Mesothelioma Claims
Most cases of mesothelioma result from asbestos exposure during work. Many of the victims are veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may be complicated, painful, and confusing. They can be expensive. Compensation from claims help patients, their families and caregivers cover costs.
Compensation is available through a combination of lawsuits, settlements, and trust funds. A lawyer can help in the process of filing for each type of claim.
What is Mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is affected by this type of cancer. Asbestos can cause this cancer. Most often, it develops in the lung. It can also affect the chest wall and abdomen. A doctor can diagnose the illness by using imaging tests and biopsy. After a diagnosis is made the doctor will provide the patient a prognosis. The prognosis will vary depending on how advanced the mesothelioma is and the type of cancer it is.
Following a diagnosis one may be eligible for financial assistance. There are several types of mesothelioma compensation claims which include lawsuits, settlements and trust fund awards. An experienced lawyer can provide a detailed explanation of each option and recommend the most appropriate one for your particular case. Mesothelioma suits usually yield the highest settlements. However they also require an extended litigation process. If someone wants to accelerate the process and receive their compensation earlier they can choose settlement.
Veterans Affairs (VA) also offers insurance benefits to individuals. This could include health insurance and disability insurance. Compensation from the VA could help ease the financial burdens of a family. Veterans are also eligible for additional VA benefits like Special Monthly Compensation (DIC) which can help to pay for home care and home health care costs.
Additionally, a victim may be eligible for Social Security disability and/or Medicare. The social security program offers a monthly income for those who are unable to work. Patients with mesothelioma are able to apply for life insurance to pay funeral costs and other family expenses. These benefits are typically obtained through your employer. The VA and some private companies offer these benefits too. Veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma should contact an attorney representing veterans of the military for assistance in submitting for benefits.
Diagnosis
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they start with a physical exam and take all medical histories of the patient including their time at work. They will also note asbestos exposure as the primary one factor that can increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. the most significant factor that increases a person's mesothelioma risks is asbestos exposure. They also will ask about any symptoms that a patient is experiencing.
The next step for doctors is to conduct tests of imaging to find out the areas where cancerous fluids or tumors have developed 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, the imaging tests can detect fluid accumulation between the lung and chest wall and is known as the pleural effusion. Doctors can drain this fluid using an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. This does not always confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis however it can assist in determining the cause of pleural fluid buildup, for example, a leaky valve or pneumonia.
Doctors may use a colonoscopy or laparoscopic procedure to collect tissue samples in order to check for the presence of pericardial peritoneal peritoneal-peritoneal mesothelioma pleural peritoneal. These cancers are found on the abdomen's lining as well as the tissues around the organs. They can inject a radioactive agent to highlight any cancerous cell on the images taken from scans or biopsy.
These tests could determine the stage of mesothelioma, and the treatment plan will be based on the type and whether or the cancer has spread. Patients can receive chemotherapy, surgery, or targeted therapy, or radiation which uses drugs that kill cancerous cells while not harming healthy cells. A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will take care for patients with mesothelioma such as gastroenterologists, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. They will offer assistance and discuss the patient's choices.
Treatment
Radiation, surgery chemotherapy, and surgery are the three main treatments for mesothelioma. Doctors can combine these treatments in some cases. They can also include targeted therapy medications, such as immunotherapy.
The type of mesothelioma that you have affects what kinds of treatment are best for you. If you are diagnosed with pleural cancer, the tumors form in the lining or pleura of the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos while working as a construction worker, asbestos miner, or in the military.
Doctors treat pleural msothelioma with the drainage of excess fluid. They can use a paracentesis procedure or pericardiocentesis. Doctors can also remove tissue from around the tumor to reduce its size. This is a palliative treatment for mesothelioma and is not a cure for cancer.
It is possible that doctors will be able to remove all tumors from the lungs with pleurectomy and décortication (P/D), or extrapleural lung pneumonectomy (EPP). Doctors may also recommend chemo either before or after surgery to try and destroy any remaining cancerous cells. This is called adjuvant therapy or neoadjuvant therapy.
The tumors may be more difficult to treat if they're large. Radiation can cause more harm than normal to the stomach 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 alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, pain and fatigue as well as weight loss caused by mesothelioma. Doctors can prescribe medicines to treat diarrhea, nausea and other side effects. They may also refer patients to specialist support groups for coping with issues related to relationships and body image. Some patients might opt to participate in a mesothelioma clinical study to test new treatment methods.
Living with mesothelioma
The path to mesothelioma may be a challenge. However, there are many ways to live well regardless of a diagnosis. Many mesothelioma patients find relief by talking to their loved ones about their experiences and joining a support group, or joining an online forum.
It is essential for patients to remain in touch with their doctors, even the moment they feel better following treatment. Any new signs or side effects should be reported immediately, as they could indicate an increase in the severity of the cancer or an increase of its effects on your body.
Symptoms are generally nonspecific, but many mesothelioma patients develop a cough, which is usually nonproductive. They can also experience chest wall pain and breathing difficulties. Another typical symptom is a Pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma patients are usually treated by a team of specialists, including a pulmonologist, thoracic surgeon, gastroenterologist, and respiratory physician. Treatment may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a brand-new drug known as pemetrexed.
Less than 10% of mesotheliomas are found in the peritoneum. It is a layer that lines the surface of organs like the bowel, liver and ovaries. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma typically have excess fluid, known as an peritonal effusion. This may lead to difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
peritoneal mesothelioma asbestos live a long time after their initial diagnosis, with examples of this being paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who passed away from peritoneal mesothelioma 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.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma the compassionate lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg can help you obtain compensation. We spend a lot of time building relationships with our clients and gaining an understanding of their needs, thereby making the claims procedure as stress-free as possible.
Making a claim
A mesothelioma lawsuit is an legal process that allows asbestos-related victims to receive compensation. This compensation could help pay for treatment for mesothelioma as well as help provide financial security for family members.
A mesothelioma attorney with experience can assist you in filing the appropriate type of legal claim to receive the most amount of compensation. Compensation could come in the form of a mesothelioma trust fund award, trial verdict or a mesothelioma lawsuit settlement. An attorney for mesothelioma will go over the various forms of compensation that are that are available in a no-obligation free consultation with a lawyer.
Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed in civil court however, each state's laws differ in how claims are handled. Statutes of limitations, jury selection requirements, and other elements can be different. However, the top mesothelioma lawyers will make the filing process as easy as it can be.
Many responsible companies that manufactured or sold asbestos-containing products have filed for bankruptcy protection due to the massive number of mesothelioma cases filed against them. In some cases these companies have set up asbestos trust funds to compensate asbestos victims in exchange for protection from future lawsuits. Trust fund claims for mesothelioma are generally the simplest to settle and could result in a settlement within a few weeks or even months.
Families of mesothelioma patients may also make a claim for wrongful death on behalf of loved ones. This type of lawsuit could include compensatory damages that cover funeral expenses, lost wages and other expenses. These awards are usually more expensive than personal injury settlements. The most successful mesothelioma cases have resulted to multi-million dollar verdicts.