Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: An Overview

Chemotherapy is a mesothelioma treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of mesothelioma cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. Doctors also give mesothelioma chemotherapy to help reduce pain and other problems caused by mesothelioma. It may be given alone, with radiation, or with surgery and radiation.

When chemotherapy is taken orally or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one anticancer drug.

The way the chemotherapy is administered for mesothelioma treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Usually mesothelioma chemotherapy is an outpatient treatment given at the hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or home. However, depending on which drugs are given and the patient's general health, the patient may need to stay in the hospital.