12 Mesothelioma Claim Facts To Get You Thinking About The Water Cooler
Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, restrict the time a victim can bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most popular kinds of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages which include non-economic and economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to diagnose mesothelioma, which is a rare disease. Patients typically visit their primary physician with an medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about the possibility of exposure to asbestos.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they usually order imaging tests. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests provide a detailed analysis of the body. They may show a build-up of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a common mesothelioma symptom.
These tests can also be used to determine the kind of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma type that is pleural is caused by cancer cells in the lung lining called the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small sample of tissue from the tumor or affected area to look under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors will also use an cytology test in order to check for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, called the MESOMARK Assay, can determine the amount soluble mesothelin related protein (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can be a sign of mesothelioma.
These biomarkers are therefore helpful to doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only method to determine the presence of cancer within the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical procedure to collect fluid from the pleura and the stomach with a needle and look it up for mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most common locations are the lung. Pleural mesothelioma can cause chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People who have peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often suffer from discomfort in their abdomen and fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to identify because the symptoms mimic the symptoms of a variety of common illnesses. It may take years after exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma can develop.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura becoming thicker or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). mesothelioma attorney assistance and PET scans are also used to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances that may indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to test for cancer cells. The doctor can also carry out an operation known as the thoracoscopic needle aspiration procedure to remove a small amount of fluid from around the lungs or thoracic cavity. This test is a less invasive alternative to a biopsy, and can be done in the doctor's office.
If the doctor finds mesothelioma, they may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. Radiation therapy can be performed in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is usually delivered as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to help manage pain and other symptoms. It may include painkillers and regular draining of fluids or tubes placed in the chest to aid in breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can reduce symptoms and prolong the life of patients with mesothelioma. Treatment options vary depending on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan will also differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms resemble those of many diseases such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it hard for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages. Often, patients will be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and inquire about prior asbestos exposure. They will follow up with blood tests and imaging scans to determine the severity of the cancer and where it is located within the body.
The most common mesothelioma type is a lung cancer. People who have been exposed to asbestos as an industrial worker, welder, plumber, electrician or autoworker are most likely to contract this disease.
Pleural mesothelioma can cause the accumulation of fluid which can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Surgery can help eliminate the excess fluid and improve a person's quality of life.
Pleurodesis is yet another procedure doctors can use to prevent future accumulation of fluid in the lungs. In this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain fluid and then medication is injected to prevent the buildup of further fluids. Patients can also opt to place a shunt, which is a device used to move fluid from one area of the body to another to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy rays. Those who are not candidates for surgery can opt for targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes in the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is affected by a variety of factors such as the type and stage of cancer, the location and general health condition of the patient. A mesothelioma prognosis can improve by seeking treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma treatment and follow their treatment plan. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials could also have access to new treatments that are still being researched.
The mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to many other conditions. This leads to a lot of mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may experience breathing difficulties, abdominal pain and other symptoms for a few months before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are simple at first it is easy to confuse them with other conditions. It is therefore essential to have any symptoms checked by a doctor as quickly as is possible.
The chest's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or peritoneum, or in rare instances, the testicles' lining can be affected by mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent being found in patients over 75 years.
Men and women have different survival rates for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, since they work in areas where asbestos is prevalent. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma are twice as likely to survive past five years than male patients. This is likely due the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis for a patient is also affected by their age, as older patients have a more difficult to recover from disease. It's important to know that mesothelioma patients can live for years, or even a decade beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists patients in paying their medical expenses in addition to lost wages and other costs 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 may seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of a victim's loved ones or family member, or a court-appointed representative. If a victim has died of mesothelioma or another cancer, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the victim to recover compensation from those who are responsible for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt because it can take years to go from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help victims of the disease pay off their debts and also provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their suffering and pain. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist victims and their families get the compensation they deserve.
A reputable mesothelioma law firm can handle all aspects of a patient's mesothelioma case and make the process as painless as possible for their client. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma-related settlements for patients and their families. Contact us today to begin with a free mesothelioma review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet with you in your home or hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we receive compensation.