Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment as well as other costs. Statutes of limitations in the state, also known as statutes of limitations restrict the time a patient is required to bring a lawsuit.
Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award monetary damages that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare disease and it can take many years before patients receive a diagnosis. Patients will usually go to their primary physician with symptoms and a medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about 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 examination of the body. They can show the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancer cells that line the lung known as the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancer cells found in the abdominal cavity. In the course of a surgical biopsy, physicians will remove a small amount of tissue from the affected area and examine it under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also perform a test called a cytology to detect cancerous cells from fluid 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 body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can indicate mesothelioma.
As a result, these biomarkers can be helpful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma early in its development. However, they are not an alternative to a mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only definitive way to determine whether cancer is present within the body. Doctors can conduct a non-surgical biopsy to extract fluid from the pleura and the stomach using a needle. They then look it up for mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most common locations are the lungs. Patients with pleural mysothelioma experience pain in the chest area as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. People who have mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region feel pain in their abdominal region as well as weight loss and fatigue. The signs of mesothelioma can be difficult to identify, as they are similar to the symptoms of other common diseases. Mesothelioma can develop years after exposure to asbestos.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, such as thickening of the pleura or the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to check for elevated levels of certain substances which could indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can take a sample of the fluid or tissue that builds up to test it for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation called the thoracoscopic aspiration. This procedure removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less painful version of a biopsy that is performed in the office of a doctor.
If a doctor discovers mesothelioma, they might recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and prevent the spread. Radiation therapy can be performed in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is typically given outpatient. Palliative treatments are often used to help manage pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluid or tubes placed in the chest to help with breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from growing.
Treatment
For people diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can reduce symptoms and extend the duration of. There are many treatments available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan can differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble many other illnesses, like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease early. Most patients be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and inquire about any prior asbestos exposure. They will follow up with imaging scans and blood tests to determine the extent of the cancer and where it is located within the body.
The most frequent mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as a construction worker, welder plumber, electrician, or autoworker are most likely to develop this disease.
A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain or breathing problems. Surgery can remove the excess fluid and improve a person's quality of life.
Doctors can also utilize a procedure called pleurodesis to stop the buildup of fluid in the lungs. In this procedure the tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid and then medication is injected to prevent further buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt placed, which is a device that moves fluid from one region of the body to another in order to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells directly. Radiation therapy targets tumors and shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. Those who are not candidates for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes in the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on a variety of factors, including the type and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and general health of the patient. Patients suffering from mesothelioma could improve their prognosis if they seek treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials might also be able to access new treatments that are currently being researched.
The mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. This causes a lot of misdiagnosis. attorney lawyer mesothelioma may experience breathing difficulties or abdominal pain, among other symptoms for a few months before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so initially mild, people can easily confuse them with other conditions. This is why it's important to get any symptoms examined by a physician as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare cases the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 per cent of them being in patients older than 75 years old.
Survival rates for mesothelioma can differ between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in fields that expose them to asbestos. Women who are exposed to mesothelioma have twice the chance of surviving the past five years than male patients. This is likely due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis of a person is also influenced by their age, as older patients have a more difficult time recovering from disease. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients live years or even a decade beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation helps victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related disease. This mesothelioma settlement is often given by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help determine which forms of compensation may be applicable to your situation.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may sue the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They may be able to seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim who died of mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation from those responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt as it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts, and provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their pain and suffering. An attorney for mesothelioma can help victims and families receive the compensation they are entitled to.
A mesothelioma lawyer who is skilled can handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim, making the process as painless as is possible for their client. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma-related settlements for patients and their families. Contact us today to arrange a free review of your mesothelioma lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet with you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm will only be paid if we receive compensation.