Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment and other costs. State laws, called statutes or limitations, limit the time that a person can make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most popular types of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages which include non-economic and economic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it can take many years before patients receive a diagnosis. Patients typically visit their primary physician with an medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and inquire about asbestos exposure.
When 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 precise view of the body. They can reveal an accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs which is a common mesothelioma symptom.
These tests also help to determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural occurs when cancerous cells within the lung the lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells that reside 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 signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a test called a cytology to detect cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, called the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related to peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker has high levels and could indicate mesothelioma.
These biomarkers can be helpful to doctors trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its earliest stages. However, Accident Injury Lawyers are not an alternative to mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only method to know if cancer is present in the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura using a needle, and analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can be found anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most common sites are the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma causes pain in the chest, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often experience pain in their abdominal region and weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms mimic those of many common illnesses. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to develop.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, such as the pleura becoming thicker or fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances that could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or the tissue to look for cancerous cells. A doctor can also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a non-invasive alternative to biopsies and can be performed in a medical clinic.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. The treatment and surgery are generally done in an outpatient setting and radiation may be given in a clinic or hospital. The use of palliative therapies is often to control the symptoms of pain and other. It could include painkillers, regular draining of fluids or tubes placed in the chest to assist with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and extend the life of patients with mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatments that are available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan can differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble other illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it hard for doctors to recognize mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Often, patients will be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To determine the cause of the illness, doctors will perform an examination of the body and inquire about previous exposure to asbestos. They then will conduct scans of the blood and imaging to determine the severity and the location of the cancer within the body.
The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs. The most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as a welder or electrician, or in the auto industry.
Pleural mesothelioma can trigger a buildup of fluid, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, improving the quality of life for patients.
Doctors can also utilize a procedure called pleurodesis to prevent future fluid buildup in the lung. In this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain the fluid and then medication is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients may also choose to have a shunt installed, which is a device that moves fluid from one area of the body to another to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. People who aren't suitable for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma depends on a variety of factors, including the type and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and the general health of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a specialist who is experienced in the field of mesothelioma and adhere to their treatment plan. In addition, patients with mesothelioma who are part of an clinical trial could have access to new treatments that are still being studied.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions, so they are often misdiagnosed. Patients may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are mild at first, people can easily confuse them with other conditions. It is therefore essential to have any symptoms checked by a physician as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare instances the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
Survival rates for mesothelioma can differ between men and women. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in industries that expose them. However, females who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times as likely to survive past five years as male patients. This could be due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis for a patient is also affected by their age, since older patients have a more difficult to recover from illnesses. It is important to remember that some patients with mesothelioma live for years, or even a decade beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses related to the asbestos-related disease. The majority of mesothelioma compensation is awarded through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist you in determining the amount of compensation that is available in your case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of 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, family member or a court-appointed representative. The estate of a victim's family who has died from mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to recover compensation against those responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many people with mesothelioma are in debt due to the fact that it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help victims pay off their debts and also provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also provide compensation to victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and families get the compensation they are entitled to.
A mesothelioma attorney can manage every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma claim, making it as stress-free as they can. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped victims and their family members receive over $4.7 billion for mesothelioma claims. Contact us today to begin on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet with you in your home or hospital. Our law firm will only be paid if we receive compensation.