Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers

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

A national asbestos law firm has the experience to help you get the money you deserve. They are also aware of the state laws and regulations.

Diagnose Mesothelioma

In most instances, the doctor will need to use a combination of tests to diagnose mesothelioma. The most crucial test to conduct is a biopsy. Doctors will remove a tiny portion of tissue from the affected area and send it to examination. Doctors can also conduct an MRI or CT scan to assess how the cancer has spread in the body and for other information that might be helpful to the treatment process.

It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma since it can resemble other diseases like lung cancer and inflammatory intestinal diseases. This makes it easy for patients to be mistakenly diagnosed. Since the time between diagnosis and latency of mesothelioma can be long it can take years for a patient to be diagnosed.

A doctor will conduct a physical examination and collect blood samples to test for the presence of certain proteins within the body that may indicate cancer. They will also check their heart rate and breathing. Mesothelioma is most likely to affect the lungs as well as the abdomen, so doctors will typically run chest x-rays to look for fluid in the space around the lungs (pleural effusion) or in the abdominal lining (ascites). They may also order a positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to gather more details about the tumor and its location.

A mesothelioma specialist may conduct a biopsy using a fine needle to obtain a small sample of cellular material for testing. This procedure is done under local anesthesia. In certain instances doctors will have to perform surgery to access the tumor and collect more of the tissue to test. Surgical biopsies are usually the most reliable method to detect mesothelioma.

A mesothelioma lawyer will be capable of helping victims understand their legal options. They can look over the medical records of a victim and determine what compensation they might be entitled to. Compensation can be used to cover costs related to caregiver expenses, travel funeral expenses, loss of income. Mesothelioma attorneys can help victims and their family members file mesothelioma suits in the court system to obtain fair damages compensation.

The 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 made up of two layers that have some fluid in between to allow organs to move around freely. Malignant mesothelioma occurs in the cells of the mesothelium and can spread to other areas of the body, causing discomfort and affecting other organs.

There are several types of mesothelioma based on the area of the mesothelium that the cancer is located. The most prevalent type affects the tissue that surrounds the lung. This is called pleural msothelioma. Other, less well-known types of mesothelioma can occur in the tissue surrounding your heart (pericardial mesothelioma of the peritoneal region), or in the lining surrounding the testicles. The symptoms of mesothelioma differ according to the location. Symptoms include shortness in breath as well as coughing, chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss.

Your doctor may diagnose mesothelioma through an examination of your body and writing note of your medical history. They will also request an imaging test, such as an CT scan or an X-ray. Imaging tests are used to test for lumps and other abnormalities in the lungs and other parts of your body. They will also look for the presence of fluid between the chest and lung wall, also known as the pleural effusion. This is the most commonly seen indication of pleural cancer.

A biopsy is typically required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a small portion of tissue and then examining it under a magnifying glass to determine whether it's cancerous. Your doctor can do a biopsy by inserting a needle into the tumor, or by cutting a surgical hole in the skin.

When you receive mesothelioma-related diagnosis Your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. There are three types of mesothelioma treatments that are standard including surgery, chemo, and radiation. Each has its own risks and benefits. In addition to these treatments, a few patients are successful through immunotherapy, which utilizes the body's immune system to fight the cancer.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is cancer that is found in the mesothelium, the layer of tissues that line certain cavities in the body such as the abdomen or chest. Three out of four cases of mesothelioma are found in the pleura, which forms the lining around your lungs. Other mesothelioma types may develop within the stomach lining or around the heart.

Doctors employ a combination test to determine mesothelioma. They start with a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They also rule out any other illnesses that may be causing your symptoms. They may order imaging scans such as an CT or MRI. These scans can reveal abnormalities, for example, a tumor or a thickening of the mesothelium.

Blood tests can also aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. These tests will check the health of your kidneys, blood cells and liver. They also can look for mesothelioma markers that are different from other cancers. This test is not perfect and does not always detect mesothelioma.

If your doctor notices that you have fluid in the space around your lungs, they will require a biopsy to make the mesothelioma diagnosis. This involves taking a small sample of tissue and transferring it to a laboratory for analysis. If they aren't able to conduct an actual biopsy, they'll have to look for additional signs of mesothelioma, such as a history of asbestos exposure or other health issues associated with mesothelioma.

The results of the biopsy may help doctors decide on treatment. They will also determine the stage of your mesothelioma or how far it has spread from its initial location. The process of staging is based on the location in your body mesothelioma has been found and how much is located in lymph nodes or other parts of your body.

If pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors often perform a procedure called pleurodesis. This involves using a chemical or drug to cause the lung's lining to scar and stick to the lung. This helps reduce the buildup of fluid and improves breathing. They could also flush the fluid with a catheter that can be done at home.

Treatment of Mesothelioma

The treatment for mesothelioma is based on the location and stage of the cancer. Doctors may choose to treat mesothelioma asbestos lawyers with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Doctors may also combine these treatments.

It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma because the symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis by tests like a CT scan and chest x-ray. Doctors can order tests in the blood to check for elevated levels of asbestos exposure. These include fibulin-3, soluble mesothelin derived to peptides, and fibulin-3. They can also conduct an invasive thoracentesis procedure to eliminate fluid from the lungs. This helps the doctor determine whether mesothelioma is the cause of the buildup of fluid.

Surgery is commonly used to treat mesothelioma. It can decrease the size of tumors or alleviate symptoms. In the case of pleural pleural cancer doctors can drain fluid from the chest or remove the tissue that connects the chest wall and lungs (pleurectomy). This won't cure mesothelioma but it can alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill cancerous cells. It is used prior to surgery to make the procedure more comfortable or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to decrease the chance of the cancer returning. Doctors may also use heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.

Radiation therapy is a method of treatment which makes use of a machine that emits radiation beams to the affected area. This treatment can shrink mesothelioma tumors or even kill them. It is possible to combine it with surgery and chemo. Radiation therapy side effects include fatigue, skin problems mouth sores, hair loss and vomiting.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact a Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer as soon as you are able. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you bring a suit against the business responsible for the exposure you have to asbestos. You can recover compensation for medical bills as well as lost wages and other expenses.

Sutliff & Stout, Houston's lawyers are committed to fighting for justice in the interests of families and victims. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation.