This month we will cover two sides of mesothelioma: the legal elements and the medical elements. Each side of this disease can be heavily daunting. One side of the coin gives you a diagnosis that in a large majority of the cases is fatal within 2 years. There are many obstacles to cover to prolong life and protect and preserve the quality of life that remains. The other side of the coin represents the law and the illegal exposure to asbestos that was the cause of your deadly illness. Most will want to legally pursue options to hold the parties of this exposure responsible and go after monetary compensation.
Your first inclination about asbestos-related illness will come from a medical diagnosis. Most people are devastated and do not know exactly where to begin. Finding a medical professional or specialist near you will be your first priority. Your next priority will be to understand the legal implications of the negligence of others afflicting you with a deadly disease and you will want to take legal recourse.
Both sides of this coin represent a battle – each with specific steps and understandings you must comprehend and master in order to win the war. This months’ blogs will help to empower you with information to cover both fronts.
Stage 4 mesothelioma usually signals that the cancer has spread to several destinations in the body. In stage IV, the chest cavity and other organs have been invaded with cancer cells. The normal mesothelioma treatment options are not usually viable because of the level of illness present. Most treatments will be palliative, meaning they will be used to keep a patient comfortable and out of pain rather than for a cure. They will also improve intolerable symptoms.
Stage 4 mesothelioma is the most advanced stage of this cancer. As tumor growth and symptoms have intensified, curative surgery will be ineffective. Most specialists have options for supportive care to assist patients and family members cope with final steps.
The cancer has most likely spread to both sides of the body and also spread to the lymph node system. This could spread cancer to the spine, lining of the heart, brain, prostate or other vital locations. When diagnosed at this stage, treatments for patients do try to prolong life taking into account the quality of living. Many doctors have noted that a patients’ outlook largely determines how well they will respond to the treatment. Negative outlooks normally produce negative outcomes to treatment.
Mesothelioma symptoms at stage IV can affect several organs in the body. A patient will most likely experience fever, night sweats, shortness of breath, fluid retention, abdominal pain, fatigue, and malaise, which is a general feeling of illness. Many will experience cachexia, a syndrome involving weight loss, muscle atrophy, appetite loss and fatigue. A patient can also experience issues with the blood, including thrombocytosis, high platelet count or anemia, low red blood cell count.