When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, treatment options will
be one of the first topics discussed with the oncologist. The available
treatment options will vary from patient to patient depending on the
type of mesothelioma that has been diagnosed and the stage that the
disease has progressed to at the time of diagnosis. Mesothelioma, in
particular, is a very serious and aggressive form of cancer for which
treatment options have traditionally been quite limited.
When a recently-diagnosed
mesothelioma
patient is presented with options for treatment, surgery may be
recommended. There are different forms of mesothelioma surgery and some
are proposed as a curative measure, while others are designed to relieve
symptoms of the disease that can be quite debilitating and interfere
with the patient's quality of life.
Curative Surgeries
Due to the nature of mesothelioma and the fact that by the time a
diagnosis
is made the disease has usually reached an advanced stage, a surgical
cure is not a likely option. However, in some cases, surgery is
suggested in order to remove as much of the cancer as possible and is
often followed by other
mesothelioma treatments such as
chemotherapy and/or
radiation.
Ideally, candidates for these surgeries will be in the early stages
of the disease where the tumor is still fairly localized and metastasis
has not occurred. In addition, the patient will need to be in overall
good health and free of other medical issues that can complicate these
procedures and lengthen the recovery period. Extant medical issues—heart
disease, hypertension, and diabetes—are often an issue with older
mesothelioma patients. These issues can further limit treatment options
and make aggressive surgical procedures a less favorable choice.
However, if the doctor determines that the patient is strong enough, the following surgeries may be recommended:
A pneumonectomy is a radical surgery that involves the removal of the
diseased lung. Candidates for this procedure have mesothelioma that is
limited to just one lung. Performed under general anesthesia, this is
quite a complicated surgery that can take up to three hours to perform.
During the surgery, the diseased lung will be deflated and after several
steps to prevent bleeding into the chest cavity, the lung is removed
through a fairly large incision. At times, part of the fifth rib must be
removed as well to provide better access to the lung. A drainage tube
will then be inserted and the incision closed. The patient will remain
in surgical intensive care for about 48 hours and then in a regular
hospital room for one to two weeks, depending on complications, which
are very common with this procedure and occur in some 50 percent of
patients. It can also take up to six months for the healthy lung to
learn to do the job of both lungs; hence, shortness of breath is a
considerable problem for pneumonectomy patients and many take several
months to resume their normal activity.
Recommended only in rare cases, this surgery involves the removal of
the affected lung as well as the areas surrounding it. It is a very
risky surgery and carries with it a long list of complications including
heart failure and serious gastrointestinal problems. The procedure is
similar to that of the pneumonectomy and candidates are those who are in
the earlier stages of mesothelioma, which has not spread to the lymph
nodes. Candidates should also be in otherwise good health. The recovery
period can last for up to a half-year or longer.
A pleurectomy involves the removal of the visceral and parietal
pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. This may be used as a
potential curative procedure but also may be performed to address
pleural effusion, the build-up of fluid in the lungs. This surgery is
performed under general anesthesia. To perform a pleurectomy, an
incision is made in the affected area, which has been numbed with a
local anesthesia. Through this incision, both the inner and outer
linings of the lungs are removed. The surgeon may also opt to remove the
lung tissue beneath the pleura. The procedure is sometimes followed by
chemo or radiation to remove any remaining cancerous tissue. The
post-surgery stay for the pleurectomy is generally about a week but may
be longer if complications arise during or after surgery, including
bleeding or infection.
Palliative Surgeries
Surgeries that relieve
mesothelioma symptoms like pain and other problems associated with
mesothelioma disease are as follows:
This procedure is used to address pleural effusion, the build-up of
fluid in the pleural area surrounding the lungs. The fluid can make it
very painful and difficult for a mesothelioma patient to breathe. The
procedure is performed in an outpatient area by means of a long, thin
needle that is inserted into the pleural space to withdraw fluid. The
patient may return home a few hours after the procedure is complete and
when the doctor is satisfied that no adverse reactions will occur.
Essentially the same procedure as pleurocentesis, a paracentesis is
performed to remove fluid that has collected in the abdominal area to
provide more comfort to patients with
peritoneal mesothelioma.
This more serious surgery is used to halt the build-up of fluid for a
longer amount of time and involves inserting talc into the pleural
space. The talc causes inflammation and stops the fluid from collecting,
often for as long as a few years. It is an inpatient procedure
performed under general anesthetic, requiring a hospital stay of at
least 72 hours, during which time a chest tube may remain in place to
drain any additional fluids. Recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks for most
patients.
No comments:
Post a Comment