Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma lawsuit can help victims obtain compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws, also known as statutes of limitations restrict the time a patient must bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most frequent types 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 condition. Patients usually visit their primary doctor with symptoms and a medical history. Doctors will perform a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma, they usually order imaging tests. This includes chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests provide a clear view of the body. These tests can reveal an accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen as a mesothelioma related symptoms.
These tests can also help determine the type of mesothelioma. Fall River mesothelioma lawyers of mesothelioma is caused by cancerous cells that line the lung, called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will take a sample of tissue from the affected area or tumor and examine it under a microscope to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors will also use an cytology test in order to check for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, called the MESOMARK Assay, will determine the amount of mesothelin soluble protein (SMRP) within the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker may indicate the presence of mesothelioma cell lines.
As a result, these biomarkers could be useful for doctors trying to diagnose mesothelioma early in its development. However, it is not an alternative to mesothelioma-related biopsy which is the only reliable method to determine whether cancer is present within the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura by using a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur anyplace on the body in which asbestos-induced cancerous cells have developed. The most frequent sites are the abdomen, lungs and heart. People who have pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest area, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region suffer from discomfort in their abdomen, as well as weight loss and fatigue. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because they are similar to other diseases. Mesothelioma can manifest years after exposure to asbestos.
X-rays and CT scans can show changes in the lungs, including the pleura becoming thicker or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to detect elevated levels of certain substances that may be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can drain a sample of the fluid or tissue that is accumulating to determine if it contains cancer cells. A doctor can 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 more non-invasive version of a biopsies, and can be done in a clinic 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 their spread. Radiation can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically delivered as an as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to manage pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment can include painkillers, regular drainage of fluids or a tube that is placed inside the chest to aid 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. There are many treatments available, depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure a patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble many other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify the disease in the early stages. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness, doctors will perform a physical exam and ask about past exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct imaging scans and blood tests to determine the severity of the cancer and where it is located within the body.
The most frequent mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. The most likely patients for developing the disease are people who have worked as a welding technician electrician, plumber or in the automotive industry.
Pleural mesothelioma can cause an accumulation of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can help eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.
Pleurodesis is yet another procedure doctors can utilize to prevent future fluid accumulation in the lung. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain fluid and then medicine is injected to prevent the buildup of further fluids. Patients may also choose to receive a shunt which is a device to move fluid from one region of the body to the other for absorption.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in a direct manner. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy rays. Those who do not qualify for surgery can undergo targeted therapy. This is done by targeting the cancer-causing gene inside the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by a variety of factors, including the stage and type of cancer, its location and general health status of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their odds of survival by seeking treatment by a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment plan. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials could have access to novel treatments that are still being researched.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to other diseases. This can lead to an abundance of incorrect diagnosis. Patients may have abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms before being diagnosed. These symptoms may be initially mild and can be confused with other ailments. Therefore, it's important to get any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as quickly as you can.
Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare cases the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma, with 85 percent of them being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between women and men. This is because men are more likely than women to work in industries that expose them to asbestos. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma are two times as likely to survive past five years than male patients. This is probably due to the way female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis of an individual is also affected by their age, since older patients have a more difficult recovery from disease. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade past their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation helps victims cover their medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses associated with the asbestos-related illness. Often, this mesothelioma compensation is awarded through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine what compensation is available in your particular case.
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed at work. They may be able to seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved one, family member or a court-appointed representative. The estate of a victim's loved ones who died of mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation from those responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt as it can take years from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help sufferers pay off their debts and provide for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also compensate victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma attorney can assist families and victims receive the compensation they are entitled to.
A reputable mesothelioma law firm will handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim and make the process as easy as they can for their client. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements to help victims and their families. Contact us today for a free review of your mesothelioma claim. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at home or at the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we secure compensation for you.