Mesothelioma Lawyers - What You Need to Know About Your Mesothelioma Case
Mesothelioma patients and their families frequently seek compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you decide on the best legal strategy.
Most mesothelioma claims (published on Hanseattle 1) are filed as personal injury or lawsuits involving wrongful deaths. A mesothelioma attorney can examine your case and gather documentation to start the lawsuit.
Diagnosis
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is having your doctor perform a physical exam. They will inquire about your previous exposure to asbestos and any symptoms you are having. They will also rule out common illnesses such as pneumonia, prior to examining your body for indications of cancer.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, they will request imaging scans of your chest and abdomen. These tests employ x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to take images of the internal organs of your body. These scans could reveal fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdomen (ascites). They can also be used to detect mesothelioma cancers and determine whether they are spreading.
These tests can reveal a number of potential signs of mesothelioma. However the only way to determine an accurate diagnosis is by taking tissue samples and analyzing them under microscope. This is referred to as biopsy. A pathologist is a specialist who specialises in interpreting laboratory tests and analyzing tissues, cells and organs to diagnose the disease.
It can develop in the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is the term that it is given when it grows inside the heart. These tumors can be harder to diagnose and are less prevalent than pleural msothelioma.
To obtain an in-depth sample of mesothelioma cells, doctors can place a needle in the area of buildup of fluid and then take a small amount of that fluid. They will analyze the fluid for signs of mesothelioma and examine a piece from your lungs to look for tumors.
They may also request blood tests to determine how your liver, kidneys, and thyroid are functioning. A lactate dehydrogenase test (LDH) is one test that they could run. LDH levels that are higher than normal could indicate cell damage, which could be a sign for mesothelioma.
Treatment
The kind of treatment you receive will depend on the stage of mesothelioma and the kind of cells you have. The tissues of the lung and chest are affected by pleural mesothelioma while the linings of the abdomen are affected by the peritoneal. Most patients with pleural and peritoneal cancers live between 19 and 21 months after their diagnosis.
The doctor who treats you will conduct a medical history and examine you to check for symptoms of mesothelioma. This includes the amount of fluid that is in your abdomen or chest. A physical exam may be performed to determine whether the cancer has spread. Other tests include the CT scan or chest x-rays to determine area of the cancer as well as whether it has spread to the heart. A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A surgeon can remove a small sample of tissue from the affected area by using VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedure) that is a keyhole surgery. Another alternative is to perform an instrument-guided biopsy under local anaesthesia. the CT scan is used to guide a tube that is used to remove the tissue in a small amount.
The best treatment for mesothelioma can be determined by imaging and blood tests. The tests can be used to determine if you have mesothelioma tumor cells or if the cancer is rapidly growing. They can also determine if you're suitable candidate for chemotherapy, which is typically used in conjunction with surgery or radiation.
Radiation therapy is the use of X-rays that are high-energy or other forms to shrink mesothelioma tumors and kill cancerous cells. This procedure is typically performed in conjunction chemotherapy and can either be given externally or internally. The cancer doctors inject a radioactive substance in the form of seeds, needles or wires in mesothelioma.
The adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma are numerous. They can cause nausea vomiting, diarrhea and hair loss. You may also feel very exhausted, increase the risk of getting sick and decrease the number of healthy cells within your body. Consult your physician about these and other possible side effects that could be caused by your medications.
Clinical trials
Scientists are always looking for better ways to diagnose and treat mesothelioma. Clinical trials provide the opportunity to try experimental treatments that could be more effective than those doctors currently use. The goal is to improve the survival rate and find a cure.
Doctors also study new treatment techniques, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Combining these methods gives patients more options. Many mesothelioma patients take part in clinical trials when standard treatments don't work.
Clinical trials can last weeks, months or years. During the trial participants receive experimental therapies or drugs and closely monitored by experts. Most drugs have to pass various phases of clinical trials before the FDA approves the use of these drugs in general.
Some of these studies test new chemotherapy methods. The latest drugs are designed to target specific genetic pathways in cancer cells. These research could lead to better treatments for cancers such as mesothelioma.
Researchers are also researching ways to prevent mesothelioma. In studies of high-risk populations researchers investigate whether lifestyle changes and certain drugs can lower the risk of cancer. Some of these trials examine ways to detect mesothelioma earlier in patients.
Doctors are also researching surgery and other surgical treatments to treat mesothelioma. This includes extrapleural pneumonectomy which removes the lung affected and pleura, pleurectomy with the removal of pulmonary decortication, which eliminates part of the chest wall and diaphragm and trimodality therapy, which uses radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mesothelioma. This type of treatment involves injecting a mesothelioma patient with an immune system-boosting medication that targets cancer cells. Immunotherapy can be used to treat advanced pleural mesothelioma as well as increase the chance of survival for a patient. It is also being investigated as a first-line treatment option for cancer of the peritoneal region. A controlled study randomized to the mesothelioma immunotherapy drug tremelimumab is in the beginning. Participants are compared to those who are given a placebo. Tremelimumab has a better overall survival rate than the placebo group.
Settlements
The majority of mesothelioma cases settle out of court. It is important to be prepared for trial and have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer by your side.
A mesothelioma suit is designed to compensate victims for the injuries they've suffered due to this disease. The compensation can cover past and future medical costs loss of wages, travel expenses to get treatment, and more. In certain cases the settlement may include non-economic damages, such as suffering and pain or loss of companionship.
Mesothelioma is a long-term illness that requires continuous treatment. This can result in hefty medical expenses, and the financial strain of being unable to work can make it difficult to cover the necessary expenses. A settlement or other award could alleviate this stress and allow patients to concentrate on their recuperation.
A successful mesothelioma law firm lawsuit could help hold asbestos manufacturers accountable and oblige them to pay for their negligent actions. Many of these companies knew their products were hazardous however they continued to put profits before safety. Mesothelioma suits provide a means that victims and their families are able to seek justice against companies who caused their mesothelioma.
The number of defendants in a mesothelioma case or wrongful death lawsuit, and the amount of funds available will influence the amount of compensation that is provided. The mesothelioma attorneys at Baron & Budd know how to build strong cases that are more likely to result in a favorable settlement or verdict.