Mesothelioma Claims
The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure at work. Many of the victims are veterans exposed to asbestos during military service.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be complicated, painful, and confusing. They can also be costly. Compensation from claims can help patients and their families to pay for costs.
asbestos exposure mesothelioma can be obtained through a combination or lawsuits, settlements, and trust funds. A lawyer can help in determining the best way to file each kind of claim.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is affected by this kind of cancer. Asbestos can cause this cancer. It is most often found in the lung. It can also affect the chest wall as well as the abdomen. A doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through imaging tests and a biopsy. A doctor will give a prognosis for the patient once a diagnosis has been made. Prognoses will differ based on the mesothelioma type and the degree to which it is advanced it is.
If a person is diagnosed, they may qualify for financial assistance. There are several types of mesothelioma compensation claims, including lawsuits, settlements and trust fund awards. An experienced attorney will explain the options and recommend which one is best for your particular situation. Mesothelioma lawsuits usually result in the largest settlements. They do, however, require a lengthy court process. Settlements are an option for those who wish to accelerate the process of compensation.
Individuals can also file for insurance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This could include health insurance and disability. Compensation from the VA can reduce the financial burdens of a family. Veterans are also eligible for additional VA benefits, such as Special Monthly Compensation (DIC) which helps pay for in-home care and health care at home.
A victim may also be eligible for Social Security Disability and/or Medicare. Social Security is a program that provides a monthly income to those who are not able to work. Patients suffering from mesothelioma may also apply for life insurance in order to cover funeral costs and other family expenses. These benefits are usually obtained through your employer. These benefits are also provided by the VA and certain private companies. Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma are able to contact a military veteran lawyer to assist in obtaining benefits.
Diagnosis
When doctors suspect mesothelioma they will conduct a physical exam and take a patient's full medical history, including their time at work. They will note asbestos exposure as the primary one factor that increases the risk of mesothelioma for a patient. most important factor that increases a person's mesothelioma risk is asbestos exposure. They will also inquire about any symptoms the patient is experiencing.
The next step for doctors is to run imaging tests to see the areas where cancerous fluids or tumors have formed in the body. These mesothelioma areas could be detected using CT scan (computed tomography), MRI, ultrasound, or PET scan (positron-emission tomography). Imaging tests can reveal the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall, lung and pleura of pleural mesothelioma. This is called pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed through ultrasound-guided aspiration. This does not confirm a mesothelioma diagnose, but it can help rule out other causes of pleural fluid accumulation for example, a leaky heart valve or pneumonia.
Doctors may opt for a colonoscopy or laparoscopic to collect tissue samples to test for the presence of pericardial peritoneal peritoneal peritoneal peritoneal mesothelioma pleural peritoneal. These cancers are found on the lining of the abdomen as well as the tissues around the organs. They may inject a radioactive substance to highlight any cancerous cell in the images of scans or take a biopsy.
The tests can indicate the stage of cancer, and the treatment plan will depend on whether the cancer has spread or not. Patients could undergo chemotherapy, surgery, radiation or targeted therapy, which makes use of drugs to eliminate cancerous cells, without harming healthy ones. 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
Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy are the three most common treatments for mesothelioma. In some instances, doctors combine these treatments. They may also add specific therapies, like immunotherapy.
The type of mesothelioma that you have will determine which types of treatment are best for you. If you have mesothelioma of the pleural region the tumors form in the lining of the lungs, or pleura. Pleural mesothelioma usually occurs by asbestos exposure for example, when working in the construction industry, mining asbestos or the military.
The treatment for pleural msothelioma is the removal of excess fluid. They may use a procedure called paracentesis or pericardiocentesis. Doctors may also remove tissue from around the tumor in order to shrink its size. 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 by pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) or extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). Doctors can also prescribe chemotherapy prior to or after surgery to try and eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. This is referred to as neoadjuvant therapy or adjuvant treatment.
The tumors may be more difficult to treat if they're large. Radiation can cause more harm to the lining of the abdominal cavity and stomach than usual. This is the reason surgery is more frequently used for this type of mesothelioma.
There are a few principal treatments that can help to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain, and weight loss. Doctors may prescribe medications to ease nausea, diarrhea, and other side effects. They can also refer patients specialist support groups for coping with issues like relationships and body image. Some patients may decide to take part in a clinical trial for mesothelioma to test new treatment methods.
Living with Mesothelioma
The journey to mesothelioma can be a challenge. But, there are plenty of ways to live well regardless of a diagnosis. Mesothelioma patients often find relief by sharing their experiences with their loved ones, finding an organization that can help or joining an online community.
It's important for patients to stay in contact with their doctors, even the moment they feel better following treatment. Any new signs or adverse effects should be reported promptly, as they could indicate an increase in the cancer or a deterioration of its effect on your body.
The symptoms may not be specific, but the majority of people affected by mesothelioma develop a nonproductive cough. There are also chest wall pain or breathing difficulties. A pleural effusion is another frequent manifestation.
Patients with mesothelioma are often treated by specialists such as a pulmonologist or thoracic surgery or gastroenterologist, as well as a respiratory doctor. Treatment options include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a brand new drug known as pemetrexed.
Less than 10% of mesotheliomas occur in the peritoneum, a layer that covers the surface of organs like the bowel, liver and the ovaries. A peritoneal fluid effusion is common among those suffering from peritoneal cancer. This can cause difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and fatigue.
Some mesothelioma patients survive for a long time after their initial diagnosis. Examples include paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould who died in August 1982 from cancer of the peritoneum, and Florida asbestos lawyer Larry Williams who survived peritoneal and pleural cancers for six years before his death in 2018 from Alzheimer's.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the compassionate lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg can help you claim 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 it can be.
Making a claim
A mesothelioma claim is a legal procedure which can aid asbestos sufferers get compensation. This compensation could help pay for treatment for mesothelioma as well as aid in securing financial security for family members.
A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help you file the correct kind of legal claim in order to receive the highest amount of compensation. Compensation could come in the form of a mesothelioma trust fund award, trial verdict or a mesothelioma lawsuit settlement. A mesothelioma attorney will review all types of compensation offered during a no-obligation, free consultation with a lawyer.
Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed in civil courts however, each state's laws differ in the way that claims are handled. Limitations on time and jury selection requirements and other elements can be different. The best mesothelioma lawyers will make the filing as simple as it can be.
Many responsible companies that made or sold asbestos-containing products have filed for bankruptcy protection due to the massive number of mesothelioma lawsuits filed against them. In some instances, these companies have set up asbestos trust funds to pay compensation to asbestos victims in exchange to protect themselves from lawsuits in the future. Mesothelioma trust fund claims are usually the most straightforward to settle and can result in a settlement within a few weeks or months.
Families of mesothelioma victims may also pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the loved ones. This type of lawsuit may include compensatory damages to pay for funeral costs, lost wage and other expenses. The amount of damages awarded for wrongful death is typically higher than personal injury settlements. The most successful mesothelioma lawsuits have landed multi-million dollars verdicts for plaintiffs.