Mesothelioma Law

Multimodality Therapy

Multimodality Therapy is the application of two or more different therapies in the treatment of mesothelioma, other types of cancer, and a wide range of other conditions. Which therapies are chosen for multimodality therapy depends on:

• The type of the cancer and its stage of development
• The health and age of the patient
• The success or failure of other treatments
• The patient’s input and preferences
• And other factors

Multimodality Therapy began attracting attention in the early 1970’s as doctors sought more flexible, individualized forms of cancer treatments that were tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Since our bodies react somewhat differently to various treatment methods, multimodality was seen as a practical, comprehensive means of approaching cancer treatment and learning from both positive and ineffective measures.

Multimodality Therapy Treatment Options

Surgery – Surgeons try to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible so that other treatment methods can be more effective.

Radiation therapy – The cancer is bombarded with radiation in an effort to kill cancer cells, shrink the tumor, and prevent the cancer from spreading.

Chemotherapy – A regimen of medication which may also include radiation treatment to eliminate the cancer or prevent its spread.

Gene therapy – An experimental type of therapy where the genes of normal and cancerous cells are modified with additional genetic material at the cellular level.

Immunotherapy – The process of using the body’s own immune system to recognize cancer cells as foreign tissue and mobilize the body’s natural defenses to eliminate them.

There was a time when surgery was the only option for patients suffering from mesothelioma and other types of cancer. But with today’s advances in technology and treatment, multimodality therapy is viewed as the best treatment option for cancer in general and mesothelioma in particular, depending on the specifics of the patient’s condition.