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

Mesothelioma victims and their families typically require compensation to cover medical expenses and lost wages. A qualified mesothelioma attorney can assist you in determining the most effective legal strategy.

Most mesothelioma lawsuits filed under personal injury or wrongful-death laws. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case and gather documents to file the suit.

Diagnosis

The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is to have your doctor conduct an examination. They will ask about any signs or symptoms and previous exposure to asbestos. Before examining for cancer, they'll first rule out common illnesses like pneumonia.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will order imaging scans of your chest and abdomen. These tests use x-rays, CT scans and MRIs to take pictures of your internal organs. These scans may reveal fluid accumulation in your lungs and abdomen (ascites). They can also help find mesothelioma tumours and determine if they have developed into a disease.

These tests can reveal several possible signs of mesothelioma. However the only way to confirm a diagnosis is to take tissue samples and study them under a microscope. This is known as biopsy. A pathologist is an expert in interpreting lab tests and evaluating organs, tissues and cells for the diagnosis of disease.

It can also grow in the heart. If it develops inside the heart, it is known as mesothelioma pericardial. These tumors are less frequent than pleural mesothelioma and can be more difficult to diagnose.

Doctors may use a needle to drain a small amount of fluid from the area where the fluid has accumulated. They will then analyze the fluid for mesothelioma cells and look at a piece of your lung to determine mesothelioma tumors.

They can also conduct blood tests to check the health of your thyroid, kidneys and liver. A lactate dehydrogenase test (LDH) is a test that they could perform. LDH levels that are higher than normal could indicate cell damage, which could indicate mesothelioma.

Treatment

The type of treatment you receive is contingent on the stage and type of mesothelioma that you have. The chest and lungs are affected by pleural mesothelioma, while the linings of your abdomen are affected by peritoneal. Most patients with pleural mesothelioma live 19 to 21 months after diagnosis, while those with late-stage peritoneal mesothelioma last 12 to 16 months.

The doctor who treats you will take an medical history and then examine you to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. This includes the amount of fluid in your abdomen or chest. A physical exam may be conducted to determine if the cancer has spread. Other tests include chest x-ray or CT scan to check for the site of the tumor, and any indication that it has invaded the heart. A biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A surgeon can take a small portion of tissue from the affected area by using VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedure) that is a keyhole surgical procedure. Another alternative is to perform an instrument-guided biopsy under local anaesthesia. In this procedure, an CT scan is used to guide a tube which is used to remove the tissue in a small amount.

The most effective treatment for mesothelioma is determined by imaging and blood tests. Tests can identify certain substances in your blood that are associated with mesothelioma cancer cells, as well as how fast your cancer is growing. They can also help determine if you're a good candidate for chemotherapy, which is typically used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy employs high-energy X rays or other types of radiation to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and shrink tumors. It is usually done in combination with chemotherapy and can be administered either internally or externally. The doctors treating cancer inject radioactive substances in the form of needles, seeds or wires near mesothelioma.

The side effects of chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma are many. They can cause nausea and vomiting and hair loss. They also increase the risk of infection and make you feel exhausted and reduce the amount of healthy blood cells in your body. Consult your physician about these and other possible side effects that could be caused by your medications.

Clinical trials

Scientists are always looking for better ways to identify mesothelioma, and then treat it. Clinical trials allow doctors to evaluate experimental treatments that could be more effective than the ones they currently employ. The aim is to improve survival rates and find cures.

Doctors also study new treatment techniques, including chemotherapy, surgery radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Combining these methods gives patients more options. Many patients with mesothelioma claims participate in clinical trials, particularly when standard treatments fail to help them.

Clinical trials can last for weeks, months or even years. During the trial, participants receive an experimental medication or therapy and supervised closely by experts. Most drugs have to pass several phases of clinical trials before the FDA approves their use for general use.

Certain studies are testing new chemotherapy methods. The latest treatments are designed to target certain genes within cancer cells. The results of these studies could aid scientists discover better treatments for mesothelioma as well as other types of cancers.

Researchers are also studying ways to reduce the risk of mesothelioma. In studies of high-risk populations researchers are examining whether lifestyle changes and certain drugs can lower the risk of cancer. Some of these studies look at ways to detect mesothelioma sooner in patients.

Doctors are also studying surgery and other surgical procedures for mesothelioma. There are many surgical procedures that can be used to treat mesothelioma, including extrapleural pneumonectomy (which removes the affected lung, pleura and chest wall), pleurectomy with diaphragmatic decortication (which eliminates lungs and a part of the chest wall) and trimodality treatment which includes radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.

Certain doctors are also studying the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mesothelioma. This type of treatment involves injecting mesothelioma patients with an immune-system-boosting drug which targets cancerous cells. Immunotherapy can be used to treat advanced pleural mesothelioma as well as increase a person's chances of survival. It is also being researched as a possible treatment of first-line for mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. A controlled study randomized to the mesothelioma immune therapy drug tremelimumab has begun. Participants are compared to those who are given placebo. Tremelimumab patients have higher overall survival rates than the placebo group.

Settlements

The vast majority mesothelioma lawsuits settle without a court hearing. It is important to prepare for trial and have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer at your side.

The aim of a mesothelioma lawsuit is to provide the victims and their families for the losses associated with this disease. Compensation may cover past and future medical expenses loss of wages, travel expenses to seek treatment and more. In certain cases the settlement may include non-economic damages, such as suffering and pain, or the loss of companionship.

Mesothelioma requires long-term treatment. This can lead to high medical bills and the financial burden that is associated with not being able to work can make it difficult to pay for the expenses essential. Settlements or other awards can ease this burden and allow patients to focus on regaining their health.

A mesothelioma case that is successful will to hold asbestos producers accountable and force them pay for their negligent acts. Many of these companies knew their products were hazardous but they continued to put profit over safety. Mesothelioma lawsuits offer a way for victims and their loved ones to get justice against the companies responsible for their mesothelioma.

The number of defendants in a mesothelioma or wrongful death case and the availability of funds will determine the amount of compensation given. Baron & Budd's mesothelioma lawyers know how to build cases that can lead to a favorable verdict or settlement.