Understanding Your Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of asbestos cancer, attacks the abdominal lining and organs.
As the second most common form of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma makes up about 20% of all asbestos cancer cases. Now, advances in treatment provide patients with options that may improve outcomes and quality of life.
Key Facts to Know
- Our team helps patients find peritoneal mesothelioma specialists who provide advanced treatment options.
- While the disease is aggressive, the 5-year survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma is over 65%.
- More than 75% of patients who undergo peritoneal mesothelioma surgery and chemo live longer than 5 years.
- Patients may be eligible for financial assistance options to pay for advance treatments and other expenses.
We focus on ensuring peritoneal mesothelioma patients get quick access to the best specialist for free.
I’ve Been Diagnosed With Peritoneal Mesothelioma – What’s Next?
Learning you’ve been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma is frightening and overwhelming. Understanding the next steps can ease some of the worries that come with an asbestos cancer diagnosis.
Medical specialists and support resources provide patients with options to treat and manage the disease while maintaining a meaningful quality of life. They also give family members the necessary tools to navigate the challenges that come with a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. Our team aims to help patients and their families find ways to manage the medical, financial and emotional tolls of an asbestos cancer diagnosis.
Managing Your Diagnosis
It’s completely normal to feel uncertain and stressed after a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. You are not alone. Managing your diagnosis is a team effort, and we are part of your team.
Connecting with peritoneal mesothelioma specialists is a crucial first step to managing the disease and improving your quality of life.
They have the advanced training and expertise to provide targeted care. Patients receive personalized treatment plans with strategies designed to address symptoms and improve daily well-being.
Our Patient Navigators help ease patient stress by connecting them with the nation’s top peritoneal mesothelioma specialists, helping them understand insurance claims and denials and uncovering ways to pay for treatment and other important processes.
Family Members & Loved Ones
It’s not unusual for family members and loved ones to feel helpless and uncertain during caregiving. Because the disease is rare, there’s also feelings of loneliness and isolation that go along with it. We aim to help family members and loved ones through these times.
Our support programs and resources are tailored to caregivers, family members and loved ones so they have the guidance and tools they need to provide the best possible assistance.
We provide guidance on daily care routines, handling complex medical decisions and communicating with medical professionals. We also help carers and family members understand the medications, manage side effects and stay informed about medical options. We want to be your rock, just as you are theirs.
Finding a Peritoneal Mesothelioma Specialist
Receiving care from one of the nation’s top peritoneal mesothelioma specialists is vital to getting the best plan for the diagnosis. They bring decades of study and a depth of understanding that the average oncologist does not have. With their guidance, you will make informed decisions and receive the best possible care.
Peritoneal mesothelioma specialists also have connections to other specialists who understand the disease, widening your circle of care for the peace of mind you are in the best hands. This comprehensive care model ensures all of your treatment needs are being addressed.
Treatment Options for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The various forms of peritoneal mesothelioma treatments address all of the patient’s unique needs with a goal of managing the disease, easing symptoms and improving quality of life. They are offered to patients based on the stage and extent of their condition.
Cytoreduction with HIPEC
Cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the gold standard for peritoneal mesothelioma treatment for eligible patients. It is known to significantly improve outcomes, with the median survival rate ranging from 30 to 50 months, depending on the patient’s overall health.
Through cytoreduction with HIPEC, surgeons remove all visible tumors in the abdomen and fills the area with heated chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Since the treatment involves a one-time, targeted dose of chemotherapy, the approach allows for intense treatment in a specified area with minimal damage to healthy tissue.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy has been used successfully for decades to treat all kinds of cancer, including peritoneal mesothelioma. Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with tumor-reducing surgery (and sometimes targeted radiation treatment) for optimal results with a median survival rate ranging from 12 to 23 months.
Systemic chemotherapy treatment is given intravenously (through a vein) or orally and travels through the bloodstream to kill cancer cells in multiple locations. Patients may experience the side effects commonly known to chemo, including hair loss and nausea.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy stimulates a patient’s immune system to detect and attack cancer cells. It can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and other treatments with a median survival rate of about 19 months.
One immunotherapy study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found the one-year survival rate after treatment was 68%, which was better than chemotherapy alone or no treatment.
Immunotherapy treatment is administered directly into the bloodstream to block specific proteins on peritoneal mesothelioma cancer cells so the body’s immune system can identify and fight the disease.
Clinical Trials & New Therapies
Scientists are continuously revolutionizing new treatments through clinical trials that offer hope for the future of disease management and a possible cure. New forms of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, as well as yet-to-be discovered innovations, offer hope.
Some breakthroughs on the forefront include cryotherapy (extreme cold), photodynamic (light) and circulating chemotherapy treatments. The top peritoneal mesothelioma specialists open the door to the newest emerging treatments and clinical trials, giving patients access to the most recent treatment options.
Financial Assistance Options for Your Diagnosis
Patients with a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis are faced with financial concerns, from paying for treatment to overall financial security.
Compensation-based resources, including grants and medical expense assistance programs, and legal options, such as trust funds and lawsuits, can provide the long-term economic peace of mind that patients and their families need through the course of treatment and beyond.
On average, peritoneal mesothelioma patients who file claims to asbestos trust funds receive $1 million or more. Skilled mesothelioma attorneys guide patients and their families through the process. Many claims are resolved within 90 days without stepping into a courtroom.
Family members as well may be eligible for compensation if they’ve lost a loved one to asbestos cancer to cover medical expenses, funeral costs and continued financial security.
Get Help for Your Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis Today
We understand a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming. That’s why we offer the support programs and resources to help ease the burden.
Let us help you at every turn, from finding the top medical specialist in your insurance network (or your area) to helping set up appointments. We help you secure the finances you need to get top-quality care and manage bills and insurance claims.
We also provide much-needed emotional wellbeing assistance and legal services to ensure you and your family get the compensation you need.
Contact us to learn how we can help you.