BOSTON, Massachusetts – Mesothelioma patient in remission after being diagnosed with the cancer five years ago.
Karen Grant, then 29 years old when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, was sure that her life was going to end.
Mesothelioma is a rare and difficult to treat cancer exclusively caused by exposure to the mineral asbestos. Asbestos was once used in construction and when it is not properly disposed of after a building renovation or demolishing, fibers from the mineral become airborne and can infect those who breath it in.
Although it can take years (in some cases up to 50) for mesothelioma to develop after the initial asbestos exposure, the window to obtain treatment is only about a year, give or take a few months.
Grant was only given a few months to live; however, she had hope that there would be a treatment that could still help her.
That’s when she turned to Dr. David Sugarbaker, Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Sugarbaker focuses on malignant pleural mesothelioma and is a leading physician in the field. He is an advocate of the innovative extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery, which involves removing the cancerous tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Dr. Sugarbaker performed two surgeries on Grant to remove the tumors she had lining both her lungs. He used a laser to eradicate the cancer cells, following the procedure with chemotherapy to her lungs.
The next few months for Grant were spent in intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Today, Grant is living life cancer-free and she enthusiastically admits “I owe my life to him.” Her case offers hope to those who have mesothelioma that remission is possible.
Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek the help of a mesothelioma lawyer immediately to begin seeking treatment. If you were exposed to asbestos, you may be eligible to receive a large compensation for your illness and medical treatment.