Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can allow victims to receive compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, limit the time that a person can make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most common kinds of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages that include both economic and non-economic damages.
Diagnosis
It could take years to identify mesothelioma. It is a rare disease. Patients will usually go to their primary physician with a medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and inquire about exposure to asbestos.
Imaging tests are often requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). clarksville mesothelioma attorney provide a clear view of the body. These tests can reveal a buildup of fluid in the abdomen or lungs as a mesothelioma related sign.
These tests also help determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancerous cells that line the lung, called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a sample of tissue from an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors will also use an cytology test in order to check for the presence of cancerous cells in liquid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK assay can measure the amount of mesothelin-soluble peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels could indicate mesothelioma.
These biomarkers can be helpful for doctors trying to identify mesothelioma at its early stages. However, they are not an alternative to mesothelioma biopsies which is the only reliable method to determine if cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct a non-surgical biopsy to collect fluid from the pleura and the stomach with a needle and examine it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most frequent locations are the abdomen, lungs and heart. Patients with pleural mysothelioma experience pain in the chest region, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer are often afflicted with abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose due to their similarity to other illnesses. It can take years after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma grow.
X-rays and CT scans can reveal changes in the lungs, including the pleura becoming thicker or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for the presence of certain substances within the body, which indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to test for cancer cells. The doctor can also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic needle aspiration to remove some of the fluid from the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a less invasive version of a biopsy and is performed in a doctor's office.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, it is likely that they will suggest chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The surgery and chemotherapy are usually performed in an outpatient setting and radiation may be delivered in a hospital or clinic. Palliative treatments are often used to alleviate pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids, or a tube inserted in the chest to assist with breathing. It may also include radiation to prevent the tumor from advancing.
Treatment
Treatment can help ease symptoms and prolong the life of those suffering from mesothelioma. There are many options that are available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure a patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as other illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify the disease early. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then perform blood tests and imaging scanners to determine the size and extent of the cancer's presence in the body.
The most prevalent mesothelioma form affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as an industrial worker, welder plumber, electrician, or autoworker are more likely to develop this illness.
A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can remove excess fluid, which can improve the quality of life of a patient.
Pleurodesis is another procedure that doctors can employ to stop future fluid accumulation in the lung. In the course of the procedure, a tube is to be inserted into pleura in order to drain the fluid. Then medicine will be injected to prevent further buildup. Patients may also choose to have a shunt placed on their body. It is a device that circulates fluid from one area of the body to another for absorption.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells by directly killing them. The treatment targets tumors and shrinks them by using high-energy radiation. Those who are not candidates for surgery can opt for targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes in the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is affected by several factors such as the type and stage of cancer, the location and the general health status of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a seasoned specialist in the field of mesothelioma and adhere to their treatment plan. In addition, patients with mesothelioma who participate in clinical trials may be eligible for new treatments that are currently under investigation.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to many other conditions. This can lead to a lot of misdiagnosis. Patients may experience breathing difficulties as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for some time before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are simple at first, people can easily confuse them with other conditions. As a result, it is important to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as quickly as you can.
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 diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may vary between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in fields that expose them. Females exposed to mesothelioma have twice the chance of surviving past five years than male patients. This could be due to the way female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The age of a person also affects their outlook since older patients are more likely to suffer more difficulty recuperating from the illness. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients live for years or even a decade past their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation assists victims to pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses related to this asbestos-related illness. Often, this mesothelioma settlement is made through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you determine what types of compensation are available to you in your particular case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may bring a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed at work. They can seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved ones or family member, or a court-appointed representative. 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 collect compensation from those accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt due to the fact that 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' futures.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also be used to compensate victims for their suffering and pain. An attorney for mesothelioma can help victims and families get the compensation they are entitled to.
A mesothelioma lawyer can manage all aspects of a victim’s claim for mesothelioma and make it as easy as they can. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped victims and their family members collect more than $4.7 billion for mesothelioma claims. Contact us now to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet you at home or in a hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we get you compensation.