Mesothelioma is a form of cancer of the lining of a body cavity or surrounding organs, such as the pleura or peritoneum. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma has a very long latency period, lasting decades in most cases. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the cancer is often times very advanced, making surgery impossible and the prognosis very grim. Research is being dedicated to trying to detect the disease in its earlier stages. If mesothelioma is caught early, surgery may be a possible treatment option.

At this time, surgeries involving mesothelioma are usually conducted to help ease the strain of symptoms. These surgeries can improve quality and duration of life, but will not cure the disease. There are varying types of mesothelioma surgeries, ranging from simple to extreme. The surgical options are based upon the severity of the condition. Here are some common surgeries that may benefit mesothelioma patients.

Thoracentesis

Thoracentesis is the most common surgical procedure used for mesothelioma patients. This surgery consists of removing fluid from around the lungs through aspiration. This procedure provides comfort to the patient because it does a good job of relieving symptoms. A patient who has had thoracentesis done will find reduced pains and improved breathing. This is usually an outpatient procedure that is most common with pleural mesothelioma. For other types, a similar operation can be done to remove fluid around the abdomen and heart.

Pleurodesis

Pleurodesis involves the injections of chemicals such as talc in to the chest cavity. These chemicals cause the tissue to scar, which prevents fluid from returning to the area. Pleurodesis has a success rate of 90% according to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society also says the procedure is successful in reducing or eliminating fluid build-up in the majority of patients. This is a more involved surgery and must be done in the hospital.

Pleurectomy

This is a more involved surgery that means the entire pleura will be removed. The pleura is the lining that protects the lung, and is the most common starting point for mesothelioma tumors. This surgery also helps prevent fluid build-up, which provides similar comfort that the other surgeries provide.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy

This is the rarest and most complicated surgery for mesothelioma patients. Only a handful of mesothelioma patients can have this procedure done. In addition to removing pleura lining around the chest wall, extrapleural pneumonectomy involves removing the whole lung where the tumor is located as well as the pericardium and the diaphragm. After this, the pericardium and diaphragm are rebuilt using prosthetic materials. To be able to receive this operation, a patient must have the epithelioid type of mesothelioma. Even then, a doctor would only perform this surgery if they believe it could cure the condition. Patients must be otherwise very healthy so that they can survive the procedure and deal with the extended recovery time. Only a handful of doctors are able to perform this procedure, so travel to a different area may be required.