Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma suit can assist victims to receive compensation for their treatment and other costs. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations restrict the time a patient must make a claim.
Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. The jury awards money damages, which include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it can take many years for patients to receive a diagnosis. In the majority of cases, patients go to their primary physician with symptoms and medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about the possibility of 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). These tests give a detailed view of the body. They can show the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs which is a common mesothelioma symptom.
These tests can be used to determine the kind of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is caused by cancerous cells that line the lung called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from the affected area to examine under a microscope for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also perform an examination known as a cytology to identify cancerous cells from samples of fluid taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount soluble mesothelin related protein (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker is high levels can indicate mesothelioma.
This is why these biomarkers can be helpful in diagnosing mesothelioma at its earliest stages. It is not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only way to determine if cancer has been detected in the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical biopsy to extract fluid from the pleura and the stomach with a needle and examine it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body in which asbestos-induced cancerous cells have formed. The most common locations are the abdomen, lungs, and heart. Patients with pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. People with peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often experience pain in their abdominal region as well as fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to identify due to their similarity to other illnesses. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to develop.
CT scans and X-rays may detect changes in the lungs, such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of certain substances that may indicate mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to look for cancerous cells. The doctor can also perform a procedure called thoracoscopic needle aspiration to remove some of the fluid from around the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a less invasive version of a biopsy that can be performed in the office of a doctor.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells and stop their spread. The treatment and surgery typically take place in an outpatient setting and the radiation is given in a clinic or a hospital. The use of palliative therapies is often to manage the symptoms of pain and other. Palliative treatment can include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids or a tube placed in the chest to help in breathing. It could also include radiation to stop the tumor from advancing.
Treatment
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment can help ease symptoms and extend life. There are a variety of treatments available, based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will depend on the level of asbestos exposure a patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble other illnesses like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and inquire about any prior asbestos exposure. They will then conduct imaging scans and blood tests to determine the severity of the cancer and the location within the body.
The most common mesothelioma type affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as workers in the construction industry, welding electrician, plumber or autoworker are more likely to develop this disease.
Pleural mesothelioma can cause the accumulation of fluid creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can remove the excess fluid and improve the quality of life.
Pleurodesis is another procedure that doctors can use to prevent further accumulation of fluid in the lung. 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 prevent further accumulation. Patients may also choose to have a shunt placed on their body. It is a device that circulates fluid from one region of the body to another in order to absorb.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also options. Chemotherapy fights cancer cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and reduces them using high-energy rays. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may opt for targeted therapy. This is done by attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is affected by several factors that include the stage and type of cancer, the location and the general health status of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve if patients seek treatment from an experienced specialist in mesothelioma treatment and follow their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials may also have access to new treatments that are still being studied.
The mesothelioma symptoms are similar to many other conditions. This leads to many mistakes in diagnosis. Patients may experience breathing problems as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for several months before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are mild at first they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other illnesses. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms examined by a doctor as soon as is possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma), 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 in patients who are more than 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women, since they work in industries that have asbestos in them. Women who are exposed to mesothelioma have twice the chance of surviving the past five years than male patients. This could be due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The age of a person also affects their prognosis because older patients tend to have a more difficult time recovering from the disease. Lewisville mesothelioma lawsuits to note that some mesothelioma patients have a long life span, even a decade or more beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists patients in paying their medical costs in addition to lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related illness. This mesothelioma settlement is often granted by combining asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist you in determining what forms of compensation may be available for your case.
Mesothelioma patients can bring a personal injury lawsuit to receive financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to during their work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved ones or family member, or an appointed representative by the court. If a victim has passed away from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the estate of the victim to seek compensation from the parties who are responsible for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Since it can take a long time from exposure to diagnosis, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma are burdened with financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help these patients pay off their debts and pay for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements may also be used to compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist families and victims receive the compensation that they deserve.
A skilled mesothelioma law firm will handle every aspect of a mesothelioma lawsuit for a victim to make the process as stress-free as possible for their client. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members obtain more than $4.7 billion for mesothelioma claims. 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 will only be paid if we get you compensation.