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Pleural Mesothelioma Drugs

Although there is no definitive cure for pleural mesothelioma, many patients can benefit from treatment with chemotherapy drugs. In fact, chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for pleural mesothelioma patients.

Chemotherapy drugs may be used for palliative treatment (to relieve symptoms) or in a curative therapy plan that aims to kill all cancerous cells in the body. Even though pleural mesothelioma cannot be cured by chemotherapy efforts, when combined with other aggressive treatments some patients do see an improvement in their mesothelioma life expectancy.

Chemotherapy and Pleural Mesothelioma

A recommended method of chemotherapy will be offered to the pleural mesothelioma patient by their oncologist (a doctor that specializes in cancer). An experienced mesothelioma oncologist will be able to recommend the best approach and combination of chemotherapy drugs for each individual pleural mesothelioma patient.

Depending upon a number of factors, the oncologist may recommend a combination of other treatments to compliment or enhance chemotherapy efforts. Other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy may be recommended, but this is heavily dependent upon the health of the patient and what stage they are diagnosed at. The earlier the diagnosis, generally more treatment options will be available to the pleural mesothelioma patient.

Treatment with chemotherapy traces back to the 1950s and since then much advancement has been made in the quality and effectiveness of the drugs. Today chemotherapy agents are administered in a hospital, cancer center or some other clinical setting where medical professionals can monitor the treatment. The most commonly used chemotherapy option for pleural mesothelioma patients is a combination of both Alimta® (Pemetrexed) and Cisplatin. Together, these two medications have demonstrated great success in improving a patient’s condition.

The exact dosage of a particular chemotherapy drug will vary from patient to patient. Several factors will likely influence how the medication is administered, including the stage of the cancer, symptoms and the overall health of the patient. In some cases, doctors will prescribe anti-nausea medications due to the side effects of many chemotherapy drugs. Other side effects of chemotherapy medications may include vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, hair loss and bruising or bleeding.

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