Mesothelioma Claims

A mesothelioma lawsuit can assist victims to receive compensation for treatment and other costs. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, restrict the amount of time a patient can bring a lawsuit.

Most lawsuits are in the form of personal injury or wrongful death claims. Juries award monetary damages which include economic and noneconomic damages.

Diagnosis

It could take years to identify mesothelioma. It is a rare illness. Typically, patients will go to their primary care physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will do a physical exam and ask about any possible exposure to asbestos.

Imaging tests are usually 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 show the accumulation of fluid around the lungs or abdomen, which is a common mesothelioma-related symptom.

These tests can be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is caused by cancerous cells in the lung lining, called the pleura. The peritoneal form is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In the course of a surgical biopsy, physicians will remove a small piece of tissue from the tumor or affected area to look under a microscope for indications of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct a test called the cytology test to detect cancerous cells from fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.

A blood test known as the MESOMARK test can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. A high level of this biomarker could indicate the presence of mesothelioma cell lines.

These biomarkers are thus beneficial to doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma in its earliest stages. However, they are not a substitute for a mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only reliable method to determine if cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura with a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma-related cells.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most frequent sites are the abdomen, lungs and heart. Patients with pleural mesothelioma feel pain in their chest area, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People who have mesothelioma of the pericardial or peritoneal region feel discomfort in their abdomen, as well as weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to identify because the signs mimic those of other common diseases. 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 the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can detect high levels of certain substances within the body that could indicate mesothelioma's presence.

A doctor can drain the fluid or the tissue to look for cancerous cells. A doctor may also perform an operation called the thoracoscopic aspiration. This procedure removes a small amount fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a more non-invasive form of biopsies and can be performed in a clinic of a doctor.

If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, the doctor will most likely recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. The surgery and chemotherapy typically take place in an outpatient setting, and radiation may be administered in a clinic or a hospital. The use of palliative therapies is often to manage pain and other symptoms. The treatment options include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids or a tube placed inside the chest to aid in breathing. It could also include radiation to prevent the tumor from growing.

Treatment

For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment can help reduce symptoms and extend the duration of. There are a variety of treatments available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also vary based on the level of asbestos exposure a patient is exposed to.

Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of many illnesses like the flu and pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma before it becomes apparent. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Doctors will conduct a physical examination and inquire about prior asbestos exposure. They will then conduct scans of the blood and imaging to determine the severity of the cancer and the location in the body.

The most common mesothelioma type affects the lungs. People who have been exposed to asbestos as workers in the construction industry, welding plumber, electrician, or autoworker are the most likely to develop this illness.

Pleural mesothelioma can cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can remove the excess fluid and improve the quality of life.

Doctors may also opt for a procedure called pleurodesis to prevent future fluid buildup in the lung. During this procedure, a tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid, and then the medicine is injected into the pleura to prevent future buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt, which is a device to move fluid from one part of the body to the next to absorb.

Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells directly. The treatment targets tumors and shrinks them with high-energy rays. Those who are not candidates for surgery may undergo targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes within the cancerous cells.

Prognosis

The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on a variety of factors including the type and location of cancer, the stage at diagnosis and general patient health. Patients with mesothelioma may improve their odds of survival if they seek treatment from a specialist in mesothelioma and follow their treatment regimen. In addition, patients with mesothelioma who are part of clinical trials may be eligible for new treatments that are currently under investigation.

Mesothelioma symptoms can be compared to the symptoms of other conditions, so they are often misdiagnosed. Patients may experience breathing issues as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for several months before they are diagnosed. These symptoms are initialy mild and may be confused with other ailments. This is why it is important to have any symptoms examined by a doctor as quickly as possible.

The lining of the chest (pleural mesothelioma) or peritoneum, or in rare cases, the testicles' membrane can be affected by mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common cause of mesothelioma-related cases, accounting for 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 areas that expose them to asbestos. Females exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving the past five years than male patients. This is probably due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The age of a person also affects their chances of survival since older patients tend to have a more difficult time recovering from the disease. It's also important to note that some mesothelioma patients live for years or even a decade past their initial prognoses.

Compensation

Mesothelioma Compensation assists victims in covering their medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses related to the asbestos-related illness. The mesothelioma settlements are typically awarded by amalgamating asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help determine which forms of compensation are available for your case.

People diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit to receive financial compensation from producers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed by someone close to the victim or a family member or an appointed representative of the court 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 seek compensation from the parties accountable for their loved ones' asbestos exposure.

Because it can take years from exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial debts from treatment. Mesothelioma compensation can help these patients pay off their debts and pay for the future of their family members.

Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their pain and suffering. An attorney for mesothelioma can help victims and families receive the compensation that they deserve.

A mesothelioma attorney utah lawyer is able to manage all aspects of a victim’s mesothelioma claim and make it as easy as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma-related settlements for patients and their families. Contact us today to arrange no-cost review of your Houston mesothelioma attorney lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at your home or at the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid when we are able to secure compensation for you.