Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Throughout the US for many years, tens of thousands of people have been exposed to asbestos in various ways, and it is vital to know what you can do if you or a loved one is diagnosed. While this is an incurable and terminal cancer, mesothelioma treatment options are available that can mitigate symptoms, slow the spread of the disease, and help maintain quality of life.
Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Asbestos was widely used throughout the US in many applications until the health risks of this substance were discovered. Asbestos has natural fireproofing and insulating properties that made it a seemingly ideal component in building insulation, pipe coverings, fireproof materials, floorings, and many other products. However, asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a terminal form of cancer that takes a very long time to cause noticeable symptoms.
Only about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the US each year, so this is not a very common diagnosis. Additionally, the severe health risks of asbestos are widely recognized and understood, so asbestos use has declined dramatically and is tightly regulated today. However, new cases continue appearing every year because of asbestos exposure that happened decades ago.
The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lungs when asbestos particles are inhaled. When any asbestos-containing material is disturbed or damaged, it can release particles into the surrounding area. These particles are light enough to remain suspended for long periods, and they are very thin and sharp. Once inhaled, they can embed in the lungs and gradually develop into mesothelioma.
One of the most challenging aspects of mesothelioma is the disease’s very long latency period. It often takes decades for mesothelioma to progress enough to cause noticeable symptoms, and by this time, the disease will have already reached an advanced stage. Additionally, early symptoms could be mistaken for other illnesses, further delaying treatment.
Understanding Your Mesothelioma Treatment Options
After you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you could be eligible for various forms of treatment. In most cases, standard cancer treatments are used for mesothelioma, but these are intended to delay the spread of the disease and mitigate symptoms. Mesothelioma remains incurable, so it is difficult for many in this situation to accept this terminal diagnosis.
Treatment is recommended based on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. If mesothelioma is detected early, before it spreads to distant parts of the body, treatment can delay its spread, keep symptoms manageable, and generally promote the patient’s quality of life. However, the disease will inevitably progress, and they will eventually require palliative care.
Many standard cancer treatments cause debilitating side effects. Chemotherapy can be very challenging in several ways, causing severe nausea, chronic fatigue, hair loss, and more. Radiation treatments are similarly challenging, and surgery to remove tumors and infected tissues can lead to difficult recoveries. Some may wish to take full advantage of all available mesothelioma treatment options, while others may opt for alternative treatment.
Deciding on mesothelioma treatment options is entirely personal, and many factors come into play for every individual facing this situation. Your doctor can make recommendations based on the stage of your mesothelioma and any other medical conditions you have. If you are concerned about the high cost of cancer treatment, it’s important to hire a mesothelioma lawyer who can explain the legal options that might be available to you.
Emerging Therapies for Mesothelioma
While mesothelioma remains an incurable and terminal cancer, there are some promising emerging therapies that may be worth investigating. New drugs that target specific proteins found in high levels in mesothelioma cells can inhibit growth, and checkpoint inhibitors can potentially enable the immune system to attack cancer cells. Many of these medications are used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma.
Some patients have undergone experimental CAR-T Cell therapy that modifies T-cells to specifically target cancer cells, and early treatment tests show promising results. Tumor-treating fields use alternating electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell division. While many of these experimental emerging therapies have shown good results in early testing, they have not yet qualified for widespread adoption.
If you are an eligible candidate to receive any emerging or experimental mesothelioma treatment, your doctor can explain the potential risks and benefits. This is a personal choice, and it’s vital to know all of the mesothelioma treatment options available to you. If you are worried about the cost of mesothelioma treatment, it’s important to consult an attorney to discuss whether you have grounds to pursue compensation from the party responsible for your asbestos exposure.
Claiming Compensation for Mesothelioma
Since the only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, if a specific party is responsible for your exposure, then it is possible to claim compensation for all related damages with an experienced attorney’s help. One of the most challenging aspects of a mesothelioma case is accurately determining the most likely source of exposure, as most cases result from exposure decades ago.
A skilled mesothelioma attorney can gather evidence to prove liability for your diagnosis. Once you have proven fault, you can then pursue compensation for the damages related to your condition. If a specific party is directly responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused your mesothelioma, your attorney can help you file a claim against them for your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages in a mesothelioma case typically include medical expenses, including the cost of the future palliative care the victim will need. However, while most mesothelioma diagnoses happen later in life, usually after retirement, when this diagnosis forces you to quit working sooner than expected, you may be eligible to claim compensation for your lost future earning capacity.
In addition to these economic damages, you also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation in a personal injury case. Receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis is incredibly distressing, and mesothelioma causes painful, debilitating symptoms. Your attorney can help you determine a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation to claim from the defendant.
In some mesothelioma cases, defendants are also required to pay punitive damages. A court may order this in response to illegal misconduct, egregious negligence, or failure to comply with industry regulations. If this is a factor in your case, your attorney can explain what you can expect.
Ultimately, it’s possible to recover substantial compensation, including coverage for the mesothelioma treatment options that could be available to you. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC has successfully helped thousands of clients nationwide with their mesothelioma cases, and we can leverage this experience to help you pursue accountability and compensation. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn how we can help.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Life Expectancy of a Person Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?
A: The life expectancy of a person diagnosed with mesothelioma depends on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Localized mesothelioma that has not spread far has an average five-year survival rate of just 23%. However, once the disease spreads to distant parts of the body, the average five-year survival rate is just 11%. Early detection can make treatment more effective, but mesothelioma is ultimately an incurable and terminal cancer.
Q: Is Mesothelioma Curable?
A: No, mesothelioma is an incurable cancer. While early detection and proper treatment can help alleviate symptoms and maintain quality of life with this cancer, it is ultimately terminal. Anyone diagnosed with this disease can explore various mesothelioma treatment options, but they will eventually need to transition to palliative care.
Q: Is it Worth Undergoing Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma?
A: It is generally worth undergoing chemotherapy for mesothelioma if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. Chemotherapy may shrink tumors, slow the disease’s progression, and mitigate some symptoms. However, chemotherapy also comes with side effects, some of which can be very debilitating. Consult your doctor to determine which mesothelioma treatment options make the most sense and offer the most favorable results to determine what’s right for you.
Q: Why Should I Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
A: You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer because you may have multiple options for claiming compensation, but you will need an attorney’s help to reach optimal results. It’s possible for one or more parties to bear liability for your diagnosis, and you may need an attorney’s assistance to pinpoint the most likely sources of the asbestos exposure that led to your diagnosis and to claim appropriate compensation for your damages.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Mesothelioma?
A: The amount of compensation you can claim for mesothelioma depends on several factors. If you can prove that a specific party is responsible for your exposure, then you may be eligible to file a claim against a mesothelioma injury trust or a personal injury case for toxic exposure. A skilled mesothelioma attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have successfully helped many clients nationwide with their mesothelioma cases, and we’re ready to apply this experience to your case. Mesothelioma treatment options are quite expensive, and if a specific party is responsible for your diagnosis, our team can help you claim compensation for the cost of your treatment and other damages. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team and learn how we can help.
