Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and it can take a very long time for the disease to develop enough to cause noticeable symptoms. The four stages of mesothelioma are characterized primarily by disease progression and symptom severity. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to hire a mesothelioma lawyer at your first opportunity to help you determine your legal options.
The Four Stages of Mesothelioma
The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Only about 3,000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed each year in the US, so this is not a very common form of cancer. Additionally, the health risks of asbestos are now widely understood, and asbestos use has declined dramatically over the past few decades. However, new cases of mesothelioma continue to appear because of asbestos exposure that happened many years ago.
One of the most challenging aspects of mesothelioma is the disease’s very long latency period. It often takes decades for the first noticeable symptoms to appear, and they are often mistaken for symptoms of less serious conditions. However, once these symptoms appear, the disease has likely progressed beyond the initial stage.
At Stage 1 mesothelioma, symptoms are either extremely mild or nonexistent, making early detection of mesothelioma very difficult. At this stage, the mesothelioma is localized to the site where it first developed, usually the pleura in the chest cavity or the peritoneum. When someone is diagnosed at this stage, treatment may include surgery to remove affected tissues, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment.
Stage 2 mesothelioma is characterized by moderate spread of the cancer and more noticeable symptoms. Pleural mesothelioma may have spread beyond the lungs into the lymph nodes or abdomen at this stage. Multimodal cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment, is usually the standard for stage 2 mesothelioma.
Once mesothelioma reaches stage 3, symptoms are far more severe and disruptive. They may include persistent nausea, chronic pain, difficulty breathing, and more. At this stage, surgery typically isn’t a viable option, but other treatments can help manage symptoms until the patient must transition to palliative care.
Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of mesothelioma. At this point, the cancer has spread throughout distant parts of the body. Patients at this stage will typically proceed to palliative care. Pain management, oxygen therapy, and other therapeutic treatments can manage symptoms, but this is the final stage of the cancer.
Ultimately, mesothelioma is a terminal diagnosis. Early detection of stage 1 or stage 2 mesothelioma could mean more treatment options are available, and patients who respond well to these treatments can extend life expectancy substantially and keep their symptoms in check for longer.
If you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are likely to have many difficult questions about what treatments are available, how you can afford medical care, and the various other financial issues this diagnosis has caused for your family. This news comes as a psychological shock to many, and the first steps you take after diagnosis are crucial.
The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can provide compassionate, responsive legal counsel in this difficult situation. We have successfully helped thousands of clients nationwide with their mesothelioma cases, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn more about the legal services we offer and how we can help you claim compensation.
FAQs
Q: How Much Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma?
A: Any amount of asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. There is no safe level of exposure, and a single exposure is enough for someone to eventually develop mesothelioma. However, repeated exposure greatly increases the risk of developing mesothelioma and its progression rate. The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lungs after asbestos particles are inhaled.
Q: What Is the Life Expectancy for Mesothelioma?
A: Life expectancy for mesothelioma varies based on the disease’s stage. Stage 1 mesothelioma, which is localized to a small area of the body, has an average five-year survival rate of 23%. The survival rate for Stage 2 mesothelioma is slightly lower. At Stage 3, the disease has spread to a larger region of the body, and the survival rate drops to 15%. At Stage 4, when the disease has reached distant parts of the body, the survival rate is only 11%.
Q: Is Mesothelioma Curable?
A: No, mesothelioma is an incurable cancer. Treatment focuses on mitigating symptoms and preserving quality of life as much as possible while slowing the spread of the cancer. However, anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma will eventually need to receive palliative care. Early detection usually means treatment is more effective and symptoms can be better managed, but ultimately, this is an incurable and terminal diagnosis.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Mesothelioma?
A: The amount of compensation you can claim for mesothelioma varies based on several factors. You may be eligible to claim all medical expenses related to your diagnosis, including both immediate and future medical care. If you were forced to quit work earlier than expected because of your diagnosis, it’s possible to claim compensation for your lost earning capacity. In a personal injury case, you can also claim compensation for pain and suffering.
Q: Why Should I Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
A: You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer because these cases are inherently complex in several ways, and you may have more options for recovering compensation than you initially expected. When you hire an experienced attorney to handle your case, they can help you trace the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused your condition and accurately assess all of the damages you are eligible to claim.
The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can help you make sense of your legal options after a mesothelioma diagnosis. The four stages of mesothelioma are progressively increasing challenges in many ways, and you need an experienced attorney to help you pursue accountability if a specific party is responsible for your condition. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced mesothelioma attorney you can trust.
