Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment and other expenses. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations restrict how long a victim is required to make a claim.
Lawsuits typically take the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award damages in the form of money that include economic and noneconomic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take years to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare condition. Patients will usually go to their primary doctor with a medical history. Doctors will perform an examination of the body and inquire about asbestos exposure.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they will often order imaging tests. This includes chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests give a detailed view of the body. These tests could reveal an accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen, which is a mesothelioma-related sign.
These tests can also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is when cancerous cells in the lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. In the course of a surgical biopsy, physicians will remove a small piece of tissue from the tumor or affected area to look under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a cytology test to check for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test called the MESOMARK test can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of this biomarker could indicate mesothelioma.
In turn, these biomarkers can be helpful in diagnosing mesothelioma early in its development. However, it's not a substitute for mesothelioma-related biopsy which is the only reliable method to determine whether cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura using a needle, and then analyze it for cells of mesothelioma.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to form. The most frequent sites are the lungs. People who have pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest region as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. Port St. Lucie mesothelioma lawsuits who have mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region feel pain in their abdominal region and weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to identify because the signs are similar to those of other common diseases. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma can develop.
CT scans and Xrays can detect changes in the lungs, such as fluid buildup or thickening of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to check for elevated levels of certain substances which could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to test for cancer cells. A doctor may also perform an operation called thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less invasive version of a biopsy that is performed in a doctor's office.
If a doctor has diagnosed mesothelioma the doctor will most likely suggest chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The treatment and surgery typically take place in an outpatient setting, and radiation may be delivered in a hospital or clinic. Palliative treatments are often used to alleviate pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids, tubes that are placed inside the chest to help with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and prolong life for patients with mesothelioma. Treatment options differ based on the mesothelioma type and stage. The treatment plan will differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to many other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma early. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous exposure to asbestos. They will follow up with imaging scans and blood tests to determine the extent of the cancer and the location in the body.
The most prevalent mesothelioma type affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as workers in the construction industry, welding plumber, electrician, or autoworker are the most likely to develop this illness.
A buildup of fluid can cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can remove the excess fluid and improve the quality of life.
Pleurodesis is a different procedure doctors can utilize 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 the medicine is injected into the pleura to prevent future buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt placed in the body, which is a device used to move fluid from one region of the body to another in order to absorb.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in a direct manner. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy radiation. Those who are not candidates for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes inside of the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on several factors including the type and location of cancer, the stage at diagnosis and the general health of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve by seeking treatment from a seasoned specialist in mesothelioma therapy and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who are taking part in clinical trials could have access to novel treatments that are currently being investigated.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar the symptoms of a variety of other diseases, so they are often misdiagnosed. Patients may experience breathing problems or abdominal pain, among other symptoms for a few months before they are diagnosed. These symptoms are initialy mild and may be easily confused with other illnesses. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as is possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare cases, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnoses made in patients over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may vary between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women because they are more likely to work in areas where asbestos is prevalent. Women who are exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving for the next five years than male patients. This is likely due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. A person's age also impacts their prognosis because older patients suffer more difficulty recovering from the disease. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation is a way to help victims pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related disease. Most often, this mesothelioma settlement is made through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help determine which forms of compensation are available to you in your particular case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may bring a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They can 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 loved ones who died from mesothelioma can file a wrongful-death lawsuit to recover compensation from the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many people with mesothelioma are in debt as it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts and ensure their families' future.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements may also provide compensation to victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma attorney can assist families and victims get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim and make it as easy as they can. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members collect more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma lawsuits. Contact us now to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to visit you at your home or hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we get you compensation.