Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers
Contact an experienced Houston asbestos lawyer if you have been diagnosed with asbestosis or if a loved one has died from this rare cancer caused by asbestos. You could be entitled to compensation.
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The diagnosis of Mesothelioma
In the majority of cases, a mesothelioma specialist will require a series of tests to make a diagnosis. The most crucial test to be performed is the biopsy. Doctors take a small portion of tissue from the affected region and send it to examination. Doctors can also do an MRI or CT scan to determine if the cancer has spread in the body, and to gather other information that could be beneficial to the treatment process.
It is hard to recognize mesothelioma because it can mimic other illnesses such as lung cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. It is easy for patients to be wrongly diagnosed. Because the time of latency for mesothelioma is long it can take a long time before a patient is diagnosed.
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and collect blood samples to determine the presence of certain proteins in the body that could indicate cancer. They will also check the patient's heart rate as well as breathing. The most frequent areas for mesothelioma to affect are the lungs and abdomen. Doctors therefore will perform chest x-rays in order to look for fluid around the lungs or abdominal lining. They may also recommend the positron emission tomography (PET), or magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) to gather more details about the tumor.
A mesothelioma specialist will typically perform a fine-needle biopsy in order to collect a small amount of cellular tissue for testing. This procedure is done under local anesthesia. In certain situations doctors may have to operate on a patient in order to access the tumor and obtain more of the sample to test. Surgical biopsies are usually the most reliable way to detect mesothelioma.
An attorney for mesothelioma can assist victims understand their legal rights. They will be able to review the medical records of a victim and determine the amount of they are entitled to. Compensation can help cover expenses related to medical expenses, travel costs, caregiver costs funeral expenses, loss of income. Mesothelioma lawyers can assist victims and their family members bring mesothelioma suit in the courts to get fair damages compensation.
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 with a small amount fluid in between to allow your organs to move freely. Malignant mesothelioma can be found in the cells of the mesothelium and can spread to other areas of the body, causing additional pain and affecting other organs.
There are various types of mesothelioma based on where in the mesothelium the cancer occurs. The most prevalent kind affects the tissue that surrounds your lung. This is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, less well-known types of mesothelioma occur in the tissue that surrounds your heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or in the lining of your testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma). The symptoms differ based on where the mesothelioma is situated. Symptoms include shortness in breath and coughing, chest pain, fatigue and weight loss.
The doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through an examination and writing notes on your medical background. They will also order an imaging test, such as a CT scan or an X-ray. The imaging tests are used to check for abnormalities and lumps in the lungs and other parts of your body. They will also check for a buildup of fluid between the chest and lung wall, referred to as pleural effusion. This is the most commonly reported symptom of mesothelioma pleural.
A biopsy is typically required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. It involves removing a small portion of tissue from the affected area, and then studying it under a microscope in order to determine whether it is cancerous. The doctor can conduct a biopsy either by inserting an needle into the tumor or creating a surgical incision through the skin.
Once you have a mesothelioma diagnosis your doctor will discuss the options for treatment with you. There are three kinds of standard mesothelioma treatments including surgery, chemo, and radiation. Each treatment type has its own advantages and dangers. Some patients also have positive results with immunotherapy. This treatment relies on your own immune system to fight cancer.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer that is found in the mesothelium, a layer of tissues that line specific cavities in the body, like the chest or abdomen. Three out of every four cases of mesothelioma can be found in the pleura which is the tissue that surrounds your lung. Other mesothelioma types form within the stomach lining and around the heart.
Doctors use a combination of tests to determine mesothelioma. They begin with a physical examination and ask you about your symptoms. They also look for other illnesses that could be causing the symptoms. They may recommend imaging tests such as an CT scan or MRI. These scans may reveal abnormalities like a tumour or mesothelium that has thickened.
Blood tests can help diagnose mesothelioma. These tests can assess the health of your kidneys, blood cells, and liver. They can also check for mesothelioma-related markers that are different from those of other cancers. This test isn't 100% accurate and is not always able to detect mesothelioma.
If your doctor discovers that there is fluid around your lungs, they will have to conduct a biopsy in order to determine if mesothelioma is present. This involves removing a tiny sample of tissue and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. If they cannot perform a biopsy, then they will require other evidence of mesothelioma. This could be a history of asbestos or other health issues that are related to mesothelioma.
The results of a biopsy can aid doctors in determining the best treatment. The biopsy will also determine the stage of your mesothelioma or how far the cancer has spread from its original trenton mesothelioma lawyer site. The stage of your mesothelioma depends on the site of the cancer and whether it is in lymph nodes, other parts of the body, or in another location.
If pleural mesothelioma is found to be a cause doctors often undergo a procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves using drugs or chemicals to cause the lining of the lungs to be damaged and adhere to the lung. This reduces the buildup of fluid and improves breathing. You can flush the fluid at home using the help of a catheter.
Treatment of Mesothelioma
The treatment of mesothelioma will be dependent on the stage and location of the cancer. Doctors can choose to treat mesothelioma through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Doctors may also combine these treatments.
It is a challenge to recognize mesothelioma because the symptoms are often similar to those of other illnesses. Tests can help doctors confirm the diagnosis, including a chest x-ray and CT scan. Doctors can also request an analysis of blood samples to look for elevated levels of specific substances associated with asbestos exposure, including fibulin-3 and soluble mesothelin-related peptides. They can also conduct the thoracentesis procedure in order to eliminate fluid from around the lungs. This aids the doctor in determining whether mesothelioma caused the buildup of fluid.
Surgery is commonly used to treat mesothelioma. It can reduce the size of tumors or alleviate symptoms. In pleural pleural cancer, doctors can drain fluid from the chest or remove tissue that lines the chest and lungs (pleurectomy). This procedure won't cure the cancer, but it will decrease symptoms and increase the quality of your life.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill cancerous cells. It can be used before surgery to make the procedure simpler or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the possibility of cancer recurrence. Doctors can also inject heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) in patients with mesothelioma peritoneal.
Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses a machine that sends radiation beams into the affected region. This treatment can shrink mesothelioma tumors or eliminate them. It is possible to combine it together with surgery and chemo. Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue, skin issues mouth sores, hair loss and vomiting.
Contact a Houston Mesothelioma Attorney as quickly as you can if someone close to your heart has been diagnosed with the disease. An experienced lawyer can assist you in filing a suit against the business responsible for the asbestos exposure. You may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other expenses.
Sutliff & Stout, Houston's lawyers, are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of families and victims. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation.