Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma suit can help victims receive compensation for their treatment and other expenses. State laws, also referred to as statutes or limitations, restrict the amount of time a patient can file a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful deaths are the most popular types of lawsuits. Juries award monetary damages that include economic and noneconomic damages.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it can take many years for patients to be diagnosed. In the majority of cases, patients go to their primary physician with symptoms and medical history. Doctors will conduct an examination of the body and inquire about asbestos exposure.
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they usually order imaging tests. mesothelioma attorney in philadelphia include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests give a detailed view 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 determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural form of mesothelioma occurs when cancerous cells within the lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal form is caused by cancer cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In the procedure of a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the affected area to examine under a microscope for indications 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 lungs or stomach.
A blood test known as the MESOMARK test can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the patient's body. The presence of this biomarker can be a sign of mesothelioma.
These biomarkers can be helpful to doctors trying to detect mesothelioma in its early stages. However, it is not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsies which is the sole method to know whether cancer is present in the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical biopsy to extract fluid from the pleura or stomach using a needle, and look it up for mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to form. The most common sites are the lung. Pleural mesothelioma causes pain in the chest, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. People with peritoneal and pericardial cancer often experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. The signs of mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because they are similar to those of other common diseases. Mesothelioma may develop after years of exposure to asbestos.
X-rays and CT scans may reveal changes in the lungs, such as thickening of the pleura or fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may also be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to detect elevated levels of certain substances that may be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can remove the fluid or tissue that has accumulated to test it for cancerous cells. The doctor may also perform an operation known as the thoracoscopic needle aspiration procedure to remove a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavity. This test is a non-invasive version of a biopsies, and can be done in a doctor's clinic.
If the doctor finds mesothelioma, they might suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells and stop their spread. Radiation can be administered in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is usually administered as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapy is commonly to alleviate pain and other symptoms. It may include painkillers as well as regular draining of fluid or a tube put in the chest to aid in breathing and radiation to stop the tumor from becoming larger.
Treatment
Treatment can reduce symptoms and prolong the life of those suffering from mesothelioma. There are many options available, depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma. The treatment plan may also differ depending on the amount of asbestos exposure that the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as many other illnesses, such as the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to identify the disease early. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about previous asbestos exposure. They then will conduct scans of the blood and imaging to determine the extent and extent of the cancer's presence in the body.
The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lung. The most likely to develop the disease are those who have worked as welders, plumber or electrician, or in the auto industry.
A buildup of fluid may cause chest pain or breathing difficulties. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a patient's quality of life.
Doctors can also utilize pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent the formation of further fluids in the lungs. In this procedure, a tube is inserted into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medicine is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients may also choose to have a shunt placed on their body. It is a device that moves fluid from one area of the body to another to absorb.
Other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells by directly killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy radiation. Patients who are not eligible for surgery may undergo targeted therapy. This is done by attacking the cancer-causing gene within the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on several factors including the type and location of cancer and the stage of diagnosis and general patient health. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve if patients seek treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma therapy and follow their treatment plan. In addition, patients with mesothelioma who participate in an clinical trial could be able to access new treatments that are still being studied.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar the symptoms of other conditions which is why they are often incorrectly diagnosed. Patients may have abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so simple at first it is easy to confuse them with other illnesses. As a result, it's crucial to have any symptoms checked out by a physician as soon as possible.
The chest's lining (pleural mesothelioma), peritoneum, or in rare instances, the testicles' membrane can be affected by mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for most mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of all diagnosed cases occurring in patients who are over 75 years old.
Women and men may have different rates of survival for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women because they are more likely to work in industries where asbestos is present. Females exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving past five years than male patients. This is probably due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. The prognosis for a patient is also affected by their age, since older patients have a harder time recovering from illnesses. It's important to know that some patients with mesothelioma live for years, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation is a way to help victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses related to 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 types of compensation might be applicable to your situation.
A person diagnosed mesothelioma could file a lawsuit against the company that makes asbestos-related products to which they were exposed at work. They can seek financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of a victim's loved one, family member or a court-appointed representative. If a victim died from mesothelioma, awrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the estate of the victim to recover compensation from those responsible for their loved one's asbestos exposure.
Many patients with mesothelioma end up in debt because it can take years from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma settlements can help victims of the disease pay off their debts, and also provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements may also provide compensation to victims for their pain and suffering. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will assist victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve.
A reputable mesothelioma law firm can handle every aspect of a mesothelioma lawsuit for a victim, making the process as painless as possible for their client. 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 mesothelioma lawsuit. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can visit you at your home or at the hospital. Our law firm only gets paid when we receive compensation for you.