Mesothelioma Claims
Most mesothelioma cases result from asbestos exposure during work. Many of the victims are veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their military service.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be confusing and painful. They can be costly. Compensation from claims help patients and their families to pay for costs.
Compensation can come from 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?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium. Exposure to asbestos can cause this cancer. Most commonly, it occurs in the lungs. It can also affect the chest and abdomen wall. A doctor can diagnose the disease through imaging tests and a biopsy. A doctor will offer a prognosis to the patient after a diagnosis has been made. Prognoses will differ based on the type of mesothelioma and how advanced it is.
Following a diagnosis, a person may be eligible for financial aid. There are different types of mesothelioma compensation claims, including lawsuits. Settlements and trust funds awards. A knowledgeable attorney will go over the options available and suggest which one is the best fit for your case. Mesothelioma lawsuits usually result in the largest settlements. However, they do require a long litigation process. If someone wants to accelerate the process and receive compensation sooner they can choose an agreement.
Veterans Affairs (VA) also provides insurance benefits to individuals. This can include health care and disability insurance. Compensation from the VA could help ease financial burdens for a family. 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.
A victim could also be eligible for Social Security Disability and/or Medicare. Social Security is a program that provides a monthly income for those who are unable to work. Patients suffering from mesothelioma may also apply for life insurance to help cover funeral costs and other expenses for the family. They are typically purchased through an employer. They are also provided by the VA and certain private companies. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma must contact an attorney representing veterans of the military for guidance on filing for benefits.
Diagnosis
When a doctor suspects that mesothelioma is present in a patient, they start with physical examination and inquire about the patient's medical history as well as their work history. They will also note asbestos exposure as the primary one factor that can increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. 1 factor that raises the risk of mesothelioma in a patient. They also will ask about any symptoms that a patient is experiencing.
Next, doctors will conduct imaging tests to determine the location where cancerous fluids or tumors have developed within the body. The mesothelioma-related areas can be detected using CT scan (computed tomography), MRI, ultrasound, or PET scan (positron-emission tomography). In pleural mesothelioma imaging tests can reveal fluid buildup between the lung and the chest wall, which is known as an pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed using ultrasound-guided aspiration. This is not always a reliable way to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma however it can aid in determining other causes of pleural fluid buildup like a leaky heart valve or pneumonia.
For peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma, which form in the abdomen's lining as well as tissues surrounding the organs, doctors might opt for a colonoscopy or laparoscopic biopsy to take tissues for testing. They can inject a radioactive substance to highlight any cancerous cells on the images taken from scans or even a biopsy.
The tests can reveal the stage of the cancer, and the treatment plan is based on whether the cancer has spread or not. Patients may receive surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, or targeted therapy that uses drugs to kill cancerous cells while not harming healthy cells. A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will take care for patients with mesothelioma which includes gastroenterologists, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. They will offer support and discuss the patient's choices.
Treatment
Surgery, radiation chemotherapy, and surgery are the three most common treatments for mesothelioma. Doctors may combine these therapies in some cases. They may also incorporate specific therapies, such as immunotherapy.
The type of mesothelioma that you have will determine the best treatment for you. If you have mesothelioma of the pleural region the tumors form in the lung's lining or pleura. Pleural mesothelioma is usually caused by exposure to asbestos during work as a construction worker, asbestos miner, or in the military.
The treatment for pleural msothelioma is the removal of excess fluid. They may use a paracentesis procedure or pericardiocentesis. Doctors can also remove a small amount tissue around the tumor to reduce the size of the tumor. This is a palliative treatment for mesothelioma, but it is not a cure for cancer.
It is possible that doctors are able to eliminate all tumors from the lungs with pleurectomy and décortication (P/D), or extrapleural lung pneumonectomy (EPP). Doctors may also recommend chemotherapy prior to or after surgery to try and kill any remaining cancerous cells. This is called neoadjuvant therapy or adjuvant treatment.
The tumors may be more difficult to treat if they are large. Radiation can cause more harm than is normal to the lining of the stomach and abdominal cavity, which is the reason why surgery is more frequently used for mesothelioma.
There are several main remedies that can help with symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and weight loss. Doctors can prescribe medicines to treat diarrhea, nausea, and other side effects. They may also refer patients to specialist support groups to help them with issues like relationships and body image. Some patients might opt to participate in a mesothelioma clinical study to test new treatment options.
Living with mesothelioma
The mesothelioma experience can be difficult. There are many ways you can live your life with ease even if you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Many mesothelioma patients find comfort by talking to their loved ones about their experiences and joining a support group or joining an online community.
Patients may feel better after treatment, however it is important to stay in contact with their doctor. Inform them of any new symptoms or side-effects immediately. They could indicate that your cancer has grown more severe or that its effects on your body have gotten worse.
Symptoms are generally nonspecific, however, most mesothelioma patients develop a cough, which is typically non-productive. They can also experience chest wall pain and breathing problems. A pleural effusion is another frequent sign.
Patients suffering from mesothelioma tend to be treated by specialists such as the thoracic surgeon or pulmonologist as well as a gastroenterologist and respiratory physician. A patient's treatment may also include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a brand new drug known as pemetrexed.
Less than 10% of mesotheliomas develop in the peritoneum, a layer that covers the surface of organs like the liver, bowel and ovaries. A peritoneal effusion is common among those suffering from peritoneal cancer. This can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
Some mesothelioma patients remain alive for a long time following their diagnosis. Some 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 mesothelioma that was pleural and peritoneal in six years, until he passed away from Alzheimer's disease in the year 2018.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma the compassionate lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg can help you obtain compensation. We spend much of our time forming relationships with our clients and gaining an understanding of their needs, which makes the claim process as easy as is possible.
Making a claim
A mesothelioma suit is an authorized legal procedure that can help asbestos-related victims receive compensation. This compensation could help pay for treatment for mesothelioma as well as provide financial security to family members.
An experienced mesothelioma law firm can file the appropriate kind of legal claim to get the maximum amount of compensation. Compensation options include a mesothelioma settlement, trust fund award, or trial verdict. A mesothelioma lawyer will go over the various forms of compensation that are that are available in a no-obligation free 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, jury selection rules, and other elements can be different. However, the most effective mesothelioma lawyers will make the filing process as smooth as possible.
Due to the large number of mesothelioma suits filed against them, many liable companies who produced or sold products containing asbestos have filed for bankruptcy. In some instances, these companies have set asbestos trust funds to compensate asbestos victims in exchange to protect themselves from lawsuits in the future. Mesothelioma trust fund claims are usually the most straightforward to settle and may result in a payout within a few weeks or months.
Patients' families can also make a claim for the grievous death of a loved one. This type of lawsuit could include compensatory damages to cover funeral expenses, lost wages and other expenses. These types of awards are typically significantly higher than personal settlements for injuries. chances of getting mesothelioma from asbestos exposure have led to multi-million dollars settlements for plaintiffs.