Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers
Contact an experienced Houston asbestos lawyer if you've been diagnosed with asbestosis or if a loved one has died from this rare cancer that is caused by asbestos. You may be eligible for compensation.
A national asbestos law firm can help you receive the compensation you're entitled to. They are also familiar with the laws and regulations of each state.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
In most cases, a mesothelioma doctor will use a variety of tests to make a diagnosis. The most crucial test to conduct is a biopsy. Doctors take a small piece of tissue from the affected region and send it to examination. Doctors may also conduct an MRI scan or CT scan in order to determine the extent of cancer's growth and to collect other information which could be beneficial for the treatment process.
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify because it can mimic symptoms of other illnesses like lung cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. This can lead victims to get misdiagnosed. Because the time of latency for mesothelioma is lengthy it can take years before a patient is diagnosed.
Once a doctor suspects mesothelioma they will perform physical examination and take blood samples to measure the levels of certain proteins that suggest cancer within the body. They will also examine their breathing and heart rate. Mesothelioma is most likely to affect the lungs and abdomen, and doctors will typically conduct chest x-rays to look for fluid around the lung (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 place of origin.
A mesothelioma doctor will usually take a fine-needle biopsy to obtain a small sample of cellular tissue for testing. This procedure is carried out under local anesthesia. In some cases doctors will have to operate in order to access the tumor and collect an additional sample of tissue to be tested for. The most reliable method to diagnose Mesothelioma is through surgical biopsies.
A mesothelioma lawyer can be capable of helping victims understand their legal options. They can review the medical records of a victim and determine the amount of compensation they may be entitled to. Compensation can help cover expenses related to caregiver expenses, travel funeral costs, loss of income. Mesothelioma lawyers can assist victims and their family members file mesothelioma suits in the courts to get fair damages.
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. The tissue is comprised of two layers that have a small amount fluid between them, allowing organs to move without restriction. The mesothelioma malignancy is located in the cells of mesothelium. It may be spread to other organs and cause discomfort.
There are a variety of mesothelioma that differ in the location in the mesothelium where the cancer develops. The most frequent type of mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding your lung. This is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma occur in the tissue surrounding your heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or in the lining of the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma). The symptoms differ based on the area where the mesothelioma has been situated. In general, symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing and weight loss, fever and fatigue.
The doctor can detect mesothelioma after a physical exam and taking notes on your medical background. They may also recommend imaging tests, for example CT scans or X-rays. The imaging tests will search for any lumps or abnormalities in your lungs as well as other parts of the body. They will also check for a buildup of fluid between the lung and chest wall, known as pleural effusion. This is the most common indication of pleural cancer.
A biopsy is typically required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a small sample of tissue and examining it under a magnifying glass to determine whether it is cancerous. The doctor can conduct a biopsy either by inserting a needle into tumor or by making a surgical cut on the skin.
Your doctor will discuss your treatment options once you've been diagnosed mesothelioma. There are three standard mesothelioma treatments which include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Each treatment type comes with its own advantages and risks. Certain patients also have success with immunotherapy. This treatment relies on your immune system to fight cancer.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, or cancer of the mesothelium (a layer of tissue that lines specific cavities in 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 which is the tissue that forms the wall around your lungs. Other mesothelioma types form in the stomach lining as well as around the heart.
Doctors use a combination of tests to determine mesothelioma. They start with a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They will also rule out other diseases that could be causing the symptoms. They may order imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI. These scans can identify abnormalities, like a tumor or a thickening of the mesothelium.
Blood tests can also help diagnose mesothelioma. These tests can check the health of your kidneys, blood cells and liver. They can also look for markers of mesothelioma, which are different from other types of cancer. This test isn't 100% accurate and does not always detect mesothelioma.
If your doctor notices that you have fluid in the lungs or around your lungs, they will need to perform a biopsy to make the mesothelioma diagnosis. A small sample of tissue is removed and sent to a lab for testing. If they are unable to perform the procedure, they will have to look for additional evidence of mesothelioma such as an asbestos-related history or other health issues that are that are related to mesothelioma.
The results of the biopsy will help doctors decide on the best treatment. They can also determine the stage of your mesothelioma, or how far it has spread from its original site. The stage of your mesothelioma will depend on the site of the cancer and whether it is located in lymph nodes, other parts of the body or elsewhere.
If pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors may undergo a procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves the use of a chemical or drug to cause the lining of the lungs to scar and stick to the lung. This helps reduce the accumulation of fluid and improves breathing. You can remove the fluid at home using the help of a catheter.
Treatment of Mesothelioma
The treatment of mesothelioma varies on the stage and location of the cancer. Doctors may decide to treat the disease with chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Doctors may also combine these treatments.
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma due to the symptoms that are often similar to other types of cancer. Tests can help doctors confirm the diagnosis, such as chest x-rays and CT scan. Doctors may also request the collection of a blood sample to test for high levels of certain substances linked with asbestos exposure, including fibulin-3 as well as soluble mesothelin-related Peptides. They can also perform the thoracentesis procedure in order to eliminate the lungs of fluid. This allows the doctor to determine whether mesothelioma was the cause of the fluid buildup.
washington mesothelioma lawyer is a popular treatment for mesothelioma. It can be used to relieve symptoms or shrink the size of tumors. In pleural pleural tumors, doctors can drain fluid from the chest or remove tissue that lines the chest and lungs (pleurectomy). The procedure won't cure mesothelioma however it can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to eliminate cancerous cells. It can be utilized to facilitate surgery or to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery (adjuvant therapy). For patients suffering from peritoneal msothelioma doctors can inject heated chemotherapy drugs directly in the abdomen.
Radiation therapy utilizes a machine to deliver radiation beams to the affected areas. This treatment can shrink or kill mesothelioma cancers and is often combined with chemotherapy and surgery. Radiation therapy can cause fatigue, skin problems and hair loss. It can also cause mouth sores, vomiting, and nausea.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact a Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer as soon as you can. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you to file a lawsuit against the business responsible for the exposure you have to asbestos. You could be awarded compensation for medical bills, 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 for a complimentary consultation today.