Treatment
The treatment of pleural mesothelioma can be precisely adjusted after detailed examinations and determination of the specific type of cancer cell. If the disease is detected early enough, the aim is to cure the disease. For this purpose, lung skin, part of the lung, part of the pericardium and part of the diaphragm are removed in an operation.
Chemotherapy and radiation are then carried out. Unfortunately, this can rarely be implemented in this way, as the majority of patients only receive the diagnosis in the final stage, when only life-prolonging measures can be achieved. In most cases, a combination of two chemotherapies is carried out.
In addition, surgery or radiation therapy may be performed. Since the aim is to give the patient the best possible quality of life, doctors try to help the patient by alleviating the symptoms. This can be done, for example, by pain therapy, medication against nausea or stimulation of the appetite. Emotional support through self-help groups or psychotherapeutic treatment can also be important for the course of the pleural mesothelioma.
Prognosis and life expectancy
Unfortunately, the prognosis of pleural mesothelioma is not good in most cases. This is mainly due to the fact that malignant cancer is detected and treated so late. In most cases, the disease has already progressed so far that only life-prolonging measures are feasible.
Statistics show that most patients die 1 year after diagnosis of the pleural mesothelioma. Bad signs for the statement about life expectancy are when there is anemia, but the white and red blood cells are increased. In addition, the LDH parameters in the blood can be determined, which give an indication of tumor cell decay if they are elevated.
Overall, it can be said that patients in a poor general condition also have a worse prognosis. This is why it is so important to improve the patient’s condition as much as possible by means of supportive therapy. In addition, it must be said that the decisive factor for a prognosis is the cell type, which is determined in the histological examination of the tissue.
