Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma claim can allow victims to receive compensation for treatment and other costs. State laws, also known as statutes or limitations, restrict the amount of time a patient can bring a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most frequent types of lawsuits. The jury awards monetary damages, which can include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It can take years to recognize mesothelioma. This is a rare condition. Typically, patients will go to their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will perform a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.
Imaging tests are typically requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This may include chest X-rays (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests provide a clear view of the body. They can reveal an accumulation of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can also be used to determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural occurs when cancer cells in lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells found in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a sample of tissue from the affected area or tumor and examine it under a microscope to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct an examination known as the cytology test to detect cancerous cells from samples of fluid taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK test can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of this biomarker can be a sign of mesothelioma.
As a result, these biomarkers can be helpful in diagnosing mesothelioma in its earliest stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsies which is the only way to definitively determine the presence of cancer within the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical biopsy to extract fluid from the pleura or the stomach with a needle and examine it for mesothelioma-related cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most common locations are the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Patients with pericardial and peritoneal cancer are often afflicted with abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to diagnose because the signs mimic the symptoms of a variety of common illnesses. Mesothelioma can manifest years after asbestos exposure.
CT scans and X-rays may reveal changes in the lungs, such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also utilized to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can detect high levels of certain substances in the body, which indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can drain the fluid or tissue to look for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation known as thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less invasive version of a biopsy and can be done in a doctor's office.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and stop them from spreading. The surgery and chemotherapy are usually performed in an outpatient setting, and the radiation is administered in a hospital or clinic. Palliative treatment is often used to help manage pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers, regular draining of fluids or a tube put in the chest to aid in breathing and radiation to prevent the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and extend the life of those suffering from mesothelioma. There are many options available, based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient is exposed to.
The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble other illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease early. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To determine the cause of the illness, doctors will perform an examination and ask about past exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct blood tests and imaging scans to determine the severity of the cancer and the location in the body.
The most common mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lungs. The most likely to develop the disease are people who have worked as welders, plumber or electrician or in the automotive industry.
A buildup of fluid could cause chest pain or breathing difficulties. Surgery can remove excess fluid, which can improve the quality of life for patients.
Pleurodesis is a different procedure doctors can use to prevent further accumulation of fluid in the lungs. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain the fluid and then the medicine is injected into the pleura to prevent future buildups. Patients may also choose to receive a shunt which is a device that is used to move fluid from one area of the body to the other to absorb.
Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy fights cancer cells directly by killing them. Radiation therapy targets tumors and shrinks them with high-energy rays. Patients who aren't eligible for surgery can 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 cancer as well as the stage at which it was diagnosed and the general health of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a seasoned specialist in mesothelioma treatment and adhere to their treatment regimen. Additionally, mesothelioma patients who participate in a clinical trial may be able to access new treatments that are still being studied.
The mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. This leads to a lot of incorrect diagnosis. Patients may experience breathing problems, abdominal pain and other symptoms for a few months before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are initially mild they can be easily confused by people who associate them with other ailments. This is why it is important to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as quickly as possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the tissue lining the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in very rare cases the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma cases, with 85 percent of diagnoses made in patients over 75 years old.
The survival rates for mesothelioma differ between men and women. This is due to the fact that men are more likely than women to work in industries that expose them. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma are twice as likely to survive past five years as male patients. This is probably due to the hormonal interactions between female hormones and mesothelioma tumor cells. Age also affects their prognosis because older patients have a more difficult time recovering from the illness. It is important to remember that some mesothelioma patients have a long life span, even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma Compensation helps victims cover their medical costs as well as lost wages and other expenses related to this asbestos-related disease. Most often, this mesothelioma compensation is granted through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will assist you in determining what compensation is available in your case.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may make a personal injury claim to receive financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of a victim's loved ones or family member, or by a court-appointed representative. Minneapolis mesothelioma lawyer YouTube of a victim who has died from mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation from those who are responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma are in debt as it can take years from exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts, and provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist families and victims receive the compensation that they deserve.
A mesothelioma lawyer is able to 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 victims and their family members collect more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma lawsuits. Contact us now to get started with a free mesothelioma review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet with you at your home or hospital. Our law firm is only paid when we are able to secure compensation for you.