New Mesothelioma Treatment Provides Fresh Hope -- MesoLink.org -- 09-22-04

A new surgical procedure for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma has been introduced in Australia, giving sufferers of this type of the deadly cancer fresh hope. The procedure is known as a peritonectomy, and doctors have been thrilled with the results so far.

Professor David Morris from St George’s Hospital, Sydney, stated:

“Around 60 percent of patients will be disease free in five years.”

The comments from the professor have gone some way towards indicating the potential success rate of this procedure.

The peritonectomy can be used on other types of peritoneal cancer tumors. The operation lasts for around 12-24 hours, and the procedure entails removal of the membrane tumors, followed by lining the abdominal cavity with plastic and administering chemotherapy.

Patients that suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma and tumors are already raving about the new treatment, and some are already seeing the benefits. It is hoped that the procedure will save many lives in Australia and around the world in the future.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and peritoneal mesothelioma is just one variation of this cancer. Although the new procedure us designed to treat only peritoneal mesothelioma, its success also gives hope to sufferers of other variations of the cancer, as this breakthrough could be the first of many.