Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers
Contact an experienced Houston asbestos lawyer if you have been diagnosed or if a loved one has died from this rare cancer caused by asbestos. You may be eligible for compensation.
A national asbestos law firm can help you receive the compensation you're due. They are also familiar with the state laws and regulations.
The diagnosis of Mesothelioma
In most instances, the doctor will require a combination tests in order to identify mesothelioma. The most important test to be performed is the biopsy. Doctors will remove a tiny portion of tissue from the affected area and send it to testing. Doctors can also conduct an MRI or CT scan to assess how the cancer has spread within the body as well as for additional 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 intestinal disease. This can lead patients to be misdiagnosed. As the latency period of mesothelioma can be long it can take years before a patient is diagnosed.
Once a doctor suspects mesothelioma, they will perform a physical exam and take blood samples to measure the levels of certain proteins that suggest cancer in the body. They will also assess the patient's heart rate and breathing. Mesothelioma is most likely to affect the lungs and abdomen, which is why doctors generally run chest xrays to check for fluid in the space around the lungs (pleural effusion) or in the abdominal lining (ascites). They may also recommend a positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to get more details about the tumor and its site of origin.
A mesothelioma physician will typically conduct a biopsy using a fine needle to get a small sample of cells to be tested. This procedure is carried out under local anesthesia. In some instances, a doctor will need to operate to reach the tumor and obtain more of the tissue for testing. The most reliable method to determine the presence of Mesothelioma is via surgical biopsies.
An attorney for mesothelioma can assist victims to understand their legal rights. They can look over medical records to determine if the victim is entitled to compensation. Compensation can be used to cover costs related to medical expenses, travel costs, caregiver costs funeral costs, loss of income. Mesothelioma lawyers can help victims and their family members file mesothelioma suits in the courts to get fair damages compensation.
Signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma
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, and a small amount of fluid between them to ensure that organs can move easily. The mesothelioma cancer is found in the cells of mesothelium. It may grow to other organs and cause discomfort.
There are several types of mesothelioma based on the location in the mesothelium in which the cancer is situated. The most common type affects the tissues that surrounds your lung. It is referred to as pleural msothelioma. Other, less well-known mesothelioma forms can occur in the tissue around your heart (pericardial mesothelioma peritoneal) or in the lining surrounding the testicles. The symptoms differ based on where the mesothelioma is situated. Symptoms include shortness in breath, coughing, chest pain, fatigue and weight loss.
Your doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through an examination and writing note of your medical background. They may also recommend imaging tests, like CT scans or X-rays. The imaging tests are used to test for lumps and other abnormalities in the lungs and other parts of your body. They will also look for a fluid buildup between the lung and the chest wall known as Pleural effusion. This is the most commonly seen sign of cancer of the pleural cavity.
A biopsy is typically needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a tiny sample of tissue and examining it under a magnifying glass to determine if it is cancerous. The doctor can perform a biopsy by inserting needles into the tumor or making a surgical cut in the skin.
Your doctor will talk with you about the options for treatment once you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma. There are three types of mesothelioma treatment options: surgery, chemo and radiation. Each treatment type has its own advantages and dangers. In addition to these treatments, a few patients have had success with immunotherapy, which uses your body's own immune system to fight cancer.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma or cancer of the mesothelium (a layer of tissue that lines specific spaces within the human body such as the chest and abdomen), is a cancer that develops in the mesothelium. Three out of every four cases of mesothelioma are found in the pleura. This is the tissue that forms the wall around your lungs. Other types of mesothelioma form within the stomach lining and around the heart.
Doctors employ a combination test to determine mesothelioma. They start with a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They will also rule out other illnesses which could be causing the symptoms. They may order imaging scans, such as an CT or MRI. These scans can identify abnormalities, like a tumor or a thickening of the mesothelium.
Blood tests can help identify mesothelioma. These tests will check the health of your kidneys, blood cells, and liver. They also can look for mesothelioma markers that are different from other cancers. However vancouver mesothelioma lawyer isn't always perfect and doesn't always pick up mesothelioma.
If doctors notice that there is fluid in the space around your lungs, they'll need to do a biopsy to establish a mesothelioma diagnosis. A small amount of tissue is taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. If they aren't able to conduct an actual biopsy, they'll be required to look for other evidence of mesothelioma like a history of asbestos exposure or other health problems that are related to mesothelioma.
The results of the biopsy may aid doctors in deciding on the best treatment. The biopsy can also determine the stage of your mesothelioma, or how far the cancer has spread from its original site. The process of staging depends on the area of your body the mesothelioma is and how much of it is located in lymph nodes and other areas of your body.
If pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors may perform a procedure called pleurodesis. This involves the use of an agent or chemical to cause the lung's lining to be damaged and adhere to the lung. This reduces the buildup of fluid and improves breathing. They can also drain the fluid with a catheter, which you can do at home.
Treatment of Mesothelioma
The treatment of mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and location of the cancer. Doctors may choose to treat mesothelioma through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Doctors may also combine these treatments.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis by tests like a CT scan or chest x-ray. Doctors can order an analysis of blood to look for high levels associated with asbestos exposure. These substances include fibulin-3, soluble mesothelin related to peptides, and fibulin-3. They can also perform a thoracentesis in order to eliminate fluid from the lung. This helps the doctor determine whether mesothelioma is the cause of the fluid buildup.
Surgery is frequently used to treat mesothelioma. It can reduce tumor size or relieve symptoms. In pleural mesothelioma, physicians may drain fluid from the chest (pleurodesis) or remove the tissue that is lining the chest wall and lungs (pleurectomy). This treatment won't cure cancer, but it can decrease symptoms and increase your quality of life.
Chemotherapy involves the use of chemicals to eliminate cancerous cells. It can be used before surgery to make the procedure easier or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Doctors may also use chemotherapy drugs that are heated directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients suffering from mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.
The procedure uses a device to deliver radiation beams to the affected areas. The treatment can shrink or kill mesothelioma cancers and can be combined with chemotherapy and surgery. Side effects of radiation therapy include skin issues, fatigue loss of hair, mouth sores and vomiting.
Contact a Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer as soon as you can if you or someone close to your heart has been diagnosed with the disease. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you bring a suit against the business responsible for the exposure you have to asbestos. You could be awarded compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages and other expenses.
The Houston lawyers at Sutliff & Stout are dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of victims and their families. Contact us today for a free consultation.