Mesothelioma Medical

Mesothelioma and Self-Esteem

April 11, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

A mesothelioma diagnosis can affect the patient in many ways. These effects can either be short-term or long-term. One of the major ways a mesothelioma diagnosis can affect a patient is by lowering their self-esteem. Self-esteem is how a person values and perceives themselves. It is based on what someone believes about themselves. The physical changes that come after a mesothelioma diagnosis or after a patient starts receiving mesothelioma treatment, such as hair loss, weight changes, and surgery scars, can affect how they feel about their appearance and body image. Also, unproductivity and dependency can lead to a mesothelioma patient having low self-esteem. Luckily, there are steps mesothelioma patients can take to maintain their self-esteem at a healthy level.

How Mesothelioma Causes a Decrease in Self-esteem

Coping with mesothelioma presents great challenges, some of which can negatively affect a patient’s self-esteem. A patient dealing with things such as weight loss/gain, hair loss, and scarring may end up with low self-esteem. When patients look at themselves in the mirror, they want to be happy with what they see. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Some patients do not like how they look without hair, with more/less weight, or with scars.

Do I Need a Specialist to Treat Mesothelioma?

March 24, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a rare disease that develops after a person is exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for this rare but fatal illness. However, the good news is there are various treatment options for mesothelioma. If you have a history of asbestos exposure and are experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, you may wonder if any doctor can treat your illness or if you need to find a specialist.

So, do you need a specialist to treat mesothelioma? If you have mesothelioma, you need a specialist to treat you. Not all physicians can treat mesothelioma. A mesothelioma specialist can create a personalized treatment plan for you, depending on your disease type, the stage the disease is in, the cell type, and your characteristics.

Who is a Mesothelioma Doctor?

Mesothelioma Caregivers: Adjusting Holiday Expectations

January 14, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

After someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they need someone to care for them. Typically, the role of a mesothelioma caregiver is to help a mesothelioma patient with daily tasks as they progress through treatment. The complications of mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment can make it challenging for patients to do most things independently. A spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor are just a few of the people who can be mesothelioma caregivers.

Being a caregiver to someone with mesothelioma can result in different feelings. It can cause different challenges. According to most caregivers, taking care of someone with mesothelioma during the holidays makes the holidays feel different. This article shares some helpful tips that can help mesothelioma caregivers navigate the holiday season.

Tip #1: Admit That Things Feel Different

Effects of a Mesothelioma Diagnosis on Family and Friends

January 6, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos exposure can cause a type of cancer called mesothelioma. A mesothelioma diagnosis does not only affect the patient. It also affects the patient’s family and friends. This article discusses some of the effects a mesothelioma diagnosis can have on different family members and friends.

How Can a Mesothelioma Diagnosis Affect Spouses?

After learning of a mesothelioma diagnosis, one of the first people a patient may want to discuss the illness with is their spouse. However, the truth is that discussing mesothelioma with a spouse may not be easy. After receiving the news, a spouse may feel the same way their sick spouse feels. A spouse may feel scared. They may also feel sad, anxious, or helpless. Some spouses even go into denial and choose not to talk about the sickness.

Things to Know if You are Considering a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial

December 27, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

There is still no cure for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an illness that occurs after a person is exposed to asbestos, a dangerous substance that was widely used in the U.S. before the late 19^th century. However, the good news is that several treatment options are available for mesothelioma patients, and more treatments are being researched. Usually, researchers use clinical trials to investigate more effective treatments. A clinical trial can happen at a specific cancer center or in different cancer centers across the U.S. and other countries.

If you are considering enrolling in a mesothelioma clinical trial, you are likely feeling excited and frightened at the same time. While enrolling in a clinical trial might mean receiving the best treatment and helping other mesothelioma patients, the truth is that a clinical trial is not like a regular visit to the doctor. However, if you understand what to expect, it can prepare you.

The following are some crucial things to know if you are considering a mesothelioma clinical trial.

Why is it Hard to Diagnose Mesothelioma?

October 14, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops after a person is exposed to asbestos. There is no cure for mesothelioma. The good news, however, is that there are several treatment options available for mesothelioma patients. But, to have a good chance of fighting the disease, mesothelioma patients need to be diagnosed early before the disease has reached its later stages. Treating mesothelioma when it has reached its later stages is usually difficult. Unfortunately, most people who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis will also be told their prognosis is not good. Many people are getting diagnosed with mesothelioma when the disease has reached its later stages.

So, what makes it hard to diagnose mesothelioma? The following are five reasons why diagnosing mesothelioma is difficult.

People Assume Asbestos is Banned

Is Mesothelioma Hereditary?

October 10, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

It is common to see more than one member of the same family developing mesothelioma. Because of this, some people have concluded that mesothelioma is hereditary. But is it true that mesothelioma is hereditary? No . . . The answer to this question is not as easy as it might seem. The primary cause of mesothelioma remains asbestos exposure. However, outlier researchers suggested that people who inherit a particular type of gene are more vulnerable to developing mesothelioma, especially if exposed to asbestos.

How Genetics Impact Mesothelioma Development

There is an outlier body of research that suggests inheriting a particular type of gene can raise an individual’s likelihood of developing mesothelioma, especially if exposed to asbestos. In other words, the research suggests that genetics is a risk factor for mesothelioma. As a risk factor, the research suggests genetics can increase the risk of mesothelioma development. However, asbestos remains the direct cause mesothelioma.

Complications From Mesothelioma and Mesothelioma Treatment

September 25, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

After mesothelioma develops, complications can arise. Complications can arise due to the illness itself or due to treatment. Because mesothelioma usually affects the pleural mesothelium, respiratory complications are the most common complications from mesothelioma. However, apart from respiratory complications, there are many other complications that mesothelioma patients experience. This article discusses some of the other complications patients experience from mesothelioma and some of the complications patients experience from treatment.

Complications From Mesothelioma

The following are some other possible complications from mesothelioma;

How Quickly Does Mesothelioma Spread?

September 2, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma does not occur immediately after asbestos exposure. It can take up to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop. Unfortunately, while the development of mesothelioma begins slowly, once tumors form, they tend to spread rather quickly. When mesothelioma tumors metastasize (spread), they move from their original location to other body parts. Because of how quickly mesothelioma can spread through the body, it is considered an aggressive form of cancer. Unfortunately, once mesothelioma tumors have metastasized, treatment options become more limited.

So, how quickly does mesothelioma spread? Exactly how quickly mesothelioma progresses in the body is dependent on several factors. Mesothelioma metastasis is influenced by, among other factors, cell type, cancer stage, and response to treatment.

Cell Type

Tips for Talking With Your Doctor About Mesothelioma Treatment Options

August 28, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

While there is still no cure for this rare but fatal disease, several treatment options are available, and researchers are continuing to discover new and effective treatment options. With the right treatment option, a mesothelioma patient can live a long productive life.

As a mesothelioma patient, you must play an active role in your health by talking directly to your doctor about treatment options. When you speak directly with your doctor, you can ensure you get the treatment you need and deserve. In this article, we provide some tips for talking with your doctor about mesothelioma treatment options.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options