulty breathing due to fluid accumulation, usually worsen during this stage.
The staging of mesothelioma can help doctors determine the extent and type of cancer and plan the best treatment plan. Doctors consider a variety of factors to stage mesothelioma, including the location and size of the tumor as well as whether or not it has gotten to the heart's lining (peritoneal), and the extent to which the cancer has spread.
Staging also considers a patient's general health and how close or far the tumor is from vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and diaphragm. If a tumor is too close to a vital organ, it may not be safe to be removed surgically, even when there are other options for treatment.
Immunotherapy is an alternative option to treat mesothelioma in stage 3. It works by boosting the body's natural defense against cancer cells. Doctors can incorporate immunotherapy with other treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy encompasses a broad range of treatments that includes monoclonal antibodies, cytokines and other types. These treatments are designed to target specific proteins found on cancer cells and trigger the immune system of the body to kill them.
Patients who receive immunotherapy may also receive nutritional assistance, naturopathic help, oncology rehab and behavioral health services. These therapies can help reduce the effects of treatment and improve the quality of life. Additionally they can assist patients to deal with stress and manage the impact of mesothelioma on their lives. Lastly, patients who are able to live an active lifestyle throughout treatment will often have better survival rates over those who do not. This is especially true for patients with extensive lymph node involvement in stage 3.
Complementary Therapies
As the disease gets worse to stage 3 patients with pleural mesothelioma have worsening symptoms and cancer may spread throughout the abdomen or chest. At this point doctors may perform a thoracentesis to drain fluid and ease breathing difficulty.
Mesothelioma patients may also undergo more aggressive procedures which include extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy that includes decortication. Both surgeries remove a portion of the diaphragm as well as lung lining. The patient is then able to receive radiation or chemotherapy to improve their prognosis.
Some doctors advocate the combination of standard treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to improve the survival of mesothelioma sufferers. This is referred to as multimodal therapy. Many studies have demonstrated improved survival rates for patients treated with a combination of treatments.
Complementary treatments, which aren't traditional methods of healthcare can help alleviate anxiety and stress and boost the immune system. They can also alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms. These methods include acupuncture, tai-chi meditation, yoga, and relaxation methods.
Patients are able to discuss complementary therapies with their mesothelioma doctor or nurse. But, they should continue to take any prescribed medications and follow their treatment plan.
Mesothelioma sufferers should seek legal advice from a mesothelioma attorney if they have questions about asbestos exposure and how it may affect their health. Attorneys can help victims obtain compensation through an asbestos lawsuit, and seek other benefits from the government, such as Social Security Disability Insurance or VA benefits for veterans.
Many asbestos victims don't know they have mesothelioma until it reaches the fourth or third stage. Asbestos sufferers should visit an expert in mesothelioma for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Find out more about mesothelioma stages and how they impact a patient's prognosis in our free Mesothelioma Guide.