Mesothelioma Medical

Nationwide Mesothelioma Registry

February 26, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer usually caused by asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly disease; currently, there is no cure for it. Recently, a bipartisan bill was sponsored to create a nationwide mesothelioma registry aimed at tracking mesothelioma cases in the U.S. to improve treatment and care. This bill would establish a national patient registry for mesothelioma at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A mesothelioma registry would give patients and researchers access to crucial data with the goal of improving treatment and care. If the bill passes, the U.S. will join other countries, like Australia, that already have mesothelioma registries.

The Existing Cancer Database Has Shortcomings

Currently, there is a cancer registry in the U.S. However, this registry has several shortcomings. First, it takes too long for data to join the United States Cancer Statistics database. Before data enters the database, it has to go through a process that can take months or even years. Unfortunately, some mesothelioma patients do not have months or years to make critical treatment decisions. So, this means that a patient or doctor could end up making decisions using outdated information or not finding the database helpful.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

February 5, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma specialists are working tirelessly to create new mesothelioma treatments. Specialists are working hard to develop new ways to prevent and detect mesothelioma. Currently, there are several treatment options available for mesothelioma that have already been tested in clinical trials and approved. A good number of prevention and detection methods for mesothelioma have also been tested in clinical trials and approved. Usually, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that a treatment option, prevention method, or detection method undergo three or four trial phases before it grants approval. This is because clinical trials are crucial in identifying effective and safe treatments, prevention methods, and detection methods. Current treatment options, detection methods, and prevention methods are the result of successful past clinical trials.

What are Mesothelioma Clinical Trials?

Generally, mesothelioma clinical trials include:

How Expert Witnesses Can Help Your Mesothelioma Case

January 20, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

When it comes to mesothelioma lawsuits, it is usually a good idea to look for expert assistance. An attorney is one of the experts a patient or the family of a mesothelioma patient needs to work with. Another expert that might prove beneficial to a mesothelioma case is an expert witness. Usually, expert witnesses are necessary in personal injury cases where medical and legal issues become complex, and mesothelioma lawsuits almost always involve complex medical and legal issues.

Read on to learn how an expert witness can help your mesothelioma case.

What is an Expert Witness?

Managing Mesothelioma Symptoms

January 15, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

According to Mayo Clinic, mesothelioma is a form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a fatal form of cancer, and there is still no cure for it. However, treatment options are available. Often, mesothelioma is diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the main aim of treatment is to manage symptoms and keep them under control. This is known as palliative treatment. There are several ways patients can manage mesothelioma symptoms.

Below is a look at some of the most common ways of managing mesothelioma symptoms.

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice. For medical advice, please speak to your doctor.

Can You Get Treated for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma if You Do Not Qualify for Surgery?

January 6, 2022 | Throneberry Law Group

In a mesothelioma case, surgery is meant to remove cancer from the body. Mesothelioma surgery is intended to help an individual feel better and live longer. Surgery combined with chemotherapy, and, sometimes, radiation, is considered the best mesothelioma treatment.

Not All Mesothelioma Patients are Eligible for Surgery

Before a doctor can perform surgery on a mesothelioma patient, they must assess the patient to determine if they are qualified to undergo surgical treatment. Some pleural mesothelioma patients do not qualify for surgery, but most do. Most of those who are eligible to undergo surgical procedures usually undergo procedures aimed at improving symptoms and quality of life.

Is Mesothelioma Contagious?

December 30, 2021 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma, just like other forms of cancer, is not contagious. Touching, sharing meals, or even breathing the same air cannot spread mesothelioma. Generally, cancer cells from a cancer patient cannot live in the body of a healthy person because the immune system usually destroys foreign cells, including cancer cells from a cancer patient.

How Does a Person Get Mesothelioma?

Asbestos exposure is still the only known cause of mesothelioma. According to the American Cancer Society, about eight out of 10 people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a highly toxic substance that was commonly used before the 1980s, especially in construction, because of its durability and heat-resistant properties. When asbestos is disturbed, asbestos fibers get released into the air. If a person inhales asbestos fibers, the fibers can get into the lungs. When asbestos fibers get into the lungs, they can travel to the pleural lining of the lung and chest wall. Over time, asbestos fibers that reach the pleura can cause inflammation and scarring and cause mesothelioma.

Getting a Second Opinion on a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

November 29, 2021 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. It is estimated that around 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed every year. Usually, mesothelioma develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal cancer. Because of mesothelioma’s aggressive and deadly nature, early detection and treatment are quite important.

However, before beginning treatment after a mesothelioma diagnosis, getting a second opinion is important. Even though most patients begin treatment immediately after a first diagnosis, experts advise people to get a second opinion before starting treatment. It is also vital to get a second opinion if one goes to the doctor believing they have mesothelioma, only to be told they have another illness. Receiving a second opinion on a diagnosis, can among other things, help an individual;

Eliminate the possibility of a misdiagnosis,

Active Stress Management Techniques for Mesothelioma Patients

November 28, 2021 | Throneberry Law Group

Dealing with mesothelioma can be extremely difficult. Sadly, many mesothelioma patients suffer from stress. Unfortunately, stress can negatively affect a person’s physical and mental well-being. Among other things, stress can:

Cause mental health issues
Increase the risk of stroke

Mesothelioma and COVID-19

September 25, 2021 | Throneberry Law Group

According to the CDC, one factor that makes a person more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 is the presence of an underlying medical condition. Because of weakened immune systems, cancer patients are among those at high risk of serious complications from a coronavirus infection. Mesothelioma, to be specific, is an extremely aggressive form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure and with limited survival despite systemic therapy. Fighting mesothelioma depletes a patient’s energy and nutrients, and this worsens a patient’s body’s ability to fight COVID-19. Mesothelioma treatments can also weaken a person’s immune system and increase the risk of COVID-19 complications. Further, COVID-19 is much more deadly in those individuals over the age of 65, and most mesothelioma patients are seniors. Most mesothelioma patients are seniors because, from the first asbestos exposure, it can take decades for an individual to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. If, for example, an individual gets exposed to asbestos for the first time at the age of 20, they might end up being diagnosed with mesothelioma even at the age of 70.

Recent studies have found that for every five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) one contracted COVID-19. According to one particular study presented at the IASLC 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer, approximately one in five patients with MPM at a Barcelona hospital contracted the coronavirus during the pandemic. To study the effect of COVID-19 infection on individuals with MPM, Dr. Susana Cedres of Vall d’ Hebron University Hospital and the Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain, analyzed medical records of 38 patients with MPM. Dr. Susana gathered clinical data such as comorbidities, oncological background, demographics, and COVID-19 illness status. Upon completion of the study, Dr. Cedres found that;

Of the 38 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma at the institution in this pandemic era, seven (18%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection by a positive RT.PCR and

Mesothelioma and PTSD

June 30, 2021 | Throneberry Law Group

People suffering from mesothelioma usually go through a lot of difficulties. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs after asbestos exposure. For starters, mesothelioma treatment can be costly. Victims of mesothelioma and their loved ones usually spend a lot of money from the time of diagnosis through post-treatment care. Some spend thousands of dollars, and, others, even more. The amount of money a victim of mesothelioma spends generally depends on their treatment plan, health care provider, and other factors.

Secondly, mesothelioma often causes pain, which is usually one of the early signs of mesothelioma. As fluids build up and tumors grow, it usually becomes difficult for a victim to digest food, breathe, and even cough without experiencing pain. Additionally, fluid buildup, which leads to increased pressure, can also cause pain in a victim’s abdomen or chest.

Severe pain can interfere with the day-to-day life of a mesothelioma patient. For instance, pain can prevent a patient from working or participating in other everyday activities, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The day-to-day lives of families of patients also suffer when pain is involved.