HEALTH

Like most cancers, mesothelioma is best treated when it is diagnosed early. Treatment depends on the location of the tumor, how far it has spread, and your age and general health. Whatever the stage of mesothelioma, there are several types of treatments can be used.

Treatments for mesothelioma include the following:

* Surgery (removal of the tumor)


* Chemotherapy (using medications to kill several cancer cells)


* Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)

Currently, no standard therapy exists for mesothelioma. Often the traditional treatments are used in combination.

Because mesothelioma is difficult to treat, several new therapies are being evaluated currently. They include the following:

* Photodynamic therapy


* Immunotherapy


* Gene therapy