Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes , lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs. Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy , and chemotherapy . Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma.
The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Sometimes part of the diaphragm , the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed. Radiation therapy , also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors . Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.