People who work with asbestos or who have environmental exposure to this mineral substance could potentially develop deadly forms of cancer. There has been research connecting lung cancer to asbestos exposure, as well as mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer that starts in the organ linings.
Typically, mesothelioma is incredibly hard to treat. The prognosis is poor, and there is no known cure. While there are treatments available, they generally help reduce symptom severity and slow the spread of the cancer rather than helping someone achieve remission.
However, researchers have recently published news about combining two forms of therapies used to treat mesothelioma that shows real promise for those battling this deadly form of cancer.
Immunotherapy before surgery may improve a patient’s prognosis
Neither immunotherapy, which is a form of cutting-edge treatment that helps the body fight the cancer itself, nor surgery to remove cancerous tissue has proven effective for helping patients with mesothelioma achieve remission.
That could soon change. Researchers recently published promising results achieved when combining those two forms of treatment. Patients who received immunotherapy treatments prior to undergoing surgical excision of cancerous tissue showed much better medical response to the treatment than patients given only immunotherapy treatment or who only underwent surgery.
Patients developing a care plan related to their diagnosis may want to discuss this promising research with the doctor overseeing their care. They may also need to take steps to seek compensation.
Mesothelioma is expensive to fight
The best, cutting-edge treatments for mesothelioma are generally not fully covered by most healthcare insurances. Immunotherapies and new drugs still in the clinical trial stage are only available when people participate in studies or pay for most, if not all, of their care out of pocket.
Someone fighting mesothelioma will have a better chance of being able to connect with the best possible treatments if they have resources to contribute toward their medical care, which an asbestos-related compensation claim could potentially provide. Workers exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to bring claims against their former employer or an asbestos trust if their employer is no longer in business.
Tracking promising changes for asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma can help those diagnosed with this disease or worried about developing it because of their professional history.
