Mesothelioma Chemotherapy
Mesothelioma treatment is focused on reducing pain and discomfort and extending life. Some mesothelioma treatments target cancer cells to prevent the disease from spreading or metastasizing. One such treatment is mesothelioma chemotherapy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved six cancer drugs for malignant mesothelioma chemotherapy treatment: Alimta, Cisplatin, Gemcitabine-Cisplatin, Pemetrexed Disodium, Platinol, and Platinol-AQ. The American Cancer Society states that a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the most commonly used mesothelioma chemotherapy mix in mesothelioma treatment stages.
Mesothelioma chemotherapy is administered two different ways, according to the American Cancer Society:
- Systemic mesothelioma chemotherapy treatments deliver the drug either in pill form or via injection. The drug is released into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body, destroying any cancer cells it can.
- Intrapleural or intraperitoneal mesothelioma chemotherapy treatments directly inject the drugs into the chest or abdomen. This is done using a small catheter that is inserted through an incision. Directly injecting the mesothelioma chemotherapy drug to the location of the tumor allows a higher concentration of the drug to target cancer cells.
Mesothelioma chemotherapy is used in all four mesothelioma treatment stages. However, patients who are in poor physical shape or elderly may be dissuaded from using mesothelioma chemotherapy if doctors feel their body is not strong enough to handle the drug. Cycles of chemotherapy treatments usually last for three to four weeks
Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: Combining with Other Therapies
Mesothelioma chemotherapy is often paired with surgery or radiation therapy to increase the overall effectiveness of both therapies. Chemotherapy that is given before a surgical procedure in order to shrink a tumor and lower the risk of any spread is called neoadjuvant therapy. Mesothelioma chemotherapy that is given after a surgical procedure is called adjuvant therapy.
If you or a loved one are undergoing mesothelioma chemotherapy, speak to a mesothelioma attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn about any potential legal action that may be worth pursuing. If a company or products can be held liable for the asbestos exposure that caused your illness, you may be entitled to a monetary settlement.