Types of Medications
Chemotherapy is an effective form of treatment for mesothelioma patients. There are two different types of chemotherapy systemic and intraoperative. Systemic chemotherapy is administered through a needle into the bloodstream allowing the drug to destroy the cancer cells throughout the body. Intraoperative chemotherapy is applied during surgery. After the surgeon has removed all the visible tumors, chemo is used to kill any microscopic cells that were more hidden. Intraoperative chemotherapy prevents recurrence of cancer and reduces mesothelioma pain.
Multimodal treatments combine medication and surgery or radiation. Multimodal treatments can be a very effective way to extend life expectancy. Surgery removes the cancerous cells, and medication assists in ensuring cancer cannot return.
Immunotherapy medications can enhance a patient’s immune system, allowing it to attack the cancer cells themselves. These immunotherapy medications assist the immune system to identify cancerous cells quicker to have a more substantial chance of recovery.
Targeted therapy zeros on specific genes, proteins, and tissue stopping the spread and multiplication of mesothelioma cells.
Finding an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to diagnose and examine you to receive the best treatment for you is important. What has worked for other patients may not be helpful or may increase your quality of life and life expectancy.
Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Hair Loss
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Impaired vision or hearing
- Bruising
- Bleeding
FDA Approved Mesothelioma Drugs
- Alimta (Pemetrexed Disodium)
- Ipilimumab
- Nivolumab
- Opdivo (Nivolumab)
- Pemetrexed Disodium
- Yervoy (Ipilimumab)
