Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can assist victims in obtaining compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, restrict the time a victim can file a lawsuit.
Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. The jury awards money damages, which can include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It could take years to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare condition. Patients typically visit their primary doctor with complaints and a medical history. Doctors will perform an examination of the body and ask about asbestos exposure.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they usually order imaging tests. This includes chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests provide a detailed look at the body. lincoln mesothelioma attorneys can reveal a buildup of fluid in the lungs or abdomen that is a mesothelioma-related symptoms.
These tests can also be used to determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma pleural type occurs when cancer cells in lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small sample of tissue from the affected area to examine under a microscope for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors may also perform the cytology test to look for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, known as the MESOMARK Assay, can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP), in the body of the patient. A high level of this biomarker can indicate the presence mesothelioma cells.
This is why these biomarkers could be useful for doctors trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its earliest stages. However, it's not an alternative to mesothelioma biopsies which is the sole method to know whether cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct a non-surgical biopsy to collect fluid from the pleura and the stomach with a needle and analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most frequent sites are the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cause of chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People with peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often experience pain in their abdominal region as well as fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to recognize because the signs are similar to those of many common illnesses. It can take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to grow.
CT scans and X-rays can reveal changes in the lungs such as thickening or fluid buildup of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances that may be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain an amount of fluid or tissue that builds up to test it for cancerous cells. Doctors can also perform an operation, known as thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a less-invasive version of a biopsy and is performed in the doctor's office.
If a doctor discovers mesothelioma, they may suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. The treatment and surgery typically take place in an outpatient setting, and the radiation is delivered in a clinic or hospital. Palliative treatments are often used to alleviate pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluids or a tube put in the chest to help with breathing and radiation to stop the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. There are many treatments available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will depend on the level of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to those of many diseases, including the flu or pneumonia. This makes it hard for doctors to recognize mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Patients may experience symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then perform scans of the blood and imaging to determine the size and location of the cancer in the body.
The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung. The most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as a welder, plumber or electrician, or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve the quality of life.
Pleurodesis is another procedure that doctors can use to prevent further accumulation of fluid in the lung. In the course of the procedure, a tube will be inserted into pleura in order to drain the fluid. Then medicine will be injected to prevent further accumulation. Patients can also opt to have a shunt placed, which is a device used to move fluid from one region of the body to another to absorb.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also options. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy rays. Those who do not qualify for surgery may opt for targeted therapy. This involves attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma depends on several factors including the type and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and the general health of the patient. A mesothelioma prognosis can improve when patients seek treatment from an experienced specialist in the field of mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who are part of a clinical trial may have access to new treatments still under study.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar the symptoms of a variety of other diseases which is why they are often not diagnosed. Patients may experience breathing problems as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for a few months before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so initially mild it is easy to confuse them with other ailments. Therefore, it is important to have any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare cases the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 per cent of them being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may vary between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in areas which expose them to asbestos. Mesothelioma patients with females have a twice higher chance of surviving the past five years than male patients. This is likely due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. A person's age also impacts their prognosis because older patients tend to have a more difficult time recuperating from the illness. It is important to remember that mesothelioma patients can live for years, or even a decade or more beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation helps victims cover their medical expenses in addition to lost wages and other expenses associated with the asbestos-related illness. Most often, this mesothelioma compensation is granted through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help you determine what compensation is available in your particular case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can bring a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed at work. They can seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved one or family member, or by an appointed representative by the court. If a victim died from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the victim's deceased loved ones to seek compensation from the parties responsible for their loved one's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt due to the fact that it can take years from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help sufferers pay off their debts and also provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma attorney can help victims and families get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer is able to handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma case to make it as pain-free as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today to begin on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at home or at the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we receive compensation.