The Maune Raichle Law Firm

Malignant Mesothelioma

The vast majority of all mesothelioma cases are malignant and are therefore aggressive forms of cancer prone to spreading to surrounding organs. As with all malignant tumors, malignant mesothelioma can spread from its originating tumor to surrounding organs and can prove very difficult to treat. Malignant mesothelioma is known to have a fairly low survival rate as the majority of mesothelioma cases are not caught at their early stages. The early stages of mesothelioma are nonspecific and are often overlooked by doctors or dismissed as a less serious disorder.

Known to have a strong link to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is most commonly seen in men aged 50 -75 years who worked in the building, shipping, automotive, or HVAC trades while the use of asbestos was still common, prior to the mid 1970's. The link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma has led to many lawsuits and courts the world over have ruled that employers are liable for exposing their employees to the dangerous carcinogen asbestos. Although asbestos in many forms is still used, new regulations require it to be held within a matrix of other fibers to prevent it from being inhaled.

Currently, the treatment of malignant mesothelioma is very similar to the treatment of any malignant cancer. Tumors are first removed surgically, then chemotherapy is used. The chemotherapy cocktail is often varied from one clinic to the next as oncologists are constantly looking for the most safe, powerful mixture of chemicals they can make. Radiation therapy is used before and during chemotherapy to kill selected areas of cancerous cells.