Mesothelioma is a life threatening asbestos related disease. Unfortunately, it is still very difficult to recognize and diagnose this disease in its early stages. Consequently, it's pretty much impossible to effectively treat mesothelioma at this point in time.
What is known is that most, if not all of the people who have mesothelioma contracted the disease after being exposed to asbestos. It's also known that it often takes between ten and forty years from the time of exposure until the symptoms become apparent.
In an effort to will learn how to prevent or minimize the potentially life-threatening effects of asbestos exposure, a growing number of scientists and technicians are researching the effects asbestos has on cells within the human body. They are also trying to discern how cells change when they are exposed to asbestos.
If, during their research, they discover a treatment that they believe has some value then, clinical trials may be carried out. Institutes such as the National Institute of Cancer, for example, have carried out numerous clinical trials involving patients who were diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma research can be very costly and is often sponsored by research groups, drug companies, and the US government.
A number of new approaches to treating mesothelioma are currently being researched. These include intensity modulated radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
This type of radiation treatment only targets the tumor or the area in the body that is affected.
This type of radiation treatment focuses on avoiding contact with the neighboring healthy tissues and cells.
Immunotherapy
This treatment uses the body's own defense system to fight abnormal cells by enhancing and developing the person's immune system.
Photodynamic Therapy
This type of therapy activates photosensitive drugs that have been introduced into abnormal cells via the use of fixed frequency light. The concept is once activated the drugs will kill the tumors.
It's important to keep in mind that when trials are performed there are no guarantees that they will yield successful results. Usually considerably more research and work will have to be done in order to gain conclusive evidence. When that happens effective modes of treatment will have to be formulated.
Nonetheless, a considerable number of new trials are currently being carried out. It is hoped that discovering a treatment that can effectively prolong the lives of mesothelioma victims and/or eradicate the disease will be found in the foreseeable future.
Growing numbers of people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have discovered that they can seek compensation from the companies responsible for their disease. They have found that in more cases than not, the companies that they worked for knowingly put them into the hazardous situations that caused their disease.
Consequently, many mesothelioma victims have hired a mesothelioma lawyer to represent them in their legal battles with these companies.
0
