Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma suit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment as well as other costs. State laws, called statutes or limitations, restrict the time a victim can make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most popular types of lawsuits. The jury awards money damages, which include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare disease and it may take several years for patients to be diagnosed. Most patients go to their primary physician with symptoms and medical history. Doctors will perform an examination of the body and inquire about asbestos exposure.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they will often order imaging tests. This includes chest X-rays (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests offer a thorough analysis of the body. These tests may reveal the presence of fluid in the lungs or abdomen as a mesothelioma related sign.
These tests can 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 cancerous cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor or affected area to look under a microscope for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use a test called a cytology to detect cancerous cells in samples of fluid taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can determine the amount soluble mesothelin related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker can be a sign of mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers can be helpful for doctors trying to identify mesothelioma at its earliest stages. However, it's not an alternative to a mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only method to know whether cancer is present within the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura with needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have formed. The most frequent sites are the lung. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People suffering from pericardial and peritoneal cancer are often afflicted with abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because they are similar to the symptoms of other common illnesses. Mesothelioma can develop years after exposure to asbestos.
CT scans and X-rays can reveal changes in the lungs such as fluid buildup or thickening of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be utilized to detect elevated levels of certain substances which could indicate mesothelioma.
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, which is a procedure that removes a small amount of fluid from around the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a non-invasive form of biopsies procedure and is performed in a doctor's clinic.
If a doctor has diagnosed mesothelioma it is likely that they will recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. Radiation therapy can be performed in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is typically given as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to help manage pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids, or a tube inserted in the chest to assist in breathing. It could also include radiation to prevent the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and extend the life of those suffering from mesothelioma. Treatment options vary depending on the type of mesothelioma and its stage. The treatment plan could differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure a patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as many other illnesses, such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize the disease at an early stage. In many cases, patients suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness, doctors will perform an examination of the body and inquire about any exposure to asbestos in the past. They will follow up with 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. This affects the lung. Most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as a welding technician, plumber or electrician, or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life for patients.
Doctors may also opt for pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent future fluid buildup in the lung. During the procedure, a tube will be inserted into the pleura in order to drain fluid. Then, medicine will be injected to stop further accumulation. Patients may also choose to receive a shunt which is a device to transfer fluid from one part of the body to the other for absorption.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy kills cancerous cells directly. Radiation therapy targets tumors, and reduces them using high-energy rays. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors including the nature and location of the cancer as well as the stage at which it was diagnosed and the general health of the patient. Patients with mesothelioma can improve their odds of survival if they seek treatment from a specialist for mesothelioma, and follow their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who take part in clinical trials could also be able to access new treatments that are still being studied.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions which is why they are often not diagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so initially mild they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other illnesses. This is why it's important to get any symptoms checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) and the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may differ between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in fields that expose them. Mesothelioma patients with females have a twice higher chance of surviving the past five years than male patients. This could be due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. Age also affects their prognosis because older patients are more likely to suffer more difficulty recovering from the disease. It's important to know that mesothelioma patients can live for years, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation helps victims pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses related to the asbestos-related disease. This mesothelioma settlement is often granted by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can assist you in determining what forms of compensation might be available for your case.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a personal injury lawsuit to receive financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim's loved ones, family member or an appointed representative by the court. If a victim has passed away from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the victim to seek compensation from the parties who are responsible for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.
Because baltimore mesothelioma attorney can take years from exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial obligations resulting from treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help patients pay off their debts and provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their pain and suffering. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve.
A mesothelioma attorney can manage all aspects of a victim’s mesothelioma claim to make it as pain-free as they can. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members obtain more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma compensation. Contact us today for free consultation on your mesothelioma claim. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet with you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we secure compensation for you.