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Mesothelioma is one of the most serious forms of cancer a person can become afflicted with in the 21st century. Mesothelioma is usually the result of prolonged or significant exposure to asbestos. Whether the asbestos exposure occurred for long periods of time in the workplace or in another capacity, the result of prolonged asbestos exposure can be fatal. The most common symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness of breath combined with pain and pressure in the chest. These symptoms are the result of excess fluid in the lungs which results from inflammation and cancerous cells in the thin membranes lining the chest.
Pain management is a critical topic for mesothelioma patients and their families because without an effective pain management plan, a patient’s end of life quality can be significantly decreased. In addition to pain management, loss of pulmonary function and how that is managed can also greatly influence a patient’s quality of life.
People suffering from mesothelioma must currently place their hope in pain management drugs and a proliferation of new cancer treatments with recent FDA approval. With new therapies available, patients living with late stage mesothelioma can find some relief from pain with opioids and in some cases, radiotherapy treatments. The survival benefit of comprehensive pain management in late stage mesothelioma patients was recently documented in two separate studies published in medical journals. The results of the research challenge long held misconceptions about the impact of pain management and radiation treatments on a cancer patient’s lifespan.
An Egyptian study published in the Annals of Palliative Medicine focused on pain management for advanced stage cancer patients. Data from the study showed that there was no evidence to support the hypothesis that high doses of opioid pain medication at the end of a patient’s life can lead to an earlier death. In fact, the mesothelioma patients in the study who received increased levels of pain medication actually lived longer, on average, than those who received less. A study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology purported to show that radiation treatments can also help to alleviate pain and reduce pressure on the lungs and chest in late-stage mesothelioma patients.
If you have been exposed to asbestos or diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to compensation. For more than 30 years, the New Jersey asbestos lawyers of Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler have been fighting to protect the rights of those suffering from asbestos exposure. To arrange your complimentary consultation with one of our savvy and dedicated New Jersey asbestos lawyers in our Philadelphia office, call 1-800-369-0899 today or submit an online contact form.