Mesothelioma Lawyers - What You Need to Know About Your Mesothelioma Case

Mesothelioma victims and their families frequently require compensation to cover medical expenses and lost wages. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you choose the best legal strategy.

Most mesothelioma claims are filed as personal injury or lawsuits for wrongful death. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case, collect documentation and file the lawsuit.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a physical examination to diagnose mesothelioma. They will ask about any symptoms and your past asbestos exposure. Before looking for cancer, they will first confirm that you are not suffering from common illnesses such as pneumonia.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will order imaging scans on your abdomen and chest. These tests take pictures of your organs using x-rays or CT scans. These scans may reveal the accumulation of fluid in your abdomen or lungs (ascites). They can also help identify mesothelioma tumors and see if they have spread.

These tests can reveal a number of possible indicators of mesothelioma, but the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is by collecting tissue samples and analyzing them under microscope. This is referred to as biopsy. A pathologist is a specialist who specialises in interpreting lab tests and evaluating tissues, cells and organs to determine the presence of the disease.

Mesothelioma cancer is most often found in the chest lining or abdominal cavity, however it can also grow inside the heart. If it develops in the heart, it is called pericardial mesothelioma. These tumors are rarer than pleural mesothelioma, and may be more difficult to diagnose.

Doctors might use needles to take a small amount of fluid from the area in which there is a build-up of fluid. They will test the fluid for cancerous cells from mesothelioma and examine a piece from your lung to look for tumors.

They may also request blood tests to check the health of your thyroid, kidneys and liver. One test they may run is a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test. A higher than normal level of LDH could be a sign of damage to your cells which can be a sign of mesothelioma.

Treatment

The type of treatment you receive is contingent on the stage and cell mesothelioma type you have. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, whereas peritoneal mesothelioma law firm occurs in the abdomen's lining. Most patients with pleural and peritoneal cancers live between 19 and 21 months after their diagnosis.

The doctor who treats you will inspect you and review your medical history in order to look for mesothelioma signs, such as the amount fluid in your chest or abdomen. A physical exam may be conducted to determine whether the cancer has been able to spread. Other tests include chest x-ray or CT scan to check for the site of the tumor, and any signs that it has invaded your heart. A biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A surgeon may take a sample of the affected area of tissue to test using either VATS (video-assisted surgery using thoracoscopic instruments) which is a keyhole surgery, or a needle-guided, sterile biopsy under local anaesthetic in which tiny pieces of tissue is removed with the aid of a tube that is guided by a CT scan.

Mesothelioma specialists also use blood tests and imaging to help determine the best course of treatment. The tests can be used to determine whether you have mesothelioma cancerous cells or if your cancer is rapidly growing. They can also help decide if you are a good candidate for chemotherapy, which is usually used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is the application of X-rays that are high-energy or other forms of radiation to shrink mesothelioma cancer cells. It is typically performed in conjunction with chemotherapy and can be given externally or internally. Internally, doctors treating cancer will inject a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds or wires near the mesothelioma.

The side effects of chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma can be numerous. They can cause nausea, vomiting and hair loss. They can also increase the risk of infection and make you feel extremely tired, and reduce the number of healthy blood cells in your body. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects.

Clinical trials

Scientists are always looking for better ways to diagnose and treat mesothelioma. Clinical trials give patients the chance to test treatments that are more effective than those doctors currently employ. The aim is to increase the survival rate and find an effective cure.

Doctors also study new treatment techniques, including chemotherapy, surgery radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Combining these methods provides patients with more options. Many mesothelioma patients participate in clinical trials if the standard treatments fail.

Clinical trials can last weeks or even years. Participants receive an experimental drug or therapy, and are monitored closely by experts. The majority of drugs must go through multiple stages of clinical trials before the FDA approves the use of these drugs in general.

Certain studies are testing new chemotherapy methods. The latest treatments are designed to target specific genes within cancer cells. These studies could lead to improved treatments for cancers such as mesothelioma.

Researchers are also looking at ways to stop mesothelioma. In studies in high-risk populations researchers investigate whether lifestyle changes and specific drugs can lower the risk of cancer. Certain of these trials are investigating ways to detect mesothelioma earlier people.

Doctors are also studying surgery as well as other surgical procedures for mesothelioma. This includes extrapleural pneumonectomy which removes the lung affected and pleura. There is also pleurectomy with the removal of pulmonary decortication that removes part of the chest wall and diaphragm, and trimodality therapy, which involves radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy.

Certain doctors are also studying the effectiveness of immunotherapy for mesothelioma. This type of treatment involves injecting mesothelioma patients with an anti-inflammatory drug which targets cancerous cells. Immunotherapy can be used to treat advanced pleural mesothelioma and increase the chances of surviving. It is also being researched as a possible treatment of first-line for mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. A controlled study randomized to the mesothelioma-specific immune therapy drug tremelimumab has started. Participants are compared with those who are given the placebo. Tremelimumab treated patients have an overall survival rate that is higher than those who received a placebo.

Settlements

The vast majority of mesothelioma cases settle out of court. It is important to be ready for trial and to have an experienced mesothelioma attorney lawyer on your side.

The goal of a mesothelioma lawsuit is to provide victims and their families for the loss that result from this illness. Compensation can include future and past medical expenses loss of earnings, travel expenses to seek treatment, and much more. In some instances the settlement may include non-economic damages such as the suffering of others or the loss of companionship.

Mesothelioma requires a long-term treatment. This can result in hefty medical costs, and the financial strain of being unable to work can make it difficult to pay for the necessary expenses. A settlement or other award may alleviate this stress and allow patients to concentrate on their recovery.

A mesothelioma lawsuit that is successful will bring asbestos producers to account and make them to pay for their negligent acts. Many of these companies knew their products were dangerous but they continued to put profit before safety. Mesothelioma lawsuits provide a means for victims and their loved ones to seek justice against the companies responsible for their Mesothelioma claim.

The number of defendants in a mesothelioma or wrongful death case and the amount of money available could determine the amount of compensation provided. The mesothelioma attorneys at Baron & Budd know how to construct strong cases that are more likely to result in an acceptable settlement or verdict.