Fox Chase Cancer Center was founded in 1904. In 2012, Fox Chase Cancer Center became a part of the Temple University Health System. There are a multitude of doctors there treating many different ailments. Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have the option to be treated at the Center. Mesothelioma is an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer so it is important that patients receive the best possible treatment.
In order to detect and diagnose mesothelioma specialists can conduct a variety of tests, including physical exams, biopsies and imaging scans. Those at Fox Chase realize the importance of early detection. Different tests can be done, including an endoscopic biopsy. This is when a thin, long, tube-like instrument called an endoscope lets the doctor see inside the body. The endoscope has a light, and a camera and tissue can be removed from the body for testing. Another way to test for mesothelioma at the Fox Chase Cancer center is through a needle biopsy, which is when a needle is inserted into the body and takes out small samples of tissue or fluid for testing. Additionally, a surgical biopsy and imaging tests can be conducted. Imaging tests include CT scans, PET-CT scans, MRI scans, x-rays and ultrasounds. After being tested for mesothelioma, results tend to come back within a few days and the physician at Fox Chase will make sure they get the results back to the patient as quickly as possible, while answering any questions that the patient might have.
Once someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, Fox Chase offers different treatment options depending on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of cancer the patient is in. One treatment option for peritoneal mesothelioma, which starts in the abdominal cavity, is cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Cytoreduction is an open surgery that is very long. Its aim is to take out as much of the cancer from the lining of the abdominal cavity as the surgeon can. HIPEC involves administering chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity after they have been heated. These treatment options combined have been very successful with patients who have mesothelioma, extending life expectancy.
Another treatment option for those with peritoneal mesothelioma includes systemic chemotherapy. This is when medication is administered through the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body to destroy cancer cells.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, and it begins in the thoracic cavity. Doctors at Fox Chase treat patients with pleural mesothelioma in a variety of ways. One option is a pleural catheter placement. This is when a catheter is temporarily inserted into the body, which is then drained of fluid a couple of times a week. Another treatment option is surgery. Surgery is normally available for patients with stages I, II and III pleural mesothelioma. The purpose of surgery is to take out tumors from the chest cavity and the lining of the lungs. There are two types of surgical procedures that are conducted at Fox Chase for pleural mesothelioma patients. These procedures are an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy with decortication (P/D).
An EPP is when the entire lung, the lining of the chest wall, parts of the diaphragm and potentially the lining of the heart are all removed. This treatment option works the best for those with early-stage pleural mesothelioma. A P/D is when a portion of the lung affected by mesothelioma is removed. Parts of the pericardium, diaphragm and the lining of the chest wall may also be removed. The decortication occurs when all visible tumors on the chest and lung are removed. This surgery is normally well-suited for those with early-stage mesothelioma.
Systemic therapies are also available. These include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. These types of therapies may be recommended for patients with later stages of mesothelioma.
Radiation therapy is also an option. This is when high-energy beams are utilized to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is usually used after surgery and chemotherapy.
Interventional pulmonology is also a treatment option available at Fox Chase for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which treats pleural effusions.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, call 800-505-6000 today. If you are being treated for mesothelioma, please fill out the form on our homepage for a free Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Information Guide.
Sources:
https://www.foxchase.org/clinical-care/conditions/mesothelioma/treatment
