New York Attorney Says New Findings on Mesothelioma Treatment are ‘Encouraging’
A new Australian medical study suggests mesothelioma patients are benefiting and have better prognoses thanks to new treatment techniques and more qualified doctors, says New York City mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck.
The recent report, published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Cardiovascular Surgery, found that patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose doctors used a more aggressive surgical approach in treatment of the asbestos-related cancer had better outcomes than those who did not.
“This is encouraging news,” says Belluck, who handles asbestos exposure lawsuits in New York City and throughout the country. “However, whenever mesothelioma patients undergo the latest and most advanced procedures, it can often mean more costs and recuperation for patients and their families.”
Thousands of Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. The disease is found in the sac lining of the chest or the abdomen and is caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust, most often affecting workers who have jobs in construction, manufacturing, mining, shipbuilding and automotive repair.
One of the challenges for mesothelioma sufferers is that their symptoms often don’t emerge until years after their exposure, when the cancer may be at a later stage. That means a patient might not display symptoms until 10 or even 50 years after the initial exposure, Belluck says.
“That’s one of the reasons these findings are hopeful,” he says. “If new approaches and more experienced doctors are on hand, then hopefully more mesothelioma victims – even if they are in later stages – will have better outcomes.”
No matter what, the medical expenses can be astronomical. Some doctors estimate that treatment can cost anywhere from $150,000 to $1 million, depending on the number of doctors’ visits, cost of surgeries and lengthy hospitalizations, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“Often, sufferers either don’t have insurance or they lack adequate medical insurance to cover the treatments,” Belluck notes. “The financial hardships, coupled with the loss of productivity that may happen if the mesothelioma claimant can no longer work, can make fighting the disease even more stressful.”
However, mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos litigation can be very successful in court thanks to increasing awareness and changes to laws, the asbestos exposure attorney says.
Finding a qualified lawyer is just as important as finding doctors and hospitals that are well-versed in mesothelioma treatment, Belluck says.
“Mesothelioma is a rare and still relatively unknown disease,” he adds. “Claimants who have lawyers who are highly experienced in mesothelioma and asbestos cases can find themselves situated in a much better financial position to handle the burdens of the disease.
“But they need attorneys who understand the complexities of treatment, have access to the most qualified experts and know how to do the right research to help them deal with mesothelioma.”
