Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can assist victims to receive compensation for treatment and other costs. Statutes of limitations in the state, also known as statutes of limitations restrict how long a victim must 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 economic and noneconomic damages.
Diagnosis
It could take years to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare illness. Patients typically visit their primary physician with a medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about the possibility of exposure to asbestos.
Imaging tests are usually requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This may include chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests give a complete examination of the body. These tests could reveal an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or lungs that is a mesothelioma-related symptoms.
These tests can be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancerous cells in the lung lining known as the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from a tumor or affected area and examine it under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use a test called the cytology test to detect cancerous cells in samples of fluid taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK test can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. High levels of this biomarker may indicate the presence mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers are therefore helpful to doctors who are trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its early stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only method to determine if cancer has been detected in the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura with a needle, and analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to develop. The most frequent sites are the lungs, abdomen and the heart. Patients with pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest region and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often suffer from discomfort in their abdomen and weight loss and fatigue. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize due to their similarity to the symptoms of other common diseases. Mesothelioma can manifest years after asbestos exposure.
CT scans and X-rays can detect changes in the lungs such as thickening or fluid buildup of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to detect mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to check for elevated levels of certain substances which could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can take the fluid or tissue that has accumulated to test it for cancerous cells. The doctor can also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic needle aspiration, which is a procedure that removes some of the fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavity. This test is a more non-invasive form of biopsies, and can be done in a medical clinic.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma in the body, he or she may recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells and prevent their spread. Radiation can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically given outpatient. The use of palliative therapies is often to treat the symptoms of pain and other. It could include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluid or a tube put in the chest to assist with breathing and radiation to stop the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can reduce symptoms and prolong the life of those suffering from mesothelioma. Treatment options vary based on the type of mesothelioma and its stage. The treatment plan will also depend on the level of asbestos exposure the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble many other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease in the early stages. In many cases, patients suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about any exposure to asbestos in the past. 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 is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as an industrial worker, welder electrician, plumber or autoworker are the most likely to contract this disease.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause an accumulation of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, enhancing a person's life.
Doctors can also use pleurodesis procedure to prevent the formation of further fluids in the lung. In the course of the procedure, a tube will be inserted into pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medication will be injected to prevent further buildup. Patients can also opt to have a shunt installed in the body, which is a device that circulates fluid from one area of the body to another in order to absorb.
The treatment of chemotherapy and radiation are both options. gastonia mesothelioma law firm fights cancer cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy rays. Those who do not qualify for surgery may undergo targeted therapy. This is done by targeting the cancer-causing gene in the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma depends on a variety of factors including the type and location of the cancer and the stage of diagnosis and general patient health. A mesothelioma prognosis can improve by seeking 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 also be able to access new treatments that are still being studied.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions which is why they are often misdiagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so simple at first they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other ailments. This is why it's crucial to have any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) and the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma. 85 percent being found in patients over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may differ between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women since they work in industries where asbestos is prevalent. Females exposed to mesothelioma have twice the likelihood of surviving for the next five years than male patients. This is likely due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. The prognosis of an individual is also affected by their age, since older patients have a harder to recover from illness. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade or more past their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation assists victims in covering their medical expenses in addition to lost wages and other expenses associated with the asbestos-related illness. Often, this mesothelioma compensation is granted through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in determining what compensation is available in your case.
Mesothelioma patients can file a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to during their work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed by a loved one, a family member, or an appointed representative of the court on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim's family who died from mesothelioma can file a wrongful-death lawsuit to recover compensation from the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Because it can take decades from diagnosis to exposure, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help victims pay off their debts and provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist victims and their families get the money they deserve.
A reputable mesothelioma law firm will handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim, making the process as stress-free as possible for their client. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members collect more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma lawsuits. Contact us today to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet with you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we are able to get you compensation.