Treatment options for mesothelioma depend upon many factors including the stage of the cancer and where in the body the cancer has spread.
Although patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma as the result of asbestos exposure are typically told they have a survival rate of only eight to twelve months, researchers are finding that there are more treatments becoming available. Therefore, they are also finding that those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma are living longer.
According to Dr. David Sugarbaker from Brigham and Women’s Center in Boston, the five-year survival rate has reached 40 percent of the patients he has treated.
Traditional Treatments
Until recently, there were only three traditional treatments available for patients with malignant mesothelioma.
These traditional mesothelioma treatments are:
·   Surgery- Going through a surgical procedure to remove the cancer
·   Chemotherapy-Using powerful drugs to fight the cancer
·   Radiation Therapy-Using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells
MESOMARK Approved
In January, the FDA approved a new technique used in conjunction with treatment to help fight mesothelioma. MESOMARK helps to monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients.
A protein called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP) could be released into the body by mesothelioma cancer cells. Doctors found that by measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, they may be able to better monitor the patient’s progress in relation to treatment.
Diagnostic Procedures Available
Diagnostic surgery is an important factor in determining the stage of an individual’s mesotheliona.
The various types of diagnostic procedures include:
·   Thoracoscopy- This enables a physician to evaluate the pleural cavity and conduct multiple tissue biopsies.
·   VATS- This alternative utilizes small incisions so the doctor can view the pleural space with a video camera
·   Mediastinoscopy- Is used as an aid to determine the extent of the disease by using imaging techniques
