Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can allow victims to receive compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, limit the time that a person can bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most popular types of lawsuits. The jury awards monetary damages, which can include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It could take years to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare condition. Patients will usually go to their primary physician with an medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about exposure to asbestos.
Imaging tests are often requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This may include chest X-rays (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests provide a detailed look at the body. They can show an accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can also be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancer cells that line the lung called the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies, doctors will take a sample of tissue from an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope in order to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors can also perform an examination known as a cytology to detect cancerous cells from fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK test can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. A high level of this biomarker may be a sign of mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers are thus beneficial to doctors who are trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its early stages. It's not a substitute to a mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only way to definitively determine if cancer has been detected in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura with a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most frequent sites are the lung. People who have pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer often experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be difficult to identify because they are similar to the symptoms of other common diseases. Mesothelioma may develop after years of asbestos exposure.
X-rays and CT scans can reveal changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura becoming thicker or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances that may indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to look for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation called thoracoscopic aspiration. Full Statement removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a non-invasive version of a biopsies and can be performed in a medical clinic.
If a doctor discovers mesothelioma, he or she may recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and stop their spread. The radiation can be administered in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is typically delivered as an as an outpatient. Palliative treatments are often used to manage pain and other symptoms. It may include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids, tubes placed in the chest to assist with breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can help ease symptoms and prolong the life of people with mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatments available, depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will also depend on the level of asbestos exposure the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble many other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. This makes it hard for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages. Patients may experience symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and inquire about prior asbestos exposure. They will then perform scans and blood tests to determine the severity and location of the cancer in the body.
The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lung. Most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as welders electrician, plumber or in the auto industry.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, improving the quality of life for patients.
Pleurodesis is yet another procedure doctors can utilize to prevent future accumulation of fluid in the lungs. During the procedure, a tube will be inserted into the pleura order to drain the fluid. Then, medication will be injected to prevent further buildup. Patients can also opt to use a shunt which is a device that is used to transfer fluid from one region of the body to the next to absorb.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy fights cancer cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy rays. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may undergo targeted therapy. This involves attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be dependent on a variety of factors that include the type and stage of cancer, its location and general health condition of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their prognosis by seeking treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma, and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials might also have access to new treatments that are still being investigated.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions which is why they are often incorrectly diagnosed. Patients may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing issues and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. These symptoms are mild at first and can be misinterpreted as other ailments. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms checked by a physician as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of all diagnosed in patients who are more than 75 years old.
Women and men have different survival rates for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women as they tend to work in areas where asbestos is prevalent. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times as likely to live beyond five years as male patients. This is likely due the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. Age also affects their outlook since older patients have a more difficult time recovering from the disease. It's important to note that some mesothelioma patients have a long life span, even a decade beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses associated with this asbestos-related illness. The majority of mesothelioma settlement is made through an amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can assist you in determining what forms of compensation may be applicable to your situation.
A person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma can sue the manufacturer of asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They may seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim who died of mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation against the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many people with mesothelioma are in debt because it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help victims of the disease pay off their debts, and also provide for their families' futures.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will assist victims and their families get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer is able to manage all aspects of a victim’s claim for mesothelioma, making it as stress-free as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements for victims and their families. Contact us today for a free review of your mesothelioma claim. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm will only be paid if we get you compensation.