Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may feel a mix of emotions: hopelessness, despair, and even betrayal – especially if their mesothelioma was caused by asbestos exposure during their term of service to our nation. However, it’s important to get the best possible medical treatment as quickly as possible. While currently mesothelioma has no cure, there are mesothelioma treatments available that can not only slow the progression of the disease and prolong a patient’s life expectancy, but also increase the quality of that life they have left.
Don’t let a mesothelioma diagnosis overwhelm you.
In all of this darkness there is some progress being made toward better methods of detecting and diagnosing mesothelioma. Doctors and scientist have developed new and experimental methods of detection that can catch mesothelioma sooner than ever before. However, many patients are still diagnosed decades after they’re exposed to asbestos and after the cancer has progressed into its later – and final – stages.
The first step should always be to locate a mesothelioma specialist. Doctors that diagnose mesothelioma are usually oncologists, and some who specialize in asbestos cancers are on the cutting edge of mesothelioma research and know the best traditional treatments to use and which experimental ones might be right for the patients. Often times these experimental treatments are still in the form of clinical trials sponsored by drug manufacturers. However, it is important that your doctor is fully qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable enough to suggest the correct course of treatment for your individual situation.
And keep in mind that although Veterans hospitals associated are there to help sick or injured servicemen and women, the best care might be found elsewhere. There are a number of leading-edge cancer treatment facilities across the country. Many have taken part in recent research that has revolutionized the way mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated. If you’re beginning your search from scratch, ask your doctor where the best specialists are located. Many tend to cluster around areas with high concentrations of mesothelioma patients. These tend to be locations involved in the shipbuilding industry or with a heavy industrial presence simply because those are the places that folks were most often exposed to airborne asbestos in concentrations high enough to cause disease.
Because traditional treatment for mesothelioma includes harsh and invasive treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, many patients find palliative treatments such as massage, meditation, acupuncture/acupressure, and other non-traditional services to be beneficial. When treating mesothelioma, there is always a thin line between fighting the cancer and keeping the patients as healthy and pain-free for as long as possible. Feel free to explore any of these palliative treatments that you think might make dealing with your cancer easier.
Keep in mind that veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure during their service have legal rights. They can seek restitution, penalties, and other monetary awards from parties found responsible for their illness. This can be of great help financially when seeking alternative treatments outside the VA system.
That’s why it’s always helpful to contact a mesothelioma attorney at the earliest point after diagnosis. The financial cost of treating mesothelioma can be staggering and a mesothelioma lawyer can help ease that burden – for both you and your loved ones.
Please contact us at 415-332-4262 to speak directly with one of our asbestos attorneys who specializes in helping veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. We have won significant awards from mesothelioma lawsuits filed on behalf of veterans and we can help you get the compensation you deserve and assist you in your difficult time.