The goal of minimal medical cancer treatment is to make both the patient and the patient's family more comfortable. The cancer is not treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Minimal mesothelioma treatment includes:

• Removing fluid accumulations from the chest
  The accumulation of fluid in the chest is one of the principal causes of pain and shortness of breath in people with mesothelioma. These fluid accumulations (called pleural effusions) are common with mesothelioma. Progressively stronger narcotics are usually prescribed.

• Relieving pain
  Pain is usually relieved via medication. Progressively stronger narcotics are usually prescribed.

• Providing hospice or nursing support
  Caring for a loved one who is dying from cancer can be physically and emotionally draining. Professional care assistance can be a great relief for the patient and the patient's family.

• Providing psychological and social support for both the patient and the patient's family
  A diagnosis of mesothelioma, as with other forms of deadly cancers, can be very stressful for the patient's loved ones. Professional counselors and support groups can provide important assistance in coping with stresses experienced by the entire family.