A few years ago, a new type of chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma was introduced, called heated chemotherapy. Heated chemotherapy treatment was designed to kill cancer cells, lung cancer and peritoneal diseases, which are called intraperitoneal heated chemotherapy.
How Mesothelioma Heated Chemotherapy works
Mesothelioma Heated Chemotherapy is performed in a certain way, to maintain the highest effectiveness possible:
- Most of the malignant tissue is surgically removed
- After the surgery, the doctor circulates a heated sterile solution containing a chemotherapeutic agent throughout the peritoneal cavity, this can last for up to two months
- This agent will kill cancer cells left after the surgery
This procedure is called intraoperative heated chemotherapy because it is performed during the operation itself and is effective because the cancer will not have any time to spread. One of the mesothelioma drugs often used is cisplatin, because the platin contained is easier to heat up and sterilize.
Advantages of Heated Chemotherapy Treatments
Because the drug is administered directly to the tumor or malignant tissue, it allows for larger amounts of it where it is most needed. The heating part provides with the following:
- Heat destroys cancer cells, while leaving healthy tissue untouched
- The drug is more effective when heated
- Heat has the property to soften the tumors’ nodules and thus allowing for better penetration
Patients are often a little skeptic at first, but after hearing about the advantages it provides, they are eager to try it as an asbestos treatment method. Patients also need to know that not all of them are eligible for heated mesothelioma chemotherapy. Heated mesothelioma is only available for patients that are suffering from peritoneal or other abdominal illnesses, because the surgery that is done to extract malignant cells allows the tubes to be easily inserted. In any case, the option of heated mesothelioma chemotherapy should be discussed with your doctor, before deciding whether to take it or not.
In conclusion, patients that have already undergone mesothelioma heated chemotherapy mostly avoided the side effects usually associated with normal chemotherapy, and doctors say that heated chemotherapy is ten to fifteen percent higher than usual mesothelioma chemotherapy.
Similar to normal chemotherapy, mesothelioma heated chemotherapy is not covered by insurance, simply because it is very expensive, but patients can file a claim, and ask their employer for help.
More about mesothelioma heated chemotherapy
Do you need any more information about mesothelioma heated chemotherapy? Contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers and we will gladly help with everything you need. It is absolutely free.