The No. 1 Question That Anyone Working In Mesothelioma Claim Should Be Able To Answer
Mesothelioma Claims
A mesothelioma case can assist victims in obtaining compensation for treatment and other costs. State laws called statutes of limitations restrict the time that a victim must file a lawsuit.
Personal injury or wrongful death are the most common kinds of lawsuits. The jury awards money damages, which can include economic and noneconomic damage.
Diagnosis
It could take years to identify mesothelioma. It is a rare condition. Most patients go to their primary care doctor with symptoms and a medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical exam and ask about the possibility of exposure to asbestos.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they often request imaging tests. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests provide a clear view of the body. These tests could reveal a buildup of fluid in the lungs or abdomen as a mesothelioma related symptom.
These tests can also be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The mesothelioma type that is pleural is caused by cancerous cells in the lung lining called the pleura. The peritoneal type is caused by cancer cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsies doctors will remove a sample of tissue from an area of tumor or affected and examine it under a microscope in order to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct the test known as a cytology to identify cancerous cells from samples of fluid taken from the lungs or stomach.
A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of mesothelin soluble peptide (SMRP) in the body of the patient. This biomarker has high levels and can be a sign of mesothelioma.
This is why these biomarkers could be useful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma in its earliest stages. It is not a replacement for mesothelioma biopsy, which is the only method to determine whether cancer has been found in the body. Doctors can conduct a non-surgical biopsy to extract fluid from the pleura and the stomach with a needle and look it up for mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma may occur in any part of the body where asbestos has caused cancerous cells to form. The most common locations are the lungs, abdomen and the heart. Pleural mesothelioma is a cause of chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Patients with peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often suffer from discomfort in their abdomen and fatigue and weight loss. The signs of mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because they are similar to other illnesses. Mesothelioma may develop after years of asbestos exposure.
CT scans and X-rays can reveal changes in the lungs, such as fluid buildup or thickening of the pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans are also used to identify mesothelioma. Blood tests can detect the presence of certain substances in the body that could indicate mesothelioma is present.
A doctor can drain an amount of fluid or tissue that is accumulating to determine if it contains cancer cells. The doctor may also perform an operation known as the thoracoscopic needle aspiration procedure to remove some of the fluid from around the lungs or the thoracic cavity. This test is a non-invasive form of biopsies, and can be done in a medical clinic.
If the doctor finds mesothelioma in the body, he or she might recommend surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and prevent the spread. The chemotherapy and surgery typically take place in an outpatient setting and the radiation is given in a clinic or hospital. The use of palliative therapies is often to manage discomfort and other symptoms. The treatment options include painkillers and regular drainage of fluids or a tube that is placed inside the chest to aid in breathing. It may also include radiation to stop the tumor from growing.
Treatment
Treatment can ease symptoms and prolong life for people with mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatments available, based on the type and stage of mesothelioma. The treatment plan could vary based on the level of asbestos exposure that the patient has.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as other illnesses like pneumonia or the flu. This makes it difficult for doctors to recognize the disease in the early stages. Patients may be suffering from symptoms for months before they are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
To diagnose the illness, doctors will perform an examination of the body and inquire about previous exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct 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 lung. People who have been exposed to asbestos as workers in the construction industry, welding, plumber, electrician or autoworker are the most likely to contract this disease.
A buildup of fluid can cause chest pain and breathing problems. Surgery can eliminate the excess fluid and improve a person's quality of life.
Doctors may also opt for pleurodesis procedure to prevent the formation of further fluids in the lung. During this procedure it is the procedure of inserting a tube into the pleura to drain fluid, and then medicine is injected to prevent future buildups. Patients may also choose to receive a shunt which is a device used to move fluid from one part of the body to the other to absorb.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also options. 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 involves targeting the cancer-causing gene in the cancerous cells.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is affected by several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, its location and general health condition of the patient. The prognosis for mesothelioma can improve when patients seek treatment from a specialist who is experienced in mesothelioma treatment and adhere to their treatment regimen. Patients with mesothelioma who are taking part in clinical trials might also be able to access new treatments that are currently being researched.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar those of many other conditions and, therefore, they are frequently misdiagnosed. Patients may suffer from abdominal pain, breathing problems and other symptoms before they are diagnosed. Because these symptoms are mild at first, people can easily confuse them with other illnesses. It's therefore important to have any symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as is possible.
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma makes up the majority of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnoses made in patients over 75 years old.
Both genders may have different rates of survival for mesothelioma. Men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos than women since they work in industries that have asbestos in them. However women who have been exposed to mesothelioma have twice as likely to live beyond five years as male patients. This is likely due to the ways female hormones interact with mesothelioma tumor cells. A person's age also impacts their chances of survival since older patients have a harder time recovering from the illness. It's important to know that some mesothelioma patients endure for a long time, or even a decade after their initial prognosis.
Compensation
Mesothelioma compensation helps victims pay for their medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with the asbestos-related disease. Most often, this mesothelioma compensation is awarded through a combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can assist you in determining what forms of compensation are available for your case.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation from the asbestos-related manufacturers they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma suits 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 family who 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 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 provide for their families' future.
Mesothelioma settlements and lawsuits may also be used to compensate victims for their suffering and pain. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve.
Fort Lauderdale mesothelioma lawsuit can handle every aspect of a victim's claim for mesothelioma and make it as easy as they can. At Sokolove Law our lawyers have secured more than $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements for victims and their families. Contact us now to get started with a free mesothelioma review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to visit you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm is paid only if we secure compensation for you.