Pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure considered an effective mesothelioma treatment by which one of the lungs is removed. This sounds like a very radical procedure, when in fact it is a normal procedure, part of the mesothelioma treatment.
The lung is removed because mesothelioma cancer has spread all over it and that ling will only do more damage if it remained in the body. Pneumonectomy is only considered when the cancer has evolved to the third stage and no other kind of mesothelioma treatment seemed to have an effect in destroying cancer cells.
One kind of mesothelioma cancer seems to affect the entire lung, and that is pleural mesothelioma, because from the pleura, the cancer easily spreads to the lungs. Mesothelioma pneumonectomy surgery has been performed to this kind of patients for almost thirty years.
What patients can opt for pneumonectomy?
Mesothelioma pneumonectomy surgery is available for the following groups:
- Patients in the third stage
- Patients that need the pleura extracted ( in which case the procedure is called pleurectomy)
- Some cancer centers perform pneumonectomy on patients with epithelioid cancer
- The procedure
Mesothelioma pneumonectomy is a very invasive procedure, which is why it is only performed in specially designed operating rooms found only at the best mesothelioma cancer centers and hospitals. Before starting pneumonectomy, doctors will administrate anesthetic to reduce discomfort and pain during the operation to a minimum. The chest cavity is entered through the help of the unrestricted area near the sixth rib, which, sometimes, can be removed for better access to the area. Further, the surgeon takes great care not to touch the pleura, because that would mean letting cancer cells escape to the area being operated.
Because it will be followed by the first cycle of chemotherapy as soon as possible, recovery after pneumonectomy is an important step, and it has to be done by a professional. There are some risks involved too, mostly there is the risk of catching an infection to the operated area and where the incision was made, so care is needed in treating the area properly. Survival after pneumonectomy is almost perfect, meaning that just after being operated, almost every patient made it to the next treatment stage of the mesothelioma disease.
Insurance will cover the cost of the operation, and also the asbestos treatment cost. The only problem patients have to deal is to remain positive and optimistic and follow with the mesothelioma treatment.
Get mesothelioma pneumonectomy surgery
If you need help with this issue, and need to know how you can recover quickly from mesothelioma pneumonectomy surgery, contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers and we will help with information needed.