Treating Mesothelioma - Stage IV
At Stage IV, mesothelioma has likely spread to many parts of the body, making controlling treatments difficult. In all likelihood, the treatments administered at this stage will be aimed at eliminating pain and making the patient as comfortable as possible in the late stages of life. Controlling cancer at this point is difficult and little can be done to prolong life. Therefore, if treatments are going to cause further discomfort or distress, patients may opt against these therapies for more tradition pain-killing and supportive therapies.
Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy administered during Stage IV malignant mesothelioma can be helpful in making a patient feel more comfortable. For example, if a tumor is causing extreme pressure upon the lung or other body structures, a concentrated dose of radiation will likely be able to alleviate some degree of discomfort in that area by shrinking the tumor or slowing its growth. Chemotherapy may also be effective in prolonging life to some degree. However, it is important that these therapy's goals be clearly defined. Fore example the side effects of chemotherapy may actually cause more harm than good for a patient of Stage IV malignant mesothelioma.
Supportive care is arguably the most important type of therapy for patients at this stage of the disease. Patients may enter hospice centers to live comfortably at the end of life. These hospice centers eliminate most clinical aspects of care and focus purely on comfort and peace of mind. In addition to these services for patients, most of these centers also offer therapy and group sessions for patients who are at the end of life. These can be extremely valuable in establishing peace of mind for the patient and family as they battle this difficult disease.
Whatever the stage of the cancer, the most important aspect of care is a consistent dialogue between the patient, family, and the cancer specialists familiar with clinical care. At the end stage of cancer, these treatments become muddled between what is most comfortable for the patient and what would extend life the longest. The patient and family's input is particularly important during this period.
