Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can help victims obtain compensation for treatment costs and other expenses. State laws called statutes of limitations limit the time a patient must make a claim.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most frequent types of lawsuits. Juries award damages in the form of money that include non-economic and economic damages.
Diagnosis
It can take years to diagnose mesothelioma, which is a rare illness. Patients typically visit their primary physician with complaints and a medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and ask about asbestos exposure.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they often request imaging tests. This may include chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests give a complete examination of the body. They can reveal the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a common mesothelioma-related symptom.
These tests also help to determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural type of mesothelioma is caused by cancer cells that line the lung, called the pleura. The peritoneal type 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 to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct an cytology test in order to check for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test referred to as the MESOMARK test can measure the amount of mesothelin-soluble peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. A high level of this biomarker can indicate the presence of mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers are thus beneficial to doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its beginning stages. It's not a substitute to a mesothelioma biopsies, which is the only way to determine whether cancer has been found in the body. Doctors can perform non-surgical biopsies to drain fluid from the stomach or pleura by using needles, and then analyze it for mesothelioma cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can be found anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to form. The most frequent sites are the abdomen, lungs, and the heart. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People with mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often feel discomfort in their abdomen as well as fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to identify because the signs are similar to those of many common illnesses. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to grow.
CT scans and Xrays can reveal changes in the lungs, such as thickening or fluid buildup of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also utilized to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to detect elevated levels of certain substances which could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove a sample of the fluid or tissue that is accumulating to determine if it contains cancerous cells. A doctor can also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a more non-invasive version of a biopsies and can be performed in a clinic of a doctor.
If a doctor diagnoses mesothelioma the doctor will most likely recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The chemotherapy and surgery typically take place in an outpatient environment, and the radiation can be delivered in a clinic or hospital. Palliative treatments are often used to treat the symptoms of pain and other. It could include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids, a tube put in the chest to assist with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from expanding.
Treatment
Treatment can help ease symptoms and extend the life of patients with mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatments available, depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will also differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms resemble those of many illnesses like the flu and pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma in the early stages. Patients may experience symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To determine the cause of the illness, doctors will perform an examination and ask about any exposure to asbestos in the past. They will follow up with imaging scans and blood tests to determine the extent of the cancer and the location in the body.
The most common mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work as workers in the construction industry, welding plumber, electrician, or autoworker are the most likely to develop this illness.
A buildup of fluid could lead to chest pain and breathing difficulties. Surgery can help remove excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life of a patient.
Doctors can also use a procedure called pleurodesis to prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In this procedure the tube is inserted into the pleura to drain the fluid and then medication is injected to prevent the buildup of further fluids. Patients can also opt to place a shunt, which is a device that moves fluid from one region of the body to another to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy rays. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes inside of the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis of mesothelioma is dependent on a variety of factors that include the type and stage of cancer, the location and the general health status of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve by seeking treatment from a specialist who is experienced in the field of mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who take part in clinical trials may also have access to new treatments that are being studied.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to other diseases. This can lead to an abundance of incorrect diagnosis. Patients may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing issues and other symptoms before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so simple at first they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other ailments. bloomington mesothelioma attorneys 's therefore important to have any symptoms checked by a doctor as quickly as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between women and men. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in industries which expose them to asbestos. 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. Age also affects their outlook since older patients have a harder time recovering from the illness. It is important to remember that some mesothelioma patients live for years, 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 costs associated with this asbestos-related illness. This mesothelioma settlement is often awarded by combining asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help you determine what compensation is available to you in your case.
A person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed during their work. They may be able to seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed by a loved one or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim who has died from mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to seek compensation from those who are responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma are in debt because it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation can help these sufferers pay off their debts and also provide for the future of their family members.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements can also compensate victims for their pain and suffering. A mesothelioma attorney can help victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.
A skilled mesothelioma law firm can handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim to make the process as stress-free as possible for their client. Our lawyers at Sokolove Law have helped families and victims members obtain more than $4.7 billion for mesothelioma claims. Contact us today for no-cost review of your mesothelioma case. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet you at your home or at the hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we are able to get you compensation.