Mesothelioma is a rare and incurable cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When dealing with this disease, having access to the right treatment plan is essential. It can be difficult to get proper care if patients do not have the right resources.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma infects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. Approximately 3,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. This is far fewer than other types of cancer, such as lung cancer. Consequently, fewer physicians have treated patients with mesothelioma, and even fewer are considered experts on this disease. Once diagnosed, patients often have a short life expectancy, with only about 10 percent of patients reaching the five-year survival mark.
Surgery Improves Outcomes for Those Who Can Access It
Surgery is often paired with adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of both to maximize life expectancy. Multidisciplinary treatment has shown significantly better results for mesothelioma patients than chemotherapy alone. Patients with a longer course of chemotherapy generally also have better outcomes than other chemotherapy patients.
Geography is another major factor in determining which patients can get surgery. Many surgeries occur at medical facilities with an academic affiliation. These facilities see a high volume of cancer patients and are more likely to have the expertise needed to treat a rare cancer such as mesothelioma. Academic facilities are typically located in urban areas, making them much easier to access for those who live in urban settings or have the resources to travel to them.
Academic Facilities
A study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, located in Boston and affiliated with Harvard Medical School, concluded that mesothelioma patients treated at these facilities survived twice as long as those treated at other types of hospitals or care centers. Academic facilities can devote more resources to the treatment of mesothelioma, have more advanced technology, and tend to attract physicians with the kind of medical expertise to enact a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment. However, less than half of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are treated at one of these high-volume academic cancer centers.
The Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate on Behalf of Mesothelioma Patients
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, call the Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law. We have successfully represented clients in all types of asbestos disease cases. Located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we help mesothelioma patients and their families throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call 877-743-4652 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.