The treatment programs for mesothelioma vary from each diagnosis. There are many factors to consider before undergoing a certain treatment which includes the stage of the cancer, the location of cancer, how far the cancer has spread, and the patient’s age. Treatments for mesothelioma are divided into two types: traditional mesothelioma treatments and new mesothelioma treatments. Traditional mesothelioma treatments are similar as those used to cure other kind of cancers. There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:

1. SURGERY

Surgery for pleural mesothelioma

- Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) - An extraplural pneumonectomy is a major type of surgery. It is the process of removing the lung on the affected side. The pleura, diaphragm and covering of the heart which is the pericardium are also removed. EPP is not appropriate for every pleural mesothelioma patient. The malignant disease must be at an early stage which implies that it must not have spread into the lymph nodes or have not been growing into any other areas outside the lung.
- Pleurectomy- This type of surgery is used as a palliative procedure. It can help to control fluid build up in the chest and relieve chest pain for many people. It is believed the most effective way of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung's expansion is controlled by disease.

Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma

- Peritonectomy- Surgery is rarely probable for people with peritoneal mesothelioma. But if surgery is possible, the patient may undergo a surgery called peritonectomy. This is a procedure done by specialists to remove the peritoneum. 
- Cytoreductive - In recent years some doctors have developed a technique known as cytoreductive surgery. This type of surgery aimed to remove all or nearly the entire gross or visible tumor in the peritoneal cavity.

2. CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer or cytotoxic drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs are generally taken as tablets. The drugs flow in the blood and get into cancer cells anywhere in the body. It controls the cancer by stopping its spread or slowing its growth. Types of Chemotherapy are listed below:

- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - reduce the size of tumors prior to other treatments
- Adjuvant chemotherapy - obliterate microscopic virus which may stay after surgery. 
- Palliative chemotherapy- alleviates symptoms.

3. RADIOTHERAPY (Radiation Therapy)

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that utilizes penetrating beams of high energy called radiation to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. There are two types of radiation therapy. 

- External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer.
- Internal radiation therapy utilizes a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.