Mesothelioma Treatment Stages
Mesothelioma is the term used for a cancerous tumor, which
involves the mesothelioma cells of lungs, heart or abdominal
organs. Medical specialists in mesothelioma provide treatment
to the patients after assessing the stage of the mesothelioma
in their specific case. They analyze the location of the
cancer, the level to which it is spread and the patient?s age
and general health condition.
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which
the malignant cells are found in the sac that lines the chest
or abdomen. There are four stages of malignant mesothelioma.
The first stage is localized mesothelioma and the remaining
three are considered advanced stages of mesothelioma. Localized
mesothelioma is the phase wherein the cancer is discovered in
the lung, diaphragm or in the lining of the chest cavity. The
patients in their first stage of mesothelioma get their cancer
surgically removed by pleurectomy or decortication or
extrapleural pneumonectomy.
In the second stage, the cancer is detected
to have spread beyond the lining of the chest cavity. In the
third stage, the tumor growth spreads into several areas that
include chest wall, center of the chest, heart, and throughout
the diaphragm. The treatment in the second, third and fourth
stages of mesothelium are done in tandem with supportive care.
The treatment for these advanced stages focuses on providing a
patient with relief from symptoms, as total cure is generally
not achieved. The treatment methodology includes thoracentesis
that removes fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, operations
to remove the tumor and radiation therapy or chemotherapy aimed
at easing symptoms.
In the fourth stage, the cancer is in the
process of distant metastasis, which implies that it has spread
to other organs and tissues far from its site of origin in the
pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial mesothelium. Patients
suffering from the fourth stage should enroll themselves in
clinical trials that evaluate the newest treatment
possibilities in large medical centers. Pain management is an
essential aspect of the care of such patients. It is important
for patients to know that medications are available to
effectively treat pain due to mesothelioma. They should request
pain medications or discuss pain control problems with their
cancer care team.
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