Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma case can help victims obtain compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. Statutes of limitations in the state, also known as statutes of limitations limit how long a victim has to bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most common kinds of lawsuits. Juries award damages in the form of money that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare illness and it can take many years before patients be diagnosed. Most patients visit their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will do an examination of the body and inquire about any possible exposure to asbestos.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma, they will often order imaging tests. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests give a detailed view of the body. They may show a build-up of fluid around the abdomen or lungs which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can be used to determine the kind of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma pleural type occurs when cancerous cells within the lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal type 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 check for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a test called the cytology test to detect cancerous cells from samples of fluid taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of mesothelin soluble protein (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can be a sign of mesothelioma.
These biomarkers can be helpful to doctors who are trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its earliest stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsies which is the only way to definitively determine whether cancer has been found in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura by using a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can be found anywhere on the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have formed. The most common locations are the lungs, abdomen and heart. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer often experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because they are similar to the symptoms of other common diseases. Mesothelioma can develop years after asbestos exposure.
X-rays and CT scans may reveal changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura getting thicker or the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for high levels of certain substances in the body, which indicate mesothelioma's presence.
A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to test for cancer cells. A doctor may also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a non-invasive version of a biopsies procedure and is performed in a doctor's clinic.
If a doctor diagnoses mesothelioma the doctor will most likely suggest chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The surgery and chemotherapy are usually performed in an outpatient setting and the radiation can be given in a clinic or hospital. The use of palliative therapies is often to treat discomfort and other symptoms. It could include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids, tubes placed in the chest to help with breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and extend the life of people with mesothelioma. Treatment options vary depending on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan can vary based on the level of asbestos exposure a patient is exposed to.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of many illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize the disease at an early stage. Most patients suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and inquire about any prior asbestos exposure. They will follow up with scans of the blood and imaging to determine the extent of the cancer and its location within the body.
The most prevalent mesothelioma type affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as workers in the construction industry, welding plumber, electrician, or autoworker are most likely to contract this disease.
A buildup of fluid may lead to chest pain and breathing difficulties. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, which can improve the quality of life of a patient.
Pleurodesis is another procedure that doctors can utilize to prevent further accumulation of fluid in the lungs. In the course of the procedure, a tube will be inserted into the pleura in order to drain the fluid. Then medicine will be injected to stop further accumulation. Patients may also choose to place a shunt on their body. It is a device used to move fluid from one area of the body to another in order to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and shrinks them with high-energy rays. People who aren't suitable for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is affected by several factors that include the stage and type of cancer, its location and the general health status of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their odds of survival if they seek treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who participate in an clinical trial could have access to new treatments that are currently under investigation.
The mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to those of other conditions. This can lead to an abundance of mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may experience breathing difficulties as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for a few months before they are diagnosed. binghamton mesothelioma attorney are initially mild and can be misinterpreted as other ailments. This is why it's important to get any symptoms examined by a physician as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
Both genders have different survival rates for mesothelioma. This is because men are more likely than women to work in industries that expose them to asbestos. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to survive past five years than male patients. This is probably due to the way female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis of an individual is also affected by their age, since older patients have a harder to recover from illnesses. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients live years or even a decade over their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation helps victims pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses associated with the asbestos-related disease. The mesothelioma settlements are typically given by amalgamating asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can assist you in determining what forms of compensation are available to you in your particular case.
A person diagnosed mesothelioma could bring a lawsuit against the manufacturer of asbestos-related products to which they were exposed during their work. They can seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim by their loved one, family member or an appointed representative by the court. If a victim has died of mesothelioma, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the victim's deceased loved ones to seek compensation from the parties accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt because it can take years from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts, and also provide for their families' futures.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements may also compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will assist victims and their families get the money they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can handle 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-related settlements for patients and their families. Contact us today to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at home or at the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we get you compensation.