Mesothelioma Stage 3 Treatment
Patients with mesothelioma in stage 3 can receive chemotherapy and radiation in addition to surgery. These treatments can help to reduce symptoms and increase survival rates.
Doctors utilize the American Joint Committee on Cancer's TNM system to determine the stage of pleural mesothelioma. The system assesses tumor size, extent, lymph node involvement, and much more.
Palliative Treatments
As a person moves into the later stages of mesothelioma, their treatment options are limited and more geared towards palliative care. This is done to alleviate the symptoms, pain, and other discomforts that are related to mesothelioma as well as its treatments. Palliative care can help patients to improve their quality of life and concentrate on spending time with loved ones.
It is essential for patients who suffer from mesothelioma should seek an additional opinion and discuss their treatment plan with a qualified specialist. This can help them determine if their current treatment is effective or if they need other options that could be helpful to them. They could also discover new treatment options that they were not aware of prior to.
At the stage 3 of mesothelioma the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelial linings, and has spread to nearby organs. It can trigger painful symptoms, such as chest pains or stomach aches and breathing problems. Mesothelioma patients experiencing these symptoms should visit a doctor as soon as they can to avoid misdiagnosis such as a respiratory infection like pneumonia or bronchitis.
Although surgical procedures are typically not available to mesothelioma sufferers in advanced stages, a mesothelioma specialist may suggest alternative therapies to improve the quality of life of a patient. These include pain management and chemotherapy.
These types of procedures do not cure mesothelioma or extend a patient's life expectancy. However, they do help alleviate or reduce symptoms, like pain. Doctors, for instance employ electronic devices to send a pulse to nerves to block pain signals reaching the brain. They can also administer injections containing anesthetics that block pain signals from reaching nerves completely.
Chemotherapy
For patients who have mesothelioma stage 3 treatment may be able to improve their outlook. Doctors may offer hope to patients based on their personal response to therapy and other factors, such as their general health and their age.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by chest X-rays and imaging scans, such as CT, MRI and PET scans. These tests may reveal abnormalities that indicate symptoms of mesothelioma, such as swelling of the pleural wall or pleural lining. These tests can also confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis.
After mesothelioma spreads to lymph nodes it becomes harder to treat since cancer cells are more likely to be introduced into bloodstreams and then spread to other organs. This is why doctors often give patients with mesothelioma stage 3 a lower survival rate than they do for those with stages 1 or 2.
If the mesothelioma has reached stage 3, some surgeons may still remove tumors and damaged tissues that are visible on an imaging test. For example in the case of pleural mesothelioma the surgical procedure known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) can be performed.
Many mesothelioma patients who are elderly cannot bear the removal of their lung, and so some surgeons suggest the less invasive procedure referred to as pleurectomy with décortication (P/D). This procedure eliminates tumor-ridden tissue however it does not remove the lung or diaphragm.
Doctors can use chemotherapy to kill mesothelioma cells that remain after surgery or in locations where they have spread such as the lymph nodes. They can administer chemotherapy via intravenous (IV) infusions or subcutaneous injections. Some patients prefer to have an IV port or device implanted beneath the skin in order to avoid needles. Some patients receive oral chemotherapy in pill form, or via vein.
Radiation Therapy
The use of radiation therapy is for patients who are not suitable for surgery to remove any remaining cancerous cells. Radiation is often paired with chemotherapy to boost the effectiveness of each treatment. This multimodal approach can help improve the median mesothelioma stage 3 life time.
For pleural mesothelioma patients, doctors will conduct imaging tests to see how much mesothelioma has spread into the the chest wall. These tests may include X-rays, 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 also identify any fluid in the chest cavity referred to as an pleural effusion. Doctors can drain the fluid, or perform a procedure to prevent the buildup of fluid, which is known as pleurodesis.
The possibility of a patient receiving surgery depends on a number of factors, including their mesothelioma type and the location of their tumors and how well they respond to treatments. Small localized tumors are more straightforward to eliminate than larger, more widespread ones. Doctors also take into consideration the patient's overall health and well-being when deciding whether or not they should undergo surgery.
If a patient with mesothelioma of the pleural is not able to undergo surgery, other procedures are possible to alleviate symptoms. These include décortication and pleurectomy. This less aggressive procedure removes the pleural lining and any visible tumors, keeping the lung intact. Doctors may combine the surgery with a combination chemotherapy such as pemetrexed and cisplatin (Alimta).
Clinical trials for mesothelioma give patients the chance to participate in experimental treatments which may increase the odds of survival. A mesothelioma expert can help patients locate the best trial. Patients can also join a support groups to help them keep their focus and fight for survival.
Immunotherapy
During this stage, cancer has spread from the site of its origin to nearby lymph nodes and tissues. Symptoms of mesothelioma, like chest pain and difficulty breathing due to fluid accumulation tend to get worse in this phase.
The staging of mesothelioma aids doctors determine the extent and type of cancer and plan the best treatment plan. Doctors use several factors to stage mesothelioma, including the location and size of the tumor as well as whether or not it has penetrated the tissue of the heart (peritoneal), and the extent to which the cancer has spread.
The staging process also considers the health of the patient overall and the distance between the tumor and vital organs such as the lungs, heart or diaphragm. If a tumor is too close to an organ that is vital, it may not be safe to remove it surgically. it, even if there are other treatment options.
Another mesothelioma stage 3 treatment option is immunotherapy which boosts the body's ability to fight cancer cells. Doctors can combine immunotherapy with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Immunotherapy encompasses a variety of treatments, including monoclonal and cytokines. These treatments are created to allow cancer cells to be targeted by specific proteins and activate the immune system to kill those cells.
Patients receiving immunotherapy could also receive nutritional support, naturopathic support along with oncology rehabilitation as well as behavioral health services. These treatments can help decrease side effects during treatment and improve the quality of life. They can also assist patients deal with stress better and manage the impact mesothelioma causes on their lives. Lastly, patients who can maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their treatment will often have better survival rates than those who don't. This is particularly applicable to patients who have significant lymph node involvement at stage 3.
Complementary Therapies
As the disease progresses to stage 3 patients with pleural mesothelioma are more prone to experiencing worsening symptoms, and the cancer could spread throughout the chest or abdomen. At this point doctors may recommend an invasive thoracentesis procedure to drain the body of fluid and ease breathing difficulty.
Mesothelioma patients may undergo more invasive surgeries which asbestos mesothelioma treatment include extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy with decortication. Both surgeries remove a portion of the diaphragm, as well as the lining of lungs. Patients can then receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy to improve their prognosis and extend their life expectancy.
Some doctors advocate using standard treatments such as radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy to improve the survival of mesothelioma sufferers. This is known as multimodal therapy. Several studies have increased survival rates for patients treated with a mix of therapies.
Complementary therapies, which are non-traditional methods of healthcare can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve a patient's immunity system. They also can help relieve some cancer symptoms. These practices include acupuncture, tai chi meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques.
Patients can discuss complementary therapies with their mesothelioma doctor or nurse. However, they must continue to take any prescribed medication and follow their treatment plan.
Mesothelioma victims should seek out legal advice from a mesothelioma lawyer when they have any questions about asbestos exposure and how it can affect their health. Attorneys can assist victims in seeking compensation through an asbestos suit and seek other benefits from the government such as Social Security Disability Insurance for veterans or VA benefits.
Most asbestos victims don't realize they have mesothelioma before it has reached the third or fourth stage. Asbestos patients should see an expert in mesothelioma to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. Our free Mesothelioma guide will help you understand more about mesothelioma and the impact it has on a patient's outlook.