Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Patients can receive compensation from those whose negligence caused their asbestos disease. Damages from a mesothelioma lawsuit can cover costly medical expenses, including surgery.
However, mesothelioma treatment can be costly. It is a rare form of cancer, with only about 2,500 to 3,000 cases diagnosed each year, and there are relatively few specialists for this disease. To get the best care, patients may have to travel some distance to find a cancer care center with expertise in mesothelioma or to participate in a clinical trial. Compensation from a mesothelioma lawsuit can potentially be used to cover the cost of travel and lodging for mesothelioma treatment.
What Are the Surgical Options for Mesothelioma?
Surgery is considered the most effective treatment for mesothelioma. To excise the tumors, mesothelioma surgery typically involves the removal of significant amount of tissue from the chest or abdomen. The most aggressive procedure is extra pleural pneumonectomy, which involves the removal of an entire lung, along with the pleural lining of the chest, the diaphragm, the pericardium around the heart, and nearby lymph nodes that may have been affected. This is a complicated procedure that requires considerable care before and after. Patients may instead undergo a pleurectomy/decortication, which leaves the lung diaphragm intact but removes the pleural lining throughout the chest. Debulking, or partial pleurectomy, is the least invasive, removing only part of the pleura.
Patients who are in early stages of the disease are more likely to be eligible for surgery. Once the disease has spread far enough, tumors can no longer be removed surgically, but patients may still undergo a procedure to relieve painful symptoms.
Surgery for mesothelioma can be very costly. Patients must undergo testing before surgery to determine what type of procedure is best and to make sure they are healthy enough for the procedure. Once the procedure begins, surgeons may realize that a more extensive procedure is needed based on the progression of the tumors. After the surgery, patients will require follow-ups, as well as treatment for any complications that may arise. Even with extensive surgery, mesothelioma is incurable, and tumors can come back, requiring further treatment.
Filing a Mesothelioma Claim
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit to ease the financial burden for patients and their families. People who have lost a family member to mesothelioma can also file a wrongful death lawsuit and recover compensation. Each type of lawsuit has a statute of limitations, meaning that a claim must be filed within a certain time after the mesothelioma diagnosis.
Filing a claim in a timely manner not only ensures that a patient is still eligible for compensation, but also that they have a chance to participate in the process. Mesothelioma can progress quickly, and patients may become too sick to participate. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos disease, talking to an experienced lawyer immediately can help you start the claims process and get the best possible outcome.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate on Behalf of Mesothelioma Patients
Our Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law have the knowledge and experience to handle all types of asbestos exposure claims. We can determine if you have legal options if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos disease, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. With offices conveniently located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we help mesothelioma patients and their families throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call 877-743-4652 or complete our online form to discuss your case.