Download Chemotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma

Chemotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery to kill any remaining
cancer cells. For a disease such as Mesothelioma, the chemotherapy is given intravenously
through either an IV inserted into the vein, or through a catheter inserted directly into the chest
or abdomen. Sometimes the chemotherapy is given to shrink existing tumors prior to surgery.
The physician, known as a medical oncologist, or a registered nurse trained in the delivery of
chemotherapeutic agents will administer the chemotherapy.
Most of the time, the patient needs at least cycles of chemotherapy. Each treatment is followed
by a chance for the body to recover. Sometimes the treatment is adjuvant, meaning it is being
used to slow or stop the growth of the cancer. Sometimes chemotherapy is given to simply help
relieve pain when the cancer is too advanced. This type of treatment is called palliative
chemotherapy.
For the patients who can not have surgery, there are clinical trials in process to find
chemotherapeutic drugs that will be able to shrink the tumors.
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