Chemotherapy drugs for Mesothelioma

In this article, we will go deeper into the study of mesothelioma treatments, which often include one or more drugs aimed at stopping the spread of cancer and shrinking tumors. The combination of several anti-cancer drugs has indeed paid off, improving the degree of survival expectancy for many people with mesothelioma. Over time, many types of anticancer drugs have been tested on mesothelioma, with varying success: although traditional chemotherapy still seems to be the most effective solution, recent clinical trials are trying new options to eradicate mesothelioma.

Which are the drugs tested against mesothelioma?

Having ascertained the fact that any anticancer medicine is in any case considered chemotherapy, the difference between traditional chemotherapy and other drugs used against mesothelioma is that chemotherapy is aimed at killing cancer cells, not just blocking them. Let’s think for example of the two best medicines available against mesothelioma, Cisplatin and Pemetrexed. These can be used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy, according to the so-called multimodal therapy, which attacks the tumor in a diversified way, to increase the chances of killing the cancer cells. This combination is the most common first-line chemotherapy for people with mesothelioma. A second-line chemotherapy drugs include Carboplatin, Gemcitabine, Vinorelbine (Navelbine) or Doxorubicin.

Side effects of Chemotherapy Drugs

Typical side effects of mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs are: hair loss, fatigue, nausea, impaired vision or hearing, bruising, bleeding. Alongside the aforementioned ailments, anticancer drugs can block digestion, creating stomach pain, nausea, and irregular stools. Due to the potency of these drugs, a patient who develops fever, chills, rash, swollen ankles, and blood in the urine should contact their doctor immediately.