Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit could assist victims to receive compensation for their treatment and other costs. State laws, also known as statutes or limitations, limit the time that a person can bring a lawsuit.
Lawsuits typically take the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. richmond mesothelioma attorney , which include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to diagnose mesothelioma, which is a rare disease. Patients will usually go to their primary physician with a medical history. Doctors will perform an examination of the body and ask about asbestos exposure.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they will often order imaging tests. This includes chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests offer a precise view of the body. They can reveal an accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs which is a common mesothelioma symptom.
These tests can also be used to determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma type that is pleural is caused by cancerous cells in the lung lining called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a sample of tissue from a tumor or affected area and examine it under a microscope to look for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a cytology test to check for the presence of cancerous cells in the fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test called the MESOMARK test can measure the amount of mesothelin-soluble peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker could be a sign of mesothelioma cells.
This is why these biomarkers could be useful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma early in its development. It is not a substitute to a mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only method to determine if cancer has been detected within the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain 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 frequent sites are the lung. Patients with pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. People who have peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often feel pain in their abdominal region, as well as fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to identify because the signs mimic those of other common diseases. It can take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma grow.
X-rays and CT scans can reveal changes in the lungs, for example, thickening of the pleura or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for the presence of certain substances in the body that indicate the presence of mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or the tissue to look for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation, known as thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a less invasive alternative to a biopsy, and can be done in the office of a doctor.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she might suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and prevent the spread. Radiation therapy can be performed in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically given outpatient. The use of palliative therapies is often to treat pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids, or a tube inserted in the chest to assist with breathing. It could also involve radiation to stop the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can reduce symptoms and prolong life for patients with mesothelioma. Treatment options differ based on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan will also differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms resemble those of many diseases such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Often, patients will experience symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and inquire about any prior asbestos exposure. They will then conduct scans and blood tests to determine the size and location of the cancer in the body.
The most common mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs. The most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as welders or electrician or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid can cause chest pain or breathing problems. Surgery can remove the excess fluid and improve a person's quality of life.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that helps stop the buildup of fluid in the lung. During 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 receive a shunt which is a device to move fluid from one part of the body to the other to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy radiation. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery can opt for targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma depends on a variety of factors, including the type and location of the cancer, the stage at diagnosis and the general health of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their chances of survival when they seek treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials might have access to novel treatments that are still being studied.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other conditions. This can lead to many mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. These symptoms are initialy mild and may be misinterpreted as other ailments. As a result, it's crucial to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as quickly as you can.
The chest's lining (pleural mesothelioma), peritoneum, or in rare instances, the testicles' lining can be affected by mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent being in patients older than 75 years old.
Men and women may have different rates of survival for mesothelioma. This is because men are more likely than women to work in fields that expose them to asbestos. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times more likely to live past five years than male patients. This is likely due the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis of a person is also influenced by their age, since older patients have a harder to recover from illness. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade or more beyond their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses associated with this asbestos-related illness. This mesothelioma settlement is often granted by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist you in determining what compensation is available to you in your case.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma can make a personal injury claim to receive financial compensation from manufacturers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to during their 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 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.
Many people with mesothelioma are in debt because it can take years from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help these patients pay off their debts and also provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist victims and their families get the money they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can handle every aspect of a patient's claim for mesothelioma to make it as pain-free as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at home or in the hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we secure compensation for you.