Mesothelioma Stage 3 Treatment
Patients with mesothelioma in stage 3 can receive radiation therapy and chemotherapy in addition to surgery. These treatments can help reduce symptoms and increase survival rates.
The TNM system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer is used by doctors to determine the stage of the melanoma pleural. The staging system analyzes the size of the tumor and its extent of lymph node involvement, and more.
Palliative Treatments
As a person moves to the final stages of mesothelioma, treatment options are limited and more geared towards palliative treatment. This is to ease the symptoms, pain, and other discomforts that are associated with mesothelioma and its treatments. Palliative treatment can help patients improve their quality of life and focus on spending time with loved ones.
It is essential for patients who suffer from mesothelioma should seek a second opinion and discuss their treatment plan with a seasoned specialist. This can help them determine whether their current treatment is working or if they would benefit from different methods. It could also help them to explore new treatment options they weren't aware of.
At the stage 3 of mesothelioma the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelial linings into adjacent organs. This can cause pain, like stomach or chest pains and difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma patients who experience these symptoms should visit an expert as soon as possible to avoid misdiagnosis such as a respiratory infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Although surgical procedures are usually not available to mesothelioma sufferers in advanced stages, a mesothelioma specialist may suggest alternative therapies to improve the quality of life for patients. These include pain management and chemotherapy.
These procedures will not cure mesothelioma nor prolong the life expectancy of patients. However, they can assist in reducing or eliminating certain symptoms, like pain. For instance, doctors could utilize electrical devices to send a pulsing of electricity to nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. They can also provide patients injections with anesthetics that keep pain signals from reaching the nerves in the first place.
Chemotherapy
Treatment may improve the outlook of people suffering from mesothelioma stage 3. Doctors can offer hope for patients based on their individual response to treatment and other factors like their general health and age.
Mesothelioma can be detected using chest X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. These tests may reveal signs of mesothelioma. These include the accumulation of fluid or pleural thickening. These tests can also confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis.
When mesothelioma has spread to the lymph nodes it becomes more difficult to treat because cancer cells are able to enter the bloodstream and spread to different organs. For this reason, doctors often give patients with mesothelioma stage 3 a lower survival rate than patients with stage 1 or 2.
Even if mesothelioma has been diagnosed at stage 3, surgeons may still be in a position to remove cancerous tissues or tumors that are visible on an imaging test. Extrapleural pneumonectomy may be performed in cases of pleural cancer.
However, many elderly mesothelioma patients are unable to endure the removal of a lung, so some surgeons advocate a less invasive procedure called pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). The procedure still removes the cancer-ridden pleura, but not the entire lung or part of the diaphragm.
Doctors can use chemotherapy to eliminate mesothelioma tumor cells that are left after surgery or have spread elsewhere including lymph nodes. They can administer chemotherapy via intravenous (IV) infusions or subcutaneous injections. Some patients prefer to use an IV connection device, or port, implanted under the skin to avoid needle sticks. Some patients are treated with oral chemotherapy in pill form or via vein.
Radiation Therapy
For those who are candidates for surgery, radiation therapy may be pericardial mesothelioma treatment used to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. The use of radiation is usually paired with chemotherapy to increase the effectiveness of each treatment. This multimodal approach could aid in increasing the median life expectancy for mesothelioma at stage 3.
For pleural mesothelioma patients, doctors will conduct imaging tests to see how the mesothelioma is spreading into the the chest wall. These tests include X-rays CT scans and PET scans. These tests can reveal changes to the lining of your chest wall that could be signs of cancerous tumors. These tests can reveal fluid in the chest cavity, called a pleural effusion. Doctors can drain the fluid, or do a procedure to stop fluid buildup called pleurodesis.
A patient's ability to receive surgery depends on a number of factors including the type of mesothelioma cells they have and the location of their tumors and how well they respond to treatments. Small localized tumors are much easier to remove than larger, more widespread ones. Doctors also consider the general health and well-being of the patient in deciding whether or not they can undergo surgery.
If a patient with mesothelioma pleural cannot undergo surgery, other surgeries can be carried out to relieve symptoms. These include décortication and pleurectomy. This less aggressive procedure removes only the pleural lining and any visible tumors, while remaining the lung in good condition. Doctors can combine this surgery with a combination of chemotherapy like pemetrexed (Alimta) and Cisplatin.
Mesothelioma clinical trials give patients the opportunity to receive new treatments that can increase survival rates. A specialist in mesothelioma can help patients find the best trial for them. Patients can also join a support group to help them keep their focus and fight for their survival.
Immunotherapy
At this point, the cancer has spread from the site of its origin to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Mesothelioma symptoms generally become more severe during this phase, including chest pain and trouble breathing due to fluid buildup.
Mesothelioma staging can help doctors determine the extent of the cancer and plan the most effective treatment plan. Doctors determine the stage of mesothelioma based on several factors such as the size and location of the tumors, whether the cancer has spread to the lining around the heart (peritoneal), as well as how far the cancer has spread.
Staging also considers a patient's general health and how far or close the tumor is from vital organs, such as the heart, lungs and diaphragm. If a tumor is located too close to a vital organ it might not be safe to surgically remove it, even with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy is a different option for treating mesothelioma at stage 3. It works by boosting the body's natural defense against cancerous cells. Doctors can combine immunotherapy with other treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy is a wide range of treatments, which includes cytokines, monoclonal antibody and other forms. These treatments are developed to enable cancer cells to be targeted by specific proteins, and to trigger the immune system to kill these cells.
Patients undergoing immunotherapy may also receive nutritional support, naturopathic along with oncology rehabilitation as well as behavioral health services. These treatments can help reduce side effects and enhance quality of life during treatment. They can also help patients cope with stress and lessen the impact mesothelioma has on their lives. Additionally, patients who can maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their treatment will often have better survival rates than those who do not. This is especially true for patients in stage 3 with extensive lymph node involvement.
Complementary Therapies
As the disease gets worse to stage 3, pleural mesothelioma patients experience worsening symptoms and the cancer can spread to the abdomen or chest. Doctors may conduct an invasive thoracentesis in this stage to remove fluids and ease breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma patients can also undergo more aggressive surgeries such as extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy with decortication. Both surgical options eliminate the lung's lining and part of the diaphragm. The patient can then undergo chemotherapy or radiation to improve their prognosis.
Some doctors advocate combining standard treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to increase the chance of survival for mesothelioma sufferers. Multimodal therapy is what it is called. In numerous studies, patients treated with the combination therapy had a greater survival rate.
Complementary treatments, which aren't traditional methods of treatment, can reduce anxiety and stress and improve a patient's immunity system. They also can help relieve certain cancer-related symptoms. These methods include acupuncture, yoga, tai-chi, meditation, and relaxation methods.
Patients may discuss alternative treatments with their mesothelioma physician or nurse. They must continue to take their prescribed medication and follow the treatment schedule.
Mesothelioma victims should seek out legal advice from a mesothelioma lawyer when they have concerns about asbestos exposure and how it may affect their health. Lawyers can assist victims in obtaining compensation through an asbestos lawsuit and seek other benefits from the government like Social Security Disability Insurance for veterans or VA benefits.
The majority of asbestos victims don't realize they have mesothelioma until stage 3 or 4. For the right diagnosis and treatment, asbestos patients should consult a mesothelioma expert. Find out more about mesothelioma stages and how they affect the prognosis of patients in our free Mesothelioma Guide.