According to a recent survey from the Macmillan Cancer Support organization in England, there have been several inconsistencies among primary care trusts (PCTs) systems for patients receiving cancer care on time.
The inconsistent patterns, according to the survey, may result in cancer patients, such as mesothelioma patients, suffering from delays in receiving treatments. Because mesothelioma cancer is a condition in which the life expectancy can be approximately 12 months from diagnosis, it is imperative that any treatments or clinical trials that a patient can participate in become available to them immediately as time is of the essence.
Seventy-six percent of the time, treatment costs were taken into account prior to a patient being approved or declined for medical treatments, according to the survey. Mesothelioma cancer treatments can quickly become extremely expensive, with costs of continued treatment ranging in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to estimates from the Cancer Information Network and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Alimta and cispltin are often uses as common mesothelioma cancer treatments and most often require several cycles before signs of the condition decrease; one cycle of this medicine costs approximately $4,100.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) describes mesothelioma as a cancer of the mesothelium, which is a membrane that “covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body.”
When asbestos fibers are inhaled they begin to form cancerous cells on the lining of the mesothelium, which then becomes abnormal. The cancerous cells begin to spread to additional parts of the body over time.
The NCI has found that “most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum” within the body and that over the last 20 years the incidence of mesothelioma cancer have increased rapidly with approximately 2,000 additional cases of mesothelioma being diagnosed each year in the United States.
Unfortunately, delays are often associated with a correct prognosis of mesothelioma cancer because it is often misdiagnosed. The condition commonly remains dormant within the body for years, even decades, which is why it is important for an individual who may have previously worked with or been exposed to asbestos fibers or dust to know the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.
The following are several signs as described by Cancer Research UK, an educational non-profit site dedicated to bringing cancer information to patients that should prompt a potential mesothelioma victim to seek medical attention. Symptoms include:
*
pain in lower back or side of chest
*
persistent cough
* shortness of breath
*
hoarse or husky voice
*
severe loss of weight
*
sweating and fevers
* difficulty swallowing
*
pain in the abdomen
*
swelling in the abdomen
*
poor appetite
* feeling or being sick
*
diarrhea
*
constipation
Overcoming Mesothelioma
Because mesothelioma cancer is currently an incurable disease it is imperative that a mesothelioma patient partake in any of the clinical trials available as well as to contact an experienced environmental toxin attorney who can assist in developing litigation related to asbestos. Building a mesothelioma lawsuit can offer insight into receiving monetary compensation as a return on the damages incurred by a mesothelioma. Such a lawsuit may also provide a relief from the burden of expensive mesothelioma medical bills that often accompany the disease.
Peter Kent
