Your doctor also may employ a palliative surgical procedure to help alleviate the symptoms of the disease, especially the buildup of fluids. The two most common of these are thoracentesis and pleurodesis to drain the fluids that build up in your lungs; these procedures help alleviate pain and difficulty in breathing. In thoracentesis, your doctor will insert a long hollow needle into the pleural space of your lungs to remove fluid. The procedure is done under a local anesthetic. In pleurodesis, your doctor will drain the pleural spaces of fluid then administer a talc-like chemical to cause inflammation, which causes the pleural spaces to close to prevent further fluid buildup.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, uses high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays to destroy the mesothelioma cancer cells. Radiation mesothelioma treatment only affects cancer cells in the treated area. Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe radiation as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy in the effort to kill and control the growth of the cancer cells. Some medical professionals also use radiation therapy to help alleviate pain and other symptoms of the disease.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs as a mesothelioma cancer treatment. Chemotherapy has several different goals: stop the spread of the cancer, shrink tumor prior to surgery, destroy microsocopic disease which can remain after surgery, and to relieve pain especially in cases when it is not possible to dramatically reduce the tumor.

In most cases, the drugs to treat mesothelioma are administered by injection into your vein. Some doctors also employ intracavity chemotherapy -- injecting the chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen. You can expect to experience nausea, vomiting and what is called peripheral neuropathy – pain or numbness, tingling or a burning sensation – as side effects.