Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, and its treatment often involves chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or a multimodal approach. New and alternative treatments, including immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy, are under investigation, alongside holistic methods aimed at overall patient well-being. Empowering patients through education and active participation in their treatment plans is crucial for effectively managing their disease.

1. Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Mesothelioma is an aggressive disease that requires an equally aggressive treatment
strategy. Malignant mesothelioma is resistant to many standard cancer treatments, making
it a difficult disease to manage.
Treatment plans consists of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or a multi-modal approach.
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Table of Contents
Options
Traditional Therapies
Other Treatments
Clinical Trials
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2. M
alignant mesothelioma is a type of aggressive, incurable cancer that primarily affects the cells covering the lungs.
Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with mesothelioma, whose only known cause is asbestos
exposure.
When you meet with a mesothelioma specialist about your diagnosis, the doctor will walk you through the traditional treatment
options:
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3. Traditional Treatments and Therapies
Treatment Options
Mesothelioma Treatment Questions & Answers
Medical Team
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation Treatment
Photodynamic Therapy
Mesothelioma Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials and Research
Mesothelioma Holistic Treatments and Alternative Medicine
Diet & Nutritional Therapy
Hospice and Palliative Care
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6. Other Mesothelioma Treatments
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7. Every day, doctors and researchers around the world are continually searching for the next best treatment or the cure for
mesothelioma and other cancers. For patients and families, there is hope on the horizon in these alternative treatments.
Some alternative treatments you may want to discuss with your doctor include:
Immunotherapy
Your immune system is designed to identify and attack dangerous cells and illnesses that invade your body.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma cancer cells tend to go undetected by the immune system, allowing them time to grow and
spread.
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8. Immunotherapy, sometimes referred to as biologic therapy or biotherapy, helps your own immune system fight the cancer.
This can be done by either stimulating the immune system to attack the cancer cells or by blocking the cancer cells’ signals
that allow them to hide from the immune system.
Clinical Trials
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9. Before new mesothelioma treatments make it to market, they are tested in clinical trials.
You should talk to your doctor about what clinical trials may be right for you, and try to talk to other patients who have
participated in trials.
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10. They can explain the process and give you an idea of what to expect.
Photodynamic Therapy
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11. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a drug ─ known as a photosensitizing agent or photosensitizer ─ that is given
intravenously, absorbed into the body, and then activated by a special light.
Once activated, the photosensitizing agent produces a kind of oxygen that destroys the surrounding cells, particularly cancer
cells, with relatively mild side effects.
Although photodynamic therapy is not yet an FDA-approved treatment for mesothelioma, it is being studied as a potential
option.
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12. Holistic TreatmentsLIVECHAT

13. You may want to talk to your doctor about holistic treatment options, which aim to care for the patient as a “whole” rather than
the specific symptoms or illness.
A holistic care approach would take into account your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. Acupuncture,
homeopathic medicines, and hypnosis are all types of holistic treatments.
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14. Mesothelioma Treatment Timeline
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17. Know Your Options for Mesothelioma Treatment
Treatment for the asbestos cancer mesothelioma is classified as one of two types — curative or palliative.
Curative therapy focuses on killing the cancer cells and stopping further growth.
Palliative care treatments aim at relieving the symptoms and improving the patient’s quality of life.
Regardless of the approach taken, the primary doctor will closely monitor the patient’s response to therapy and make any needed
adjustments to the treatment plan.
In many instances, a patient will begin treatment with an aggressive protocol, but will be transitioned to a more palliative treatment
plan if the disease stops responding to the aggressive therapies.
An empowered mesothelioma patient is often the best patient for a medical team. Empowered patients are informed of their
disease’s track and treatment options, and they are willing to take an active role in their treatment strategies.
Knowing what questions to ask of your physician is an important step toward becoming an empowered mesothelioma
patient.
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18. Learning about the benefits and risks of each treatment option is critical to ensuring you are prepared for the arduous battle ahead.
Listen closely to your doctor, and ask as many questions as you need to get the full picture.
Sources
Pass, I., Vogelzang, N., Carbone, M. Malignant Mesothelioma: Advances in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Transitional Therapies. Springer: New York. 2005.
De Perrot, M., Feld, R., Cho, B.C. J., Bezjak, A., Anraku, M., et al.. Trimodality therapy with induction chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and adjuvant high-dose
hemithoracic radiation for malignant pleural mesothelioma.Retrieved from http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2008.17.5604?
keytype2=tf_ipsecsha&ijkey=cc3963ea9a3a4bb5b4de2a5ed1215dfe6c125413
Munkholm-Larsen, S., Cao, C. Q., & Yan, T. D. (2009). Malignant pleural mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2999110/
Stahel, R.A., Weder, W., Lievens, Y., & Felip, E. (2010). Malignant pleural mesothelioma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Retrieved
from http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/suppl_5/v126.long
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA approves new treatment for a type of late-stage lung cancer
Drugs.com: Verastem Initiates Registration-Directed Trial of Defactinib in Patients with Mesothelioma
Business Wire: Verastem Reports Data from Phase 1 Study of VS-6063 (defactinib) in Japanese Patients
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19. We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate
treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
Free Mesothelioma Patient
& Treatment Guide
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20. Download Now
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