Mesothelioma - The Chemotherapy Drugs You Might Be Given
ChemotherapyA diagnosis of Mesothelioma has often been viewed as a death sentence. While it is still a brutal diagnosis, treatment options have come a long way. This is particularly true when it comes to chemotherapy. There are two specific drugs that are making a big difference - Alimta and Cisplatin.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining known as the mesothelium. It is associated with asbestos exposure. There are three forms of the cancer - pleural, pericardial and peritoneal. All three are deadly and the average five year survival rates is less than 10 percent. The problem is the cancer is often very hard to diagnose and is thus often discovered only in the very latest of stages. That is very problematic with just about any form of cancer.
There are many different ways of trying to treat Mesothelioma. The three most common are surgical extraction, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Unlike most medical situations, many doctors will go very aggressive with the treatment in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. Chemotherapy plays a huge role in this and Altimta and Cisplatin are two newer drugs being used.
Alimta has been hailed as a major breakthrough in the chemotherapeutic treatment of patients. It has shown massive effects on Mesothelioma suffers. In one test at Newcastle Freeman Hospital, nearly every patient had improvements on symptoms caused by the cancer. More importantly, nearly half saw their tumors shrink instead of grow. The drug is given over a 21 day period and usually in combination with Cisplatin.
Cisplatin is an older chemotherapy drug that is used as a base treatment for many types of cancer. It is somewhat akin to taking penicillin as an antibiotic. It is given over a 21 day period and is considered an effective treatment of tumors and general cancer growth. Unfortunately, it has many side effects that are the type of thing often stereotypically associated with chemotherapy. This includes hair loss, extreme fatigue, weight loss, and potentially kidney damage if not handled carefully.
Will these drugs save you? Well, every case is different and you should speak with your physician. That being said, they are considered two standard approaches to the chemotherapy treatment for Mesothelioma, which means you will probably be introduced to them at one point or another.
Thomas Ajava writes for MesotheliomaandAsbestosInformation.com [http://www.mesotheliomaandasbestosinformation.com] - your online source for answers to questions such as is there a food that can help cure Mesothelioma [http://www.mesotheliomaandasbestosinformation.com/Food-Cure-Mesothelioma].