Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or lost a loved one to this rare asbestos cancer, contact an experienced Houston mesothelioma lawyer. You could be entitled to compensation.

A national asbestos law firm has the expertise to help you get the money you deserve. They also know the state laws and regulations.

Diagnose Mesothelioma

In the majority of instances, a specialist will require a combination of tests to diagnose mesothelioma. The most crucial test is a biopsy where doctors take a small sample of the affected area for testing. Doctors may also perform an MRI scan or CT scan to determine the extent of cancer's spread and to gather other data that could prove beneficial for the treatment process.

It is difficult to identify mesothelioma due to the fact that it can be a symptom other diseases like lung cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. It is very easy for patients to be misdiagnosed. As the latency period of mesothelioma is long it can take years before a patient is diagnosed.

Once a doctor suspects mesothelioma, they will conduct physical examination and take blood samples to measure the levels of certain proteins that indicate cancer within the body. They will also check their breathing and heart rate. Mesothelioma is more likely to affect the lungs as well as the abdomen, which is why doctors generally run chest xrays to search for fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) or in the abdominal lining (ascites). They may also recommend an positron emission (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to get more details about the tumor and its location.

A mesothelioma physician will typically conduct a biopsy using a fine needle to collect a small amount of cells to test. This procedure is carried out under local anesthesia. In certain instances, a doctor will need to operate in order to access the tumor and collect a larger sample of tissue to test. The surgical biopsy is usually the most reliable way to diagnose mesothelioma.

An attorney for mesothelioma will be able help victims understand their legal rights. They can examine medical records to determine if a victim is entitled to compensation. Compensation can be used to cover the cost of travel, caregiving costs and funeral expenses. Mesothelioma lawyers can also help victims and their families bring mesothelioma lawsuits to court to get fair compensation for damages.

Mesothelioma Signs and Symptoms

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 with tiny amounts of fluid between them, allowing organs to move around freely. The mesothelioma cancer is found in the cells of mesothelium. It can grow to other organs, and can cause discomfort.

There are different types of mesothelioma, depending on where in the mesothelium the cancer develops. The most prevalent mesothelioma type affects the tissues surrounding your lungs. This is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, less well-known mesothelioma types are found in the tissue that surrounds your heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or within the lining of the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma). The symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on the site of the cancer. In general, symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing as well as weight loss, and fatigue.

Your doctor will diagnose mesothelioma through physical examination as well as by taking a medical history. They will also request an imaging test, like an CT scan or an X-ray. The imaging tests will search for any lumps or irregularities in your lungs or other parts of the body. They will also check for a fluid buildup between the lung and chest wall which is known as the pleural effusion. This is the most common sign of pleural mesothelioma.

A biopsy is often needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. It involves removing a small sample of tissue from the affected area and studying it under a microscope in order to determine if it is cancerous. Your doctor can perform the biopsy by either inserting an needle into the tumor or by making a surgical cut on the skin.

Once you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. There are three types of mesothelioma treatment that include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Each treatment comes with its own risks and benefits. Some patients also have success with immunotherapy. This treatment utilizes your own immune system to fight cancer.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, or mesothelium cancer (a layer of tissue that lines specific spaces within the human body such as the chest and abdomen) is a form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium. Three out of four cases of mesothelioma occur in the pleura, which is the area that surrounds your lungs. Other mesothelioma forms in the stomach lining and around the heart.

Doctors employ a combination test to diagnose mesothelioma. It starts with a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They also look for other diseases which could be causing the symptoms. They may recommend imaging scans, such as an CT or MRI. These scans can detect abnormalities, such as a tumor or a thickening of the mesothelium.

Blood tests can help diagnose mesothelioma. They can determine how your blood cells, liver and kidneys are functioning. They can also look for mesothelioma-related markers, that are distinct from other cancer types. This test isn't perfect and is not always able to detect mesothelioma.

If doctors notice that there is fluid in the space around your lungs, they will need to do a biopsy to establish an mesothelioma diagnosis. A small portion of the tissue is taken and sent to a laboratory for testing. If they aren't able to conduct an actual biopsy, they'll have to look for additional signs of mesothelioma, such as the history of exposure to asbestos mesothelioma lawyers or other health issues that are related to mesothelioma.

The results of the biopsy may aid doctors in deciding on the best mesothelioma lawyers the best treatment. They can also determine the stage of your mesothelioma, or how far it has spread from its initial location. The stage of your mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer and whether it is located in lymph nodes, in other parts of the body, or elsewhere.

If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors may perform a procedure called pleurodesis. This involves the use of drugs or chemicals to cause the lung's lining to scar and stick to the lung. This decreases the accumulation of fluid and improves breathing. You can remove the fluid at home using a catheter.

Treatment of Mesothelioma

The treatment of mesothelioma depends on the stage and location of the cancer. Doctors can choose to treat mesothelioma through surgery, chemo and radiation therapy. Doctors can also combine these treatments.

Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis using tests like an CT scan or chest x-ray. Doctors can order tests in the blood to check for elevated levels of asbestos exposure. These substances include fibulin-3, mesothelin-soluble peptides and fibulin-3. They can also perform a thoracentesis procedure in order to drain the fluid from the lung. This helps the doctor determine if mesothelioma is a reason for the buildup of fluid in the chest.

Surgery is commonly used to treat mesothelioma. It can reduce the size of tumors or alleviate symptoms. In the case of pleural mesothelioma doctors can drain fluid from the chest (pleurodesis) or remove the tissue that is lining the lung and chest wall (pleurectomy). This treatment won't eliminate the cancer, but it can reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Chemotherapy employs chemicals to kill cancer cells. It can be used to ease the process of surgery or to decrease the chance of recurrence from cancer after surgery (adjuvant therapy). In patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma, doctors can also inject heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen.

Radiation therapy uses a machine to send radiation beams to the affected areas. This treatment can shrink mesothelioma tumors or eliminate them. It can be combined together with surgery and chemo. Radiation therapy can cause skin issues, fatigue 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 quickly as you are able. A knowledgeable lawyer can assist you bring a suit against the company responsible for the exposure you have to asbestos. Compensation for your medical bills or lost wages, as well as other losses can be recouped.

The Houston lawyers at Sutliff & Stout are dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of victims and their families. Contact us now for a free consultation.