Although mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, there are several treatments options available for people who have been diagnosed with the cancer. Mesothelioma doctors usually recommend a treatment option based on the stage of the cancer and the location. Unfortunately, most diagnoses are made when the cancer is at its latest stages, and sometimes this means the cancer will be impossible to get rid of through an operation. However, there are ways to manage the disease to make life more bearable.
If the mesothelioma is diagnosed at an early stage, your surgeon can remove the cancer. If it is impossible to remove it completely, surgery can still be used to stop the cancer from spreading, decrease fluid buildup, and to help reduce the symptoms caused by the disease.
In addition to surgery, chemotherapy might be used to kill the cancer cells that were not removed during surgery. Another treatment option is radiation, to focus on certain areas on your body. Radiation is designed to reduce the symptoms of mesothelioma, and can be performed after or before surgery.
There are many factors that contribute to the development of mesothelioma. Navy veterans (or anyone who served in the U.S. military before the 1990s) might be at a higher risk of developing the disease because of asbestos exposure. You might also be at risk if you lived with or still live with someone who works with asbestos. To learn more about your treatment options or to get in contact with experienced asbestos lawyers.
