What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, a disease caused only by exposure to asbestos, only strikes an estimated 3000 US citizens a year, but it’s effects can be felt by each and every one of us throughout the entire population.

What really hit’s home with the stories of those suffering from Mesothelioma, however, is how much they are just like everybody else; they worked for years to provide for their families, the people we see each morning at the coffee shop, the man who repairs your car with a smile, the elderly wife you see in the aisles of the local grocery store, your next-door neighbors, your friends.

They are no different than anyone of you, and yet they are fighting each and every day for their survival.

A mesothelioma diagnosis is generally tested for in one of two ways. Depending on the condition of the patient, the doctor may want to do a minimally intrusive procedure called a needle biopsy. The procedure allows the doctor to abstract cells suspected of cancer infection from the lining affected area. The doctor can run tests on the mesothelial cells to determine the proper diagnosis for the patient. There are several ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to run tests for mesothelioma. A thoracoscopy or laparoscopy entails making a small incision and using a tiny camera to look at the affected area. At this time a small tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples will be sent away to a pathologists for further tests. Your doctor may decide to do a needle biopsy, where a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the chest cavity. However, needle biopsies can be less than precise.


The second more common way that doctors test for mesothelioma is to surgically enter the patients body, at which time they cut a small piece of infected tissue for biopsy purposes. This test is known as an "open biopsy". The abstracted tissue is then sent out for testing by a specialist. This process generally takes several days. If this test reveals the presence of mesothelioma the doctor will determine whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is benign or malignant.

Generally, the oncologist will start the patient on a series of chemotherapy treatments to slow the growth of the mesothelioma. If the doctor determines, after running tests, that the patient is not a candidate for chemotherapy, the oncologists may prescribe medication to help the patient with pain management.

 ALIMTA

A mesothelioma patient should request information on Alimta. Alimta is a relatively new type of cancer treatment being developed by Eli Lilly. In the past, a mesothelioma patient had to meet strict criteria in order to qualify to participate in the clinical trials of this treatment. However, the good news for patients and their families is that this procedure has recently been approved by the FDA and is the first treatment proven to significantly increase the length of survival in patients while at the same time alleviating significant symptoms associated with this disease.

CISPLATIN

Cisplatin is a form of chemotherapy used to treat mesothelioma. It is in a class of drugs that are designed to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells and is passed into the body intravenously. Because Cisplatin affects good cells as well as cancer cells, patients taking Cisplatin may experience side effects. As with any medication, patients are smart to report any potential side effects to a doctor immediately.

Cisplatin is often used in combination with Alimta. Patients taking Cisplatin in combination with Alimta have longer average life expectancies than patients taking Cisplatin by itself. Cisplatin must only be administered by a certified healthcare professional or caregiver. Alimta (pemetrexed) in combination with Cisplatin (Platinol®) was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma.

Your treating physician will let you know if you are a candidate for this type of chemotherapy regimen.

IMMUNOTHERAPY

This type therapy requires the removal of a mesothelioma patient’s affected cells, activation of those cells and reintroduction into the infected peritoneum. This procedure is often done in conjunction with other forms of chemotherapy. It is generally thought that a patient in the very early stages of mesothelioma, would benefit the most from this procedure. In fact, initial studies have shown that in some cases the procedure has been successful in “shrinking” the mesothelioma tumor.

GENE THERAPY

The study surrounding this type of therapy has showed tremendous results in animals, but the affects of the treatment in human trials have been much less successful. This type of Therapy is one that your doctor would need to look at very closely in order to determine if you or a loved one would be a viable candidate. Often times this type of therapy is done in combination with other chemotherapy options. Unfortunately, the results have not been consistent.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

This type of new therapy involves ingesting a drug that makes the cancerous cells extremely sensitive to particular wave lengths of lights. This requires a surgical procedure, and to date, the procedure has not had any definitive results showing increased survival rates.

MULTIMODALITY THERAPY

Mesothelioma is a very difficult cancer for doctors to treat. The medical community is always seeking to learn of new and more effective ways for treating this condition. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are all being studied in order to hopefully find a cure mesothelioma patients.

mesothelioma or asbestosis FAQ's

Who has the right to file for compensation for mesothelioma?

A mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed by a person who has developed mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos. In the event that the person has passed away, the lawsuit can be filed by a family member or the executor of the deceased’s estate. A lawsuit can also be filed by a family member who has developed the disease through close contact with the person who was exposed to asbestos.

How long does the process take?

The process can take quite a while, although there is no set time and some lawyers will get your case sorted faster than others. The more research that is required to put a solid case together, the longer it will take.

How long do I have to file my claim?

This differs from state to state but generally the time limit is one to two years from diagnosis. It is important that you check on the time limitation for your state and act within the limitations otherwise you may not be eligible to claim. If you are claiming on behalf of the deceased, time limitations still apply and it is probably even more important to act quickly because of the time limits and the research required by the lawyer.

What if I don’t know where and when I was exposed to asbestos?

It is helpful if you know this and will certainly speed up the process, but if you don’t remember the lawyer will be able to help. A private investigator can be hired through the lawyer (paid for by the lawyer) who will do the necessary research to clarify when and where the exposure took place and which company or companies are responsible.

How can I afford legal assistance?

You won’t need to worry about having cash up front because mesothelioma lawyers usually work on a no win no fee basis. You will not have to pay a penny unless you receive compensation, and then the lawyer will take a percentage of the compensation as his fee.

How much will I get?

It’s impossible to say how much you will get as it depends on the merits of your case. Your lawyer will discuss this with you in more detail when you go through the details of your claim, but past settlements have notched up hundred of thousands of dollars and even multi-million dollar payouts.

Where can I find a mesothelioma lawyer?

There are now many mesothelioma lawyers and you should have no problem finding one. The Internet is a good place to start your search, as many mesothelioma lawyers advertise there. You can check out many credentials and assess the experience of individual law firms by searching on the Internet. You can also submit your details via the Internet in many cases, allowing the law firm to evaluate your case and then contact you. You can also check in your local phone directory for details of mesothelioma lawyers. However, try to find a lawyer that has experience of working with mesothelioma lawsuits as they will already have a network of resources and contact that could help to process your case more quickly.

Will the lawsuit be filed in the state where I live?

Not necessarily. Your lawyer will select the state in which you have the best chance of success and where you are likely to get the highest compensation. This will make no difference to you as you will not have to pay any extra and may end up getting far more compensation in another state.

Will my case go to court?

Again, it is impossible to say until your lawyer has tried to settle out of court. However, most mesothelioma cases are settled out of court and this saves both sides money because taking the case to court can get costly.