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, limit the time a victim can file a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most common types of lawsuits. The jury awards money damages, which may include economic and non-economic damages.
attorney dallas mesothelioma is a rare condition and it may take several years for patients to be diagnosed. In the majority of cases, patients go to their primary physician with symptoms and a medical history. Doctors will perform an examination of the body and ask about asbestos exposure.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they often request imaging tests. This can include chest X-rays (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. These tests give a detailed view of the body. They can show an accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a typical mesothelioma sign.
These tests can also be used to determine the type of mesothelioma. The pleural form of mesothelioma occurs when cancer cells in lung the lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells in the abdominal cavity. In a biopsies performed surgically, doctors will remove a small amount of tissue from the affected area or tumor and examine it under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use the test known as a cytology to detect cancerous cells in fluid samples taken from the stomach or lungs.
A blood test, called the MESOMARK Assay, will determine the amount soluble mesothelin related protein (SMRP) in the body of the patient. A high level of this biomarker can be a sign mesothelioma cells.
These biomarkers are therefore helpful to doctors who are trying to diagnose mesothelioma at its earliest stages. However, they are not a substitute for mesothelioma biopsies which is the sole method to know if cancer is present in the body. Doctors can conduct non-surgical biopsies to remove fluid from the stomach or pleura by using a needle, and then analyze it for cells of mesothelioma.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur anywhere in the body where asbestos has created cancerous cells. The most common sites are the lungs. People who have pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the chest area and have difficulty swallowing as well as hoarseness. Patients with mesothelioma pericardial or peritoneal often experience pain in their abdominal region as well as fatigue and weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to identify because the symptoms mimic those of many common illnesses. It could take a long time after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma develop.
X-rays and CT scans may reveal changes in the lungs, for example, the pleura getting thicker or fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans can also be used to look for mesothelioma. Blood tests can be used to detect elevated levels of certain substances that could be indicative of mesothelioma.
A doctor can take a sample of the fluid or tissue that has accumulated to test it for cancer cells. Doctors can also perform an operation called thoracoscopic aspiration, which removes a small amount of fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less painful alternative to a biopsy, and is performed in the doctor's office.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, it is likely that they will suggest chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to stop cancer cells from spreading. Radiation therapy can be performed in a hospital or clinic. The radiation is typically given outpatient. Palliative treatments are often used to control the symptoms of pain and other. Palliative treatment can include painkillers as well as regular drainage of fluids or a tube that is placed inside the chest to aid with breathing. It could also involve radiation to stop the tumor from advancing.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and prolong life for patients with mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatments available, depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan will differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.
Mesothelioma symptoms resemble those of many diseases, including the flu or pneumonia. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize mesothelioma in the early stages. In many cases, patients be afflicted with symptoms for several months before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness, doctors will perform an examination and ask about any exposure to asbestos in the past. They will then perform scans and blood tests to determine the extent and location of the cancer in the body.
The most common mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. It affects the lung. People who have been exposed to asbestos as workers in the construction industry, welding electrician, plumber or autoworker are most likely to develop this illness.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a buildup of fluid, creating chest pain and difficulty breathing. Surgery can remove excess fluid, enhancing a person's life.
Pleurodesis is yet another procedure doctors can use to prevent future accumulation of fluid in the lung. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain the fluid and then medicine is injected to prevent the buildup of further fluids. Patients can also opt to place a shunt on their body. It is a device used to move fluid from one region of the body to another for absorption.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also options. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells directly. The treatment targets tumors and shrinks them 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, the stage at diagnosis and the general health of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve if patients seek treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma treatment and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials could also have access to new treatments that are currently being studied.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar the symptoms of a variety of other diseases and, therefore, they are frequently incorrectly diagnosed. Patients may experience abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms prior to being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so simple at first it is easy to confuse them with other ailments. It's therefore important to have any symptoms checked by a doctor as quickly as is possible.
The lining of the chest (pleural mesothelioma) also known as the peritoneum or in rare cases the membrane surrounding the testicles can be affected by mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are pleural mesothelioma. 85 percent being diagnosed in patients who are older than 75 years.
The survival rates for mesothelioma may vary between women and men. This is because men are more likely than women to work in areas which expose them to asbestos. Mesothelioma patients with females have twice the likelihood of surviving past five years than male patients. This is likely due the interaction between female hormones and mesothelioma cancer cells. Age also affects their prognosis because older patients tend to suffer more difficulty recuperating from the illness. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients live years or even a decade past their initial prognoses.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation is a way to help victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses related to the asbestos-related disease. Mesothelioma settlements are usually given by the amalgamation of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will help determine which forms of compensation might be available to you in your particular case.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may bring a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to while at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed by family members or a family member or an appointed representative of the court on behalf of the victim. The estate of a victim's loved ones who has died from mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to recover compensation from those responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.
Because it can take years from diagnosis to exposure many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have significant financial debts from treatment. Mesothelioma settlements can help patients of the disease pay off their debts and ensure their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits can also compensate the victims for their pain and suffering. An attorney for mesothelioma can assist families and victims get the compensation they deserve.
A skilled mesothelioma law firm will handle every aspect of a patient's mesothelioma case to make the process as painless as is possible for their client. Our attorneys 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 on a free mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We can meet you at home or in a hospital. Our law firm is only paid if we receive compensation.