Mesothelioma is treated by a specialist cancer team, usually with some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation, alongside care that controls fluid buildup, pain, and breathlessness.
What fits you depends on where the cancer started (most often the lining of the lung or the abdomen), the cell type, how far it has spread, and your lung and heart function. Chemotherapy with pemetrexed plus cisplatin or carboplatin has been the long-standing backbone, and immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors is now used for many people whose tumor cannot be removed by surgery. Draining fluid from the chest or abdomen, and procedures that stop it from coming back, often relieve shortness of breath and pressure within days. Day to day, pacing activity, breathing exercises, quitting smoking, staying current on flu and pneumococcal vaccines, and eating enough protein help you tolerate treatment. Palliative care started early runs alongside cancer treatment, not instead of it, and is one of the most reliable ways to feel better.
How mesothelioma is treated
Common questions
What helps mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is treated by a cancer team, and the plan depends on the type, stage, and your overall health. Options include surgery to remove tumor and lining tissue, chemotherapy such as pemetrexed with cisplatin or carboplatin, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors, and radiation. Draining fluid from the chest or belly, and procedures that keep it from returning, often ease breathlessness and pressure quickly. Pain control, breathing techniques, nutrition support, and early palliative care work alongside cancer treatment. Ask about clinical trials and about a second opinion at a center that treats mesothelioma often.