Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that is related to asbestos exposure, in which cancer cells form in the lining of the lung cavity or abdomen, according to the National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for this kind of cancer, and the type of drugs used depends on the extent and spread of the disease, the location of the cancer and your general health.
Types
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in pill form or intravenously, or they can be directly into the lung cavity (intrapleurally) or abdominal cavity (intraperitoneally), depending on where the cancer is.
Benefits of Intrapleural/Intraperitoneal chemotherapy
By placing the drugs directly where the cancer is, this allows higher doses of chemotherapy to be given while minimizing any side effects in the rest of the body, according to the American Cancer Society.
Time Frame
Chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma may be given before or after surgery, if surgery is able to help treat the cancer; it may also be given alone or with radiation therapy. Treatment cycles are generally three to four weeks.
Different Drugs
Chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma include: pemetrexed (Alimta), cisplatin, gemcitabine, carboplatin, methotrexate, doxorubicin and vinblastine. Often, two or more drugs will be used in combination to treat mesothelioma.
Biologic Therapy
Biologic therapy includes drugs that use your immune system to help fight cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, these kinds of drugs for mesothelioma are being tested in clinical trials. If you are interested, asking your doctor about joining a clinical trial may be beneficial.
