Asbestos Cancer Treatment
The term "asbestos cancer" is sometimes used interchangeably with mesothelioma, which consists of malignant growths that can occur in the lining of the chest, abdomen, and heart. In fact, several other forms of cancer have been associated with asbestos exposure, such as lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancers. Researchers are still conducting studies into asbestos's role in some esophageal, throat, kidney, and gallbladder cancers. Because of this, asbestos cancer treatment consists of a variety of treatment modalities, each targeted to the location and stage of the disease.
The following asbestos cancer treatments are used to extend the patient's life and to improve quality of life for as long as possible.
- Chemotherapy: This is the most commonly used asbestos cancer treatment. It's also the least invasive form of treatment, and the most effective. Medical science has list of drugs that are known to slow down cancer's ability to grow and spread throughout the body. These drugs are toxic, but in the proper doses prove effective at killing tumor cells as well as some of the healthy tissue that surrounds the cancer site. The newest chemotherapies developed by the pharmaceutical industry tend to have fewer side effects than older drugs. Combinations of some drugs have proved effective in reducing advserse effects.
- Radiation: This form of therapy directs radiation to the specific sites of cancerous growths. There are several different forms. For asbestos cancer treatment, the most common is external beam radiotherapy. Patients lie down in such a way as to expose the area that is afflicted so the therapist can direct an external source, or "beam" of radiation directly to that site. This form of radiation therapy is effective at reducing tumor size and decreasing the levels of discomfort patients sometimes experience.
Another, less commonly used method is called brachytherapy. When malignant growths prove resistant to other forms of treatment, miniature radioactive rods may be surgically implanted in or near the tumor site. This delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to cancerous growths and causes little damage to the healthy tissue that surrounds the site.
- Surgery: This form of asbestos cancer treatment is usually reserved for the earliest stages of the disease. When tumors are small and the cancers have not metasticized, surgical removal, or resection, extracts the source of the cancer from the patient's body. Surgery may be followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Alternative Therapies: New approaches to asbestos cancer treatment have been developed that can complement the more standard treatments listed above. For example, photodynamic therapy uses photosensitzing drugs and specific frequencies of light to reduce tumor size. Gene therapy focuses on correcting the defective genes that may allow cancers to flourish, and immunotherapy uses the patient's own immune system to attack cancerous tumors. These new treatment modalities are not meant to be stand-alone treatments for asbestos cancer, but may be part of an oncologist's efforts to prolong the patient's life.
As with all cancers, early detection and treatment increase can extend life and improve quality of life. If you or a loved one have concerns about the causes of asbestos cancer or if you think your cancer was caused by asbestos exposure, please call the toll-free number listed on this page for more information.
