The Role of Surgery in Pleural Mesothelioma
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The Role of Surgery in Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Pleural Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The outlook for this disease is often poor, with a typical survival time of 9 to 20 months after treatment. The overall 5-year survival rate is around 5%. However, new treatments that include surgery are helping improve these numbers. A new article from Cancers explains how surgery helps in diagnosing, staging, and treating pleural mesothelioma. Importance of Surgery in Diagnosis and Staging Surgery is very important for diagnosing and staging pleural mesothelioma accurately. During surgery, doctors can take tissue samples to confirm the disease and identify its type. Correct staging, which means figuring out how far the disease has spread, is crucial for planning the right treatment.  Major…

Promising Results: Pembrolizumab Enhances Mesothelioma Treatment
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Promising Results: Pembrolizumab Enhances Mesothelioma Treatment

ByHolly Zink

Pleural mesothelioma is a challenging cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It is often diagnosed in advanced stages with limited treatment options. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged in recent years with a groundbreaking approach. The addition of pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy has shown promising results in improving the overall survival of patients with this devastating disease. A Global Effort A phase 3 clinical trial was conducted across 51 hospitals in Canada, Italy, and France. Eligible participants, aged 18 years or older, had previously untreated advanced pleural mesothelioma and a good performance status. They were randomly divided into two groups. One received intravenous chemotherapy with or without pembrolizumab. A Game-Changing Outcome The trial ran from January 2017 to September 2020…