Mesothelioma and Anti-Cancer Drugs:
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin layer of tissue covering many of your organs, particularly the lungs and chest cavity. It is a deadly form of cancer and the primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often diagnosed at a late stage and can be resistant to the chemotherapy drugs used to kill or shrink cancer cells. While chemotherapy may work initially, at best it will send the cancer into remission, only for it to reappear in a few months or years. When mesothelioma reoccurs, it’s often resistant to the initial chemotherapy drug.
Why Does Drug Resistance Happen?
Mesothelioma cells, like all cancer cells, evolve ways of protecting themselves. Some of these protections are inherent to the cancer cells and some are acquired to protect from specific chemotherapy drugs. The most common protections acquired by mesothelioma are:
- Transforming their cell membranes to prevent the chemotherapy drug from entering.
- Repairing damage caused by chemo drugs.
- Pumping the chemo drug out of the cell.
- Altering the cell DNA to prevent the chemo drug from bonding to the cell.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of your occupational hazards, you may be entitled to compensation and assistance. For a FREE consultation, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO, or contact us here.
