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Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery

Article by Laura Russell

Surgery is an important step in confirming and knowing the nature of the cancer. It can be conducted on patients with the combination of adjuvant chemotherapies and radiations, before and after the surgery.

Pleurectomy:The most common surgery for Mesothelioma treatment is pleurectomy, in which doctors open the patient’s chest and remove the excessive fluid or tumor from the lining of the lungs (pleura). Although this procedure controls the accumulation of fluid and decreases pain, it still is not a cure. On the other hand, if the tumor is in its initial form and has not extensively grown, a pleurectomy can increase the survival rate of a patient when combined with chemotherapy and radiation. Additionally, a pleurectomy can be performed on patients with less-approving health conditions and has lower mortality rate than the extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP):Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is an invasive and severe form of surgery conducted on patients with Mesothelioma. In this treatment, parts of the lungs, the pleura (the lining of the lung), the pericardium (lining of the heart) and the hemi-diaphragm, along with the tumor cells, are removed. It decreases the progression of Mesothelioma, while allowing a patient to breathe smoothly. It is usually conducted on patients with early stages of the cancer and when the tumor is in chest cavity. EPP is recommended for patients with good heart and lungs conditions, in order to endure the severities of the post-operative term. Though the surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation gives promising results, it does not guarantee a cure. Researches have shown that patients treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy and therapies have a medium life span of 35 months after the surgery, compared to only 9 months of pleurectomy. Still, some doctors question the surgery for its high risks, which include internal bleeding, blood clotting, pneumonia, amassing of pus, respiratory failure and even death. Thus, many surgeons recommend the idea of pleurectomy instead of the technically complicated EPP.

Thoracentesis:A minor surgery is often conducted on patients who cannot undergo EPP or pleurectomy, called thoracentesis. In thoracentesis, a thoracic surgeon inserts a needle into a patient’s chest to remove the excessive fluid built up in the lining of the lungs (pleura). This method neither cures nor decreases the cancer, but rather alleviate the painful symptoms of Mesothelioma. In some cases, talc or other agents are infused into a patient’s chests to scar the chest wall and help them breathe properly without letting the tumor to increase, to some extent.

Paracentesis:Paracentesis is a similar method of using a needle to extract fluid, but from the abdominal section of the body. It follows the same procedure of extracting fluid from the lining of the stomach or other abdominal organs. Patients with peritoneal Mesothelioma can benefit from paracentesis surgery.

About the Author

Laura Russell is a professional health writer having expertise in the field of Mesothelioma Cancer. To view more of her articles, please visit: Mesothelioma Cancer Info

Mesothelioma surgery does not cure mesothelioma and is not even suitable for everyone. The main focus of mesothelioma surgery is on keeping the illness limited, under control and prolonging good health. Usually mesothelioma surgery is not done alone but is a part of a combination followed or led by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. According to the researchers, this is the best way of limiting mesothelioma.

The reason why mesothelioma surgery is not solely effective is because mesothelioma is diagnosed very late usually. If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed in its early stages then the patient can opt for an extrapleural pneumonectomy. However, if the cancer has only spread, which is usually the case, then a pleurecomy can be helpful to control the symptoms. However, this treatment would not cure your mesothelioma and will not prolong your life under mesotheliomic conditions.

Mesothelioma surgery is helpful for people with peritoneal mesothelioma only if the cancer is diagnosed at its early stages.

There are various types of mesothelioma surgeries related to the different types of mesothelioma.

- Extrapleural pneumonecomy (EPP):
This one is a major mesothelioma surgery in which the affected side of the lung is removed. Also, some other areas namely the pleura, diaphragm and covering of the heart are also eliminated.

This type of mesothelioma surgery is not suitable for everyone. As it is a major surgery, therefore it requires proper health conditions determined and certified by a physician.

Pleurectomy:
Pleurectomy is another form of mesothelioma surgery which is meant to control symptoms. It helps control the fluid build up and can relieve chest pain.

Mesothelioma surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma:
mesothelioma surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma is not possible for everyone. There are a number of factors such as the age, health and others that determine whether or not a person is fit for operation. In this mesothelioma surgery, the lining of the peritoneum is removed.

www.mesovideolibrary.com – In 2008 Brenda had a third surgery to treat peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare asbestos cancer of the abdomen. In this video she discusses the surgery and the difficult recovery process that followed. See this video on our official website to learn more www.mesovideolibrary.com Call 866-404-5805 or e-mail info@mesovideolibrary.com to speak with someone about mesothelioma or asbestos exposure.