The Process of Mesothelioma Pathology and Diagnosis
Mesothelioma pathology and diagnosis involve a detailed process of tissue analysis, imaging studies, and specialized tests to accurately identify the presence and type of mesothelioma, guiding effective treatment strategies.
Cancer pathology and diagnosis advances are the springboard that’s significantly improved the cancer survival rate over the past twenty-five years. In most cases, doctors more easily identify likely victims, administer tests that detect malignant tumors while they’re just dots, and more easily identify the type of cancer, so they plan treatment accordingly. Unfortunately, these pathological and diagnostic advances don’t apply to mesothelioma, at least in most cases. More on that below.
Furthermore, because mesothelioma is so rare, when physical symptoms appear, many doctors assume the victim has another, far more common kind of lung cancer.
As a result, mesothelioma, one of the most common occupational cancers, is often practically untreatable by the time doctors accurately diagnose it. Early stage diagnosis cancer is often almost manageable, like diabetes. Late stage diagnosis may not be much more than a formality.
Fair compensation in these matters, like pathology and diagnosis, is a process, not a result. This process begins when an asbestos exposure lawyer reviews your case. Then, a lawyer collects evidence that supports your points and refutes possible defenses. Laying the groundwork enables an asbestos exposure lawyer to negotiate from a position of strength.
As a result, the defendant almost always compromises and agrees to pay compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are usually available as well.
In almost all cases, mesothelioma’s pathology is traced to one word: asbestos. Until around 1980, this fireproof mineral, which also doesn’t conduct sound or electricity, was the insulation ingredient of choice in every structure built, from two-room bungalows to the World Trade Center.
Efficiency was just one reason. In fact, it wasn’t the main reason. Asbestos deposits are large and shallow, making it easy to extract large quantities of asbestos. This low cost made asbestos the clear choice, albeit the wrong choice, over polyurethane foam, cellulose fiber, fiberglass, mineral wool, and other safe (or at least safer) alternative substances.
Asbestos was so widely used that victims were exposed to it in several ways:
Occupational: Construction workers regularly handled asbestos insulation. Other building materials, such as pipe insulation, drywall, and wiring insulation, were also laced with asbestos. In most cases, these workers knew nothing, or almost nothing, about mesothelioma and other health risks.
Environmental: Other innocent victims didn’t know about the risk and didn’t know they were exposed to this substance. Back in the day, ambient exposure victims (people who lived downwind of a mine) and take-home victims (people who lived with asbestos workers) dominated this category. In coming years, as more talc-asbestos environmental poisoning victims come forward, this area may dwarf previous asbestos exposure litigation matters.
Hybrid: These two pathological causes often overlap. Naval support staff is a good example. Until 1980, shipbuilders packed Navy ships with asbestos, almost literally from stem to stern. These fibers poisoned intelligence officers and others who seldom set foot on board a ship. Airborne asbestos fibers can float for about seventy-two hours.
Other asbestos exposure diseases, such as asbestosis, have basically the same pathology. Instead of settling in the mesothelium (layer between the heart and lungs), asbestos particles go into the lung itself, where they burn airways. The resulting scar tissue blocks these airways. As a result, these victims have trouble breathing, even while asleep or otherwise at rest.
Additionally, all asbestos exposure diseases have lengthy latency periods. Most asbestosis victims don’t show physical signs of illness for at least fifty years.
Mesothelioma’s pathology is quick and straightforward. But the mesothelioma diagnosis process is long and uncertain.
Evidence is sparse during the mesothelioma diagnosis process. These tumors lurk behind thick membranes which are difficult for MRIs and other machines to penetrate. Effective tests are available, but doctors rarely order them, mostly due to cost reasons. Furthermore, when they look for tumors, most doctors look for tumors in the lung itself, not near the lung in the mesothelium.
Latency and mesothelioma
The aforementioned latency period comes into play as well. Many doctors, and many victims, don’t connect the dots between possible asbestos exposure a half-century earlier and illness symptoms like trouble breathing today.That’s especially true in environmental or hybrid asbestos exposure cases.
Therefore, at least initially, doctors often misdiagnose mesothelioma as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a far more common kind of lung cancer.
Not all lung cancers are the same. Mesothelioma tumors spread quickly and grow aggressively. NSCLC is bad news, but it’s more of a slow growth cancer. As a result, doctors often prescribe tepid treatments that may be effective against NSCLC, but don’t have any effect on mesothelioma. So, more precious time is lost.
Frequently, by the time doctors correctly diagnose mesothelioma, the tumor has metastasized to the lung, which means the cancer is in Stage III.
Lack of hard evidence and a failure to connect the dots are the two biggest mesothelioma diagnosis issues. An asbestos exposure lawyer connects potential victims with doctors who address both needs.
Lawyers have professional relationships with doctors who know what’s at stake and are more prone to perform mesothelioma tests. Usually, these doctors charge nothing upfront for their services.
Work history is almost as important as medical history in mesothelioma diagnosis matters. Certain industries raise red flags. Additionally, our W.A.R.D. database includes information about asbestos hotspots, to cover environmental exposure victims.
So, mesothelioma diagnosis is a collaborative effort between a doctor and a nationwide asbestos lawyer. Obtaining compensation is a collaborative effort as well. Doctors provide the necessary medical evidence, and lawyers do the rest.