Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma suit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment as well as other costs. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, limit the amount of time a patient can bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most frequent types of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare illness. Most patients visit their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will conduct physical examinations and inquire about exposure to asbestos.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they often request imaging tests. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests offer a thorough analysis of the body. These tests could reveal a buildup of fluid in the lungs or abdomen that is a mesothelioma-related symptom.
These tests can also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancer cells in the lung lining known as the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will take a sample of tissue from the affected area or tumor and examine it under a microscope to look for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct an examination known as a cytology to identify cancerous cells from samples of fluid 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 body of the patient. This biomarker has high levels and can be a sign of mesothelioma.
As a result, biomarkers can be beneficial for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma early in its development. However, it's not an alternative to mesothelioma-related biopsy, which is the only definitive way to determine whether cancer is present within the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura using needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have formed. The most common locations are the abdomen, lungs and the heart. People who have pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. People with mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region suffer from discomfort in their abdomen, as well as fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because they are similar to the symptoms of other common diseases. It may take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to develop.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura getting thicker or fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can detect the presence of certain substances in the body, which indicate mesothelioma's presence.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to look for cancerous cells. The doctor can also carry out an operation known as the thoracoscopic needle aspiration procedure to remove some of the fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavity. This test is a less painful alternative to a biopsy, and is performed in the doctor's office.
If the doctor finds mesothelioma, they may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. Radiation can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is usually administered as an as an outpatient. Palliative treatment is often used to help manage pain and other symptoms. It may include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluid or tubes placed in the chest to help with breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can help alleviate symptoms and prolong the life. Treatment options vary based on the mesothelioma type and stage. The treatment plan can differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble other illnesses like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify the disease at an early stage. Patients may experience symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To determine the cause of the illness, doctors will perform an examination and ask about past exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct blood tests and imaging scans to determine the severity of the cancer and its location in the body.
The most common mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as a construction worker, welder electrician, plumber or autoworker are more likely to develop this illness.
Pleural mesothelioma can trigger an accumulation of fluid, which can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Surgery can help eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent future fluid buildup in the lung. During this procedure the tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid, and then the medicine is injected into the pleura to prevent future buildups. Patients can also opt to receive a shunt which is a device to transfer fluid from one part of the body to the next for absorption.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also options. Chemotherapy fights cancer cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors, and shrinks them with high-energy rays. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may opt for targeted therapy. This involves attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on a variety of factors, including the type and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and general patient health. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their chances of survival by seeking treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment plan. Patients with mesothelioma who take part in clinical trials may also be able to access new treatments that are still being investigated.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be compared to the symptoms of a variety of other diseases, so they are often misdiagnosed. accidentinjurylawyers.claims may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. These symptoms are initialy mild and may be easily confused with other ailments. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms checked by a doctor as quickly as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) and the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnoses made in patients over 75 years old.
Men and women can have different survival rates for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women as they tend to work in industries that have asbestos in them. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to live beyond five years than male patients. This is probably due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis of an individual is also affected by their age, since older patients have a more difficult to recover from illness. It is important to remember that some patients with mesothelioma live for years, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists patients in paying their medical costs as well as lost wages and other expenses related to this asbestos-related disease. The mesothelioma settlements are typically given by amalgamating asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you determine what types of compensation are applicable to your situation.
Mesothelioma patients can bring a personal injury lawsuit to receive financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to during their work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of a victim's loved one or family member, or by an appointed representative by the court. The estate of a victim's family 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 as it can take years to go from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help those suffering of the disease pay off their debts and provide for their families' futures.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also compensate victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist families and victims receive the compensation that they deserve.
A reputable mesothelioma law firm can handle all aspects of a victim's mesothelioma claim to make the process as painless as is possible for their client. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma-related settlements for patients and their families. Contact us today to get started on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at your home or hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we secure compensation for you.