There is no cure for Mesothelioma, but there are few treatments methods which will give relieve to the patient suffering from mesothelioma. Surgeries suggested for different types of mesothelioma are:
Surgery for Pleural Mesothelioma: There are two types of surgeries for pleural mesothelioma.
- Palliative Surgery
- Curative Surgery
Curative surgery- The ideal condition for curative surgery is when tumor is localized to mesothelium and patient condition is good. But when these cancer cells start spreading into the chest wall, around the heart and diaphragm then surgery becomes difficult. Surgery is performed on the patient for curative intention. This surgery cannot remove the cancer cells completely or neither save patient life but give symptomatic relieve to the patient. This curative surgery increases the survival rate of the patient. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is a curative surgery.
Four types of Surgeries for pleural mesothelioma:
Pleurectomy- This is of palliative surgery in which pleura or lining and some tissues of lungs are removed. This give symptomatic relieve like reduces chest pain, prevent formation in the effected area.
Pneumonectomy: This is same as pleurectomy but in this surgery there is a removal of lung. This surgery does not increase the survival rate but give symptomatic relief to the patient.
Thoracentesis : This is a type of palliative treatment in which needle is placed into the chest cavity. This procedure gives symptomatic relief from breathing problem, because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath.
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy: This is a far more extensive operation and considered as a curative surgery. It is often used in patients with localized mesothelioma, when the surgeon thinks a cure is possible. To tolerate this surgery, the patient should be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses. EPP is suitable only if the cancer is at an early stage. If it has spread to lymph nodes, or is growing into any other major body parts outside the lung, this surgery is not suitable. It is a complicated operation and is done only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. This operation removes the pleura lining the chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. That is, almost all the cancer and also some surrounding tissues are removed. This surgery does not save patients life but increase survival rate.