Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment and other costs. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations restrict the time that a victim must file a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most popular kinds of lawsuits. Juries award damages in the form of money that include economic and noneconomic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare disease and it can take many years before patients be diagnosed. Typically, patients will go to their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will do an examination of the body and inquire about the possibility of 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 detailed view of the body. They can reveal an accumulation of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a common mesothelioma symptom.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is caused by cancer cells that line the lung known as the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from the affected area and examine it under a microscope for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct an examination known as a cytology to detect cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test called the MESOMARK test can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker may be a sign mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers can be helpful to doctors trying to identify mesothelioma at its beginning stages. It's not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only way to definitively determine the presence of cancer in the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical biopsy to collect fluid from the pleura or the stomach with a needle and look it up for mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos-induced cancerous cells have developed. turlock mesothelioma law firm are the lung. Pleural mesothelioma can cause chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often suffer from discomfort in their abdomen and weight loss and fatigue. The signs of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose due to their similarity to those of other common illnesses. Mesothelioma can develop years after asbestos exposure.
CT scans and X-rays can reveal changes in the lungs such as fluid buildup or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances in the body, which indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can drain the fluid or the tissue to check for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation, known as the thoracoscopic aspiration. This procedure removes a small amount fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less invasive version of a biopsy and is performed in a doctor's office.
If a doctor discovers mesothelioma in the body, he or she might suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. The chemotherapy and surgery are generally done in an outpatient setting and the radiation can be delivered in a hospital or clinic. Palliative treatments are often used to manage pain and other symptoms. The treatment options include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids or a tube placed in the chest to help with breathing. It may also include radiation to prevent the tumor from advancing.
Treatment
Treatment can help ease symptoms and prolong life for those suffering from mesothelioma. Treatment options vary based on the type of mesothelioma and its stage. The treatment plan can vary based on the level of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
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 diagnose the disease early. Patients may experience symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then conduct blood tests and imaging scans to determine the extent of the cancer and its location within the body.
The most frequent mesothelioma form affects the lungs. Most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as a welder electrician, plumber, or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid can cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can eliminate excess fluid, which can improve the quality of life of a patient.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In the course of the procedure, a tube will be inserted into the pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medicine is injected to stop further accumulation. Patients can also opt to have a shunt placed, which is a device used to move fluid from one part of the body to another in order to absorb.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also options. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy radiation. Those who do not qualify for surgery can undergo targeted therapy. This is done by targeting the cancer-causing gene inside the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by a variety of factors that include the type and stage of cancer, the site and the general health status of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a seasoned specialist in mesothelioma therapy and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials might have access to novel treatments that are still being researched.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions, so they are often incorrectly diagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. These symptoms may be mild at first and can be confused with other ailments. This is why it is important to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent of them being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may differ between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, because they are more likely to work in industries where asbestos is prevalent. Females exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving for the next five years than male patients. This is likely due to the hormonal interactions between female hormones and mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis for a patient is also influenced by their age, as older patients have a more difficult recovery from disease. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients live years or even a decade or more over their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation helps victims cover their medical costs as well as lost wages and other costs associated with this asbestos-related disease. Mesothelioma settlements are usually given by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help determine which forms of compensation are applicable to your situation.
A person who has been diagnosed mesothelioma could file a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed while at work. They may be able to seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved one or family member, or by a court-appointed representative. The estate of a victim who has died from mesothelioma can file a wrongful-death lawsuit to recover compensation from those responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Because it can take years from diagnosis to exposure, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help these patients pay off their debts and provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also provide compensation to victims for their pain and suffering. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and their families get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer can manage every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim, making it as stress-free as they can. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members receive over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma lawsuits. Contact us today to get started on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at your home or at the hospital. Our law firm will only be paid if we get you compensation.