The Maune Raichle Law Firm

For those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma, getting treatment is much more important than filing a mesothelioma claim. Please make sure that your or your loved one is getting proper treatment before you worry about mesothelioma lawsuits.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

The most common treatment option for mesothelioma, chemotherapy can be administered through a pill, injection or intravenously. Chemotherapy uses a drug or a combination of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drug can be administered systemically (through the blood stream) or directly into an area such as the pleural cavity. There are new chemotherapy advances as researchers continue to attempt to find successful treatment protocols and uncover new cancer information for mesothelioma. In a recent clinical trial study, researchers reported that mesothelioma patients on a new chemotherapy drug regimen lived longer and had less pain. The results show that tumors shrank in 41% of patients on pemetrexed (brand name Alimta ™) in combination with cisplatin, another form of chemotherapy. According to the study, only 17% of patients receiving cisplatin alone experienced tumor shrinkage and those on the pemetrexed combination, on average, lived almost 3 months longer. Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or shrinks tumors with high-energy x-rays. Radiation therapy can damage healthy tissue in the process of treating cancer. Research is now examining ways of delivering radiation directly to the tumor. In radiation therapy, a machine may be used to emit radiation, or radioisotopes (materials that produce radiation) may be administered through plastic tubes in the part of the body where the cancer cells are found.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery for a patient with mesothelioma may extend and improve the quality of life. However, such surgery is serious and complicated. Consultation with a specialist is always best if considering this treatment option. One type of surgery, called a pleurectomy or decortication, involves opening the chest and removing the tumor from the lung. This procedure relieves chest pain and prevents the recurrence of effusions (the escape of fluid) in the pleura. Another type of surgery, extra pleural pneumonectomy, involves the removal of the lung, the diaphragm, or the lining of the heart. Gortex, a synthetic fabric, replaces the heart lining or diaphragm. After surgery, the patient undergoes chemotherapy and radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A pneumonectomy involves the removal of a lung. This procedure generally occurs during a late stage of mesothelioma.

Thoracentesis or Paracentesis

Thoracentesis removes fluid from the lung lining, or pleura. The fluid that accumulates as part of mesothelioma can cause discomfort or shortness of breath. Once fluid is drained from the pleura, a form of talcum powder or other material may be applied that causes the lung to adhere to the chest wall. Paracentesis is a similar procedure to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity. If there is a chronic problem with fluid buildup, a catheter can be inserted to drain fluid on an as needed basis. Fluid removal can alleviate difficulty with breathing and chest pain. Consultation with a specialist is always best before pursuing thoracentesis or paracentesis.

If you are a loved one and interested in pursuing an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, please contact us for more information.

We often get results in seven months or less. We can help you protect your family and get the compensation you deserve. Call The Maune Raichle Law Firm: 866-532-6000