While recent clinical trials and research studies have made great advancements in understanding mesothelioma cancer, very few treatment options have been established for patients searching for a cure.
One form of treatment that has had recent success in prolonging the mesothelioma life expectancy of patients is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a treatment that is still in the developmental process.
HIPEC is performed in combination with surgery and involves the use of a heated chemotherapy solution that is circulated throughout the abdominal cavity while the patient is still in the operating room. The high temperature of the solution has been found to increase the chemotherapy drug’s overall impact.
In a case earlier this year, a man from Grand Rapids, Michigan has survived two years after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma thanks to the developing heated chemotherapy option. Jesse Diaz was diagnosed in June 2007 and was later referred to Spectrum Health Hospital surgical oncologist Dr. Mathew Chung.
Dr. Chung has been working with the heated chemotherapy method and Mr. Diaz qualified for the treatment when he was diagnosed. According to Dr. Chung, “We call it the ’shake and bake procedure’ because we would remove everything, put some heated chemotherapy in the abdomen and literally shake the patients so the chemotherapy would circulate in the abdomen.”
This developing technique has made great strides for mesothelioma treatment in recent years. Dr. Chung says, “These patients have a 5-year survival rate of less than 25 percent. With this technique, up to 75 percent survive after five years.”
The average prognosis for mesothelioma patients is between four and 18 months, but Mr. Diaz has been cancer free two years. Considering this type of cancer is difficult to send into remission, this could be a breakthrough treatment option that may lead to other significant discoveries.
One form of treatment that has had recent success in prolonging the mesothelioma life expectancy of patients is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a treatment that is still in the developmental process.
HIPEC is performed in combination with surgery and involves the use of a heated chemotherapy solution that is circulated throughout the abdominal cavity while the patient is still in the operating room. The high temperature of the solution has been found to increase the chemotherapy drug’s overall impact.
In a case earlier this year, a man from Grand Rapids, Michigan has survived two years after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma thanks to the developing heated chemotherapy option. Jesse Diaz was diagnosed in June 2007 and was later referred to Spectrum Health Hospital surgical oncologist Dr. Mathew Chung.
Dr. Chung has been working with the heated chemotherapy method and Mr. Diaz qualified for the treatment when he was diagnosed. According to Dr. Chung, “We call it the ’shake and bake procedure’ because we would remove everything, put some heated chemotherapy in the abdomen and literally shake the patients so the chemotherapy would circulate in the abdomen.”
This developing technique has made great strides for mesothelioma treatment in recent years. Dr. Chung says, “These patients have a 5-year survival rate of less than 25 percent. With this technique, up to 75 percent survive after five years.”
The average prognosis for mesothelioma patients is between four and 18 months, but Mr. Diaz has been cancer free two years. Considering this type of cancer is difficult to send into remission, this could be a breakthrough treatment option that may lead to other significant discoveries.
