Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment with a variety of anti-cancer drugs. It is used frequently to treat mesothelioma. According to Cancer.org, more clinical studies are needed to find the best chemotherapy drugs with a good success rate to fight mesothelioma. Today, the best way to treat asbestos cancer is with chemotherapy combined with surgery. (Cancer.org)
If mesothelioma is treated with surgery, chemotherapy may be used first to attempt to shrink the tumor and reduce the risk of it spreading. This is known as neoadjuvant therapy.
Chemotherapy also can be given to the patient after surgery to kill cancer cells that remain. This is called adjuvant therapy and can help to prevent cancer from coming back.
If surgery does not remove cancer, chemotherapy can be the major treatment option. Chemotherapy could shrink the tumors or slow their growth, but it is uncommon for chemotherapy to make mesothelioma disappear. Below is more information about treatment options for mesothelioma with chemotherapy drugs.
Physicians usually give patients chemotherapy in several cycles. Each treatment period is followed by a rest period that allows your body time to recover. Chemo cycles typically last four weeks. Chemotherapy is seldom recommended for patients in poor health. But being at an advanced age does not mean you cannot receive chemotherapy. (Asbestos.com)
There are two major ways chemotherapy can be given to you to treat mesothelioma:
For intrapleural or intraperitoneal chemotherapy, drugs may be heated before they are put into the body. This is known as hyperthermic chemotherapy. Heating the drugs can help them to work more efficiently. This form of chemo may be given as one dose in the OR immediately after the surgery to take out the tumors. This is known as heated intraoperative chemotherapy. It is most frequently used to treat peritoneal cancer; in this case, it is called heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Below are the typical steps for getting chemotherapy for mesothelioma:
Many chemotherapy drugs can be used on mesothelioma:
These drugs are usually given in combination. But one drug may be used on patients who are too ill to tolerate more than a single drug.
When two chemo drugs are used, most physicians use pemetrexed and cisplatin. Pemetrexed reduces levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in your body. So patients may receive these to avoid harmful side effects. Other combinations that may be effective on mesothelioma are pemetrexed and carboplatin, or gemcitabine and cisplatin.
Drugs that are used on mesothelioma for HIPEC are:
Chemotherapy drugs attack cells that divide quickly. That is why they are effective against many cancer cells. But other body cells, such as cells in the bone marrow, the lining of the intestines and mouth, and hair follicles, also divide rapidly. These cells are affected by chemotherapy, which can cause unpleasant side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy are: (Mesotheliomaguide.com)
Some patients also report what is called ‘chemo brain.’ This involves forgetfulness, foggy thoughts, and other types of cognitive impairment. Many patients have varying levels of impairment that can range from mild to severe. Chemo brain may not last long with some patients. But others can experience chemo brain symptoms for years.
Also, the physical side effects of chemotherapy can cause the mesothelioma patient to struggle with self-esteem problems. This could lead to depression and related emotional issues.
Most of these side effects diminish after treatment ends. But there are ways these side effects can be reduced during chemotherapy. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can be given to reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting. Ask your physician or nurse about drugs that can reduce side effects. Also, let your doctor know if you are experiencing side effects so they can be effectively managed.
Intraperitoneal and intrapleural chemotherapy may cause fewer problems than systemic chemotherapy.
Some chemotherapy drugs may have other side effects. For instance, carboplatin and cisplatin can damage specific nerve cells, also known as peripheral neuropathy. This issue can lead to loss of hearing or loss of sensation in the feet or hands. You also may experience tingling or burning sensations, sensitivity to heat or cold, or general weakness. This problem often will go away over time after the chemotherapy has stopped. But for some patients, the problems can linger for years.
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References
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