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It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because
the symptoms are similar
to many other conditions. A full physical examination
as well as reviewing the patient’s medical
past, including any asbestos
exposure can help determine if mesothelioma is
present. Biopsies are needed in order to confirm
a mesothelioma diagnosis. After confirming if
mesothelioma is present they will want to determine
the stage that the disease is in and begin mesothelioma
treatment.
Mesothelioma treatment is administered depending
on the location of the cancer, the stage of the
disease, and the patient’s age and overall
health. A few different mesothelioma treatment
options are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
 Surgery
is commonly used as a mesothelioma treatment by
having the doctor remove part of the lining of
the chest or abdomen and tissue surrounding it.
Cancer of the pleura will sometimes lead to lung
removal. On occasion part of the diaphragm will
be removed.
Radiation therapy is a mesothelioma treatment
administered to kill cancer cells and to shrink
any tumors.
Chemotherapy is a mesothelioma treatment
used to kill cancer cells through the body while
administering drugs by injecting them into a vein.
New mesothelioma treatments are constantly being
studied in order to find better ways of using
the existing treatments as well as to find new
ones. While the number of mesothelioma patients
is relatively small, about 2,000 new cases each
year in the U.S., the incidence rates of been
on the rise due to the 20-40 year latency period
between exposure and mesothelioma symptoms. It
is estimated that by the year 2030 there will
have been 60,000 instances of mesothelioma fatalities.
Please contact a Mesothelioma
Lawyer with any questions regarding your
legal rights concerning asbestos exposure and
mesothelioma treatment.
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