Surgery for Mesothelioma Cancer

Surgery for mesothelioma is used to remove tumors and also to relieve symptoms. The most common surgeries for mesothelioma patients are pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Patients often receive multimodal therapy that includes surgery with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.

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Potentially Curative Surgery for Mesothelioma

Surgery is one of the most common and reliably effective treatments for mesothelioma. Most medical teams use it in combination with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both.

Potentially curative surgery is the most extensive type of surgery available for mesothelioma patients. Qualifications for this type of surgery are stricter than other surgeries.

Since it is a major surgery, mesothelioma patients must be in generally good physical shape and good health to be able to successfully recover from such an invasive procedure.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP)

This form of surgery is most likely to remove the cancer completely. Candidates are those whose cancer has not spread too far. The procedure itself is quite extensive, so the patient must also be in optimal health.

EPP consists of removing the lining of the lungs, part of the diaphragm, close by lymph nodes, the pericardium, and one lung. Once the procedure is completed, an artificial diaphragm and pericardium are inserted into the patient’s body.

Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D)

Pleurectomy/decortication is not as invasive as an EPP. It removes the entire pleural tissue from one or both lungs. This form of surgery can also be part of palliative care.

The side effects of these types of surgery will differ depending upon the patient. The common side effects include:

• Blood clots and/or bleeding
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Pneumonia
• Lung Malfunction

Palliative Surgery for Mesothelioma

Palliative surgery is less intrusive than potentially curative surgery. This surgery involves draining excess fluids from the lungs and taking out cancerous cells.

Keep in mind that, like other forms of surgery, palliative surgery is not a cure, nor does it completely remove cancer. Undergoing this type of surgery helps patients live more manageable lives with less pain and symptoms.

There are different types of popular palliative surgery options for mesothelioma patients:

Pleurodesis

Pleurodesis removes uncomfortable fluid buildup in the lungs. The surgeon makes a tiny incision on the patient’s chest wall and inserts a hollow chest tube. The chest tube allows the harmful fluid to drain out.

Next, physicians insert a talc-like substance into the chest area, which helps seal the lungs to prevent fluid buildup. The chest tube is then left in the chest area for a few days to drain any excess fluid.

Thoracentesis

This form of palliative surgery is similar to pleurodesis as it’s used to drain fluid buildup from the chest. The difference is that a needle or catheter is placed into the chest instead of a chest tube.

Talc is also not injected into the chest during thoracentesis surgery. The procedure is typically quick and can be repeated several times.

Paracentesis

Paracentesis is a surgery performed on patients who have fluid buildup in the pericardium (sac area around the heart). A small needle inserted into the pericardium drains fluid.

Diagnostic Surgery

Typically performed with biopsies, physicians perform diagnostic surgery to identify the location and presence of cancer. Once cancer has been determined, the harmful tissues are removed with a hollow biopsy needle or other instruments.

Diagnostic surgery removes a small portion of tissue for a pathologist to examine.

Biopsies can be performed in several different ways. Your physician will ultimately decide which method works best for you:

• Incisional Biopsy: A fragment of the cancerous tissue is removed and sent to diagnostics for testing.

• Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: Also known as needle biopsy, this method is used to remove samples of fluids and tissues via a fine needle that’s inserted into the affected area.

• Excisional Biopsy: The entire cancerous tissues, or a large portion of the tissue is removed and sent to diagnostics for testing.

• Core Biopsy: A core biopsy is similar to a fine needle aspiration biopsy as both procedures use needles to remove samples from the body. The difference, however, is that a core biopsy entails using a much larger needle so that the actual tissue is removed as opposed to just samples.

Endoscopic biopsy is another option. An endoscope is inserted into the area of the body that’s infected, which allows physicians to view the cancerous cells.

The type of biopsy performed will depend upon several factors, including:

• The shape, size, and location of the tumor
• Patient preference (if applicable)
• Patient medical history
• The experience and training of the performing physician
• The number of tumors/cancerous cells present
• The stage of the cancer

Doctors will weigh in various factors before determining which type of surgery is most suitable. In some cases, surgery is not suitable, and doctors will move on to other treatment plans.

Almost all malignant mesothelioma surgery patients use a combination of different treatments to get the maximum benefits while battling mesothelioma.

Getting Help

If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.