Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. They work by disrupting the growth of the cancer cells. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma is used in an attempt to shrink the disease but it will not cure the cancer. 

It can help to improve symptoms for some people and delay the progression of the disease. Like all chemotherapy treatments, there are several potential side effects and it is important to be well enough to tolerate these.  

The chemotherapy drugs that may be used for the treatment of mesothelioma include Cisplatinum (Platinol), Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Gemcitabine (Gemzar), Pemetrexed (Alimta) and Vinorelbine (Navelbine). The Macmillan Cancer Support website contains information about individual chemotherapy drugs including how each drug is given and possible side effects that may be experienced with each drug.