Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer of the abdominal cavity or chest lining. The disease is seldom cured through surgery and is poorly responsive to chemotherapy. Therefore, mesothelioma treatment focuses mainly on managing the symptoms.
Studies reveal that about 60 to 90 percent of mesothelioma patients experience pain or shortness of breath as the first symptom of the illness. In the beginning, pain can be eased with over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
As the disease progresses and destroys soft tissue and nearby nerves, discomfort usually increases. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy seek to stop the spread of the disease and help ease pain—though the actual treatments are not painless.
There is also a significant amount of pain that is associated with the final stages of the disease. Anesthesiologists and other health care professionals who specialize in pain control are providing more relief than ever before; due to new implant devices that can deliver pain-fighting drugs directly to the central nervous system.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis, please contact the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. for a free initial consultation.
