Mesothelioma Stage 3 Treatment
In addition to surgery, patients with mesothelioma stages 3 and 4 can receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments can reduce symptoms and improve survival rates.
Doctors utilize the American Joint Committee on Cancer's TNM system to determine the stage of mesothelioma pleural. The staging system assesses the size and extent of the tumor, lymph node involvement and more.
Palliative Treatments
As a person progresses into the last stages of mesothelioma, treatments become less extensive, and they tend to focus on palliative treatments. The aim of this is to alleviate symptoms, pain and other discomforts associated with the disease and its treatments. Palliative care can help patients to improve their quality of life and concentrate on spending time with loved ones.
It is crucial for those suffering from mesothelioma to seek an additional opinion and discuss their treatment plan with an experienced specialist. This can help them determine whether their current treatment plan is effective or if there are other methods that may be beneficial to them. It could also help them to discover new treatment options they weren't aware of.
Stage 3 mesothelioma can be characterized by cancer that has spread to adjacent organs. It can trigger painful symptoms, such as stomachaches, chest pains and breathing problems. Patients experiencing these symptoms should see an immediate doctor to avoid a misdiagnosis like bronchitis or pneumonia.
Although surgical procedures are generally not available to mesothelioma sufferers in the advanced stages, a mesothelioma specialist can recommend alternative treatments to improve the quality of life for patients. These include pain management, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
These procedures don't cure the disease or increase a patient's lifespan. However, they can help alleviate or reduce symptoms, including pain. For instance, doctors can use electrical devices that transmit a short electrical pulse to nerves to stop pain signals from reaching the brain. They can also provide patients injections containing anesthetics that block pain signals from reaching nerves completely.
Chemotherapy
Treatment may help improve the outlook for people with mesothelioma at stage 3. Doctors can offer hope for patients based on their personal response to therapy and other factors, such as their general health and age.
Mesothelioma can be diagnosed using chest X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. These tests can reveal abnormalities that could be indicative of mesothelioma symptoms like swelling of the pleural wall or pleural rim. These tests also can confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis.
After mesothelioma spreads to the lymph nodes, it becomes more difficult to treat because cancer cells are more likely to be introduced into bloodstreams and travel to other organs. Because of this, doctors often give patients with stage 3 mesothelioma less chance of survival than those with stages 1 or 2.
When mesothelioma stage 3 treatment is at stage 3 or 4, some surgeons are able to still remove tumors and damaged tissues that show up on an imaging test. Extrapleural pneumonectomy may be performed in cases of pleural tumors.
Many elderly mesothelioma sufferers cannot tolerate the removal of a lung, and so some surgeons suggest a less invasive procedure known as pleurectomy with décortication (P/D). This procedure eliminates cancer-ridden tissue, but not the diaphragm or lung.
The doctor may prescribe chemotherapy to eliminate mesothelioma tumor cells that remain after surgery or have spread to other areas, such as lymph nodes. They can administer chemotherapy via intravenous (IV) infusions or subcutaneous injections. Some patients opt to have a port or IV connection device implanted beneath the skin in order to avoid needles. Some patients receive oral chemotherapy in pill form or via vein.
Radiation Therapy
For those who are candidates for surgery, radiation therapy may be used to kill any remaining cancer cells. The two therapies are frequently used together to maximize the efficacy of both treatments. This multimodal approach may help to increase the median life expectancy for mesothelioma in stage 3.
Imaging tests are employed by doctors to determine the degree of mesothelioma lining on the chest wall. These tests may include X-rays, CT scans and PET scans. These tests can detect changes in the wall of the chest which can be a sign of cancerous tumors. These tests can also detect any fluid that is present in the chest cavity called an effusion of the pleural cavity. Doctors can drain the fluid or carry out a procedure to prevent the accumulation of fluid called pleurodesis.
The ability of a patient to undergo surgery is contingent upon a variety of factors including their mesothelioma cell type, the location of their tumors and how well they respond to treatments. Small localized tumors are much easier to eliminate than larger, more widespread ones. Doctors also consider the general health and well-being of the patient when deciding whether or not they should undergo surgery.
If a pleural mesothelioma patient cannot undergo surgery, they can undergo other surgeries that help alleviate symptoms, like pleurectomy or decortication. This less aggressive procedure removes only the pleural lining and any visible tumors, leaving the lung intact. Doctors combine this surgery with a combination of chemotherapy such as pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin.
Clinical trials for mesothelioma provide patients the chance to participate in new treatments that could improve survival rates. A specialist in mesothelioma can assist patients choose the right trial for them. Patients can also find support groups that can aid them in staying motivated and fight for their survival.
Immunotherapy
In this stage, the cancer has spread beyond its initial site to nearby tissues and nodes. Mesothelioma symptoms usually become more severe during this stage, including chest pain and difficulty breathing due to the accumulation of fluid.
The staging of mesothelioma helps doctors determine the extent and type of cancer, and plan the best treatment strategy. Doctors use several factors to decide whether mesothelioma is staged, including the location and size of the tumor as well as whether or not it has reached the lining of the heart (peritoneal), and how much the cancer has spread.
The staging process also considers a patient's general health, as well as the distance or proximity of the tumor is from vital organs, such as the lungs, heart, and diaphragm. If a tumor is located too close to a vital organ, it may not be safe to surgically remove it, even with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy is another option for treating mesothelioma at stage 3. It works by increasing your body's natural immunity to cancer cells. Doctors can combine immunotherapy with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Immunotherapy encompasses a variety of treatments, including cytokines and monoclonal antibodies. These treatments are developed to target specific proteins in cancerous cells and stimulate the body's immune system to kill the cancer cells.
Patients who undergo immunotherapy can also receive nutritional support, naturopathic assistance, oncology rehabilitation and behavioral health services. These therapies can reduce adverse effects and improve the quality of life during treatment. They can also assist patients manage stress better and manage the effects mesothelioma can have on their lives. Patients who are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their treatment will often have better survival rates than those who don't. This is particularly relevant for patients with extensive lymph node involvement in stage 3.
Complementary Therapies
As the disease advances to stage 3, pleural mesothelioma patients experience worsening symptoms and the cancer could spread throughout the chest or abdomen. Doctors may recommend an invasive thoracentesis in this stage to remove the lungs of fluids and ease breathing problems.
Mesothelioma patients might undergo more invasive surgeries such as extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy that includes decortication. Both surgeries remove a portion of the diaphragm, as well as the lining of the lungs. Patients can then receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy to improve their prognosis and extend life expectancy.
Some doctors support combining standard treatments like radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy to increase the chances of survival for mesothelioma patients. This is known as multimodal therapy. Many studies have demonstrated improved survival rates for patients treated with a combination of treatments.
Complementary treatments, which aren't traditional methods of healthcare can help to reduce anxiety and stress and boost a patient's immune system. They can also alleviate some cancer symptoms. These methods include acupuncture, tai chi yoga, meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques.
Patients are able to discuss complementary treatments with their mesothelioma doctor or nurse. However, they should continue to take any prescribed medication and adhere to their treatment program.
Mesothelioma patients should seek legal help from a mesothelioma lawyer when they have questions about asbestos exposure and how it can affect their health. Attorneys can assist victims in getting compensation through an asbestos lawsuit and pursue other benefits offered by the government such as Social Security Disability Insurance for veterans or VA benefits.
Most asbestos victims do not realize they have mesothelioma until it reaches stage 3 or 4. Asbestos sufferers should visit a mesothelioma specialist to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. Our free Mesothelioma guide will help you learn more about mesothelioma and the impact it has on a patient's outlook.