Case Study For Mesothelioma Attorney Illinois
Until the day of his death, no man can be sure of his courage Jean Anouilh (French dramatist)
Family Life
Laura Collins*, 41, resident of Chicago, Illinois had everything going for her. That included a great job in which she coordinated and managed several local job fairs, a family that comprised of her husband Greg* and two adorable sons Jack* and Donald* and a beautiful house.
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Problems start
However about 3 years ago she started experiencing unexplainable stomach pains and breathing problems. Laura, who otherwise led a very healthy lifestyle which entailed jogging 5 days a week and eating intelligently, couldn’t understand what was wrong with her.
Shocking diagnosis
Numerous visits by Laura and Greg to doctors and specialists led to the shocking diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. When the mesothelioma expert told Laura that one gets mesothelioma due to extensive contact with asbestos and its related products, she was perplexed; since as far as she knew she had never been exposed to asbestos. Her doctor was also puzzled as Laura was too young to get mesothelioma, which is a rare form of lung cancer.
Reasons for Laura’s disease
A visit to the assistant professor of surgery at a local cancer centre helped fit Laura the pieces of the mesothelioma jigsaw puzzle. The professor informed her that lately he was seeing those people with mesothelioma who like her had never been exposed long term to asbestos. The possible reasons could be either due to some unknown environmental cause or due to some genetic defect. He told Laura that research was under way to find out other causes of mesothelioma.
EPP and why Laura went for it
Once the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma was confirmed in Laura, she had to undergo a procedure called extra-pleural pneumonectomy (EPP), a drastic surgical treatment. As Laura had the physical capacity to undergo this procedure, her doctors strongly recommended it to her. That meant because of her exercises and healthy eating habits, her heart and lungs were in good condition. Before the operation, the extent of her mesotheliomic tumor was diagnosed through X-rays and CT scan. |
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What happens in EPP
The doctors explained to Laura and her family the entire procedure of EPP; as what happens is that several parts are removed such as: segments of the lung, lining of the lung, fragile covering of the heart and the diaphragm. This way a large number of cancerous cells are removed. EPP, Laura was told had great many risks attached with it such as internal bleeding, breathing failure, and blood clotting in the veins of the leg or thigh and maybe even death. After much thought and consideration though, Laura decided to take a chance on it for her and her family’s sake.
Post EPP
Laura was discharged after 10 days in the hospital and she had to undergo a number of sessions of chemotherapy and radiation so that there was no further spread of mesothelioma. Because of these aggressive treatments Laura was able to survive three more years.
- Names of people have been changed to protect their privacy
- Do consult your doctor about the above mentioned procedures
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