Philadelphia Asbestos Lawyers: Using Biomarkers to Diagnose Mesothelioma Earlier

More and more biomarkers are being added to mesothelioma detection but it is still important to look for the early signs of diagnosis. Many early signs of mesothelioma are mistaken for symptoms of other diseases. Anyone who has had exposure to asbestos should be familiar with the following signs of this disease:

• Pain in the side of the chest or lower back
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Weight loss (unplanned)
• Trouble swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling of the face or arms
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Fluid in the abdomen
• Nausea & vomiting
• Constipation

As with many cancers, early diagnosis of mesothelioma is essential to optimize treatment options and better outcomes for the patient. The key to diagnosing mesothelioma early is detection of certain markers in the lung fluid or bloodstream that otherwise would not be present. Until recently, these markers were not easily found and many diagnosis problems occurred. In the past, a person who had been exposed to asbestos in the work or home environment was diagnosed by using a chest x-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan. These tests proved unreliable, so researchers searched for more conclusive tests to determine if a patient had early symptoms of mesothelioma.

It has been reported that researchers in Italy and Australia have developed a new test which adds two more biomarkers to the diagnostic repertoire. This combination of three biomarkers was the best predictor of malignant cancer, after studying 188 subjects. Of these, 45 had malignant mesothelioma cancer, 99 had been exposed to asbestos but were cancer free and 44 were healthy subjects. The blood tested from each subject in the study was effectively examined and the three biomarkers were accurate in differentiating the control subjects from the affected subjects.

Though only a fraction of those exposed to asbestos develops cancer, researchers believe that if this study can be replicated, it could have far reaching implications for early pre-symptom detection of the aggressive disease.

Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler are Committed to Representing Those Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

At Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler, we serve clients whose lives have been compromised by a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects not just the patient, but also their loved ones. Our mesothelioma lawyers in Philadelphia will seek the best outcome for you and your loved ones, who are suffering from this devastating disease. We will fight to get you the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled under the law. Call us at 800-369-0899 or 215-569-4000, or submit your information online so we may discuss your situation. We serve clients throughout the Delaware Valley, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, from our conveniently located Center City, Philadelphia offices.