Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws called statutes of limitations restrict the time a patient has to file a lawsuit.
Lawsuits typically take the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award monetary damages which include economic and noneconomic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take a long time to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare illness. Most patients go to their primary physician with symptoms and a medical history. Doctors will perform a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they usually order imaging tests. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests offer a precise view of the body. These tests can reveal the presence of fluid in the lungs or abdomen that is a mesothelioma-related symptoms.
These tests can be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The mesothelioma type that is pleural is caused by cancer cells that line the lung known as the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within 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 in order to check for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use an examination known as a cytology to detect cancerous cells in samples of fluid taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, will determine the amount of mesothelin soluble protein (SMRP), in the body of the patient. High levels of this biomarker may be a sign of mesothelioma cell lines.
These biomarkers are therefore helpful to doctors trying to identify mesothelioma at its early stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only method to determine whether cancer has been found within the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura by using a needle, and analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur anywhere on the body in which asbestos-induced cancerous cells have formed. The most common locations are the lungs. People who have pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area as well as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a swollen throat. Patients with pericardial and peritoneal cancer typically experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic the symptoms of a variety of common illnesses. It may take years after exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma can grow.
X-rays and CT scans can reveal changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura getting thicker or fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for the presence of certain substances in the body, which indicate mesothelioma's presence.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to check for cancerous cells. The doctor can also perform a procedure called thoracoscopic needle aspiration to remove a small amount of fluid from the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a non-invasive form of biopsies, and can be done in a medical clinic.
If the doctor finds mesothelioma, they may recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells and stop them from spreading. Radiation can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically delivered as an as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapies is often to manage pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers, regular draining of fluids or a tube put in the chest to help with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from growing.
Treatment
For people diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment can alleviate symptoms and prolong the life. There are many options available, based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to those of many illnesses like the flu and pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Often, patients will suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They will then perform scans and blood tests to determine the extent and extent of the cancer's presence in the body.
The most prevalent mesothelioma form affects the lungs. The most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as welders, plumber or electrician, or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid could cause chest pain or breathing problems. Surgery can remove excess fluid, improving a person's life.
Pleurodesis is a different procedure doctors can employ to stop further accumulation of fluid in the lungs. In this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medicine is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients may also choose 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 kills cancer cells directly. Radiation therapy targets tumors, and shrinks them with high-energy rays. Patients who aren't eligible for surgery may opt for targeted therapy. This involves attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancer cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma can be affected by several factors that include the type and stage of cancer, the location and the general health status of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve by seeking treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma treatment and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients who are part of a clinical trial may have access to new treatments that are currently under investigation.
Duluth mesothelioma lawyer can be compared to the symptoms of a variety of other diseases which is why they are often not diagnosed. Patients may have abdominal pain, breathing issues and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so initially mild, people can easily confuse them with other ailments. Therefore, it's crucial to have any symptoms examined by a physician as soon as you can.
The chest's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or peritoneum, or in rare cases, the testicles' membrane can be affected by mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma. 85 percent being in patients older than 75 years.
Women and men can have different survival rates for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women since they work in areas that have asbestos in them. However females who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to live beyond five years than male patients. This is probably due to the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. A person's age also impacts their outlook since older patients are more likely to have a harder time recovering from the illness. It is important to remember that some mesothelioma patients endure for a long time, or even a decade beyond their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation is a way to help victims pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses associated with this asbestos-related illness. The majority of mesothelioma settlement is made through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help determine which forms of compensation are available to you in your particular case.
A person diagnosed mesothelioma could sue the manufacturer of asbestos-related products to which they were exposed during their work. They can seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by someone close to the victim or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. If a victim died of mesothelioma, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the victim's deceased loved ones to collect compensation from those who are responsible for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Because it can take decades from the moment of exposure to diagnosis, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma have significant financial burdens resulting from their treatment. Mesothelioma compensation may help patients pay off their debts and pay for the future of their families.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. An attorney for mesothelioma can assist families and victims get the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can manage every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma claim and make it as easy as they can. Our attorneys at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members receive over $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 can meet you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm is paid only if we secure compensation for you.