Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, restrict the time that a person can bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most common types of lawsuits. The jury awards financial damages, which can include economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare illness. Patients usually visit their primary doctor with complaints and an medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and inquire about the possibility of exposure to asbestos.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they often request imaging tests. These include chest X-rays computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests offer a precise view of the body. mesothelioma attorney nebraska may show the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can also be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The pleural form of mesothelioma occurs when cancerous cells within the 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 an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope to look for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a test called the cytology test to detect cancerous cells from fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) within the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker may indicate the presence of mesothelioma cell lines.
In turn, these biomarkers could be useful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma early in its development. However, it is not an alternative to a mesothelioma biopsy which is the only definitive way to determine if cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura by using needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur anywhere on the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have developed. The most common sites are the lungs. People who have pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest area and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. Patients with mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region feel discomfort in their abdomen as well as fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms mimic those of other common diseases. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma can develop.
CT scans and X-rays may reveal changes in the lungs, such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to detect elevated levels of certain substances that may indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to test for cancer cells. Doctors can also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a non-invasive alternative to biopsies procedure and is performed in a clinic of a doctor.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and stop the spread. The radiation can be administered in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is usually given as an outpatient. Palliative treatments are often used to manage pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids or a tube placed inside the chest to aid with breathing. It could also include radiation to stop the tumor from advancing.
Treatment
For people diagnosed with mesothelioma treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. Treatment options differ based on the type of mesothelioma and its stage. The treatment plan can vary based on the level of asbestos exposure that the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to the symptoms of a variety of illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Most patients suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To determine the cause of the illness doctors will conduct an examination 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 where it is located in the body.
The most common form of mesothelioma affects the lungs. Most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as a welder, plumber or electrician or in the automotive industry.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that helps stop the buildup of fluid in the lungs. In the course of the procedure, a tube will be inserted into pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medication will be injected to prevent further accumulation. Patients may also choose to have a shunt, which is a device used to move fluid from one region of the body to another to absorb.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy fights cancer cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and shrinks them with high-energy rays. Those who are not candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes in the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is dependent on a variety of factors, including the stage and type of cancer, the site and the general health status of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their prognosis when they seek treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment plan. Additionally, mesothelioma patients who participate in clinical trials may be able to access new treatments that are currently under investigation.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions which is why they are often not diagnosed. Patients may experience breathing issues, abdominal pain and other symptoms for several months before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are mild at first it is easy to confuse them with other ailments. It's therefore important to have any symptoms checked by a doctor as quickly as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare cases the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma. 85 per cent of them being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years.
Survival rates for mesothelioma can differ between women and men. This is due to the fact that males are more likely than women to work in industries that expose them to asbestos. However women 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 suffer more difficulty recovering from the disease. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients live for years or even a decade over 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. The majority of mesothelioma compensation is granted through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help you determine what types of compensation might be applicable to your situation.
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 the victim's loved ones, family member or an appointed representative by the court. The estate of a victim's family who died from mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to recover compensation from those who are responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Since it can take a long time from the moment of exposure to diagnosis, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial debts from treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help these sufferers pay off their debts and provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their pain and suffering. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist families and victims receive the compensation that they deserve.
A skilled mesothelioma law firm can handle every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma case and make the process as easy as possible for their client. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today to begin on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we are able to get you compensation.