Chemotherapy for mesothelioma
Chemotherapy ("chemo") is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs can be
swallowed in pill form or they can be put into a vein or muscle with a needle. Once the
drugs enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given right into the chest (or
abdominal) cavity at the site of the tumor through a small catheter (tube). Chemo drugs
given this way are sometimes heated first which may help them work better. In most
cases, more than one drug is used.
Chemo may be given before surgery to shrink the cancer and lower the risk of spread. It
can also be given after surgery to try to try to kill any cancer cells that were left behind
because they were too small to be seen.
If surgery is not an option, chemo may be given as the main treatment, either alone or
along with radiation. Chemo in this case is given to slow the growth of the cancer or to
relieve symptoms, but it is not likely to cure the cancer.
Doctors usually give chemo in cycles, with a rest period in between cycles to allow the
body time to recover. Chemo cycles often last about 3 to 4 weeks. Chemo is often not
recommended for patients in poor health, but being older should not keep a person from
getting chemo.
Chemo can cause side effects. These side effects will depend on the type of drugs given,
the amount taken, and how long treatment lasts. Side effects could include:
· Nausea and vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Loss of appetite
· Hair loss
· Mouth sores
· Increased risk of infection
· Easy bleeding or bruising
· Tiredness
· Shortness of breath
Most side effects go away once treatment is over. Anyone who has problems with side
effects should talk with their doctor or nurse, as there are often ways to help.
To learn more about chemo, please see our document Understanding Chemotherapy: A
Guide for Patients and Families.
Clinical trials for mesothelioma
You may have had to make a lot of decisions since you've been told you have cancer.
One of the most important decisions you will make is deciding which treatment is best
for you. You may have heard about clinical trials being done for your type of cancer. Or
maybe someone on your health care team has mentioned a clinical trial to you.
Clinical trials are carefully controlled research studies that are done with patients who
volunteer for them. They are done to get a closer look at promising new treatments or
procedures.
If you would like to take part in a clinical trial, you should start by asking your doctor if
your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials. You can also call our clinical trials
matching service for a list of clinical trials that meet your medical needs. You can reach
this service at 1-800-303-5691 or on our Web site at www.cancer.org/clinicaltrials. You
can also get a list of current clinical trials by calling the National Cancer Institute's
Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or by
visiting the NCI clinical trials Web site at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.
There are requirements you must meet to take part in any clinical trial. If you do qualify
for a clinical trial, it is up to you whether or not to enter (enroll in) it.
Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. They are the only way
for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they are not right for everyone.
You can get a lot more information on clinical trials, in our document called Clinical
Trials: What You Need to Know. You can read it on our Web site or call our toll-free
number and have it sent to you.
Complementary and alternative therapies for mesothelioma
When you have cancer you are likely to hear about ways to treat your cancer or relieve
symptoms that your doctor hasn't mentioned. Everyone from friends and family to
Internet groups and Web sites may offer ideas for what might help you. These methods
can include vitamins, herbs, and special diets, or other methods such as acupuncture or
massage, to name a few.
What are complementary and alternative therapies?
It can be confusing because not everyone uses these terms the same way, and they are
used to refer to many different methods. We use complementary to refer to treatments
that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used
instead of a doctor's medical treatment.
Complementary methods: Most complementary treatment methods are not offered as
cures for cancer. Mainly, they are used to help you feel better. Some examples of
methods that are used along with regular treatment are meditation to reduce stress,
acupuncture to help relieve pain, or peppermint tea to relieve nausea. Some
complementary methods are known to help, while others have not been tested. Some
have been proven not to be helpful, and a few are even harmful.
Alternative treatments: Alternative treatments may be offered as cancer cures. These
treatments have not been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Some of these
methods may be harmful, or have life-threatening side effects. But the biggest danger in
most cases is that you may lose the chance to be helped by standard medical treatment.
Delays or interruptions in your medical treatments may give the cancer more time to
grow and make it less likely that treatment will help.
Chemotherapy ("chemo") is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs can be
swallowed in pill form or they can be put into a vein or muscle with a needle. Once the
drugs enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given right into the chest (or
abdominal) cavity at the site of the tumor through a small catheter (tube). Chemo drugs
given this way are sometimes heated first which may help them work better. In most
cases, more than one drug is used.
Chemo may be given before surgery to shrink the cancer and lower the risk of spread. It
can also be given after surgery to try to try to kill any cancer cells that were left behind
because they were too small to be seen.
If surgery is not an option, chemo may be given as the main treatment, either alone or
along with radiation. Chemo in this case is given to slow the growth of the cancer or to
relieve symptoms, but it is not likely to cure the cancer.
Doctors usually give chemo in cycles, with a rest period in between cycles to allow the
body time to recover. Chemo cycles often last about 3 to 4 weeks. Chemo is often not
recommended for patients in poor health, but being older should not keep a person from
getting chemo.
Chemo can cause side effects. These side effects will depend on the type of drugs given,
the amount taken, and how long treatment lasts. Side effects could include:
· Nausea and vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Loss of appetite
· Hair loss
· Mouth sores
· Increased risk of infection
· Easy bleeding or bruising
· Tiredness
· Shortness of breath
Most side effects go away once treatment is over. Anyone who has problems with side
effects should talk with their doctor or nurse, as there are often ways to help.
To learn more about chemo, please see our document Understanding Chemotherapy: A
Guide for Patients and Families.
Clinical trials for mesothelioma
You may have had to make a lot of decisions since you've been told you have cancer.
One of the most important decisions you will make is deciding which treatment is best
for you. You may have heard about clinical trials being done for your type of cancer. Or
maybe someone on your health care team has mentioned a clinical trial to you.
Clinical trials are carefully controlled research studies that are done with patients who
volunteer for them. They are done to get a closer look at promising new treatments or
procedures.
If you would like to take part in a clinical trial, you should start by asking your doctor if
your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials. You can also call our clinical trials
matching service for a list of clinical trials that meet your medical needs. You can reach
this service at 1-800-303-5691 or on our Web site at www.cancer.org/clinicaltrials. You
can also get a list of current clinical trials by calling the National Cancer Institute's
Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or by
visiting the NCI clinical trials Web site at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.
There are requirements you must meet to take part in any clinical trial. If you do qualify
for a clinical trial, it is up to you whether or not to enter (enroll in) it.
Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. They are the only way
for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they are not right for everyone.
You can get a lot more information on clinical trials, in our document called Clinical
Trials: What You Need to Know. You can read it on our Web site or call our toll-free
number and have it sent to you.
Complementary and alternative therapies for mesothelioma
When you have cancer you are likely to hear about ways to treat your cancer or relieve
symptoms that your doctor hasn't mentioned. Everyone from friends and family to
Internet groups and Web sites may offer ideas for what might help you. These methods
can include vitamins, herbs, and special diets, or other methods such as acupuncture or
massage, to name a few.
What are complementary and alternative therapies?
It can be confusing because not everyone uses these terms the same way, and they are
used to refer to many different methods. We use complementary to refer to treatments
that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used
instead of a doctor's medical treatment.
Complementary methods: Most complementary treatment methods are not offered as
cures for cancer. Mainly, they are used to help you feel better. Some examples of
methods that are used along with regular treatment are meditation to reduce stress,
acupuncture to help relieve pain, or peppermint tea to relieve nausea. Some
complementary methods are known to help, while others have not been tested. Some
have been proven not to be helpful, and a few are even harmful.
Alternative treatments: Alternative treatments may be offered as cancer cures. These
treatments have not been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Some of these
methods may be harmful, or have life-threatening side effects. But the biggest danger in
most cases is that you may lose the chance to be helped by standard medical treatment.
Delays or interruptions in your medical treatments may give the cancer more time to
grow and make it less likely that treatment will help.
