There are two general surgical approaches for malignant mesothelioma, namely : palliative surgery and curative surgery.
Palliative Surgery helps to alleviate the pain caused by a tumor or by symptoms associated with the disease, such as fluid build up in the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
Palliative Surgery is performed when a tumor has grown beyond the mesothelium and cannot be fully removed. It will also be done if a patient is too ill for more invasive surgery. The purpose of this type of surgery is to relieve mesothelioma symptoms and to make a patient more comfortable.
One example of palliative surgery is thoracentsis, a procedure in which a doctor drains fluid from the chest wall to reduce pressure on the lungs and make it easier for a patient to breathe.
Curative surgery, on the other hand, is done to slow or stop the growth of the disease and to extend a patient's life. Curative surgery is performed when doctors believe there is a strong chance of curing the disease by removing an entire tumor that has not spread aggressively.
When it is most effective, surgery leads to a remission, or a period during which a patient is cancer-free. One example of curative surgery is pneumonectomy, in which a doctor removes a patient's lung. In some case, part of the diaphragm will also be removed.
For more information on the various treatment for mesothelioma, you can consult your local medical specialists, support groups or even visit asbestos.net which has a very extensive source of information.
Palliative Surgery helps to alleviate the pain caused by a tumor or by symptoms associated with the disease, such as fluid build up in the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
Palliative Surgery is performed when a tumor has grown beyond the mesothelium and cannot be fully removed. It will also be done if a patient is too ill for more invasive surgery. The purpose of this type of surgery is to relieve mesothelioma symptoms and to make a patient more comfortable.
One example of palliative surgery is thoracentsis, a procedure in which a doctor drains fluid from the chest wall to reduce pressure on the lungs and make it easier for a patient to breathe.
Curative surgery, on the other hand, is done to slow or stop the growth of the disease and to extend a patient's life. Curative surgery is performed when doctors believe there is a strong chance of curing the disease by removing an entire tumor that has not spread aggressively.
When it is most effective, surgery leads to a remission, or a period during which a patient is cancer-free. One example of curative surgery is pneumonectomy, in which a doctor removes a patient's lung. In some case, part of the diaphragm will also be removed.
For more information on the various treatment for mesothelioma, you can consult your local medical specialists, support groups or even visit asbestos.net which has a very extensive source of information.
