Mesothelioma Claims
Most mesothelioma cases involve exposure asbestos in the workplace. Many of the victims are veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are often confusing, painful and confusing. They can also be costly. chances of getting mesothelioma from asbestos exposure from claims can help patients and their families pay for expenses.
Compensation may come from a combination of settlements, lawsuits and trust funds. A lawyer can help in determining the best way to file every kind of claim.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is affected by this kind of cancer. Exposure to asbestos can trigger this cancer. Most commonly, it occurs in the lungs. It can also affect the chest wall as well as the abdomen. A doctor can diagnose the condition by using imaging tests and biopsy. After a diagnosis is made the doctor will provide the patient a prognosis. Prognoses can differ based on the mesothelioma type and the degree to which it is advanced it is.
After a diagnosis one may be eligible for financial assistance. There are a variety of compensation claims for mesothelioma, including lawsuits. Settlements and trust funds awards. An experienced attorney will explain each option and recommend the most appropriate option for your specific case. Mesothelioma suits usually have the highest payouts. However they are an extensive litigation process. Settlements are an option for those looking to accelerate the process of obtaining compensation.
Individuals can also apply for insurance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This can include health care and disability insurance. Compensation from the VA can reduce the financial burden of families. Veterans may also be eligible for additional VA benefits, including the Special Monthly Compensation, or DIC which helps pay for home medical expenses and in-home caregivers.
In addition, a person may be eligible to receive Social Security disability and/or Medicare. The social security program offers a monthly income for those who are unable to work. Patients with mesothelioma can also apply for life insurance to help pay funeral costs and other expenses for the family. These benefits are typically obtained through your employer. The VA and a few private companies offer these benefits too. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may consult a veteran lawyer to help them file for benefits.
Diagnosis
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma they will conduct physical examination and will take all medical histories of the patient including their time at work. They will also note any exposure to asbestos, which is the most common. one risk factor that increases the risk of mesothelioma for a person. They also will ask about any symptoms that a patient is experiencing.
The next step is for doctors to run imaging tests to find out where tumors or cancerous fluids have formed within the body. These mesothelioma areas could be identified using CT scan (computed tomography), MRI, ultrasound, or PET scan (positron-emission tomography). In pleural mesothelioma imaging tests could reveal fluid buildup between the chest wall and lung, which is known as pleural effusion. This fluid can be eliminated through ultrasound-guided aspiration. This isn't a confirmation of a mesothelioma diagnose however it can help rule out other causes for the accumulation of pleural fluids like a leaky heart valve or pneumonia.
For pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma, which form in the abdominal lining and tissues surrounding organs, doctors could opt for a colonoscopy or laparoscopic biopsy to collect tissue samples for testing. They may inject a radioactive substance into highlight any cancerous cells on the images from the scans or biopsy.
These tests can indicate the stage of mesothelioma, and the treatment plan will be based on the type of cancer and whether or not the cancer has spread. Patients can receive surgery, chemotherapy or targeted therapy which uses drugs that kill cancerous cells while not harming healthy cells. A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will take care for a mesothelioma patient such as gastroenterologists, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. They will provide support and discuss the patient's choices.
Treatment
The three standard treatments for mesothelioma are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Doctors may combine these treatments in some cases. They can also include specific therapies, like immunotherapy.
The type of mesothelioma you have will determine which types of treatments are appropriate for you. If you have Pleural cancer, the tumours originate in the lining or pleura of the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is usually caused by exposure to asbestos while working as a construction worker, asbestos miner or even in the military.
The treatment for pleural msothelioma is the removal of excess fluid. They may opt for paracentesis or the pericardiocentesis. Doctors can also remove a small amount tissue around the tumor in order to reduce the size of the tumor. This is a palliative treatment for mesothelioma and is not a cure for cancer.
There is a chance that doctors can completely remove the tumors from the lungs with pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) or extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). Doctors may also recommend chemo either before or after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. This is known as adjuvant therapy or neoadjuvant therapy.
If the tumors in the abdomen are large, they can be difficult to treat. Radiation can cause more harm than usual to the stomach's lining and abdominal cavity, which is the reason why surgery is the most commonly performed procedure for this mesothelioma type.
Certain treatments are essential to combat symptoms like pain, fatigue and weight loss from mesothelioma. Doctors can prescribe medicines to treat diarrhea, nausea and other side effects. They can also refer patients specialist support groups for coping with issues like relationships and body image. Some patients may opt to take part in a mesothelioma clinical study to test new treatment methods.
Living with Mesothelioma
The mesothelioma path can be difficult. However, there are many ways to live well despite a diagnosis. Many mesothelioma patients feel at ease by talking to loved ones about their experiences and joining a support group or joining an online community.
It is essential for patients to remain in contact with their doctors, even the moment they feel better following treatment. Report any new symptoms or side-effects immediately. They could indicate that the cancer has worsened or its effects on your body have gotten worse.
Symptoms are generally nonspecific, but many mesothelioma patients suffer from a cough that is usually nonproductive. Other symptoms include chest pain and breathing problems. Another common symptom is a pleural effusion.
Patients with mesothelioma are often treated by specialists, such as a pulmonologist or thoracic surgery or gastroenterologist, as well as a respiratory doctor. A patient's treatment may also include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and a brand-new drug called pemetrexed.
About 10% of mesotheliomas occur in the peritoneum. It is a layer that lines the surface of organs like the bowel, liver and ovaries. Those with peritoneal mesothelioma often have excess fluid, known as a peritoneal effusion. This can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, and breathing problems.
Some mesothelioma patients live a long time after their initial diagnosis, with instances of paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who passed away from peritoneal cancer in August 1982, and Florida asbestos lawyer and activist Larry Williams, who survived peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma for six years, until he passed away from Alzheimer's disease in 2018.
Weitz & Luxenberg's compassionate attorneys can help you claim compensation when you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. We dedicate significant time to establishing relationships and understanding the needs of our clients to make the claims process as easy as it can be and securing them maximum compensation.
Making a claim
A mesothelioma case is a legal procedure which can aid asbestos sufferers receive compensation. This compensation could be used to fund mesothelioma treatment and provide financial security for the family members affected by the disease.
A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help you file the appropriate kind of legal claim to receive the highest amount of compensation. Compensation may come in the form of mesothelioma trust funds, trial verdict or a mesothelioma lawsuit settlement. A mesothelioma lawyer will review all available forms of compensation in a no-cost, no-obligation legal consultation.
Mesothelioma claims are filed in civil courts, but the laws of each state differ on how they are dealt with. Statutes of limitations and jury selection requirements and other factors can vary. The most experienced mesothelioma lawyers will make the filing process as simple as it can be.
Many liable companies that produced or sold asbestos-containing products have filed for bankruptcy protection due to the huge number of mesothelioma lawsuits filed against them. In a few cases companies have set up asbestos trust funds in order to compensate asbestos victims and protect them from future lawsuits. Mesothelioma trust fund claims are usually the easiest to settle and could result in a settlement within weeks or months.
Patients' families can also bring a lawsuit to remedy wrongful death on behalf of loved ones. This type of lawsuit can involve compensatory damages that cover funeral costs as well as lost wages and other losses. These awards are usually more expensive than personal injury settlements. The most successful mesothelioma cases have led to multi-million dollars verdicts.