After MPM is successful diagnosed it is imperative that you begin to discuss Mesothelioma treatment options with your doctor. The 3 main 
treatment options that have been used repeatedly are radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation is used for the most part to alleviate many of the symptoms of MPM. A limited amount of success in curing the disease has actually resulted directly from radiation treatments alone. The allowable extent of radiation is very limited due to the fact that it can easily harm surrounding organs and is therefore not able to be used heavily in a daily manner. The dosage of radiation needed for treatment is extremely controversial and often debated on. Some have reported significant results from radiation in using a higher dose than normal. However, many physicians believe it is not good for the body to receive too much exposure to radiation and it is therefore a smart idea to limit the amount that comes into contact with the body. Radiation therapy has been found to temporarily reduce chest pain and similar symptoms for many patients. It is generally not recommended for curing the cancer. All in all radiation seems to be the least popular option when attempting to effectively treat the tumor.
Secondly, surgery is often prescribed to remove the cancerous tumor and any cancerous masses that may be developing in the pleural area.
The removal of the pleura, also known as a pleurectomy, is widely used and produces decent results in many cases. It has also been found to be very helpful in alleviating chest pain and other symptoms.
In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma a complete removal of the tumor is highly possible and occurs quite often. Due to a high percentage of death rates, a pleuropneumonectomy is not a highly recommended procedure. The average survival rate after surgery is usually a few years at minimum. Surgery, like radiation treatment has not been proved to provide a consistent cure for MPM.
The final treatment option for MPM is chemotherapy. The number of patients that have actually been treated for MPM with chemotherapy is very minimal. The results therefore are difficult to decipher and obtain information from. The basic and most universal fact regarding chemotherapy for MPM patients is that there is definitely some degree of positive results when applying chemotherapy. The chemotherapy treatment doxorubicin has been found to produce many promising results for survival including some complete recoveries in a few patients. It is most certain that in the coming years a rightful place for chemotherapy in malignant mesothelioma will be established.
In conclusion to the mesothelioma treatment options, a fourth treatment option known as a combination therapy is probably the most effective means of treating MPM currently. Combination therapy is basically a combination of radiation, surgery and chemotherapy over a period of time which allows the physician to discover what treatment the patient is responding to the most. Many patients will generally respond to all of the treatments in some form or another. Combination therapy allows the doctor to choose which treatment is best for each individual person. The patient’s own personal diagnostic plan can therefore be produced and adjusted to fit their needs. The doctor must be diligent in composing complete and accurate records of the patient’s medical history regarding mesothelioma. This would include asbestos exposure, symptoms, response to treatments and similar information. It is this information compiled together with that of others that will tell the future of MPM and the advances being made.