If your mesothelioma has been treated in the past, it is almost impossible to avoid recurrence. Mesothelioma has unique characteristics that make it capable of spreading through the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen. Since tumors are located so close to vital organs, doctors can have a difficult time eliminating them completely, even with state-of-the-art medical technology.
The key to mesothelioma treatment is therefore to delay the eventual recurrence, keeping the cancer under control as long as possible. Cancer cells that “escaped” the first treatment period will eventually grow and spread again over time. When a recurrence occurs, doctors define it one of three ways:
- Local recurrence – Tumors return to the same place they were originally found.
- Regional recurrence – Tumors grow in lymph nodes or tissues near the original cancer.
- Distant recurrence – Cancer has spread to areas of the body far from the location of the original tumor.
Although long-term mesothelioma survivors remain the exception to the rule, they are becoming more common as technology and treatment methods continue to advance. People who are suffering from mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure deserve to receive the best treatment possible in order to maximize their chances of survival.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP today or call (410) 625-9330 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Baltimore mesothelioma lawyers. We represent asbestos victims throughout Maryland and Washington D.C.
