Mesothelioma Claims

A mesothelioma lawsuit could help victims receive compensation for their treatment as well as other costs. Statutes of limitations in the state, also known as statutes of limitations restrict the time a patient is required to file a lawsuit.

Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most common kinds of lawsuits. Juries award damages in the form of money that include both economic and non-economic damages.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a rare disease and it may take several years for patients to receive a diagnosis. Patients will usually go to their primary physician with complaints and an medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and inquire about asbestos exposure.

Imaging tests are often requested by doctors when they suspect mesothelioma. This includes chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests give a complete examination of the body. These tests can reveal an accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen that is a mesothelioma-related symptom.

These tests also help to determine the type of mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is caused by cancer cells in the lung lining called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells within the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the tumor or affected area to look under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors will also use the cytology test to look for the presence of cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.

A blood test referred to as the MESOMARK test can determine the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. The presence of this biomarker could indicate mesothelioma.

These biomarkers are thus beneficial for doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. However, it's not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsies which is the only method to know whether cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies that remove fluid from the stomach or pleura using a needle, and then analyze it for mesothelioma cells.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most common sites are the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cause of chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer typically experience abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be difficult to recognize, as they are similar to other illnesses. Mesothelioma can manifest years after asbestos exposure.

CT scans and X-rays can reveal changes in the lungs such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to check for elevated levels of certain substances that could be indicative of mesothelioma.

A doctor can remove the tissue or fluid to test for cancer cells. Doctors can also perform an operation, known as thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount of fluid from the thoracic cavity or lungs. This test is a non-invasive form of biopsies and can be performed in a clinic of a doctor.

If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, he or she may suggest surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and stop their spread. The chemotherapy and surgery are generally done in an outpatient environment, and radiation may be delivered in a clinic or a hospital. Palliative treatments are often used to help manage pain and other symptoms. Palliative treatment may include painkillers, 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 advancing.

Treatment

For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, treatment can alleviate symptoms and prolong the life. Treatment options differ based on the mesothelioma type and stage. The treatment plan will also vary depending on how much asbestos exposure the patient has.

Mesothelioma symptoms resemble the symptoms of a variety of illnesses like the flu and pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize the disease early. Most patients suffer for a long time before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Doctors will conduct a physical exam and inquire about prior asbestos exposure. They will follow up with imaging scans and blood tests to determine the extent of the cancer and the location within the body.

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

A buildup of fluid could cause chest pain or breathing difficulties. Surgery can eliminate excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life of a patient.

Doctors may also opt for pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In the course of the procedure, a tube is to be inserted into the pleura order to drain fluid. Then medicine will be injected to stop further accumulation. Patients can also opt to have a shunt, which is a device to transfer fluid from one part of the body to another for absorption.

The treatment of chemotherapy and radiation are both options. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells directly. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors by using high-energy radiation. Patients who aren't candidates for surgery can undergo targeted therapy, which targets the cancer-causing genes in the cancerous cells.

Prognosis

The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on a variety of factors including the type and location of cancer as well as the stage at which it was diagnosed and general health of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve when patients seek treatment from an experienced specialist in the field of mesothelioma and follow their treatment plan. Patients who participate in an clinical trial could have access to new treatments that are currently under investigation.

The mesothelioma symptoms are comparable to those of other conditions. This can lead to an abundance of misdiagnosis. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing issues and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. These symptoms may be initially mild and can be confused with other ailments. As a result, it's important to get any symptoms checked out by a doctor as quickly as possible.

Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that covers the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common cause of Philadelphia mesothelioma attorneys cases. It accounts for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.

The survival rates for mesothelioma may vary between women and men. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women as they tend to work in industries where asbestos is prevalent. However, females who have been exposed to mesothelioma are twice as likely to survive past five years than male patients. This is probably due to the hormonal interactions between female hormones and mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis of a person is also influenced by their age, since older patients have a more difficult to recover from illness. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade or more past their initial prognoses.

Compensation

best mesothelioma attorneys Compensation helps victims cover their medical costs in addition to lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related illness. This mesothelioma settlement is often given by amalgamating asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney lawsuit mesothelioma can assist you in determining what forms of compensation may be applicable to your situation.

A person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed at work. They may seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma suits can be filed by family members or a family member or a court appointed representative on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim's family who has died from mesothelioma may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation against those who are responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.

Because it can take years from exposure to diagnosis many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma carry significant financial debts from treatment. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts, and also provide for their families' futures.

Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements may also be used to compensate victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist families and victims receive the compensation they are entitled to.

A mesothelioma lawyer is able to handle every aspect of a victim's mesothelioma claim to make it as pain-free 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 now to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet with you in your home or hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we secure compensation for you.