ASBESTOS TREATMENTS

Treatment options used to fight asbestos-related cancer are many, yet have not changed much since the 1980s

The most common types of asbestos exposure are occupational asbestos exposure, home exposure, and direct contact with naturally occurring asbestos. All varieties of asbestos exposure can lead to debilitating and lethal diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and asbestos-linked lung cancer, and require medical treatment options designed to save or lengthen a patient’s life.

November 8, 2010 - There are many different treatments that are available to mesothelioma patients poisoned by asbestos. Though procedures have not changed much since the 1980s, recent advances in medicine have, in some cases, helped to extend a patient’s life by months.

Procedures to fight mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, as well as enrollment in mesothelioma clinical trials designed to explore the effectiveness of the most modern treatment options. More often, doctors employ a combination of these procedures that are tailored to the patient’s condition and the stage that the disease is in.

Asbestos cancer treatment options

The most common asbestos cancer treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Surgery – Surgical treatment for asbestos cancer includes three main types: diagnostic surgery, curative surgery and palliative surgery. Only curative surgery can potentially remove all cancer from a patient with mesothelioma. For curative surgery to be effective, an early diagnosis is important.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is an effective treatment option for a cancer patient suffering from asbestos exposure, but the treatment comes with unpleasant side effects. Most forms of chemotherapy involve the intravenous administration of drugs, such as Alimta and Cisplatin.

Radiation – Radiation therapy is another asbestos cancer treatment and is often used in conjunction with surgery. Radiation may be used as an independent treatment to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma. According to cancer treatment doctors, it is rare for radiation therapy to provide more than short-term symptomatic relief.

Legal options for asbestos exposure disease

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form here, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.