One prominent method of treating mesothelioma is chemotherapy. With this method of mesothelioma chemotherapy, drugs are given in two different ways to fight the cancer cells. One is systemic therapy while the other one is given intrapleurally or intraperitoneally.

In systemic mesothelioma chemotherapy the drugs are given intravenously or orally. These drugs circulate in the bloodstream and destroy the malignant cancer cells. Intrapleurally and intraperitoneally, drugs are given through an incision made in the chest and abdominal wall respectively. The drugs given with this type of method is more effective than the latter since the physician has more space to give high amount of doses directly to the tumor. Furthermore, with mesothelioma chemotheraphy, the doctors are able to restrict the side effects of the drugs to the other parts of the body. Before entering these drugs to the patients’ body, sometimes they are heated to add more effect to the treatment accordingly.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy is more often given simultaneously with surgery. It is also given with radiation therapy and with cancers that are unable to operate; this type of treatment can help obstruct the expansion of the mesothelioma considerably though it is unable to destroy the cancer fully.

Physicians normally treat patients with mesothelioma chemotherapy in accordance with a cycle. In between one mesothelioma chemotherapy treatment to the next, the patient is given a rest to re-energize the body. The rest period normally consists of three to four weeks. Mesothelioma chemotherapy is not given to weak patients though the age is not a barrier for the treatment.

Doctors use many drugs for mesothelioma chemotherapy. Many combine Alimta and Cisplatin. Alimta is more often mixed with vitamin B12 and folic acid to minimize the side effects effectively. Other drugs used for this type of treatment are cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, doxorubicin, mitomycin, vinblastine, vincristine, methotrexate, carboplatin, gemcitabine and ifosfamide.

These drugs are mostly combined when giving mesothelioma chemotheraphy. Nevertheless, to those who are allergic to certain drugs these drugs are given separately. In addition to these drugs, many other drugs are experimented regularly.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy medications normally activate to destroy malignant cells dividing them quickly. Unfortunately, more often they destroy other cells too. Hair follicles, intestines, bone marrows are some of the places these drugs affects prominently. Mesothelioma patients who are undergoing mesothelioma chemotherapy usually get side effects such as mouth sores, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, infections, bleeding, bruising, and fatigue. Most of these side effects occur due to the patients’ low blood plate count.

Many of these side effects reduce when the mesothelioma chemotherapy is over and some side effects such as nausea and vomiting may go away when taking other drugs. In addition to these side effects some more may occur with certain type of drugs. As an example cisplatin can harm nerves resulting difficulty in hearing, pain, weakness or sensation like tingling or burning. These side effects also go away when the treatment is stopped. Nevertheless, patients should report their side effects to the relevant doctors enabling them to take necessary precautionary actions to minimize them.