Findings from a study by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that a new treatment is effective in extending the life of mesothelioma sufferers. The results of the study have been published in the June 2011 edition of Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that causes tumors to grow on the lining of the lungs. Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers are known to cause this fatal lung cancer. Mesothelioma attorneys can obtain compensation for those afflicted with the disease.
The study has shown that a combination of surgery and an experimental procedure has extended the life of mesothelioma patients by 8 to 12 months. The study involved 14 patients who received modified pleural pneumonectomy, which removes the affected lining and lung tissue. The other 14 patients involved in the study received radical pleurectomy, where only the lining of the lung is removed. All 28 patients were treated with light and photosensitizers. The patients that received the radical pleurectomy saw a dramatic improvement in their survival rates.
Mesothelioma proves to be fatal after 8 to 10 months. There are different treatments available depending on the individual’s needs. Medical care for mesothelioma is costly, patients can employ a mesothelioma lawyer to gain much needed compensation.
While asbestos is heavily regulated by the EPA, many structures still contain the toxin. Cases of mesothelioma will continue to be a problem. Mesothelioma attorneys fight to assure victims of asbestos exposure have the resources they need to alleviate their suffering.
