Mesothelioma Trimodality Treatment Extends Survival

Trimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma will improve survival time significantly, according to a recent retrospective study from the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. The approach includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and it provides a clear contrast to a less aggressive treatment plan that many patients still pursue. Patients using the trimodality therapy in the study had a median survival of 14.6 months after diagnosis. Patients treated with less than the three options had a median survival of only 8.6 months. "The study validates some of the work we've been doing here," Dr. Shilpen Patel, thoracic radiation oncologist at the medical center, told Asbestos.com. "When patients are appropriately selected, they will benefit from aggressive treatment." The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, described the treatment practices from 1980 and 2011 on 78 patients with pleural mesothelioma. University of Washington a Leader in Cancer Care The Cancer Care Alliance at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) ranks fifth place nationally in the 2015-16 U.S. News and World Report standings for Best Hospitals for Cancer Care. It typically treats 25-30 pleural mesothelioma patients annually. Many had worked in the shipyards throughout the Seattle area. "We're always trying to find better ways to attack this disease," Patel said. "And part of that is knowing which patients will benefit the most from aggressive tre...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news