Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can assist victims to receive compensation for treatment and other costs. State laws called statutes of limitations limit the time a patient has to bring a lawsuit.
Lawsuits typically take the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award damages in the form of money that include non-economic and economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare condition. Patients usually visit their primary physician with complaints and an medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about exposure to asbestos.
Imaging tests are typically ordered by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This includes chest X-rays (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests offer a precise view of the body. They can reveal an accumulation of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is when cancerous cells in the lung the lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancer cells that reside 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 may also perform a cytology test to check for the presence of cancerous cells in the fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of mesothelin soluble peptide (SMRP), in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can be a sign of mesothelioma.
These biomarkers can be helpful for doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. It is not a substitute to a mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only method to determine if cancer has been detected within the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura with a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anyplace on the body where asbestos-induced cancerous cells have formed. Lynn mesothelioma lawyer are the abdomen, lungs, and heart. Pleural mesothelioma can cause pain in the chest as well as difficulty swallowing and 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, as they are similar to the symptoms of other common illnesses. Mesothelioma may develop after years of exposure to asbestos.
X-rays and CT scans may reveal changes in the lungs, such as the pleura getting thicker or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances within the body, which indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can drain the fluid or the tissue to look for cancerous cells. The doctor can also perform 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 invasive version of a biopsy that is performed in a doctor's office.
If a doctor discovers mesothelioma, he or she might suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and prevent the spread. Radiation therapy can be performed in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically administered as an as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to alleviate pain and other symptoms. It can include painkillers, regular draining of fluids or a tube put in the chest to assist with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from growing.
Treatment
For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can ease symptoms and extend life. Treatment options vary based on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan may also vary based on the level of asbestos exposure that the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to the symptoms of a variety of illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize mesothelioma early. In many cases, patients be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the disease doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about past exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct blood tests and imaging scans to determine the extent of the cancer and its location within the body.
The most common form of mesothelioma affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as a construction worker, welder, plumber, electrician or autoworker are most likely to develop this illness.
A buildup of fluid can cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can remove excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life for patients.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medicine is injected to prevent further buildups. Patients may also choose to use a shunt which is a device used to move fluid from one part of the body to the next to absorb.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also options. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in a direct manner. Radiation therapy targets tumors, and shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes in the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on a variety of factors including the nature and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and general health of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their chances of survival when they seek treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma, and follow their treatment plan. Patients who are part of clinical trials may be eligible for new treatments still under study.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions, so they are often misdiagnosed. Patients may experience breathing difficulties, abdominal pain and other symptoms for some time before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are initially mild, people can easily confuse them with other illnesses. It's therefore important to have any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as quickly as possible.
The lining of the chest (pleural mesothelioma) also known as the peritoneum or in rare cases the testicles' lining can be affected by mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between men and women. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, as they tend to work in areas that have asbestos in them. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to live beyond five years as male patients. This is probably due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis for a patient is also influenced by their age, as older patients have a more difficult to recover from illness. It's important to know that some mesothelioma patients live for years, or even a decade or more beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists victims in covering their medical costs as well as lost wages and other costs associated with this asbestos-related disease. The mesothelioma settlements are typically awarded by amalgamating asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will assist you in determining the amount of compensation that is available in your particular case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can sue the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They may be able to 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 passed away of mesothelioma or another cancer, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the victim to recover compensation from those accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Since it can take a long time from diagnosis to exposure many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts and also provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also compensate the victims for their pain and suffering. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist victims and their families get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer can manage all aspects of a victim’s mesothelioma case and make it as easy as they can. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped victims and their family members obtain more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma lawsuits. Contact us today for no-cost review of your mesothelioma case. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at your home or in the hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we secure compensation for you.