Mesothelioma Treatments by Photodynamic Therapy

Mesothelioma Treatments - Several experimental therapies are currently being conducted for mesothelioma treatments, one of the most promising is the technique called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).

The difference between pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma

Mesothelioma or asbestos cancer commonly called, is a very aggressive cancer and deadly, this disease affects the lining the chest (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), generally less responsive to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. A number of other treatments, such as gene therapy, immunoterapi and alternative approaches can provide hope for cancer sufferers mesotelioma.


Photodynamic therapy or fotodinamis therapy is one type of mesothelioma treatments that very promising in future. This method combines three separate elements are nontoxic, photosensitizing compound, oxygen and visible light. Fotodinamis therapy targeting the cancerous mesothelioma cells. Usually given during or after surgery to remove remaining parts of the tumor.

Chemotherapy cisplatin and carboplatin for mesothelioma cancer treatment

Unlike the case with chemotherapy and radiation, which tends to have a burning effect on the patient's body, Photodynamic Therapy provides a clear advantage that it does not kill healthy cells-non-cancerous cells. This means that the side effects of mesothelioma treatments can be reduced and certainly mesotelioma mesothelioma prognosis will be better.

In America, Photodynamic Therapy has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, an agency of POM-like in Indonesia for several types of cancer, although its use to mesothelioma treatments is still in experimental stages.

There are about 3000 new cases of mesothelioma cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, and around the world, and already there are 20 000 people die from this disease every year. Almost all diagnosis of mesothelioma was associated with contact with asbestos, mineral materials that have entered into various commercial products that can be made fire resistant (fireproof). Although the use of asbestos peaked in the 1970s, mesothelioma has a very long latent period to be diagnosed, and therefore can not be diagnosed in just one year, or even decades after contact. Here is where the difficulty of mesothelioma treatments.