Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit could assist victims to receive compensation for their treatment and 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 deaths are the most common types of lawsuits. The jury awards money damages, which include economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to identify mesothelioma. It is a rare disease. Patients will usually go to their primary doctor with complaints and a medical history. Doctors will perform a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
Imaging tests are typically ordered by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This includes chest X-rays (CT scans) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests provide a detailed examination of the body. They may show a build-up of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural occurs when cancerous cells within the lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from a tumor or affected area and examine it under a microscope in order to check for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use the test known as the cytology test to detect cancerous cells from fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, known as the MESOMARK Assay, will determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related to peptide (SMRP) within the body of the patient. High levels of this biomarker may indicate the presence of mesothelioma cells.
This is why these biomarkers can be helpful for doctors trying to diagnose mesothelioma in its earliest stages. It is not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only way to definitively determine the presence of cancer within the body. Doctors can conduct a non-surgical biopsy to collect fluid from the pleura or the stomach using a needle, and analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur anywhere on the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have formed. The most frequent sites are the abdomen, lungs, and the heart. Pleural mesothelioma can cause pain in the chest as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer typically experience abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. The signs of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose, as they are similar to the symptoms of other common diseases. Mesothelioma may develop after years of exposure to asbestos.
CT scans and Xrays can detect changes in the lungs, such as fluid buildup or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also used to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to check for elevated levels of certain substances that may indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove an amount of fluid or tissue that has accumulated to test it for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation called thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a non-invasive form of biopsies procedure and is performed in a medical clinic.
If a doctor has diagnosed mesothelioma the doctor will most likely recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The chemotherapy and surgery are generally done in an outpatient setting, and the radiation can be administered in a clinic or a hospital. Palliative treatments are often used to manage pain and other symptoms. The treatment options include painkillers, regular drainage of fluids or a tube placed in the chest to help with breathing. It may also include radiation to prevent the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and extend the life of people with mesothelioma. Treatment options vary depending on the type of mesothelioma and its stage. The treatment plan may also differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a variety of illnesses, including the flu or pneumonia. This makes it hard for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Most patients experience symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then conduct scans and blood tests to determine the severity and location of the cancer in the body.
The most prevalent mesothelioma form affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as an industrial worker, welder plumber, electrician, or autoworker are more likely to contract this disease.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a person's quality of life.
asbestos attorney cancer lawyer mesothelioma settlement can also use pleurodesis procedure to prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In this procedure, a tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medicine is injected to prevent further buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt, which is a device used to move fluid from one area of the body to the other for absorption.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in a direct manner. The treatment targets tumors and shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors, including the type and location of the cancer as well as the stage at which it was diagnosed and general patient health. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their chances of survival if they seek treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Additionally, mesothelioma patients who are part of a clinical trial may be eligible for new treatments still under study.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions, so they are often incorrectly diagnosed. Patients may have abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are mild at first they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other illnesses. This is why it is important to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as soon as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare instances, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent of them being found in patients over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may differ between men and women. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women because they are more likely to work in industries where asbestos is prevalent. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times more likely to live past five years than male patients. This could be due to the hormonal interactions between female hormones and mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis of a person is also influenced by their age, as older patients have a more difficult recovery from illness. It's important to note that some mesothelioma patients live for years, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists victims in covering their medical expenses as well as lost wages and other expenses related to the asbestos-related illness. Most often, this mesothelioma compensation is awarded through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist you in determining what forms of compensation might be available to you in your particular case.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from the asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved one, family member or a court-appointed representative. If a victim has passed away of mesothelioma, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the deceased to recover compensation from those accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt due to the fact that it can take years to go from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help patients pay off their debts and also provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can 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 mesothelioma lawyer is able to manage every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim and make it as easy as they can. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today to arrange no-cost review of your mesothelioma claim. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm is paid only if we secure compensation for you.