How Mesothelioma is Treated
Many people have been exposed to the large amount of mesothelioma commercials that have dominated television in recent years. That may have been the first time you ever came across the term mesothelioma. But with so much emphasis on financial compensation and legal rights, what normally gets lost in the discussion is how (and if) mesothelioma is treated. What kind of disease is mesothelioma? What are the treatment options for someone who has mesothelioma? Read on, as we cover those topics below.
How Do You Contract Mesothelioma?
A mesothelioma study with medical contributors from India and Malaysia was released in October of 2023, giving readers a deep dive into the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment options for mesothelioma, along with numerous clinical studies.
This landmark study provides some of the most comprehensive up-to-date details regarding the treatment options for mesothelioma. This is especially relevant since mesothelioma has unfortunately been trending upward for several years. In fact, as of 2020, mesothelioma deaths are estimated to be 38,400 per year worldwide.
Mesothelioma is a particularly severe form of cancer. But what causes it? Currently, over 80% of all mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure, making this form of cancer unique in that it is almost exclusively caused by asbestos. Surprisingly, asbestos exposure has only been linked to mesothelioma since 1960 when South African epidemiological research successfully linked it to asbestos exposure.
Second-hand Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma: A Risk to Family Members
Beyond direct exposure to asbestos via various vocations, secondary asbestos exposure is a notable concern, and an often-neglected one. In fact, you may be surprised to know that 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases come from those who were exposed secondhand. The reason for this is that the problem of asbestos exposure generally and mesothelioma, in particular, is not the quantity of exposure, but simply the fact of exposure. That means mesothelioma is not like a virus that can be transmitted; it is not a contagious disease in that way. However, the reason relatives and coworkers of mesothelioma patients may also contract the same cancer is due to the secondary exposure risk.
To be sure, not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will go on to develop mesothelioma, but almost everyone who develops mesothelioma has been exposed to asbestos in some variety, whether occupationally or secondarily.
Various Types of Mesothelioma
Another point of clarification regarding mesothelioma is the false notion that when it comes to mesothelioma, one-size-fits-all. While it is true that “All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans.”, there are varieties in scope concerning mesothelioma. As it turns out, there are actually multiple types of cancer referred to as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. This is a protective layer of tissue that surrounds various organs in the human body, including the lungs, abdomen, heart, and testicles. If someone has mesothelioma, the mesothelium cells have become cancerous in one of the above examples. The technical terms for these varieties of cancer include:
Pleural Mesothelioma: Cancer of the mesothelium surrounding the lungs. This is the most common form of mesothelioma and accounts for over 70 percent of all cases.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: cancer of the mesothelium surrounding the abdomen. This form of mesothelioma accounts for around 15 percent of all cases. However, due to its discreet behavior, it has often spread to other organs by the time it is discovered.
Testicular Mesothelioma: cancer of the mesothelium surrounding the testicles. This form is officially termed mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. According to medical research, this form of mesothelioma only accounts for 1 percent of all cases, with less than 300 worldwide patients.
Pericardial Mesothelioma: cancer of the mesothelium surrounding the heart. Like testicular mesothelioma, this is another exceptionally rare occurrence.
Ongoing Research in the Treatment of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a continual research endeavor that is expanding each year. However, there are examples of vested interests and even outright corruption when it comes to mesothelioma research. Sadly, this is a familiar pattern as a whole is a hallmark of the history of asbestos research and litigation.
Whether corporate entities or medical researchers, the truth is often suppressed or distorted in the name of money. That puts ongoing mesothelioma research at a disadvantage, but we do have a clear enough picture with available information today- which leads us to the topic of treatment.
Treating Mesothelioma
There are a variety of ways to treat mesothelioma, but it should be noted that currently, mesothelioma is a terminal cancer with a very low survival rate, with an average of less than two years after the time of diagnosis. However, the purpose of mesothelioma treatment is to improve the quality of the patient’s life while providing time to get affairs in order and, if financial compensation is available, leave a legacy for loved ones.
Here are the four main approaches to treating mesothelioma:
Surgery: Surgery is often the best way to eradicate mesothelioma in its entirety, especially at its early stages. In a typical surgical procedure, physicians will remove all visible tumors from an affected area.
Chemotherapy: While chemotherapy cannot always destroy mesothelioma tumors, it typically improves a patient’s odds of longer-term survival.
Radiation: There is limited evidence that radiation treatments improve mesothelioma outcomes. However, radiotherapy could reduce cancer-related pain.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs): Tumor Treating Fields use alternating electrical currents to disrupt the growth and spread of cancer cells.
While these four examples are the most common approaches to treating mesothelioma, they represent a comprehensive treatment plan. That is to say, each of these four approaches will often be prescribed in tandem with other treatment approaches.
A Survey of Various Treatment Approaches
John’s Hopkins
For example, Johns Hopkins has led the way in experimental medical treatment for mesothelioma. In clinical trials, patients were administered Durvalumab a cancer medication which resulted in doubling the survival rate of patients in the clinical trial. This is good news, compared to the median survival range of 12 months for those who did not receive this treatment, however, it does not represent a cure for mesothelioma.
HITHOC
Another supplemental treatment is called Heated Intrathoracic Chemotherapy (HITHOC). HITHOC is a supplemental chemotherapy treatment used after tumor removal. While results are promising for HITHOC, not all medical facilities are equipped to offer this kind of treatment, and some are suspicious of the possibility of adverse health effects, particularly in relation to the duration of anesthesia required.
MD Anderson
The most notable cancer treatment facility in the United States, MD Anderson, has been conducting clinical trials of a new medication used to treat patients with rare and aggressive cancers. Their newest medication, Vudalimab, can be used (if approved) to replace two of the common medications currently in practice. The idea is, that this new medication will be able to provide the same results but with fewer side effects and adverse reactions in patients.
Hope for the Future: A Cure, Still Needed
While it is worth celebrating progress, it is important to understand the sober truth that mesothelioma is still a terminal cancer with a short survival window. That’s why it is important to know that there are compensation options available for those who qualify for various asbestos trust claims. Asbestos trusts were put into place as a way to provide victims with finances to pay for their medical treatments and leave a legacy for their loved ones. While asbestos trust claims are the fastest and easiest way to receive compensation, there is a small window of time to act when it comes to an aggressive cancer like mesothelioma. The good news is, that the professionals at AsbestosClaims.law are available and ready to help you with your claim risk-free, each step of the way. Contact us today to get started.