Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cases with about 2000 new cases occurring every year. Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of this type of lung cancer unlike in other lung cancers where cigarette smoking is the main risk factor.
Pemetrexed is one of the chemotherapeutic agents that have been approved for the treatment of malignant lung mesothelioma. It belongs to a group of drugs known as MTA, multitargeted anti-folates. These group of drugs block the uptake of folic acid by cells of the body, cells require folic acid to power the process of growth and multiplication, and once the uptake is blocked the cancerous cells will not be able to continue dividing and multiplying.
Pemetrexed can be combined with another anti cancer agent called carboplatin and this combination has been known to increase the life span of patients by as much as three years.
If you are a patient suffering from this cancer, and your oncologist has recommended the use of Pemetrexed as part of your cancer treatment, it is important to obtain information about nutritional supplements that may be necessary during the course of chemotherapy. Because Pemetrexed blocks the vitamin B from reaching health tissue, supplementing diet with oral folic acid, prior to treatment, is important.
Side Effects in Treating Lung Cancer of chemotherapy drugs is a major concern for those receiving treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma but the side effects associated with pemetrexed are less common when compared with other chemotherapy drugs however it can cause anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of weight, itching and burning between treatments and even muscle aches and pains as some of its own side effects.
The use of Pemetrexed is contraindicated {that is, it can not be used} in patients with kidney diseases, liver disease, heart disease, shingles, and gout. When discussing treatment options with your health care professional, inquire about the use of Pemetrexed, in combination with carboplatin, this drug combination will help to relieve you of some of the symptoms of the cancer and it will also improve your prognosis.
Once you are placed on this combination make sure you supplement your diet with appropriate dose of folic acid to help your normal healthy tissues to continue to grow and multiply normally.
To be able to cope very well with treatment every mesothelioma victim should seek for adequate knowledge about the disease and the different modes of treatment.
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