Mesophelioma Victims: Fight for your Rights!

A few decades ago hundreds of construction workers suffered Mesophelioma from asbestos exposure in their workplaces. Nowadays, a great number of these people are suffering from malignant Mesophelioma. There is a period of 20 to 50 years between the initial exposure and the development of the Mesophelioma disease. The diagnosis of Mesophelioma is quite difficult because the initial Mesophelioma symptoms are very similar to the ones from a common flu.

People diagnosed with malignant Mesophelioma are usually told that the expected Mesophelioma survival rate is only from eight to twelve months. During this period Mesophelioma treatments and Mesophelioma special cares to relieve the pain are needed. When on time, there is a possibility of a surgery that can take out the Mesophelioma cancer. If not, chemotherapy (taking drugs to fight the cancer) and radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill Mesophelioma cancer cells) are the only choices that will hopefully help the Mesophelioma victim. These Mesophelioma treatments are quite expensive. In the worse of cases, he/she will die before legal measures are taken.

If one of these situations takes place, the Mesophelioma patients as well as their families must look for justice and fair resolution of this Mesophelioma problem. Having to deal with pain and suffering from the Mesophelioma disease is enough; it is quite unfair to be in the position of dealing with economical pressures due to the high monetary demands of the Mesophelioma treatments of this Mesophelioma disease. That is why Mesophelioma patients must know that they can set a legal lawsuit against their former employers any time.

If the Mesophelioma victim did not file a lawsuit while alive a relative can take the “power of attorney”, this means that he/she can make legal decisions on behalf of the Mesophelioma victim. This should be done right after the death of the Mesophelioma victim because the statute of limitations limits the amount of time that you have to file the lawsuit. In many states, there is only one year to file the lawsuit.

Mesophelioma Treatment by Stage

Like other forms of cancer, there is currently no cure for mesophelioma. This disease can be treated, however, and many sufferers have gone on to lead rewarding lives. Your doctor will recommend a treatment course by considering where the cancer is, how far it has spread, your age, and your general health.

Localized Malignant Mesophelioma (STAGE I)

If the cancer is only in one place in the chest or abdomen, your treatment will probably be surgery to remove part of the pleura and some of the tissue around it.

If the cancer is found in a larger part of the pleura, your treatment may be one of the following:

• Surgery to remove the pleura and the tissue near it to relieve symptoms, with or without radiation therapy after surgery.
• Surgery to remove sections of the pleura, the lung, part of the diaphragm, and part of the lining around the heart.
• External beam radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy given inside your chest.
• A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.

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Advanced Malignant Mesophelioma (STAGES II, III, AND IV)

Your treatment may be one of the following:

• Draining of fluid in the chest or abdomen (thoracentesis or paracentesis) to reduce discomfort. Drugs also may be put into the chest or abdomen to prevent further collection of fluid.
• Surgery to relieve symptoms.
• Radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
• Chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy given in the chest or abdomen.

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Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma

Your treatment depends on many factors, including where the cancer came back and what treatment you received before. Clinical trials are testing new treatments.