Posts Tagged ‘Diagnosis’
Cisplatin
There are quite a few drugs that are used to treat mesothelioma. There are many different methods of treatment for mesothelioma and one of the treatments that is common is the use of chemotherapy medication. The use of chemotherapy in treating different forms of cancer has existed for roughy seventy years or so. Today, chemotherapy medications are used in conjunction with other treatments to try to battle mesothelioma, or whatever other type of cancer, into remission. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy medication that has been used to treat mesothelioma for a while now. It is a platinum based medication that has been found to be an effective treatment for mesothelioma patients when surgery is not an option. When used to treat mesothelioma, Cisplatin is used in conjunction with Alimta. The mix of Alimta and Cisplatin has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is one of the most difficult forms of cancer to treat and to date it has been extremely tough to find treatments to drastically improve quality of life or length of life after diagnosis. When surgery can not performed on a patient with mesothelioma then a chemotherapy regimen is often started. Both Cisplatin and Alimta are Food and Drug Administration approved drugs and both are approved for treatment of patients with mesothelioma. Although these drugs are not a cure, they have been shown to improve quality of life and length of life in patients with mesothelioma.
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Mesothelioma and Veterans
The military is constantly developing ways to ensure soldiers safety. New materials are always being developed, tested, and used in different applications to ensure that our armed forces are able to protect the United States utilizing the most advanced means possible. Asbestos has been used in many different applications throughout all branches of the armed services. Asbestos can cause many different illnesses, including the rare form of cancer mesothelioma. Asbestos caustic and dangerous properties, in regards to it’s properties that are harmful to people, were not fully recognized in the early twentieth century. The materials versatility and resistance to heat, fire, and many chemicals were apparent, and this led to every branch of the military using the material in a wide array of applications. As asbestos was researched more and it’s dangerous properties were recognized, the military began to phase out the use of this mesothelioma causing material. Navy ships and shipyards seemed to have had the highest instances of mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases. This is most likely due to the fact that during demolition and maintenance of ships in the shipyards the asbestos dust was at a high level, making nearly impossible to escape exposure. It is estimated that nearly thirty percent of mesothelioma patients are veterans. Mesothelioma takes years sometimes before visible symptoms are shown by a victim. This makes it very difficult to treat mesothelioma in it’s early stages. Most veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma served twenty to thirty years prior to their diagnosis. It is not known exactly how many living veterans were exposed to asbestos during their military service, but it is estimated in the millions.
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Mesothelioma
Since mesothelioma can take decades to manifest symptoms, it is important to know if you have been exposed to asbestos during your lifetime and be prescreened for the disease if you think you might have been. Getting prescreened for mesothelioma can help come up with a diagnosis even before symptoms surface. The sooner you are diagnose, the better rate of survival you will have. People who have been prescreened and treated for mesothelioma before they experienced symptoms have been able to live for several years after diagnosis, while those who do not receive treatment early on generally have a life expectancy no longer than 18 months. Most people who have been exposed to asbestos came in contact with the toxic material on the job. It is up the previous or current employers to inform employees that they may have been exposed to asbestos. Also, you can contact past employers to inquire as to whether your position would have put you at risk for asbestos exposure. The sooner you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, the sooner you can file a claim for having been made to work in unsafe conditions. Winning a lawsuit is highly contingent on filing a suit as soon as you find out that you have mesothelioma. Being prescreened and filing a suit right away can help to provide some financial support for the medical bills you will be acquiring and it’s best to do so while your still healthy enough to put forth the time and energy .
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