Factors that determine mesothelioma prognoses

Many North Carolina residents spend decades of their lives commuting to and from work every day in order to earn an income to help make ends meet at home. As you carry out your typical duties of an average work day, any number of issues may arise that place you at risk for injury. For instance, if you work in an office, you might trip over a worn rug or electrical cord and sprain your ankle.

There can also be unseen hazards in your workplace. Especially if you work in a shipyard, a building constructed before 1978, an auto mechanics shop or on a railroad, there could be asbestos nearby without you knowing it. There’s no safe amount of asbestos exposure, and symptoms of illnesses such as mesothelioma are not usually immediately apparent.

Mesothelioma is a terminal disease

Perhaps you developed a lingering cough, chest pain, extreme fatigue or unexplained weight loss, which prompted you to seek medical examination. Such symptoms are often associated with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating, not only to you, the patient, but to your loved ones and close friends, as well.

Mesothelioma is a malignancy that most often affects the lungs. Your oncologist might recommend surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to help improve your quality of life and alleviate pain. Such treatments are palliative as opposed to curative, meaning they are meant to help reduce discomfort but cannot cure the disease.

Things to know about mesothelioma prognosis

When a doctor gives a prognosis, it means that he or she offers a medical opinion on the likely course your condition might follow, as well as what the probable outcome might be. You and another person might both have mesothelioma; however, a prognosis given will be unique to your specific circumstances because various factors can affect an illness.

Your doctor will take numerous factors into consideration when forming a prognosis, such as the exact type of mesothelioma you have (there are several categories), as well as what stage of illness you are in and what your general health condition was when you were diagnosed.

The location of your body where mesothelioma has developed is also relevant to a prognosis, as is whether or not the disease has metastasized (moved to other areas of the body).

Quality of life is a primary concern for Mesothelioma patients

After receiving a terminal illness diagnosis, it’s understandable that you will want to spend time with loved ones and enjoy daily life as much as possible. As the disease progresses, you may need specialized care and additional support to help you function on a daily basis.

People who suffer injury or illness because of another person’s negligence are able to seek restitution for damages. If you’re one of many people who believes that employer negligence was a causal factor toward asbestos injury, you may also want to discuss your condition with someone who is well-versed in asbestos-related litigation.