Houston Mesothelioma Lawyers

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

A national asbestos law firm has the knowledge to get you the money you deserve. They also understand state laws and regulations.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

In the majority of cases, a mesothelioma specialist will use a variety of tests to arrive at a diagnosis. The most crucial test to be performed is a biopsy. Doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the affected region and send it to examination. Doctors may also perform an MRI scan or CT scan to determine the extent of cancer's spread and to gather other information which could be useful to the treatment process.

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify because it may resemble symptoms of other diseases, such as lung cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. This can lead patients to be wrongly diagnosed. In some instances patients can wait for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma because the condition has a long period of latency.

A doctor will conduct a physical exam and take blood samples to test for the presence of certain proteins within the body that may indicate cancer. They will also examine their breathing and heart rate. Mesothelioma is more likely to affect the lungs and abdomen, which is why doctors typically conduct chest x-rays to search for fluid around the lung (pleural effusion) or in the abdominal lining (ascites). They may also order an positron-emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) to gather more details about the tumor.

A mesothelioma specialist will typically conduct a biopsy using a fine needle to collect a small amount of cellular material to test. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia. In some instances doctors will have to operate to reach the tumor and houston mesothelioma lawyer collect a larger sample of tissue to be tested for. The most reliable method to determine the presence of Mesothelioma is via surgical biopsies.

A mesothelioma lawyer can be able to help victims understand their legal options. They will be able to examine the medical records of the victim and determine what they are entitled to. Compensation may cover the cost of travel, caregiving costs and funeral costs. Mesothelioma lawyers can help victims and their families bring mesothelioma suit in the court system to obtain fair 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 consists of 2 layers, with tiny amounts of fluid between them to ensure that your organs can move easily. The mesothelioma malignancy is located in mesothelium cells. It may spread to other organs and cause pain.

There are different types of mesothelioma, depending on the location in the mesothelium where the cancer occurs. The most common mesothelioma type affects the tissues surrounding your lungs. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma occur in the tissue surrounding your heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or in the lining of the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma). Symptoms vary depending on the area where the mesothelioma has been located. The symptoms include breathlessness and coughing, chest pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Your doctor can detect mesothelioma with a physical examination and by taking a medical history. They can also request imaging tests, for example CT scans or X-rays. The imaging tests will search for any lumps or abnormalities in your lungs or other body parts. They will also look for a fluid buildup between the lung and chest wall, called Pleural effusion. This is the most frequent sign of cancer of the pleural cavity.

A biopsy is typically required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a small sample of tissue, and then looking at it with a magnifying glass to determine if it's cancerous. Your doctor may perform the biopsy by either inserting a needle into the tumor or by making a surgical cut on the skin.

Your doctor will discuss your treatment options once you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma. There are three kinds of mesothelioma treatment options including surgery, chemo, and radiation. Each treatment type comes with its own advantages and dangers. In addition to these treatments, a few patients have success with immunotherapy, which uses your body's own immune system to fight the cancer.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, or cancer of the mesothelium (a layer of tissue that lines specific spaces in the human body such as the abdomen and chest) is a form of cancer that is a result of the mesothelium. Three out of four cases of mesothelioma are found in the pleura which is the tissue that lines the space surrounding your lung. Other mesothelioma types may be found in the stomach lining or around the heart.

Doctors employ a variety of tests to identify mesothelioma. They start with a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They also rule out other illnesses that might be the cause of your symptoms. They may recommend imaging scans like a CT or MRI. These scans can reveal abnormalities, such as a tumor or thickening of mesothelium.

Blood tests can help diagnose mesothelioma. These tests will check the health of your kidneys, blood cells and liver. They can also look for markers of mesothelioma that are different from those of other cancers. However this test isn't 100% accurate and doesn't always pick up mesothelioma.

If doctors discover that you have fluid in the lungs or around your lungs, they will require a biopsy to make a mesothelioma diagnosis. A small amount of tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory for analysis. If they are unable to perform a biopsy, they will need to look for other evidence of mesothelioma such as an asbestos-related history or other health issues that are that are related to mesothelioma.

The results of the biopsy may aid doctors in deciding on the best the best treatment. The biopsy will also help determine the stage of your mesothelioma or how far the cancer has spread from its original site. The process of staging depends on the location in your body mesothelioma has been found and how much of it is found in lymph nodes and other areas of your body.

If pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors often undergo a procedure known as pleurodesis. The lung's lining is created to be scarred and stick to the lung with a chemical. This helps reduce the buildup of fluid and improves breathing. You can drain the fluid at home with a catheter.

Treatment of Mesothelioma

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

Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases. Tests can aid in confirming the diagnosis, including a chest x-ray and CT scan. Doctors may also request the collection of a blood sample to test for high levels of certain substances associated with asbestos exposure, including fibulin-3 and soluble mesothelin-related proteins. They can also perform an invasive thoracentesis procedure to eliminate fluid from the lungs. This allows the doctor to determine if mesothelioma is the reason for the buildup of fluid in the chest.

Surgery is a popular treatment for mesothelioma. It can be used to relieve symptoms or shrink the size of tumors. In pleural mesothelioma, doctors may remove fluid from the chest (pleurodesis) or remove the tissue that is lining the lung wall and chest (pleurectomy). The procedure won't cure mesothelioma however it can ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancerous cells. It can be used before surgery to make the process more comfortable or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to decrease the chance of cancer recurrence. Doctors can also inject heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.

Radiation therapy utilizes a machine to deliver radiation beams to the areas affected by. This treatment can shrink or kill mesothelioma cancers and is often combined with chemotherapy and surgery. Radiation therapy can cause fatigue, skin problems and hair loss. It can also cause mouth sores, vomiting and nausea.

Contact a Houston Mesothelioma Attorney as soon as you can if you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with the disease. An experienced lawyer can assist you in filing a suit against the business responsible for the asbestos exposure. You can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.

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