Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma case can assist victims in obtaining compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws, called statutes or limitations, restrict the time that a person can make a claim.
Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award monetary damages that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
It could take years to diagnose mesothelioma, which is a rare condition. Patients typically visit their primary doctor with an medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they will often order imaging tests. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests provide a detailed analysis of the body. These tests could reveal the presence of fluid in the abdomen or lungs as a mesothelioma related symptoms.
These tests can also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancer cells in the lung lining called the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the affected area to look under a microscope for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a cytology test to check for the presence of cancerous cells in liquid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of mesothelin soluble peptide (SMRP) within the body of the patient. A high level of this biomarker could be a sign of mesothelioma cells.
As a result, biomarkers can be beneficial in diagnosing mesothelioma early in its development. It's not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only way to determine whether cancer has been found within the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura with a needle, and analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have developed. The most common sites are the lungs. Patients with pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest region as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. Patients with peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often experience discomfort in their abdomen as well as weight loss and fatigue. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose due to their similarity to those of other common diseases. It may take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma develop.
CT scans and X-rays may detect changes in the lungs such as fluid buildup or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to check for elevated levels of certain substances that could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove an amount of fluid or tissue that builds up to test it for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation, known as thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a less-invasive alternative to a biopsy, and can be done in the doctor's office.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, they might suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. Radiation can be administered in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is typically administered as an as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapies is often to control pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids, or a tube inserted in the chest to assist in breathing. It could also include radiation to stop the tumor from growing.
Treatment
For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can alleviate symptoms and prolong the life. There are a variety of treatments available, depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan can differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure a patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as many other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. This makes it hard for doctors to recognize mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. federal way mesothelioma attorney be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness, doctors will perform a physical exam and ask about any exposure to asbestos in the past. They will follow up with scans of the blood and imaging to determine the extent of the cancer and the location in the body.
The most prevalent form of mesothelioma affects the lungs. The most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as a welder electrician, plumber or in the automotive industry.
Pleural mesothelioma can cause a buildup of fluid, which can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis procedure to stop the buildup of fluid in the lung. 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 may also choose to use a shunt which is a device that is used to transfer fluid from one region of the body to the next to absorb.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also options. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy rays. Those who are not candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is affected by several factors that include the stage and type of cancer, its location and general health condition of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma therapy and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who take part in clinical trials could also be able to access new treatments that are currently being researched.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions which is why they are often not diagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so mild at first, people can easily confuse them with other ailments. As a result, it's important to get any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnosed in patients who are more than 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma vary between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in areas that expose them to asbestos. Women who are exposed to mesothelioma have twice the chance of surviving past five years than male patients. This is likely due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis of an individual is also influenced by their age, since older patients have a harder recovery from disease. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients live for years or even a decade beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with this asbestos-related illness. The majority of mesothelioma compensation is granted through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help determine which forms of compensation might be available to you in your particular case.
Mesothelioma patients can bring a personal injury lawsuit to receive financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to during their work. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. If a victim has passed away from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the victim to seek compensation from the parties responsible for their loved one's asbestos exposure.
Since it can take a long time from exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are burdened with financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma compensation may help sufferers pay off their debts and provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also compensate victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma attorney can assist families and victims get the compensation they deserve.
A skilled mesothelioma law firm will handle every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma case and make the process as stress-free as they can for their client. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements for victims and their families. Contact us today for no-cost review of your mesothelioma lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet you at your home or in the hospital. Our law firm is paid only when we receive compensation for you.