Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or lost a loved one to this rare asbestos cancer, contact an experienced Houston mesothelioma lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation.
A national asbestos law firm can help you receive the compensation you're due. They are also aware of state laws and regulations.
Diagnose Mesothelioma
In most instances, a specialist will require a combination of tests to identify mesothelioma. The most important test to be performed is a biopsy. Doctors take a small piece of tissue from the affected area and send it for testing. Doctors may also perform an MRI or CT scan to see how the cancer has spread throughout the body, and to gather other information that could be useful to the treatment process.
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify, because it can mimic symptoms of other illnesses like lung cancer or inflammatory colon disease. This can lead victims to get misdiagnosed. In some cases patients can go for years before being diagnosed with mesothelioma because the condition has a lengthy latency period.
Once a doctor suspects mesothelioma they will conduct physical examination and take blood samples to measure the levels of certain proteins that indicate cancer within the body. They will also assess the patient's heart rate as well as breathing. Mesothelioma is most likely to affect the lungs and abdomen, and doctors will generally run chest xrays to search for fluid in the space around the lungs (pleural effusion) or in the abdominal lining (ascites). They may also order a positron-emission tomography (PET), or magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI), to get more information about the tumor.
A mesothelioma specialist will usually conduct a biopsy using a fine needle to collect a small amount of cells to test. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia. In certain instances doctors may have to operate on a patient in order to reach the tumor and obtain more of the sample to test. The most reliable way to determine the presence of Mesothelioma is via surgical biopsies.
A mesothelioma attorney can assist victims know their legal rights. They can examine medical records to determine if a patient is entitled to compensation. Compensation may cover travel expenses, caregiver costs and funeral costs. Mesothelioma lawyers are also able to aid families and victims to file mesothelioma lawsuits before the court to receive fair compensation for damages.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a cancer that happens in the thin layer of tissue that covers and protects most of your internal organs. This tissue is composed of two layers that have some fluid in between to allow organs to move without restriction. Malignant mesothelioma occurs in mesothelium's cells and can spread to other areas of the body, causing additional pain and also affecting other organs.
There are a variety of mesothelioma based on the mesothelium in which the cancer occurs. The most prevalent mesothelioma type is one that affects the tissue around your lungs. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. Other, less well-known mesothelioma forms are found in the tissue surrounding your heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or in the lining of the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma). The symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on the location. In general, symptoms include shortness of breath coughing or chest pain, weight loss, and fatigue.
Your doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through an examination and writing note of your medical background. They may also recommend an imaging test, like a CT scan or an X-ray. The imaging tests will look for any lumps or abnormalities in your lungs or other body washington mesothelioma lawyer parts. They will also look for a buildup of fluid between the lung and chest wall, known as pleural effusion. This is the most common sign of cancer of the pleural cavity.
A biopsy is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a tiny sample of tissue from the affected area and examining it under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous. The doctor can conduct a biopsy either by inserting an needle into the tumor or making a surgical cut on the skin.
Your doctor will discuss the options for treatment once you've been diagnosed mesothelioma. There are three kinds of mesothelioma treatments that are standard that include surgery, chemo and radiation. Each treatment has its own risk and benefits. In addition to these treatments, some patients have success through immunotherapy, which utilizes the body's immune system to fight the cancer.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, also known as cancer of the mesothelium (a layer of tissue that lines certain spaces in the human body, such as the chest and abdomen) is a form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium. Three out of four mesothelioma cases are found in the pleura, which forms the lining around your lung. Other mesothelioma forms within the stomach lining and around the heart.
Doctors utilize a mix of tests to diagnose mesothelioma. They start with an examination and inquire about your symptoms. They will also rule out other conditions which could be causing the symptoms. They may recommend imaging tests like the CT scan or MRI. These scans may reveal abnormalities such as a tumour or mesothelium that has thickened.
Blood tests can also aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. These can check how your blood cells, kidneys and liver are working. They can also check for mesothelioma markers that differ from other cancers. This test is not perfect and does not always detect mesothelioma.
If your doctor observes that there is a lot of fluid around your lungs they will need to conduct a biopsy in order to identify mesothelioma. This involves taking a small sample of tissue and transferring it to a laboratory for testing. If they are unable to perform a biopsy, they will need to look for other signs of mesothelioma, such as the history of exposure to asbestos or other health problems related to mesothelioma.
The results of the biopsy may aid doctors in making decisions about treatment. They can also determine the stage of your mesothelioma or how far it has spread from its original location. The process of staging is based on the area of your body mesothelioma has been found and how much of it is located in lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
If pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors may undergo a procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves using drugs or chemicals to cause the lining of the lungs to become scarred and stick to the lung. This decreases the accumulation of fluid and improves breathing. You can flush the fluid at home with the help of a catheter.
Treatment of Mesothelioma
The treatment of mesothelioma depends on the location and stage of the cancer. Doctors may choose to treat mesothelioma using surgery, chemo and radiation therapy. Doctors can also combine these treatments.
It is a challenge to recognize mesothelioma since the symptoms are usually similar to those of other illnesses. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis with tests such as a CT scan and chest x-ray. Doctors can also request the collection of a blood sample to test for elevated levels of certain substances associated with asbestos exposure, like fibulin-3 and soluble mesothelin-related peptides. They can also perform a thoracentesis order to drain the fluid from the lungs. This helps the doctor determine whether mesothelioma caused the fluid buildup.
Surgery is a popular treatment for mesothelioma and can be used to alleviate symptoms or reduce the size of tumors. In pleural pleural cancer, doctors can drain fluid from the chest or remove tissue that forms the chest and lungs (pleurectomy). It won't cure mesothelioma, but it can alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It can be used prior to surgery to make the process more comfortable or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. In patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma, doctors can also inject chemotherapy drugs that are heated directly into the abdomen.
Radiation therapy uses a machine to deliver radiation beams to the affected areas. This treatment can shrink mesothelioma tumors or kill them. It can be used with surgery and chemo. Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue, skin problems loss of hair, mouth sores and vomiting.
Contact a Houston Mesothelioma Attorney as quickly as you can if you or someone close to your heart has been diagnosed with the disease. A knowledgeable lawyer can assist you bring a suit against the business responsible for your exposure to asbestos. Compensation for medical bills as well as lost wages and other losses can be recouped.
Sutliff & Stout, Houston's lawyers, are committed to fighting for justice in behalf of families and victims. Contact us now for a free consultation.