The rare lung cancer mesothelioma, solely linked to asbestos exposure, can go into remission. However, remission occurs rarely. That’s why you need money for medical care and legal help from a mesothelioma attorney to obtain it.
What Is Remission?
Complete remission defines cases where the patient shows no visible sign of cancer. It is also called No Evidence of Disease (NED). Cancer-free is not the same thing, as it means there’s no evidence of any residual cancer.
Therefore, it’s vital to remember remission may lead to a recurrence of cancer. Thus, as a mesothelioma patient, you must participate in follow-up appointments to catch any signs of recurrence early.
Second-line therapies can control a recurrence, and some cancer survivors have again achieved remission after a recurrence of the disease.
Once more, it’s also important to contact a mesothelioma attorney. They can review your case and help you receive compensation for medical care, lost income, and similar expenses. They may file an independent lawsuit or help receive money through an employer-established asbestos trust fund.
How Is Remission Achieved?
To achieve remission, oncologists work to decrease the size of a cancerous tumor by at least half or more. Cancer patients with malignant mesothelioma achieve remission when, as stated, they show no visible signs of cancer. The ultimate plan for patients eligible for life-extending treatments is full disease remission.
Therefore, patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma can reach remission.
The chances of reaching remission are better if the cancer is discovered before it can metastasize or spread to other parts of the body. Some mesothelioma remission cases where survivors have had NED have lasted over 20 years.
Types of Remission
Remission may be full or partial, as described below.
Full Remission
Full remission of mesothelioma happens when all the signs and symptoms of cancer in the body are gone. It is also called complete remission or a complete response.
In one case study, a woman with advanced peritoneal mesothelioma realized full remission after several rounds of chemotherapy. This case study was published in 2023 in BMJ Case Reports.
However, complete remission does not indicate the cancer is cured. Microscopic cancer cells may still exist after treatment, which can trigger a recurrence.
Partial Remission
Partial remission happens when the patient’s mesothelioma tumors decrease in size by at least 50 percent. While the cancer is not entirely gone, things have significantly improved. Patients who experience partial remission of mesothelioma experience fewer symptoms and, as a result, an improved quality of life.
Treating Mesothelioma
The overall goals of mesothelioma therapy are to reduce the presence of the disease, ease the symptoms, and increase life expectancy through remission.
Each patient is unique, so some people respond better to some treatments. In some instances, remission has even been reached without therapy playing a significant role. While very few cases of this type have been published, remission can still happen in these circumstances.
Why You Should Retain Help From a Mesothelioma Lawyer
Regardless of your specific treatment plan or the outcome, you should retain the services of a mesothelioma lawyer to ensure you can pay your medical expenses and maintain a high quality of life. Your care is number one when you receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma. That’s why you need a mesothelioma attorney.
They can assess your case and determine the best sources of compensation. Again, this may include filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit or receiving compensation from an employer-established asbestos trust fund account.
Mesothelioma Remission FAQs
You no doubt have questions about remission if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The following FAQs can help you learn more about this outcome and what you can expect.
What conditions apply to a full remission?
To achieve full remission from mesothelioma, your doctor must provide a report that includes includes:
- Negative results for a biopsy and imaging
- No evidence that the cancer has spread, also called metastasis
- A resolution of cancer symptoms
- Significant tumor shrinkage (50 percent or more)
Can advanced (stage 4) mesothelioma go into remission?
During this stage, the cancer has spread to other body areas, and surgery may not help. While traditionally achieving remission isn’t likely, you can experience a shrinkage in your tumor size temporarily. The proper treatment plan may stabilize the disease.
Again, you don’t know what lies in the future. That’s why you need a mesothelioma lawyer to support your therapy and care.
What can I expect if my cancer goes into remission?
If mesothelioma goes into remission, either the cancer tumor shrinks or the disease has disappeared. You’ll usually notice your symptoms have improved, such as problems with respiration or chronic pain.
If you go into partial remission, you’ll still require regular check-ups and treatment to keep the disease under control. During a complete remission, your doctor will closely monitor the disease to ensure it doesn’t return.
Surgeries that May Lead to Remission
The best way to reach remission is through surgery. If you’ve been diagnosed with stage one or stage two mesothelioma, you may be eligible for life-extension surgery, which may also lead to remission. During these stages, tumors are easy to remove, as the cancer has not spread very far.
Mesothelioma surgeries include:
Cytoreduction with HIPEC
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC targets peritoneal mesothelioma – removing the cancerous lining of the abdomen and any nearby tumors. The surgeon bathes the surgery site with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to kill any remaining cancer cells that were not removed during the procedure.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)
This pleural mesothelioma procedure removes visible tumors, extracting the cancerous lung and surrounding tissue. Doctors may combine EPP with chemotherapy to increase the likelihood of remission.
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D)
This pleural mesothelioma procedure removes the cancerous pleura along with tumors on the surface of the lung. Unlike with EPP, neither lung is extracted. The surgeon frequently combines P/D with radiation to destroy any leftover cancer cells.
Multimodal Therapy
Multimodal therapy is also used to achieve remission. This therapy combines more than one cancer treatment and can show an increase in mesothelioma survival rates. Treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Early-stage mesothelioma patients are the best candidates.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are performed to test new cancer treatments and improve existing therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees these trials, examining their safety and efficacy. Some patients who enroll in clinical trials may realize remission if they receive the tested treatment (versus a placebo).
Discuss Your Mesothelioma Case with a Mesothelioma Attorney Today
Contact a mesothelioma attorney about your mesothelioma diagnosis as soon as possible. They can optimize your compensation for medical costs and loss of earnings. Schedule a free consultation and case review today.
