Mesothelioma FAQs
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. When mesothelioma cancer spreads the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal. These malignant cells begin to divide and spread without order and can begin to affect organs and tissues in the immediate area. This often leads to complications in the surrounding organs. Most patients diagnosed with the disease are given eight to twelve months to live. Even with early detection and the best treatment, the average five-year survival rate is only 20 percent.
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Most cases of mesothelioma are related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs as a long thin fiber in the environment. Some of the occupations that exposed workers to asbestos directly or indirectly are those involving carpentry, demolition, factory work, insulation, shipbuilding, installation of brake linings in vehicles, and many others. Despite efforts to eliminate asbestos from our environment, many public and private buildings still contain asbestos today.
What are the Symptoms?
Mesothelioma develops at a slow rate, making it difficult for people to know when they have it. The first symptoms are often shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, cough, nausea, pain in the abdomen, or anemia. All of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses, which makes it difficult to recognize the disease in its early stages.
Is there a Cure?
While there is no cure at this time for this fatal cancer, new treatments have been remarkably successful in extending both the quantity and quality of life of mesothelioma victims. Most mesothelioma victims diagnosed with the disease are given eight to twelve months to live. Even with early detection and the best treatment, the average five-year survival rate is only about 20 percent. The National Cancer Institute reports that although reported incidence rates of mesothelioma have increased in the past 20 years, it is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Though mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, it can appear in either men or women at any age. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 to 80 percent of all cases.
How can you treat Mesothelioma Victims?
The treatment options for mesothelioma depend on many factors, including: where the cancer is, the stage of the cancer, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, and the patient's age and desires. Mesothelioma is more treatable when diagnosed early. Treatment options include Tri-modality Therapy, Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Clinical Trials, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Gene Therapy, Drug Therapy ,Pain Control and Management, and Miscellaneous Treatments.
Who Can Help?
The law firm of Paul, Hanley & Harley has offices located throughout California, including Berkeley, Westlake Village (Los Angeles), San Francisco, and San Diego, and our California malignant mesothelioma lawyers handle cases in courts throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and across the United States. To learn more about mesothelioma, treatment options, or the California malignant mesothelioma asbestos cancer attorneys at Paul, Hanley & Harley, please contact us today for a free confidential consultation. For immediate assistance call us toll free at 1-800-933-2244
http://www.phhlaw.com/PracticeAreas/PracticeAreaDescriptions13.asp
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. When mesothelioma cancer spreads the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal. These malignant cells begin to divide and spread without order and can begin to affect organs and tissues in the immediate area. This often leads to complications in the surrounding organs. Most patients diagnosed with the disease are given eight to twelve months to live. Even with early detection and the best treatment, the average five-year survival rate is only 20 percent.
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Most cases of mesothelioma are related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs as a long thin fiber in the environment. Some of the occupations that exposed workers to asbestos directly or indirectly are those involving carpentry, demolition, factory work, insulation, shipbuilding, installation of brake linings in vehicles, and many others. Despite efforts to eliminate asbestos from our environment, many public and private buildings still contain asbestos today.
What are the Symptoms?
Mesothelioma develops at a slow rate, making it difficult for people to know when they have it. The first symptoms are often shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, cough, nausea, pain in the abdomen, or anemia. All of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses, which makes it difficult to recognize the disease in its early stages.
Is there a Cure?
While there is no cure at this time for this fatal cancer, new treatments have been remarkably successful in extending both the quantity and quality of life of mesothelioma victims. Most mesothelioma victims diagnosed with the disease are given eight to twelve months to live. Even with early detection and the best treatment, the average five-year survival rate is only about 20 percent. The National Cancer Institute reports that although reported incidence rates of mesothelioma have increased in the past 20 years, it is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Though mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, it can appear in either men or women at any age. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 to 80 percent of all cases.
How can you treat Mesothelioma Victims?
The treatment options for mesothelioma depend on many factors, including: where the cancer is, the stage of the cancer, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, and the patient's age and desires. Mesothelioma is more treatable when diagnosed early. Treatment options include Tri-modality Therapy, Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Clinical Trials, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Gene Therapy, Drug Therapy ,Pain Control and Management, and Miscellaneous Treatments.
Who Can Help?
The law firm of Paul, Hanley & Harley has offices located throughout California, including Berkeley, Westlake Village (Los Angeles), San Francisco, and San Diego, and our California malignant mesothelioma lawyers handle cases in courts throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and across the United States. To learn more about mesothelioma, treatment options, or the California malignant mesothelioma asbestos cancer attorneys at Paul, Hanley & Harley, please contact us today for a free confidential consultation. For immediate assistance call us toll free at 1-800-933-2244
http://www.phhlaw.com/PracticeAreas/PracticeAreaDescriptions13.asp
