Atlanta Mesothelioma Side Effects

Asbestos is everywhere and Atlanta is no exception. Asbestos exposure causes a form of cancer known as Mesothelioma and the side effects and symptoms are harsh to say the least.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is particularly nasty because it is very hard to diagnose. The cancer can take up to 50 years to manifest to the point that it can be identified. Unfortunately, that only occurs when the cancer is so far along that the mortality rate is incredibly high. In Atlanta, there are treatments for this form of cancer, but they meet with marginal success and the side effects are often very difficult.

Because Mesothelioma is discovered so late, the medical care must be very aggressive to have any chance at all. There are three primary forms undertaken – surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Let’s take a closer look.

The side effects of each depends on where the cancer is located in the body. Regardless, the surgery often involves the removal of a lung or other organs that are not absolutely necessary to live. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to attach the cancer cells, but renders the patient ill and incredibly lethargic. Radiation is the focusing of radioactivity on tumors and cancerous growths in an effort to destroy or reduce their size. Again, the side effects include exhaustion, vomiting, aching, fever and general misery.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this form of treatment is the outcome. In most cases, the treatment only slows the growth of Mesothelioma and does not cure the patient. Patients with this form of cancer have a life expectancy of under two years on average. If you are in Atlanta and diagnosed with Mesothelioma, there are many new treatment undergoing clinical trials that you should investigate with your doctors. They side effects can be tough, but there is hope one of these treatments could be a breakthrough.