According to Medical News Today, only four of every ten mesothelioma patients survive more than a year after being diagnosed. However, a study conducted by the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program (PMPP) may significantly change this prognosis. The study suggests that photodynamic therapy can extend a patient’s life by approximately one year.

University of Pennsylvania researchers are encouraged by patients’ positive response to photodynamic therapy over traditional surgery followed by radiation. Preliminary results published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery suggest that survival rates for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients treated by photodynamic therapy are almost double the survival rates for patients treated with traditional invasive surgical procedures. Of the 38 patients who participated in the light-responsive drug therapy study, the median survival rate was 31.7 months.

But for mesothelioma patients, the question of cost may be paramount to whether the treatment will be made available to them. Recovering from a serious diagnosis requires the help of both medical and legal professionals experienced with cancer treatment and asbestos exposure. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a lawyer can help you:

• Explore nontraditional treatment options, including photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy alongside traditional surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment options
• Obtain compensation from the product manufacturers and suppliers responsible for exposing the public to hazardous substances to help you finance long-term care and medical recovery after a mesothelioma diagnosis

If you want to know more about mesothelioma treatment, call us.