Mesothelioma Doctors

Because mesothelioma is so rare, representing about 0.3 percent of all diagnosed cancers annually, and has no known cure, people who have the disease are urged to find a specialist to treat it. Doctors trained in asbestos-related diseases typically provide the highest quality of care for mesothelioma patients.

It can be important for someone diagnosed with these diseases and their loved ones to learn more about these cancer specialists. Our Specialist Insight Series provides a behind-the-scenes snapshot of these doctors and why they do what they do. Find out why your doctor is special.

The Mesothelioma Center has a Doctor Match program to help you find and get appointments with mesothelioma experts at leading facilities across the country. Patient Advocates strive to find the leading specialists with the most resources to offer mesothelioma patients. Connect with a Patient Advocate or call (800) 615-2270 to take advantage of this free program.

Mesothelioma Claims

Filing a mesothelioma claim can help you obtain money to cover pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost income resulting from asbestos exposure. In the majority of cases, the individual who is filing the claim seeks monetary compensation for damages that arise after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

In asbestos injury cases, there are two primary types of mesothelioma claims that may be filed. The first is a personal injury claim, which is typically filed by a patient who has received a diagnosis of mesothelioma. The second is a wrongful death claim, which can be filed by a family member in cases involving a loved one who has died from asbestos-related diseases or cancers. Specific rights involving these claims vary depending on the state in which the case is filed.

There are also options for ways to work the claim: through a bankruptcy trust; through litigation; through workers’ compensation; and through veteran’s benefits.

Mesothelioma Attorney

How to Hire a Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma claims are different from other workplace injuries and are a special area of the law. Because asbestos-related diseases have such a long period between exposure and diagnosis – sometimes as long as 50 years – related claims are best tackled by a qualified mesothelioma attorney.

Such a legal specialist not only has an understanding of the disease but also has the experience of the case process and how to investigate and evaluate a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. For people who have mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis or another asbestos-related cancer, knowing how to hire the right attorney can make all the difference.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Surgery

Only about 1 in 5 patients with metastatic pleural mesothelioma undergo surgery. There are two main surgeries: pleurectomy/decortication, in which the surgeon tries to remove as much of the tumor from around the lung as possible, and the more radical extrapleural pneumonectomy, in which the lung itself is removed.

There is a lot of debate as to which is “best,” said Dr. Rice, although studies find that most long-term survivors have had surgery. He personally believes that pneumonectomy is best for tumor control if followed with radiation. Studies find it prevents tumor recurrence in the chest in 80 to 85 percent of patients who have the surgery.

However, Dr. Rice noted, it is a long, intensive operation with a 55 percent complication rate and a 3 percent risk of death, higher in some institutions. “So you only want to perform that surgery if the patient has a reasonably good prognosis,” said Dr. Rice. Translation: it doesn’t appear that the cancer has spread outside the chest.

Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma - a cancer that typically attacks the lungs and abdomen - was profoundly rare until the industrial and commercial use of asbestos expanded in the 20th century. Medical researchers have spent decades investigating the disease and what causes it, and their findings are that asbestos exposure is the primary culprit.

Through studies aimed at pinpointing the exact causes of mesothelioma, researchers gradually learned how being exposed to asbestos triggers cancer.

In March 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer reconfirmed that all forms of asbestos can cause mesothelioma - and asbestos exposure is the foremost cause of mesothelioma.

Who Gets Mesothelioma?

People believed to be in the high risk category for getting mesothelioma are those who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis (six months or more) while on the job. Among the list of occupations closely linked to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are:

• Military veterans (especially the U.S. Navy)
• Construction workers
• Demolition or renovation crews
• Auto mechanics
• Insulators
• Shipyard workers
• Asbestos mine workers or millers
• Boiler workers
• Asbestos manufacturing plant workers

People who remember handling asbestos or asbestos-like materials, or those who recall being exposed to thick clouds of asbestos-containing dust while on the job, are at a higher risk for developing mesothelioma. Recently, rescue workers and cleanup crews involved in the removal of debris from the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks in New York City have reported asbestos-related symptoms and lung complications.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the mesothelium – the thin, protective membrane that covers the lungs, heart and other internal body organs. The disease is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive form of cancer that is usually resistant to standard cancer treatments. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, various clinical trials are studying the disease and several cases of remission have been reported. In addition, treatments are available that are effective at easing pain, suffering and symptoms, extending life expectancy and generally improving a patient’s quality of life.

Most mesothelioma patients may not even realize they have cancer until symptoms start to interfere with their daily lives. Symptoms generally don’t appear until at least 20 years after someone was exposed to asbestos, and sometimes symptoms are hidden for as long as 50 years.