Mesothelioma Treatments
and Options Available
Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Alternative or complementary medicine has been beneficial in some cases. Your doctor may recommend a combination of therapies for fighting the disease. It is sometimes referred to as asbestos cancer, because most cases are caused by exposure to the mineral. Work-related exposure to the material is often involved.
If you are diagnosed with this or another asbestos-related disease and you've worked with the hazardous material, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. Some law firms specialize in these cases. The malignancy is most often located in the pleura surrounding the lungs. But, the mesothelium surrounds other organs including the heart. It also lines the abdominal cavity. Malignancies are sometimes found in those portions of the mesothelium. It is assumed that asbestos cancer occurs because tiny particles of the mineral can float in the air, especially during mining and other manufacturing processes. The particles can be inhaled and enter the lungs or swallowed and enter the digestive system. Once inside of the body, it is theorized that the fibers penetrate through the lungs or stomach and enter the mesothelium causing the formation of cancerous tumors. Although it is considered a rare form of malignancy, there has been a great deal of research concerning effective mesothelioma treatments. Surgery is usually combined with radiation and chemotherapy. According to studies conducted by Duke University in 2008, this kind of combination treatment has successfully put the disease into remission. Chemotherapy alone has proven beneficial for treating asbestos cancer in some clinical trials according to a study published in 2003. The drug therapies used include cisplatin and pemetrexed. The researchers found that folate supplements and vitamin B12 injections further improved the drug’s effectiveness. Immunotherapy is another of the mesothelioma treatments. This kind of therapy involves injecting compounds like interferon alpha, which boosts the immune system response. It is not recommended for all patients because of unwanted side effects. In some trials, this treatment provided a 50% reduction in tumor mass. There is a long history of legal action against manufacturers that allow their employees to be exposed to the mineral without taking safety precautions. The risks of exposure have been known for thousands of years, although the asbestos cancer connection was not firmly established until the 1960s. It is also possible to contract the disease due to pollution from factories. A famous case in England involved residents that lived near the Turner & Newall factory. Thousands of cases have been filed and settled worldwide. Hundreds of judgments have been won by US workers, with at least one or two cases in practically every state. Some law firms that specialize in handling these cases are familiar with doctors offering the latest mesothelioma treatments. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with the disease, you should contact a law firm and learn more about your treatment options and your legal rights.
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