Tuesday, September 29, 2009

A Quick Look At Chemotherapy Options For Mesothelioma Patients

By Jason Myers

Chemotherapy is a treatment procedure widely used for cancer patients. Though this procedure, chemicals that can annihilate malignant cells are used. The drugs employed for this treatmetn procedure normally stop division and growth of malignant cells thus restricting the cancer from spreading to other areas.

However, this kind of drugs also damages other cells of the body including the malignant cells. In addition, a range of side effects are also recognized to be associated with this treatment such as vomiting, nausea, hair loss, immunity problems as well as decreased appetite. Whenever a patient goes through these side effects, this health condition should be brought to the notice of concerned medical specialist who will alter the medications or add another medication to address the impact.

A great deal of mesothelioma patients undergoes chemotherapy treatment thinking that it is more effective and harmless. However before undergoing one specific chemotherapeutic treatment, knowing all the options available helps the patient and their families immensely to decide for the best course of action.

The best option mostly depends on the patient?s mesothelioma stage and its type. The factors such as patient?s age as well as the overall health also play a major part in choosing chemotherapeutic options.

Chemotherapy covers over 100 medications but only a few have shown favorable results in battling with cancerous cells. Sometimes, physicians include more than one drug to treat patients and such scheme more often yields good results.

Most commonly applied drugs for chemotherapy are Alimta, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Navelbine, Gemcitabine and Onconase. These treatments are generally administered intravenously and orally. A modern method, heated chemotherapy is also administered widely.

No responsive cure has been discovered so far for mesothelioma patients. Chemotherapy too only helps in regulating the disease. It aids in shrinking the cancers and improves the patient's condition. Combination of drugs with chemotherapy has proved successful in prolonging survival period. Only time will tell how efficient are the procedures of chemotherapies that are still only in expereimental stage at present.

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