Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be an overwhelming experience for you and your family. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), you will find a multidisciplinary care team, consisting of a medical oncologist, surgical oncologist and radiation oncologist, accompanied by expert practitioners from a variety of other fields.

Your CTCA care team will work with you to create an individualized, integrative treatment plan including, but not limited to, the following conventional medical treatments:

• Surgery is a time-tested method for treating mesothelioma, provided the tumor is confined to one space. Surgery may also be used as a palliative measure (to reduce discomfort from the symptoms).
• Chemotherapy, treating mesothelioma cancer with anticancer drugs, may be used in conjunction with other conventional methods or, in certain cases, on its own. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America we employ numerous innovative chemotherapy techniques that can reduce side effects while optimizing treatment.
• Radiation therapy, often used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, uses high-energy rays to either destroy or impede the growth of tumors. Innovative new methods have been and continue to be developed, enabling more focused delivery of higher doses of radiation that limits its effect on healthy cells. CTCA provides a number of new, innovative therapies, such as TomoTherapy HI-ART, which allows for accurate targeting of small, hard to reach tumors while preserving healthy tissue.
• Biotherapy/Immunotherapy uses your body's natural defenses against mesothelioma. Your immune system can be a powerful tool, enabling you to stop, control, or suppress, or alter cancer cell growth.

Supportive Cancer Therapies for Mesothelioma

In addition, your care team at CTCA provides the following complementary medicine therapies to help reduce side effects and improve your overall quality of life during and after mesothelioma treatment:

• Nutritional therapy - optimum nutrition is vital before, during, and after cancer treatment;
• Pain management - most patients with advanced cancer experience some pain during the course of their mesothelioma treatment; CTCA provides methods to control pain;
• Naturopathic medicine - uses the least invasive, most psychologically supportive methods to improve your quality of life and lessen side effects from other treatment methods;
• Spiritual support - CTCA strives to provide an umbrella of spiritual support for patients, their families, and staff;
• Other supportive therapies offered at CTCA include mind-body medicine, oncology rehabilitation, and other methods used as part of your comprehensive, individualized mesothelioma cancer treatment program.