Pericardial Mesothelioma Treatment
Pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarer forms of mesothelioma cancer. Only about 200 people have ever been diagnosed with the disease, which forms in the lining of the heart sac. Pericardial tumors can put pressure on the heart and impede its functioning. Because of this complication, and because the cancer is so rare, few treatment options are available. If the cancer is caught in early stages, some surgeries may prolong survival. In general, however, pericardial mesothelioma patients have a very poor prognosis with a median survival of about six months.
Pericardial mesothelioma may cause any number of complications involving the heart. Commonly, pericardial mesothelioma patients experience pericardial effusion, which is fluid buildup within the lining of the heart sac. This can put pressure on the heart and heart sac and can lead to other related problems. The layers of the heart sac may become inflamed, called pericarditis. This can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough, fever and fatigue. Pericardial effusion may also lead to the compression of the heart, called cardiac tamponade. This can create symptoms of chest pain, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness and heart palpitations.
Pericardial mesothelioma treatments can help relieve these symptoms, improving quality of life and making patients more comfortable. In rare cases, treatments may improve prognosis. However, treatment options are generally limited to palliative care choices, which can help ease pain but are not meant to extend life expectancy. Most doctors recommend a combination of surgery and chemotherapy to combat tumor growth and relieve severe symptoms. Radiation therapy, although beneficial in other types of mesothelioma, has not shown any significant results in pericardial mesothelioma patients. Patients may also want to consider alternative therapies or clinical trials as a means of obtaining further treatment.
Learn more about treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma. Request a free packet from the Mesothelioma Center with information about treatment breakthroughs, top doctors and more. To have your free packet mailed to you overnight, complete the form on this page.
Surgery
Surgical options are normally the first line of defense for pericardial mesothelioma. For patients whose cancer was diagnosed in early stages, surgery may improve prognosis. In these cases, surgery can help control the spread of tumor cells. It can also stop the disease from creating additional heart complications.
Still, surgery remains a mostly palliative option for pericardial mesothelioma patients. Surgical procedures can help reduce fluid buildup and help relieve pressure on the heart. Palliative surgeries can significantly reduce associated symptoms and make patients more comfortable. A doctor may recommend one of two main surgical treatments. Pericardiocentesis is a fast procedure that lasts a few hours and does not require invasive surgery. It relieves symptoms but does not prevent their reappearance. Pericardiectomy, on the other hand, is an involved procedure that requires a hospital stay. A pericardiectomy removes the potential for the reappearance of certain heart conditions.
Pericardiocentesis
Pericardiocentesis is a strictly palliative surgery which reduces pericardial effusion and relieves cardiac tamponade, which is the compression of the heart. During a pericardiocentesis, the patient receives local anesthesia and, if needed, intravenous medications to maintain heart rate or blood pressure. The doctor guides a needle into the pericardial sac, and then replaces it with a catheter. Pericardial fluid drains through the catheter, usually for several hours. The procedure should help to relieve symptoms of cardiac tamponade and fluid buildup, which generally include pain, fatigue and breathlessness.
Pericardiectomy
Pericardiectomy is performed on patients suffering from pericardial effusion and pericarditis, the inflammation of the heart sac. The procedure is done under general anesthesia so that patients stay asleep for the duration of the surgery. During a pericardiectomy, a surgeon makes an incision between the ribs and spreads the ribs apart to access the heart. The surgeon entirely removes the pericardium, which prevents further accumulation of fluid and increased pressure on the heart. After the surgery, patients' hospital stays vary depending on individual recuperation, but average around a week to 14 days. Some patients may experience fever, severe pain or swelling, which may require longer hospital stays. However, some pain is normal and patients are given appropriate pain medications.
Chemotherapy
Pericardial mesothelioma is generally resistant to chemotherapy treatment, but new options are being tested. Thus far, gemcitabine is the only chemotherapeutic agent shown to have any effect on the cancer. Studies have found that gemcitabine helps reduce tumor size or slow its growth in up to 40 percent of pericardial mesothelioma patients. Other chemotherapy drugs, alone or in combination with additional treatments, have not had any significant effect on the cancer. Gemcitabine has shown the best results when combined with surgical treatments to form a multimodality approach.
Radiation
Studies have shown that radiation does not help combat pericardial mesothelioma. When used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, radiation does not improve a patient's life expectancy or have a noticeable effect on symptoms. Future clinical trials may find practical uses for radiotherapy, but as of now it is not a standard treatment for pericardial mesothelioma.
Alternative Therapy
Because of the limited utility of conventional treatments, pericardial mesothelioma patients may choose to pursue an alternative therapy regimen. Although they have not been found to affect life span, alternative treatments such as chiropractic care, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation and acupuncture can help ease symptoms. Some studies show that implementing these treatments can reduce pain, fatigue, breathing trouble and other common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. Patients should speak with a doctor before beginning an alternative therapy regimen.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials can be another valuable resource for pericardial mesothelioma patients. By participating in clinical trials, patients can gain access to up-and-coming treatment methods that may lead to longer life spans. If you've been diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, find out about clinical trials near you. The Mesothelioma Center can tell you if you meet the qualifications of ongoing studies in your area. Contact the Mesothelioma Center by completing the form on our clinical trial page.
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Last Modified Friday, May 18th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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