What is Mesothelioma?
Primarily caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen and in some cases the lining of the heart. Symptoms of the cancer resemble less serious conditions, which usually contributes to a late diagnosis.
The Mesothelioma Center offers assistance through reading materials, a Doctor Match program, and Patient & Family Advocates that are available to discuss support options and answer your questions.
Use the options below to learn where you are in your mesothelioma treatment process and discover all the resources and free services available to patients through
Treating Mesothelioma
Treatment for mesothelioma will largely depend on the stage of the cancer upon diagnosis. Patients who are diagnosed during the earliest stages of development may be a candidate for surgery and other treatment options that can help control the cancer.
The three most common approaches to treating mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although these treatments do not provide a definitive cure, they have shown to be effective in slowing mesothelioma progression.
Multimodality therapy, which is a combination of two or more treatments, has demonstrated recent success in reducing symptoms and prolonging life expectancy.
Some mesothelioma patients may quality for clinical trials that test up-and-coming treatment options. Such treatments are experimental and may improve prognosis as well as involve some element of risk. In some cases, patients found success taking supplements or designing a nutrition plan to help boost their immune system. Research has suggested a stronger immune system could be a unifying link among mesothelioma survivors.