Mesothelioma treatment drugs are used for chemotherapy. Some victims of mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) are too far advanced or too weak to be treated with surgery or radiotherapy; chemotherapy is the only option.

A typical chemotherapy treatment will involve administration of the medication every week or two for an extended period. In the case of mesothelioma treatment drugs many physicians have experimented with a various combinations trying to induce the hoped-for response.

Mesothelioma Treatment Drugs in Use

In 2004 the FDA issued its first approval for a drug meant specifically for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. That drug is pemetrexed, known also under its brand name Alimta. It is generally used in combination with a platinum compound known as cisplatin. Both drugs attack the growth of cancerous cells and seem to work well together.

Physicians use mesothelioma treatment drugs in combinations which are dictated by the type of cancer, the location and its degree of advancement. Other medications used to treat mesothelioma include:

• Carboplatin, another of the platinum drugs that does damage to cancer cells.
• Vinorelbine is used to treat breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. It was developed from the periwinkle plant, or “vinca.” This drug stops cancer cells from dividing into two cells and thus growing the malignancy.
• Gemcitabine can also be used with cisplatin. This drug is one of a family of drugs called anti-metabolites. Anti-metabolites replace cells used during DNA replication, effectively halting the reproduction process in cancerous cells.
• Ranpirnase (Onconase) can selectively attack malignant cells and inhibit protein growth. The unique ability to be selective in the cells it impacts keeps side effects down and provides promise for selective targeting of cancerous cells.

Legal Help for Mesothelioma Cancer Victims

After many years of lawsuits, the asbestos companies have taken responsibility for the national health problem their products created. Many have set up trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims for liability claims they have filed. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma you should also have an experienced attorney who can make sure your claim is paid.

We can help; give us a call at 1-800-490-6014 or complete our short form above. Tens of thousands of Americans have sued the asbestos companies and won settlements - many thousands of those have been veterans.