Options for treatment of mesothelioma - Guidelines for treatment of mesothelioma

Such as radiation, chemotherapy does not provide a cure for mesothelioma, but can be very effective to give an exemption to severe symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to test various combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients continue to benefit from the results. Hops is that one day, chemotherapy drugs can go even further extend the life of the patient and develop a cancer drug.

The chemotherapy drugs, in general, is either ingested in tablet form or injected into the patient systemically. In cases of mesothelioma patients, the drug intravenously. Doctors usually combine two drugs for the best result. It will serve as the primary cytotoxin and a second will be an alkalinizing agent to stabilize the surrounding healthy cells. Currently the only combination that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration Alimta ® (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin ®, but other drugs used in tandem, as it deems appropriate for a specific patient participating in a clinical trial . In some cases, patients can not tolerate a single substance, if one is used for treatment.

Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy. Some patients for one reason or another will make a measured determination that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.