Mesothelioma

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the sheer amount of information to take in can seem overwhelming. Your day-to-day life and plans for the distant future may now be changing dramatically. While it can sometimes be tempting to ignore the problem, the best way to make solid decisions for your family is to learn as much about the disease and its treatments as you can. Although your doctor and mesothelioma medical specialists are the best and primary source of information, we hope the following is helpful as you work to learn more about mesothelioma.

At the Gregg J. Borri Law Offices, we strive to ease the burden on mesothelioma patients and their families by providing relevant information and efficient legal services. Call us today at (212) 980-8866 to talk about how we can help you.

Mesothelioma is a tumor of the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines several cavities of the body including the chest cavity, the abdominal cavity, and cavity encasing the heart. The treatment recommended often depends on the type of tumor and its cellular formation, the stage of the tumor and characteristics of the patient.

Types

A newly diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma will fall into one of the following three categories, based on the tumor’s location. All three types of mesothelioma are associated with asbestos exposure.

• Pleural: This variety affects the pleura, the section of the mesothelium that lies over the lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma, and usually the most treatable. Its early symptoms often resemble pneumonia or other lung diseases: frequent coughing and shortness of breath.
• Peritoneal: This term refers to cancerous cells in the peritoneum, a protective lining of the abdomen that covers several important organs. It is the second most common form of mesothelioma. It symptoms can include abdominal pain and swelling, sudden and severe weight loss, and persistent fever.
• Pericardial: This third form of mesothelioma attacks the pericardium, a protective covering over the heart. Unfortunately, it is also the most difficult to treat, due to the difficulty of destroying the cancer without damaging the heart. Its initial symptoms may include chest pains, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.

As you can see, the early stages of mesothelioma often resemble other, less dangerous conditions. In addition to the slow onset of symptoms, this can make it very difficult for patients to receive the correct diagnosis in time. It is, for this reason, crucial to inform your doctor of any known exposure to asbestos so that he may discern symptoms of asbestos related illness from more common disease.

Most cases of mesothelioma could have been prevented by avoiding exposure to asbestos. If a negligent party has caused you or a loved one to be exposed to this hazardous mineral, contact us today at 212-980-8866.

Staging

“Staging” is a process that doctors use to track the progression of a patient’s cancer. Each kind of cancer is divided into four stages, with Stage I being the earliest phase of the illness and Stage IV being the last and most severe. This is not to say that there is only one way to stage cancer. There are different systems for different forms of cancer, and some cancers have more than one staging system.

A few different systems for staging mesothelioma have been developed over the years. In general, these systems run along the following lines:

• Stage I: Cancerous cells are only present in one side of the chest, and – according to most systems – only in the outer layers of the mesothelium. The lymph nodes are not affected.
• Stage II: Cancer cells have moved into the inner linings of the lungs or other affected organs, and possibly the lymph nodes on one side of the chest.
• Stage III: Malignant cancer cells can be found within the lungs, heart, or other organs themselves, rather than just the linings. They may have also spread to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or other areas of the body.
• Stage IV: The cancer has metastasized, meaning it has spread throughout the lymph system or to other areas of the body besides the originally affected organ.

Unfortunately, by the time mesothelioma or another type of cancer has reached Staged IV, patients’ long-term survival rates are generally low. As with all illness, the earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better chance a patient has of receiving successful treatment. If you have worked with asbestos in the past, be sure to tell your doctor so he or she can monitor your health for potential “red flags.”

Treatment

Medical researchers have introduced a wide variety of ways to treat mesothelioma, and new technologies are being developed every day. Although there are alternative treatments for mesothelioma, as well as new approaches still being tested in clinical trials, most patients with this illness will have three basic treatment options:

• Chemotherapy: This method uses drugs to destroy or reduce tumors, which are masses of cancerous cells. An average treatment plan will require you to visit your doctor’s office or hospital on a regular basis to receive the drugs intravenously, after which you may choose to return home. While the side effects of chemotherapy can be severe (nausea, pain, hair loss, etc), newer forms of these drugs have fewer negative effects.
• Radiation therapy: This treatment uses radiation to target and destroy cancerous growths. New technology has made it easier for doctors to target tumors while minimizing damage to nearby, healthy cells. Common side effects, which include pain and irritation in the targeted area, can often be treated with over-the-counter remedies or prescription medications.
• Surgery: Sometimes the most efficient way to reduce the size of a tumor is to surgically remove some or all of it. Whether or not surgery is an option will depend on several factors, including the location of cancerous cells, how widespread the disease is throughout the body, and the patient’s overall health.

All of these treatments may be either curative (intended to treat the illness) or palliative (intended to reduce the symptoms caused by the illness).

How Can We Help

Coping with a deadly disease like cancer, or helping a loved one with this illness, can be intensely challenging on many different levels. Our attorneys are dedicated to making at least one part of the process relatively simple: learning about and protecting your rights. If you believe you have grounds for legal compensation, we can inform you of your options and aggressively represent you. To learn more about legal options for you and your family, contact the Gregg J. Borri Law Offices today at 212-980-8866.