Asbestos Disease Treatments
Pleural Mesothelioma Treatments
Treatment options for pleural mesothelioma will depend on a number of issues, such as your general health and fitness, the stage of your cancer and any additional medical conditions you may have.
As there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, treatment aims at controlling the disease and symptoms for as long as possible.
Surgery
There are two surgical options for pleural mesothelioma, both aim to remove localised mesothelioma:
Pleurectomy
Removal of the pleura from around the lung. This can also be called decortication. In a pleurectomy, the pleura is removed, and the space around the lung is treated so that fluid cannot collect there. This not only helps to relieve symptoms but can also slow the growth of the disease.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy
Removal of the lung, pleura, diaphragm and pericardium (covering of the heart). This can also be called EPP. It is extensive surgery and as such is not suitable for everyone. Patients suitable for this surgery must be relatively well and have good heart and lung function.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy aims to shrink the mesothelioma, reducing symptoms and prolonging life; it can also slow the growth of the mesothelioma.
It is generally administered in cycles, with anti-cancer drugs being injected into a vein of the patient to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used together with surgery.
Chemotherapy can have side-effects, however, everyone’s bodies react in different ways.
Side effects can include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Mouth ulcers
- Hair loss
- Tiredness
Your medical team will discuss whether chemotherapy is an option for you.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is often used to reduce mesothelioma symptoms and slow the growth of the cancer. It can also be used following a surgical procedure or fluid drain to prevent new growths of mesothelioma where incisions were made.
Radiotherapy is generally given once a day during the week, and sessions take just a few minutes. It uses high energy rays to kill cancer cells.
Radiotherapy side-effects include:
- Reddening of the treated area
- Hair loss in the treated area
- Tiredness
Immunotherapy
Using immunotherapy for the treatment of mesothelioma is a fairly new concept and, as yet, it is not always available on the NHS for this disease.
It is a form of treatment which stimulates the patient’s immune systems to target and kill the mesothelioma cells.
It is a costly treatment which is not always suitable. However, if recommended by the oncologist, the costs of the treatment can be claimed as part of the asbestos disease compensation claim.
Palliative care
Unfortunately, it is often not until the cancer has reached an advanced stage that pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed.
In these circumstances, the patient may be too unwell to have any surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy; however, treatment of the symptoms can still be given, such as draining fluid from the lungs.
This can make patients more comfortable and reduce pain.
A combination of the above can be used, however, this does depend on the stage of the cancer. Your medical team will discuss your options with you and together you can devise a treatment plan.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatments
Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma will again depend on several issues, such as your general health and fitness, the stage of your cancer and any additional medical conditions you may have.
The most positive form of treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma is surgery with heated chemotherapy. If surgery is not an option, chemotherapy is often offered on its own.
Your medical team will discuss your treatment options with you and together you can devise a treatment plan.
Surgery
In many cases, surgery is not an option in the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma as it requires a major operation and patients are often not well enough to undergo this. However, if the patient is fit enough, surgical options are available:
Peritonectomy
Removal of part of the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen). The peritoneum is where this type of mesothelioma grows, removing it can reduce symptoms.
Cytoreductive surgery
Similar to a peritonectomy, cytoreductive surgery can involve as many as six different peritonectomy procedures to remove as much of the mesothelioma as possible.
Following these procedures, heated chemotherapy is given into the peritoneal cavity through a catheter; this is known as Hyperthermic Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIIC).
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy aims to shrink the mesothelioma, reducing symptoms and prolonging life; it can also slow the growth of the mesothelioma.
It is generally administered in cycles, with anti-cancer drugs being injected into a vein of the patient to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used together with surgery as described above.
Chemotherapy can have side-effects, however, everyone’s bodies react in different ways.
Chemotherapy side-effects can include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Mouth ulcers
- Hair loss
- Tiredness
Your medical team will discuss whether chemotherapy is an option for you.
Palliative care
Accordion ContentUnfortunately, it is often not until the cancer has reached an advanced stage that peritoneal mesothelioma is diagnosed. In these circumstances, the patient may be too unwell to have any surgery or chemotherapy, however, treatment of the symptoms can still be given, such as draining fluid from the abdomen.
Lung Cancer Treatments
Treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer is very similar to that of other types of cancer. As with any disease, a treatment plan will greatly depend on the age and wellbeing of the patient together with the stage of the disease.
This will vary from treatment options aimed at eliminating the disease to palliative care.
Surgery
This involves the removal of part or all of the identified tumours or intervention to control the pleural fluid caused to collect by the disease.
There are several types of surgery which may be considered:
- Resection – this involves the removal of the tumour and part of the surrounding lung tissue
- Lobectomy – this involves the removal of one lobe of the lung if the cancer is isolated to that area, a bilobectomy involves the removal of two lobes
- Pneumonectomy – this involves the removal of the entire lung
Surgery can help to improve the prognosis in a patient who has a good performance status. This is often a good option if the disease is identified at an early stage.
Chemotherapy
This can be used together with surgery or on its own if surgery is not an option. It is used to shrink the tumours or to assist with relieving pain.
Chemotherapy side-effects can include:
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Hair loss
Radiotherapy
Radiation can be an effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.
Like surgery, it is a targeted form of treatment which affects cells only located in the treatment area. It is often used when surgery is not an option.
Radiotherapy is quite often an effective treatment for lung cancer, but relapse can be common. It is more often used as a form of palliative care.
Radiotherapy side-effects can include:
- Tiredness
- Sore skin
- Cough
Pleural Thickening Treatments
Thankfully symptoms associated with pleural thickening are often not severe. However, there is no known cause for the disease and treatment options are limited.
Pleural drainage or thoracentesis
If a patient suffers from severe breathlessness, a common form of treatment is pleural drainage.
This removes any excess fluid that has built up between the lungs and pleura and allows the lungs to function as they should by expanding and contracting more effectively. This can help reduce breathlessness and pain.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Studies have shown pulmonary rehabilitation to be effective in treating the symptoms associated with pleural thickening.
This involves a programme of exercise and education for people with a long-term lung condition.
A programme might involve input from physiotherapist, nurses and occupational therapists.
Lifestyle changes
In most cases, treatment is not required for pleural thickening because symptoms are not usually severe; however, it is recommended that people follow a healthy lifestyle by avoiding smoking and keeping active.
Asbestosis Treatments
Unfortunately, there is no cure for asbestosis, but there are many treatments which can help improve the quality of life.
Medication
Sometimes inhalers might be prescribed to help with breathing problems. Whilst they are more regularly used by asthma sufferers, they can help relax the muscles in the airways and help relieve symptoms.
You may also be prescribed medication which thins the secretions in your lungs. Again, this can help open up the airways and help you breathe more easily.
Antibiotics may also be beneficial to help with an infection.
Oxygen therapy
Supplemental oxygen may also be considered as an option in more severe cases of asbestosis. You may be given an oxygen tank to have at home to help increase oxygen.
Vaccinations
Those suffering from asbestosis can be more prone to lung infections.
Vaccinations to guard against influenza and pneumonia can help prevent these infections and help keep the disease better controlled.
Surgery
In certain, more serious cases of asbestosis, surgery may be considered an option in order to help relieve symptoms.
In the most severe cases, a lung transplant might be considered.
Pleural Effusion Treatments
Many people with asbestos-related diseases suffer from pleural effusions. This is where fluid collects between the pleura.
This collection of fluid can cause breathing difficulties as it prevents the lungs from expanding fully.
Pleurodesis
Pleurodesis seals the space between the pleura using chemicals (often referred to as talc) which inflame the pleura causing it to stick together.
This means that there is no space and so fluid cannot collect.
Pleurodesis does not treat the disease but is used to treat the symptoms and to make the patient more comfortable by aiming to ease breathing problems.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be prescribed if it is thought that pneumonia caused the pleural effusion or if an infection is present.
If the pleural effusion is being caused by underlying malignancy, antibiotics will not be appropriate.
Surgery
Surgery can sometimes be used to remove fluid or pus from the pleural cavity.
Clinical Trials
Trials are carried out all over the country each year to try and find better ways of treating cancer and controlling symptoms. These can also be risky as well, so it is extremely imporant you do your own research or have a trusted family member if available do on your behalf due to the known risk involved .
Inclusion in trials depends on a number of factors. Researchers will have a brief of suitable candidates, and you will need to meet the criteria for the trial to be considered for it. If you are considering taking part in a clinical trial, it is important that you know what to expect and what is expected of you.
Questions to Ask?
- What is the name of the trial?
- What is the trial hoping to discover?
- How will the trial help people?
- What will I need to do?
- Will I benefit from taking part in the trial?
- How long is the trial expected to last?
- When will the results of the trial be known?
- Can I withdraw from the trial at any time?
