Getting a Stage 4 mesothelioma diagnosis can be frightening. This is life-changing news. We have been representing our community for many years, offering help in getting justice. If you or someone you love is dealing with this diagnosis, we would be honored to represent you in your pursuit of justice. Please call us today to set up a free consultation with our Buffalo mesothelioma lawyers.
What is Stage 4 Mesothelioma?
Stage 4 mesothelioma is a later stage of cancer that is generally caused by exposure to asbestos. When mesothelioma develops in the body, it is typically from exposure to asbestos in huge amounts. Most of our clients were exposed to asbestos at a workplace many years ago, sometimes even decades ago. The development of mesothelioma is not instantaneous. The symptoms do not typically show until many years after you are exposed.
Once mesothelioma has reached Stage 4, it means that surgery cannot remove it because it has metastasized or spread to areas of the body. The spread may be to neighboring organs, linings of the stomach or heart, or lymph nodes.
Symptoms of Stage 4 Mesothelioma
When mesothelioma develops into Stage 4, the symptoms can be quite severe. Many people will experience substantial weight loss, blood when coughing, pain, difficulty breathing, fevers, and night sweats.
Once symptoms have progressed to this level of severity, it is too late for surgical treatment due to the metastatic of your mesothelioma. Because of this, you are typically not going to be able to be fully diagnosed with your primary care physician. You will likely need to go to a hospital, oftentimes that is Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
At this point of late-stage mesothelioma, the treatment options typically will be chemotherapy and radiation. This is primarily to try to lessen the spread and reduce symptoms.
What is the Life Expectancy for Stage 4 Mesothelioma?
If treatment starts urgently after diagnosis, the average life expectancy of a patient who is diagnosed with Stage 4 mesothelioma is roughly one year. If a patient opts not to receive treatment, they are usually given a life expectancy of several months.
There is a small but real chance that a patient in the late stages of mesothelioma can go into remission with urgent and proper treatment.
This may have you wondering what would happen to a lawsuit for someone with a short life expectancy.
Mesothelioma cases are expedited for this very reason. They are prioritized over other injury and accident cases in the courts to provide swift results.
However, if a plaintiff were to pass before resolving their claim, their family members or beneficiaries can take over the case to receive compensatory damages. They would resemble a wrongful death claim at this point.
Call Our Buffalo Mesothelioma Lawyers Today
If you have been diagnosed with Stage 4 mesothelioma, we would be honored to represent you. If you have been negligently exposed to asbestos, you deserve justice from your employer. We have been providing justice for our clients for many years. We can come to you for your free consultation to make this whole process easier for you. Please give us a call right away. We are here to help.