As mesothelioma attorneys, we get asked questions about mesothelioma all the time. This article contains answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about mesothelioma.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is rare and aggressive. It can develop when a person is exposed to asbestos. When you inhale asbestos fibers, these fibers can get stuck in the lining of either the lungs or heart or abdomen. Over time, these fibers can cause mesothelioma.
Although there is still no known cure for mesothelioma, treatment options are available to mesothelioma patients. Sometimes, it is even possible to remove all the cancer. But, often, mesothelioma treatment aims to remove as much cancer as possible and slow cancer growth. In this article, we look at how different mesothelioma treatments work.
Surgery
According to Mayo Clinic, it is possible for surgeons to remove mesothelioma when it is diagnosed at an early stage. But it is not possible to remove all the cancer through surgery in most cases. In cases in which it is impossible to remove all the cancer, surgery is used to reduce the mesothelioma spreading in the body. Often, the goal of surgery is to reduce symptoms and suffering.
Personal protective equipment is quite crucial when it comes to protecting oneself from asbestos exposure. If, for example, you work in an asbestos removal company, it is not enough that you use proper removal proceedings. It is important that you use personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment can protect you from developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis. In this article, we will talk about, among other things, the types of personal protective equipment that can protect workers from asbestos exposure.
What is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal protective equipment or PPE is any clothing or covering that provides protection to the wearer from a potential hazard. According to the EPA, personal protective equipment is necessary to protect against the harmful effects of asbestos exposure.
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 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:
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?
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.
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.
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.
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;
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