Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can allow victims to receive compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations limit the time that a victim has to file a lawsuit.
Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. The jury awards monetary damages, which can include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It could take years to diagnose mesothelioma, which is a rare illness. Patients will usually go to their primary doctor with an medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
Imaging tests are often requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests offer a precise view of the body. These tests could reveal an accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen that is a mesothelioma-related sign.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural occurs when cancer cells in lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope to look for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use an examination known as a cytology to detect cancerous cells in samples of fluid taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, known as the MESOMARK Assay, can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP), in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can indicate mesothelioma.
As a result, biomarkers can be beneficial in diagnosing mesothelioma in its earliest stages. However, it's not an alternative to mesothelioma biopsies which is the sole reliable method to determine whether cancer is present 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 cells of mesothelioma.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most frequent sites are the lung. Patients with pleural mysothelioma feel pain in their chest region, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often experience pain in their abdominal region and fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic those of other common diseases. It may take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma develop.
CT scans and X-rays may reveal changes in the lungs, such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to determine the presence of certain substances that could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to test for cancer cells. The doctor may also perform the procedure known as the thoracoscopic needle aspiration procedure to remove a small amount of fluid from around the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a less painful version of a biopsy and is performed in the office of a doctor.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. Harlingen mesothelioma attorney can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is usually administered as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to manage pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids, tubes placed in the chest to help with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. There are many treatments available, based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will depend on the level of asbestos exposure a patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble other illnesses like the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then conduct scans of the blood and imaging to determine the size and extent of the cancer's presence in the body.
The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as workers in the construction industry, welding plumber, electrician, or autoworker are most likely to develop this disease.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life of a patient.
Doctors can also use a procedure called pleurodesis to stop the buildup of fluid in the lung. During the procedure, a tube will be inserted into pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medicine is injected to stop further accumulation. Patients may also choose to receive a shunt which is a device that is used to transfer fluid from one area of the body to the next for absorption.
The treatment of chemotherapy and radiation are both options. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy rays. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may undergo targeted therapy. This is done by targeting the cancer-causing gene inside the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by a variety of factors that include the stage and type of cancer, the site and general health condition of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve when patients seek treatment from a seasoned specialist in mesothelioma therapy and follow their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who are taking part in clinical trials may have access to novel treatments that are currently being researched.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be compared to the symptoms of other conditions and, therefore, they are frequently misdiagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are simple at first it is easy to confuse them with other conditions. This is why it's important to get any symptoms evaluated by a physician as soon as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) and the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosed in patients who are more than 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between men and women. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women since they work in industries that have asbestos in them. Females exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving the past 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 outlook since older patients tend to have a harder time recuperating from the illness. It's important to note that some patients with mesothelioma live for years, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with this asbestos-related illness. Most often, this mesothelioma compensation is granted through an amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist you in determining what compensation is available in your case.
A person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They may seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed by family members, a family member, or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim's loved ones who died of mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to recover compensation against the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many people with mesothelioma are in debt because it can take years to go from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation may help sufferers pay off their debts and pay for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and families receive the compensation that they are entitled to.
A mesothelioma attorney can manage every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma case and make it as easy as they can. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped victims and their family members receive over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma compensation. Contact us today to arrange no-cost review of your mesothelioma lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet with you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm will only be paid if we get you compensation.