There are three traditional treatment options. They include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A stage analysis is performed to determine how advanced the cancer is. Then other factors such as gender, age, and patient health are considered in determining the specific treatment option. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most common treatment options.
Surgical treatment options are classified into two categories. Palliative surgery is performed when the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium lining and can not be surgically removed. The objective at this stage is to provide comfort to the patient by removing fluid build up in either the abdominal or chest cavity. Curative surgery is performed when the doctors believe there is a chance to completely remove the cancer. For example, a pneumonectomy may be performed to remove one lung that is infected with the cancer. Surgical methods on their own, have not proved to be very successful in comparison with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy treatment involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells and inhibit the growth of new cancerous cells. There are many different types of drugs used and all of them are powerful chemicals that target any fast growing cells. Unfortunately, healthy, fast growing cells such as hair and stomach cells are also killed. That's why many chemotherapy patients lose their hair.
Radiation therapy involves the application of subatomic particles such as electrons and protons towards the local area affected by the cancer. These subatomic particles damage the DNA of all the cells in the area including the cancerous and healthy cells. Fortunately, the healthy cells have the ability to repair the DNA damage, whereas the cancerous cells have less ability to repair their own DNA. This causes damage to the cancerous cells and limits their ability to reproduce.
Surgical treatment options are classified into two categories. Palliative surgery is performed when the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium lining and can not be surgically removed. The objective at this stage is to provide comfort to the patient by removing fluid build up in either the abdominal or chest cavity. Curative surgery is performed when the doctors believe there is a chance to completely remove the cancer. For example, a pneumonectomy may be performed to remove one lung that is infected with the cancer. Surgical methods on their own, have not proved to be very successful in comparison with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy treatment involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells and inhibit the growth of new cancerous cells. There are many different types of drugs used and all of them are powerful chemicals that target any fast growing cells. Unfortunately, healthy, fast growing cells such as hair and stomach cells are also killed. That's why many chemotherapy patients lose their hair.
Radiation therapy involves the application of subatomic particles such as electrons and protons towards the local area affected by the cancer. These subatomic particles damage the DNA of all the cells in the area including the cancerous and healthy cells. Fortunately, the healthy cells have the ability to repair the DNA damage, whereas the cancerous cells have less ability to repair their own DNA. This causes damage to the cancerous cells and limits their ability to reproduce.
