Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws called statutes of limitations restrict the time that a victim is required to make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most frequent kinds of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it can take many years before patients receive a diagnosis. In the majority of cases, patients visit their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and ask about asbestos exposure.
Imaging tests are often ordered by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests offer a thorough analysis of the body. These tests can reveal an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or lungs as a mesothelioma related symptoms.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma type that is pleural is caused by cancer cells that line the lung known as the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will take a sample of tissue from the affected area or tumor and examine it under a microscope in order to check for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct the cytology test to look for the presence of cancerous cells in liquid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK assay can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. This biomarker has high levels and could indicate mesothelioma.
These biomarkers are therefore helpful for doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. It is not a replacement to a mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only method to determine whether cancer has been found in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura by using a needle, and analyze it for cells of mesothelioma.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can be found anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most common locations are the lungs, abdomen and the heart. Patients with pleural mesothelioma suffer from pain in the chest region and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer typically experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms mimic those of other common diseases. Mesothelioma can develop years after exposure to asbestos.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, for example, 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 high levels of certain substances in the body that indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to check for cancerous cells. The doctor may also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic needle aspiration, which is a procedure that removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs and thoracic cavity. This test is a non-invasive version of a biopsies procedure and is performed in a medical clinic.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and stop the spread. The surgery and chemotherapy are generally done in an outpatient setting, and the radiation can be given in a clinic or hospital. Palliative treatment is often used to manage pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluids or a tube put in the chest to help with breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. There are many options available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also vary based on the level of asbestos exposure a patient is exposed to.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of many diseases, including the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and inquire about any prior asbestos exposure. They then will conduct blood tests and imaging scanners to determine the size and the location of the cancer within the body.
The most common mesothelioma form affects the lungs. Most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as welders, plumber or electrician, or in the auto industry.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause the accumulation of fluid creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help eliminate the excess fluid and improve the quality of life.
Doctors may also opt for pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In this procedure, a tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medication is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients can also opt to place a shunt, which is a device that moves fluid from one area of the body to another in order to absorb.
The treatment of chemotherapy and radiation are both options. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy radiation. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes inside of the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by a variety of factors such as the type and stage of cancer, its location and general health condition of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their chances of survival if they seek treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma, and follow their treatment plan. Patients who are part of a clinical trial may be able to access new treatments that are still being studied.
The mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to other diseases. This leads to an abundance of misdiagnosis. Patients may experience breathing difficulties, abdominal pain and other symptoms for a few months before being diagnosed. These symptoms may be initially mild and can be misinterpreted as other illnesses. As a result, it's important to get any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
philadelphia mesothelioma lawsuit lining (pleural mesothelioma) also known as the peritoneum or in rare cases, the membrane surrounding the testicles may be affected by mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma cases, with 85 percent of diagnosed in patients who are more than 75 years old.
Women and men may have different rates of survival for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, since they work in areas that have asbestos in them. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to survive past five years than male patients. This is likely due the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The age of a person also affects their outlook since older patients are more likely to have a harder time recovering from the illness. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients live years or even a decade beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses related to the asbestos-related disease. Often, this mesothelioma compensation is awarded through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will assist you in determining what forms of compensation may be available to you in your particular case.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from producers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to during their work. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim, a family member, or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim's family who died from mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation from the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Since it can take a long time from diagnosis to exposure, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma have significant financial debts from treatment. Mesothelioma settlements can help those suffering of the disease pay off their debts, and also provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will help victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can manage all aspects of a victim’s claim for mesothelioma to make it as pain-free as they can. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members collect more than $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 you at your home or at the hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we get you compensation.