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Nervous About Mesothelioma Treatment Starting
Posted by Mesothelioma Patient in Treatment | Sep 24, 2025
About to start treatment for mesothelioma and nervous about how it’s going to affect day to day life. For anyone who’s been through it, what changes should be expected physically and emotionally?
Michael Cole - Mesothelioma Survivor | Sep 24, 2025
How mesothelioma treatment will affect a person has everything to do with what kind of treatment you are going to have.
Here is a summary of my own experience: The EPP surgery is a massive event. It has a huge effect on both the body and mind, and takes many months to recover. Just how long and how one is changed may also depend on how much is done during the surgery. For example, in my case, they not only removed my right lung, but also resected the diaphragm, removed pleural linings from the heart and stomach, removed some ribs, used heated chemo in the body cavity, etc. Likewise, other types of surgeries done to remove mesothelioma depend on exactly what is done. Mine have ranged from very difficult to not very bad at all.
Platinum based chemotherapy was very rough, with side effects becoming tougher with each round. I don't know if they ever use the same drug combo that they used on me any more. I have heard that the newer chemotherapies are much less severe. Targeted radiation is uncomfortable, and will leave a person sick and tired for some time. Again, the cumulative effect of repeated treatments is in play.
Immunotherapy has been very tolerable and effective for me. I was able to continue working for several years after my diagnosis and treatments began, but that was because I had a very supportive employer.
Whatever your treatment, it is important to remember that mesothelioma is very tough and aggressive. You must be tougher and the treatment must be equally aggressive to overcome it. Hold tight to your faith and keep a positive attitude.
Here is a summary of my own experience: The EPP surgery is a massive event. It has a huge effect on both the body and mind, and takes many months to recover. Just how long and how one is changed may also depend on how much is done during the surgery. For example, in my case, they not only removed my right lung, but also resected the diaphragm, removed pleural linings from the heart and stomach, removed some ribs, used heated chemo in the body cavity, etc. Likewise, other types of surgeries done to remove mesothelioma depend on exactly what is done. Mine have ranged from very difficult to not very bad at all.
Platinum based chemotherapy was very rough, with side effects becoming tougher with each round. I don't know if they ever use the same drug combo that they used on me any more. I have heard that the newer chemotherapies are much less severe. Targeted radiation is uncomfortable, and will leave a person sick and tired for some time. Again, the cumulative effect of repeated treatments is in play.
Immunotherapy has been very tolerable and effective for me. I was able to continue working for several years after my diagnosis and treatments began, but that was because I had a very supportive employer.
Whatever your treatment, it is important to remember that mesothelioma is very tough and aggressive. You must be tougher and the treatment must be equally aggressive to overcome it. Hold tight to your faith and keep a positive attitude.
