High Hopes For New Mesothelioma Treatment -- MesoLink.org -- 08-16-04

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer for which there is currently no cure.

Even short term treatment for this disease can often prove ineffective because the cancer is difficult to diagnose and takes decades to manifest, which means that it is usually in its advanced stages by the time it is identified.

There are a number of treatments currently used to try and treat mesothelioma patients, including surgery, chemotherapy, palliative therapy, and radiation therapy. The newest addition to these treatments is photodynamic therapy, which is though to be far less traumatic and invasive for patients.

Photodynamic therapy entails the use of light to destroy cancerous cells, and is able to target the corrupt cells without risking any of the healthy cells in the same vicinity. This treatment is coupled with the administration of a drug to make the corrupt cells more susceptible to the treatment, and this is then followed by the use of laser lights to target these cells.

It is hoped that this new treatment will give patients an additional choice when it comes to treatment for mesothelioma. Although it is another short term solution for patients, it is a step in the right direction for both sufferers and experts who want to find an effective long-term treatment or cure for this asbestos related cancer.

Mesothelioma cases have risen steeply over recent years, and many clinical trials have been conducted – and are still being conducted – to find a way to treat this terminal disease. In the past year alone a number of new treatments have been approved by the FDA to both diagnose and treat mesothelioma, giving patients new hope.