Chemotherapy for mesothelioma

One treatment option widely used to treat cancer is chemotherapy. With this treatment chemicals are used to destroy tumor cells. Chemotherapy treatment inhibits the growth and division of malignant cell, thus limiting cancer spread to other areas.

However, these drugs also kill other cells in the body. They are not very specific to cancer cells. So, there are some side effects. Most common side effects of chemotherapy are vomiting, nausea, hair loss, immune system problems and decline in appetite. If the patients experience the side effects, they should arouse the concern of doctors, which will change the drugs or adding other drugs to reduce the impact of concern.

A large number of ongoing chemotherapy in patients with mesothelioma is more effective and harmless. However, it is better to know all options before opting into a specific chemotherapy. This will help the patients select the best choice for them.

The most appropriate choice of chemotherapy depends largely on the type of the mesothelioma and their stage of disease. Also, the patient's age and health factors also play an important role in selection of chemotherapy.

Including more than 100 chemotherapy drugs, but only a few have been proved effective to fight against mesothelioma. In some cases, doctors add multiple drug combinations to treat the patient. Commonly used chemotherapy drugs are Alimta, cisplatin, carboplatin, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and Onconase. These drugs are usually intravenous or oral. Modern methods, heated chemotherapy is also used widely.

There is no effective treatment has been found to date in patients with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy can only help to control the disease. Shrink tumors and help to improve general conditions. Combination of chemotherapy with other treatment modalities is proved to be effective to extend the survival time. Only time will tell us how effective chemotherapy, they are still only in experimental level currently.