Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma suit can assist victims to receive compensation for their treatment and other costs. State laws called statutes of limitations limit how long a victim is required to make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most frequent kinds of lawsuits. The jury awards financial damages, which may include economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it can take many years before patients be diagnosed. Most patients go to their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will conduct physical examinations and inquire about the possibility of exposure to asbestos.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they will often order imaging tests. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests provide a detailed analysis of the body. These tests may reveal an accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen as a mesothelioma related symptoms.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural form of mesothelioma occurs when cancer cells in lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells in 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 to look for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a cytology test to check for the presence of cancerous cells in liquid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test referred to as the MESOMARK assay can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. The presence of high levels of this biomarker can indicate the presence of mesothelioma cell lines.
As a result, these biomarkers could be useful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma in its earliest stages. It is not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsies which is the only way to determine if cancer has been detected within the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura using needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can be found anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to form. The most frequent locations are the abdomen, lungs, and heart. People who have pleural mesothelioma suffer from pain in the chest area and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer often experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to recognize because the symptoms mimic the symptoms of a variety of common illnesses. It may take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to develop.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, including thickening of the pleura or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also utilized to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for high levels of certain substances in the body that indicate the presence of mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove a sample of the fluid or tissue that has accumulated to test it for cancer cells. The doctor may also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic needle aspiration to remove a small amount of fluid from around the lungs or thoracic cavity. This test is a less painful alternative to a biopsy, and is performed in the office of a doctor.
If a doctor diagnoses mesothelioma the doctor will most likely recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The surgery and chemotherapy typically take place in an outpatient setting and the radiation is given in a clinic or hospital. Palliative treatments are often used to control pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers, regular draining of fluids or tubes that are placed inside the chest to help with breathing and radiation to stop the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. Treatment options differ based on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan can vary based on the level of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as many other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. This makes it hard for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Often, patients will experience symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then conduct scans and blood tests to determine the extent and location of the cancer in the body.
The most frequent mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as an industrial worker, welder, plumber, electrician or autoworker are most likely to develop this disease.
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 may also opt for a procedure called pleurodesis to stop the buildup of fluid in the lung. In the course of the procedure, a tube is to be inserted into pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medication will be injected to stop further buildup. Patients may also choose to place a shunt, which is a device that circulates fluid from one region of the body to another 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 can undergo targeted therapy. This involves targeting the cancer-causing gene inside the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is affected by a variety of factors such as the stage and type of cancer, the location and the general health status of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their prognosis by seeking treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma, and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials may also have access to new treatments that are still being studied.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to other diseases. This leads to many mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may experience breathing difficulties or abdominal pain, among other symptoms for a few months before being diagnosed. These symptoms may be mild at first and can be misinterpreted as other illnesses. This is why it's crucial to have any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare cases the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common cause of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
Women and men can have different survival rates for mesothelioma. This is because men are more likely than women to work in areas that expose them. However Fort Worth mesothelioma lawyer 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. A person's age also impacts their prognosis because older patients suffer more difficulty recovering from the disease. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation helps victims cover their medical costs as well as lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related illness. Often, this mesothelioma compensation is awarded through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will assist you in determining the amount of compensation that is available in your particular case.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma can bring a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from producers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to while at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of a victim's loved ones or family member, or by an appointed representative by the court. If a victim died of mesothelioma, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the victim to recover compensation from those responsible for their loved one's asbestos exposure.
Because it can take decades from the moment of exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are burdened with financial obligations resulting from treatment. Mesothelioma compensation may help patients pay off their debts and provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also provide compensation to victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma attorney can help victims and families receive the compensation that they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer is able to manage every aspect of a victim's claim for mesothelioma and make it as easy as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements for victims and their families. Contact us today to arrange no-cost review of your mesothelioma lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet you at home or in the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we get you compensation.