Since Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, a doctor may refer the patient to a specialist at a major medical center.

A second opinion from a specialist is often a good idea as this doctor has extensive experience with this type of cancer. A specialist can provide more information as well as help the patient feel more confident about the chosen treatment plan. By the time symptoms appear and the cancer is detected, it is often in an advanced stage and therefore difficult to treat. No known cure for Mesothelioma exists, but treatment may expend life expectancy and make living with the disease more comfortable. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, but it depends on the type of Mesothelioma, how far it has spread, the patients age and general health as well as the patients preferences. In addition to standard treatment options, a patient may also decide to be tested in clinical trials, such as gene therapy and immunotherapy. Before choosing any of these options, a patient should be aware of all the likely benefits and possible risks. If Mesothelioma is diagnosed early on (Stage I or Stage II), surgery is often the preferable treatment option, but chemotherapy, in conjunction with radiotherapy, is another commonly used treatment. Pleural Mesothelioma cases, however, often involve a pleurectomy, in which the entire pleura cavity is removed. Since Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in its later stages, prognosis is a matter of life expectancy rather than total recovery. On average, Epithelial Mesothelioma patients (patients with one cell type under attack) have a survival rate of about one year. Those diagnosed with a combination of two cell types, such as Sarcomatoid or Biphasic Mesothelioma, have an average of 6 months to live. Though these figures are not exact and many patients have a survival rate above the average, most diagnosed individuals do not like for more than a few years after detection. As treatment options improve with extended research, however, hope for prolonging life expectancy exists. Treatment Centers for Mesothelioma Patients in California include

Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA For patient information, call 1-800-826-HOPE or 1-626-359-8111

Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA For patient information, call 9-310-825-5268 For clinical trial information, call 1-888-798-0719

USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA For patient information, call 1-800-USC-CARE

Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center/UC Irvine, Orange, CA For patient information, call 1-800-888-8664 or 1-415-476-2201