Blog entry by Fae Talbert
Mesothelioma Lawyers - What You Need to Know About Your Mesothelioma Case
Mesothelioma patients and their families typically seek compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in determining the most efficient legal strategy.
Most mesothelioma claims are filed as personal injury or lawsuits for wrongful death. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case, collect documentation and file the lawsuit.
Diagnosis
The first step in identifying mesothelioma involves having your doctor perform an examination. They will inquire about your past exposure to asbestos as well as any symptoms you're experiencing. They will also look for common illnesses such as pneumonia before looking for indications of cancer.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, they will request imaging scans on your abdomen and chest. These tests will take pictures of your organs using x-rays or CT scans. These scans may reveal the presence of fluid in the abdomen and lungs (ascites). They can also help find mesothelioma tumors, and determine whether they have spread.
These tests can reveal a variety of possible signs of mesothelioma law firms. However, the only way to confirm a diagnosis is to collect tissue samples and analyze them under a microscopical microscope. This procedure is referred to as a biopsy. A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in the interpretation of lab tests and evaluating the cells, tissues and organs to identify diseases.
It can develop in the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is the term used to describe it when it grows inside the heart. These tumors are less frequent than pleural mesothelioma, and may be more difficult to identify.
Doctors may use a needle to take a small amount of fluid from the area where fluid has accumulated. They will then test the fluid for cells of mesothelioma and examine a piece from your lungs to look for tumors.
They might also order blood chemistry tests to determine how well your liver, kidneys, and thyroid are working. A lactate dehydrogenase test (LDH) is one test they can conduct. LDH levels that are higher than normal could indicate cell damage, which could indicate mesothelioma.
Treatment
The kind of treatment you receive depends on the stage and type of mesothelioma you have. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, while peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdomen. The majority of patients suffering from pleural and peritoneal cancers survive between 19 and 21 months after their diagnosis.
The doctor who treats you will conduct an medical history and then examine you for signs of mesothelioma, including the amount of fluid present in your chest or abdomen. A physical exam could be performed to determine whether the cancer has expanded. Other tests include a chest x-ray or CT scan to find the location of the tumor and indication that it has invaded the heart. A biopsy will be needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A surgeon may take a sample of the affected area of tissue to be examined using either VATS (video-assisted surgical thoracoscopic procedure) it is a keyhole surgery, or a needle-guided, sterile biopsy under local anaesthesia, where a small piece of tissue is removed using the aid of a tube that is that is guided by a CT scan.
Mesothelioma doctors will also use imaging and blood tests to help them determine the best path for treatment. The tests can be used to determine if you have mesothelioma tumor cells or if the cancer is growing rapidly. They can also determine if you're suitable candidate for chemotherapy, which is often used in conjunction with radiation or surgery.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and shrink tumors. This is typically done in conjunction with chemotherapy and can be given externally or internally. The cancer doctors will inject a radioactive substance in the form of needles, seeds or wires in mesothelioma litigation.
The chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma come with many adverse effects. They can cause nausea and vomiting, and hair loss. They also increase the risk of infection and make you feel extremely exhausted and reduce the amount of healthy blood cells in your body. Talk to your doctor about possible adverse effects.
Clinical trials
Scientists are always looking for better ways to detect mesothelioma and then treat it. Clinical trials offer the chance to test treatments that are more effective than the treatments doctors currently employ. The goal is to increase the odds of survival and to find cures.
Doctors also study the latest treatment methods, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. They often combine these methods to provide patients with more options. Many mesothelioma patients are involved in clinical trials, especially when conventional treatments do not aid them.
Clinical trials can take weeks, months, or even years. In the course of the trial, participants are given treatments or experimental drugs and closely monitored by experts. Before the FDA will approve a drug for general use it must go through a number of phases of clinical trials.
A few of these studies are testing new kinds of chemotherapy. The most recent drugs are designed to target specific genetic pathways in cancer cells. These research could lead to better treatment options for cancers, such as mesothelioma.
Researchers are also looking at ways to prevent mesothelioma. In studies in high-risk populations researchers are examining whether lifestyle changes and certain drugs can lower the risk of cancer. Some of these trials examine ways to detect mesothelioma sooner in people.
Doctors are also studying surgery and other surgical options to treat mesothelioma. This includes extrapleural pneumonectomy which removes the affected lung and pleura, pleurectomy that includes pulmonary decortication, which removes part of the chest wall and diaphragm, and trimodality therapy, which involves surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mesothelioma. This treatment involves injecting mesothelioma patients with an immune-system-boosting medication that targets cancerous cells. Immunotherapy is a therapy that can be utilized to treat advanced pleural cancers and to increase the chance of surviving. It is also being studied as an option to treat first-line patients with peritoneal cancer. A controlled, randomized study of the mesothelioma immune therapy drug tremelimumab has begun. Participants are compared with those who receive the placebo. The tremelimumab group has an overall survival rate that is higher than the placebo group.
Settlements
The majority of mesothelioma cases are settled out of court. It is essential to be ready for trial and to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
The goal of a mesothelioma case is to provide the victims and their families for the loss associated with this disease. The compensation can cover the cost of medical treatment in the past and the future loss of wages, travel expenses to seek treatment, and more. In some cases the settlement may include non-economic damages, such as suffering and pain or loss of companionship.
Mesothelioma requires a long-term treatment. This can lead to high medical costs and the financial burden of not being able to work can make it difficult to cover the necessary expenses. A settlement or another award could ease the burden by allowing patients to focus on their recovery.
A mesothelioma case that is successful can help hold asbestos producers accountable and force them to pay for their wrongful acts. The companies knew their products were hazardous, but they continued to prioritize profit over safety. Mesothelioma lawsuits provide a means for victims and their loved ones to get justice against the corporations responsible for their mesothelioma.
When negotiating a mesothelioma settlement; recommended, or wrongful death settlement, the number of defendants in the case and the availability of funds could affect the amount of compensation provided. The mesothelioma attorneys at Baron & Budd know how to construct strong cases that are more likely to result in a favorable settlement or verdict.