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12 Statistics About Mesothelioma Claim To Bring You Up To Speed The Cooler Water Cooler
Mesothelioma Claims

A mesothelioma claim can allow victims to receive compensation for treatment and other expenses. State laws, called statutes or limitations, limit the time a victim can file a lawsuit.

The most common form of lawsuits is of personal injury or wrongful death claims. The jury awards monetary damages, which include economic and noneconomic damage.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a rare condition and it may take several years for patients to be diagnosed. Most patients visit their primary physician with complaints and medical history. Doctors will conduct a physical examination and ask about asbestos exposure.

If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they usually order imaging tests. These include chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests give a complete analysis of the body. They can show the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or lungs, which is a common mesothelioma symptom.

These tests can also be used to determine the type mesothelioma. The mesothelioma that is pleural is when cancerous cells in the lung lining (pleura) cause the disease. The peritoneal type is caused by cancerous cells that reside in the abdominal cavity. In a surgical biopsy, doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the tumor or affected area to examine under a microscope to look for signs of mesothelioma. Doctors can also conduct the cytology test to look for the presence of cancerous cells in liquid samples taken from the lungs or stomach.

A blood test, dubbed the MESOMARK Assay, can measure the amount of soluble mesothelin-related to peptide (SMRP) within the body of the patient. The presence of high levels of this biomarker could indicate the presence of mesothelioma cell lines.

In turn, these biomarkers could be useful for doctors who are trying to detect mesothelioma in its earliest stages. However, it's not a substitute for mesothelioma-related biopsy which is the only method to know whether cancer is present within the body. Doctors can perform a non-surgical procedure to collect fluid from the pleura and the stomach using a needle. They then examine it for mesothelioma-related cells.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma may occur anyplace on the body where cancerous asbestos-induced cells have developed. The most frequent sites are the abdomen, lungs, and heart. Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain as well as difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. People who have peritoneal or pericardial mesothelioma often suffer from pain in their abdominal region as well as weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to identify because the symptoms mimic those of other common diseases. Mesothelioma may develop after years of asbestos exposure.

CT scans and X-rays may reveal changes in the lungs such as the accumulation of fluid or thickening of pleura (pleural effusion). MRI and PET scans may be used to search for mesothelioma. Blood tests can check for high levels of certain substances in the body, which indicate the presence of mesothelioma.

A doctor can take a sample of the fluid or tissue that is accumulating to test it for cancerous cells. Doctors can also perform an operation, known as thoracoscopic aspiration. It removes a small amount fluid from the lungs or thoracic cavities. This test is a less-invasive version of a biopsy and is performed in the doctor's office.

If a doctor has diagnosed mesothelioma it is likely that they will recommend radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to stop the cancer cells from spreading. Radiation can be administered in a clinic or hospital. The radiation is usually administered as an as an outpatient. The use of palliative therapies is often to control pain and other symptoms. It could include painkillers and regular draining of fluids or tubes placed in the chest to assist with breathing, and radiation to keep the tumor from expanding.

Treatment

For people diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment can ease symptoms and extend life. Treatment options vary based on the mesothelioma's type and stage. The treatment plan may also differ based on the amount of asbestos exposure the patient has.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to many other diseases, like 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 conduct an examination and ask about previous exposure to asbestos. They will then perform scans and blood tests to determine the severity and location of the cancer in the body.

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

Pleural mesothelioma may cause an accumulation of fluid, which can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Surgery can eliminate excess fluid, enhancing the quality of life for patients.

Doctors may also opt for pleurodesis, a procedure that helps 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 further buildups. Patients can also opt to have a shunt installed on their body. It is a device used to move fluid from one part of the body to another to absorb.

The treatment of chemotherapy and radiation are both options. Chemotherapy targets cancerous cells directly, killing them. Radiation therapy shrinks tumors using high-energy rays. Those who are not candidates for surgery can opt for targeted therapy, which involves targeting the cancer-causing genes within the cancer cells.

Prognosis

The prognosis for mesothelioma depends on a variety of factors, including the type and location of cancer and the stage of diagnosis and the general health of the patient. The mesothelioma prognosis could improve when patients seek treatment from a seasoned specialist in mesothelioma treatment and adhere to their treatment plan. Patients who have mesothelioma that take part in clinical trials may also be able to access new treatments that are currently being researched.

Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions and, therefore, they are frequently misdiagnosed. Patients may experience breathing problems as well as abdominal pains and other symptoms for several months before being diagnosed. Because these symptoms are so initially mild it is easy to confuse them with other ailments. Therefore, it is important to get any symptoms checked by a physician as soon as possible.

Mesothelioma can affect the chest cavity's lining (pleural mesothelioma), the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or, in rare instances, the membrane that surrounds the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common cause of mesothelioma cases. It accounts for 85 percent of diagnosed in patients who are more than 75 years old.

Survival rates for mesothelioma can differ between women and men. This is due to the fact that males are more likely than women to work in fields that expose them. Females exposed to mesothelioma have a twice higher chance of surviving for the next 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 recovering from the illness. It's also worth noting that some mesothelioma patients survive for years or even a decade or more over their initial prognoses.

Compensation

Mesothelioma Compensation assists patients in paying their medical costs, lost wages, and other costs associated with the asbestos-related illness. Often, this mesothelioma compensation is granted through the combination of asbestos trust funds, lawsuits and settlements. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine what compensation is available in your particular case.

People diagnosed with mesothelioma can make a personal injury claim for financial compensation from manufacturers of asbestos-related products they were exposed to at work. Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the victim by their loved one or family member, or an appointed representative by the court. The estate of a victim's family who has died from mesothelioma is able to file a wrongful-dea lawsuit to seek compensation from the parties responsible for the victim's asbestos exposure.


Because it can take years from exposure to diagnosis, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma carry 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 may also compensate the victims for their suffering and pain. A mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.

A mesothelioma lawyer who is skilled can handle all aspects of a victim's mesothelioma claim and make the process as painless as possible for their client. At Sokolove Law, our attorneys have secured over $4.7 billion in mesothelioma settlements for victims and their families. Contact us now to get started on a no-cost mesothelioma case review. Our lawyers serve clients nationwide. We are able to meet you at your home or in a hospital. Our law firm only gets paid if we get you compensation.

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