Mesothelioma Claims

A mesothelioma lawsuit can assist victims in obtaining compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations limit the time that a victim must file 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 illness and it may take several years before patients receive a diagnosis. Patients typically visit their primary doctor with an medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about any possible exposure to asbestos.

Imaging tests are often requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This includes chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests give a complete analysis of the body. They may show a build-up of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.

These tests can also help determine the type of 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 biopsies performed surgically, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope to look for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct an examination known as a cytology to identify cancerous cells from fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.

A blood test referred to as the MESOMARK assay can measure the amount of mesothelin-soluble peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. This biomarker is high levels can be a sign of mesothelioma.

These biomarkers can be helpful to doctors trying to identify mesothelioma settlement amounts at its beginning stages. 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 non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura by using needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most common locations are the lung. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People with mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region feel pain in their abdominal region as well as fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be difficult to identify due to their similarity to those of other common illnesses. Mesothelioma can manifest years after exposure to asbestos.

CT scans and Xrays can detect changes in the lungs, such as thickening or fluid buildup of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for the presence of certain substances in the body, which indicate the presence of mesothelioma.

A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to look for cancerous cells. Doctors can also perform an operation called thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less invasive alternative to a biopsy, and is performed in a doctor's office.

If the doctor finds mesothelioma, he or she might recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and stop their spread. Radiation therapy can be performed in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is usually administered as an outpatient. Palliative treatments are often used to help manage pain and other symptoms. It may include painkillers and 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

Treatment can ease symptoms and prolong life for people with mesothelioma. Treatment options vary depending on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan will vary depending on how much asbestos exposure the patient has.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to many other illnesses, like the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize the disease in the early stages. Patients may experience symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will follow up with scans of the blood and imaging to determine the severity of the cancer and its location within the body.

The most frequent mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. The most likely patients for developing the disease are those who have worked as welders electrician, plumber or in the automotive industry.

A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.

Doctors can also utilize a procedure called pleurodesis to stop the buildup of fluid in the lung. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain the fluid and then medication is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt installed, which is a device that moves fluid from one region of the body to another in order to absorb.

Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and claim for mesothelioma shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may undergo targeted therapy. This involves targeting the cancer-causing gene inside the cancer cells.

Prognosis

The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by several factors that include the type and stage of cancer, its location and general health status of the patient. Patients suffering from mesothelioma could improve their prognosis if they seek treatment from a specialist for mesothelioma law and follow their treatment plan. Additionally, mesothelioma patients who participate in a clinical trial may be able to access new treatments still under study.

The mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to those of other conditions. This can lead to an abundance of mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may have abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. These symptoms are initially mild and can be confused with other ailments. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms evaluated by a physician as soon as possible.

Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.

Survival rates for mesothelioma can vary between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, since they work in areas where asbestos is prevalent. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times as likely to live beyond five years as male patients. This is likely due to the hormonal interactions between female hormones and mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis for a patient is also affected by their age, as older patients have a more difficult recovery from illnesses. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade over their initial prognoses.

Compensation

Mesothelioma compensation helps victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with this asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma settlements are usually given by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and claim for mesothelioma settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help determine which forms of compensation are applicable to your situation.

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to while at work. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim, a family member, or an appointed representative of the court on behalf of the victim. If a victim has died from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the deceased to recover compensation from those accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.

Because it can take decades from exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are burdened with financial obligations resulting from treatment. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts, and ensure their families' future.

Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also be used to compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will help victims and their families get the compensation they deserve.

A mesothelioma attorney can manage every aspect of a victim's claim for mesothelioma and make it as easy as they can. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma class action settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today to get started on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet with you in your home or hospital. Our law firm is paid only when we receive compensation for you.