Your fight is far from over: understanding and controlling mesothelioma metastasis

You have just been told that your mesothelioma is metastatic. Pause. Take a breath – you are still breathing, and that is what is important. Mesothelioma in metastasis is not the end of your fight. We have put together this page to help aid in your fight against this insidious disease. Know one very important thing: both medically and legally, you have options.

The companies who used asbestos products or installed them employed your father, grandfather, mother, uncle, or you, and knew that a certain number of their employees would become fatally ill decades later. They had the information that asbestos causes mesothelioma long before the public did, and they withheld it intentionally. They failed to see people as people. They did not look beyond dollars and cents. Now 10,000 Americans die each year because of asbestos-related illnesses, and every year 3000 more mesothelioma cancer cases are diagnosed (Ewg.org).

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading law firm that has been handling asbestos cases successfully for over two decades. You do not need to fight this battle alone; we can help you get compensation so that all of your medical expenses, travel expenses, and general financial security is covered. Contact us today via the form on this page for more information.

Defining mesothelioma metastasis

Metastasis occurs in the “advanced” stages of mesothelioma, which are stages 2 through 4. Unfortunately, a vast majority of mesothelioma cases are diagnosis in the advanced stages – past the point of controlling the spread of the cancer.

Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread to other areas of the body. Cancer begins with one tumor, and then as the cancer cells grow, the tumor gets larger. Eventually, some of the cancer cells break off from the tumor and travel to other areas of the body. For instance, cancer cells in the lungs can “metastasize” (or break off from the tumor and travel) to the brain and form a tumor there. Typically, with mesothelioma, the cancer cells spread locally. The most common scenario for metastatic mesothelioma is that the cancer spreads to other areas of the lungs or to the heart (Cancer.gov).

Fighting for one month at a time

Sadly, mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer. There is nothing anyone can do that is a sure bet against preventing mesothelioma from becoming metastatic. The blame truly lies with the asbestos companies that knew this would happen to people who came in contact with their asbestos. For decades these companies exposed their own employees (such as your father, your uncle, or grandparents), as well as the country to this deadly substance.

Fighting metastatic mesothelioma: limited medical options

When mesothelioma becomes metastatic, it does not mean that your fight is over. Limited treatment options are still available to you. Here are some of the ways your oncologist can help you fight metastatic mesothelioma:

• Surgery – this is used to help reduce and control the further spreading of mesothelioma.
• Radiation therapy – high energy radiation is administered to help kill or prevent the spread of mesothelioma.
• Chemotherapy – this method uses drugs to kill or control the mesothelioma.
• Clinical trials – these are trials where research physicians can test out new methods of treating mesothelioma.
• Biologic therapy – this method uses your body’s own immune system to help fight your mesothelioma.
• Alternative medicine – these are methods not approved by the medical community, but have been known to work in some cases.

There have been several cases of patients outliving their prognosis. A few people have even been known to live healthy, productive lives without pain for years. These people sometimes refer to themselves as mesothelioma survivors; although there is still no known cure for mesothelioma. What is common about these survivors is their attitude of diligence and persistence when it comes to battling their disease. Many of these “survivors” use a combination of the treatments listed above.

Legal options

It is never too late to fight back. Weitz & Luxenberg has been helping people fight back against the injustice of the asbestos problem for over two decades. Financial compensation does more than just cover all of your medical expenses and provide financial security for you and your family; it also sends a message to these major corporations.

When Weitz & Luxenberg goes up against a defendant, we make sure they know your name, your family’s name, and the way in which they harmed you. We can pinpoint exactly who made you sick, along with where and when you became sick. Our experienced lawyers are experts at asbestos-related litigation, and we can help you receive the compensation that can go towards:

• Medical bills
• Travel expenses
• Past out-of-pocket expenses related to your illness
• Pain and suffering
• Financial stability
• Maintaining the best possible quality of life given the circumstance

To get started, simply fill out the form on this page. After submitting the form, a representative of Weitz & Luxenberg will contact you with a free, no obligation, legal consultation. He or she will let you know where to go from there.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/patient/page2/print

http://www.ewg.org/asbestos/