Mesothelioma and Surgery Preparation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, it can be overwhelming to think about surgery and treatment. Once diagnosed, you may work with a medical team to discuss available treatment options.
One of the treatment options available is surgery to locate and remove the affected areas. Before the procedure is considered, a patient must undergo evaluations to determine eligibility and fitness for surgery.
Surgery for Mesothelioma is typically performed to try to cure the cancer or to relieve pain and other symptoms caused by the tumor.
Surgery Evaluation
The first step when evaluating a patient for surgery is performance status. Performance status is a measurement of a patient’s functional status to see what treatments they may be able to withstand moving forward. It is also a measure of the person’s overall health and can help determine whether the patient is fit enough to undergo and benefit from a surgical procedure. You may be eligible for surgery if:
- Overall health is good,
- Your lung and heart function tests indicate normal or near normal organ function,
- Your doctor is confident you can recover from potential surgery complications,
- Your mesothelioma has not spread too far, and/or
- Your mesothelioma is not of the sarcomatous cell type.
Along with performance status, a medical checkup will be done to see if the patient can tolerate and recover from the extensive procedure. This includes evaluating their ability to handle an extended period of being under anesthesia which has its own set of risks. Tests that prepare a patient for Mesothelioma surgery are:
- An electrocardiogram or EKG, which is a heartbeat health test,
- A pulmonary function test, which looks at how much force and functions your lungs have,
- A cardiac ultrasound which takes pictures while the heart is beating to look for abnormalities, and/or
- Blood tests that look for several issues that can be corrected before surgery.
The blood work is conducted to look for common issues such as clotting and anemia, which can affect your ability to tolerate anesthesia and heal from the procedure. Initially, mesothelioma surgery is only considered when the disease is confined to one side of the chest or the peritoneal cavity (abdomen lining).
All surgeries have risks, and a medical team experienced in treating Mesothelioma will only do so when it benefits the patient and the patient can undergo the procedure successfully without undo risks associated with the surgical process.
Contact our Attorneys for Legal Guidance After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, contact our lawyers at Charles Boyk Law today so we can discuss these critical issues. We are experienced in handling Mesothelioma cases and will fight to help you win the compensation you deserve.
Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
