Mesothelioma chemotherapy

Active control of the symptoms of mesothelioma in chemotherapy studied

According to a recent issue of the British medical journal, The Lancet, researchers have been studying the effect of chemotherapy in mesothelioma. Because chemotherapy is not considered a successful treatment for mesothelioma cancer, but a treatment for mesothelioma signs and symptoms of medical professionals to continue the discussion of the usefulness of the procedure in controlling symptoms.

The researchers studied 409 patients of all who suffer from malignant pleural mesothelioma in different parts of the world. Patients were randomly assigned a treatment of symptoms or treatment that included an active control treatment with two chemotherapy drugs. According to the study, "the active symptom control treatments include steroids, bronchodilators, analgesic drugs and palliative radiotherapy."

After the study, patients in both treatment options were compared and, according to investigators, "the addition of chemotherapy to control the symptoms showed a non significant benefit or advances in survival or quality of life" among the victims of mesothelioma.

What is mesothelioma, chemotherapy?

Mesothelioma is a malignant disease in which cancer cells develop in a thin layer of tissue that is the thoracic cavity that covers the lungs, which is also known as the pleura or peritoneum, the tissue lining the abdomen and Most of the bodies, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), chemotherapy is a treatment method that uses chemicals commonly administered through a catheter, pill, injection, or the port, which is usually a round disk of metal or plastic , which is when cancer cells begin to develop abnormal and divide uncontrollably fast. Chemotherapy is given for a variety of reasons, but is based on certain factors such as stage of cancer, a patient's health and age of a patient. For patients with mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not a method of cure, but is administered to patients with mesothelioma for several reasons including:

* Halting the growth and spread of cancer, to control cancer
* Minimize or reduce tumors - this method is also known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy
* The palliative chemotherapy on pain and other symptoms have to be reduced
* The destruction of microscopic disease that remains after a surgical procedure, also known as adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is given as a catheter into a large vein in the body or a catheter is attached as a port that is placed on the chest under the skin for a period of time.

Living with Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, victims of mesothelioma receive further setbacks in his life-threatening condition, as currently there is no successful treatment for cancer death. However, a person has the opportunity to participate in a series of clinical trials of the treatment groups, as well as the opportunity to develop mesothelioma a demand for monetary compensation as a means of payment for the condition, which is often associated with the very expensive medical bills.