Mesothelioma Lawyers - What You Need to Know About Your Mesothelioma Case

Mesothelioma patients and their families often seek compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you decide on the best legal strategy.

Most mesothelioma claims (similar site) are filed as personal injury or lawsuits involving wrongful deaths. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case, collect documentation and file the lawsuit.

Diagnosis

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves having your doctor perform a physical exam. They will ask about any signs or symptoms and prior exposure to asbestos. They will also rule out common illnesses such as pneumonia, before examining for signs of cancer.

If they suspect that you have mesothelioma the doctor will recommend imaging scans of your chest and abdomen. These tests will take pictures of your organs using x-rays or CT scans. These scans can reveal the accumulation of fluid in your lungs or abdomen (ascites). They can also aid in identifying mesothelioma tumors and see if they have been able to spread.

These tests can reveal a number of possible indicators of mesothelioma. However, the only method to establish an accurate diagnosis is taking tissue samples and analyzing them under the microscope. This procedure is called a biopsy. A pathologist is a specialist who specialises in interpreting lab tests and analyzing tissues, cells and organs to determine the presence of disease.

Mesothelioma cancer typically develops in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity, however it can also grow in the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is the name given to it when it grows within the heart. These tumors are less frequent than pleural mesothelioma. They can be more difficult to identify.

To get a sample of your mesothelioma, doctors may put a needle into the area of fluid buildup and then remove some of the fluid. They will then test the fluid for mesothelioma cells and look at a piece of your lung for mesothelioma tumors.

They may also order blood tests to check the health of your thyroid, kidneys and liver. A lactate dehydrogenase test (LDH) is a test they can perform. Higher than normal levels of LDH could be a sign of damage to your cells which could be an indication of mesothelioma.

Treatment

The kind of treatment you receive will depend on the stage of your mesothelioma and the type of cells you have. The chest and lungs are affected by pleural mesothelioma while the linings of the abdomen are affected by peritoneal. The majority of patients with pleural mesothelioma survive between 19 and 21 months after diagnosis, while those with late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma live between 12 and 16 months.

The doctor who treats you will assess you and examine your medical history in order to look for mesothelioma signs, such as the amount fluid in your abdomen or chest. A physical exam can also be done to see whether the cancer has been able to spread. Other tests include the CT scan or chest x-ray to determine the site of the cancer and whether it has spread to the heart. A biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A surgeon can remove a tiny sample of tissue from the affected area by using VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedure) that is a keyhole surgery. Another alternative is to perform a needle-guided biopsy under local anaesthesia, in which the CT scan is used to guide a tube that is used to remove some of the tissue.

The best treatment for mesothelioma is determined by imaging and blood tests. The tests can be used to determine whether you have mesothelioma cancer cells or if the cancer is growing rapidly. They can also determine if you're good candidate to receive chemotherapy, which is usually used in conjunction with surgery or radiation.

Radiation therapy is the application of X-rays that are high-energy or other forms to shrink mesothelioma tumors and kill cancerous cells. It is typically done in conjunction chemotherapy and can be administered externally or internally. Internally, doctors treating cancer will inject a radioactive substance enclosed in seeds, needles or wires close to mesothelioma.

The chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma have many adverse effects. They can cause nausea vomiting, nausea and hair loss. You might also feel exhausted, increase the risk of infection and reduce the amount of healthy cells within your body. Talk to your doctor about any possible side effects.

Clinical trials

Scientists are always looking for better ways to identify mesothelioma, and then treat it. Clinical trials allow doctors to test experimental treatments that may be more effective than the treatments they currently employ. The goal is to increase the rate of survival and discover cures.

Doctors are also studying new treatment methods like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Combining these techniques offers patients more options. Many mesothelioma patients participate in clinical trials when standard treatments do not work.

Clinical trials can take months, weeks or even years. During the trial participants are given experimental therapies or drugs and closely monitored by experts. The majority of drugs must go through several stages of clinical trials before the FDA approves them for general use.

Certain of these studies test new chemotherapy methods. The newest drugs are designed to target specific genetic pathways within cancer cells. These studies could lead to improved treatments for cancers such as mesothelioma.

Researchers are also studying ways to stop mesothelioma. In studies involving populations at high risk researchers investigate whether lifestyle changes and specific drugs can lower the risk of cancer. Certain of these trials are examining ways to detect mesothelioma earlier people.

Doctors are also studying surgery and other surgical procedures for mesothelioma. They include extrapleural pneumonectomy which removes the affected lung and pleura, pleurectomy that includes the removal of pulmonary decortication, which eliminates part of the chest wall and diaphragm, and trimodality therapy, which uses radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.

Some doctors are also examining the efficacy of immunotherapy in mesothelioma. This type of treatment involves injecting mesothelioma sufferers with an immune-system-boosting drug which targets cancerous cells. Immunotherapy can be used to treat advanced pleural mesothelioma and improve a person's chances of survival. It is also being studied as an option to treat first-line patients with the peritoneal cancer. A controlled, randomized trial of the mesothelioma immunotherapy drug, tremelimumab is in progress. Participants are compared with those who were given a placebo. Tremelimumab-treated patients have greater overall survival than those who received placebo.

Settlements

The majority of mesothelioma lawsuits settle out of court. However, it is important to prepare for the possibility that your case goes to trial and have an experienced mesothelioma attorney by your side throughout the entire process.

A mesothelioma law firms suit is designed to compensate victims for loss they have suffered due to this disease. Compensation may include the cost of medical treatment in the past and the future, lost earnings, travel expenses to seek treatment, and more. In some instances the settlement may also include non-economic damages such as suffering and pain or loss of companionship.

Mesothelioma requires ongoing treatment. This can result in expensive medical bills, and the financial strain that is caused by not being able to work can make it difficult to cover the essential expenses. A settlement or other award may alleviate this stress by allowing patients to focus on their recuperation.

A successful mesothelioma lawsuit could assist in holding asbestos manufacturers accountable and oblige them to pay for their negligent actions. Many of these companies knew their products were hazardous but they continued to put profit before safety. Mesothelioma lawsuits offer a way for victims and their loved ones to obtain justice against the corporations responsible for their mesothelioma.

When negotiating a mesothelioma or settlement for wrongful death, the number of defendants involved in the case and the availability of funds could affect the amount provided. The mesothelioma attorneys at Baron & Budd know how to create strong cases that are more likely to result in a favorable settlement or verdict.