Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to eradicate cancerous cells. Chemotherapy drugs work by disrupting the growth of the cancer cells.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer of the mesothelium which is the thin membrane that covers the lungs, stomach, and heart. Asbestos exposure is the prime cause of mesothelioma. Those at a risk of developing this deadly cancer are People who have worked / working in asbestos mines or in close vicinity to asbestos mines, people who have been in the construction industry, persons in the ship building / breaking industry, clutch and brake manufacturing workers / mechanics, and everyone who has been exposed to asbestos fibers are at high risk of developing mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy can be used to control the growth of mesothelioma and reduce symptoms and give better quality life. Chemotherapy can extend survival of some people with mesothelioma. However, chemotherapy can not cure mesothelioma. Different combinations of chemotherapy drugs which is also called chemotherapy regimens are used to treat mesothelioma. However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating mesothelioma is still being researched.

Chemotherapy drugs are in the form of swallowed in pill form or they are injected intravenously or intramuscularly. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy which means that chemotherapy drug administered into the bloodstream which circulates throughout the body and destroys the cancer cells.

While treating mesothelioma, chemotherapy drugs can be applied intrapleurally that is directly into the chest cavity or intraperitoneally that is directly into the abdominal cavity. Different chemotherapy treatment including primary or main treatment and adjuvant treatment may be given which largely depend on the type and stage of mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy drugs that can be effective in treating mesothelioma include pemetrexed (Alimta), cisplatin, carboplatin, mitomycin C, vinorelbine (Navelbine), raltitrexed (Tomudex), vinblastine (Velbe), doxorubicin and gemcitabine (Gemzar). Most used combination of drugs is penetrated (Alimta), which is combined with cisplatin.

Another combination of drugs used is cisplatin and gemcitabine. Another option of drugs includes cisplatin with carboplatin, methotrexate with vincristine, cisplatin with doxorubicin, cisplatin with vinblastine and mitomycin.
All the drugs above can be given alone in people who may not be able to tolerate two drugs.

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells which cause some side effects which include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, memory loss, loss of appetite and mouth as well as throat sores. Chemotherapy can also damage blood producing cells which result in low blood cell count. This results in an increased risk of infection. Your doctor needs to pay careful attention to avoiding or minimizing side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effects that you feel during treatment. Most of side effects related to treatment will disappear once treatment is over.