attorney for mesothelioma - Houston
Mesothelioma victims and their families need financial compensation. A national asbestos law firm should be enlisted to assist in filing an claim. Experienced firms have extensive knowledge of asbestos-related companies, products and high-risk occupations that are linked to exposure.
The best mesothelioma lawyers also have an database that contains asbestos exposure sites across the country. They also have years of experience in litigation.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the cells of the mesothelium which is a membrane that covers and protects most of your internal organs. A malignant tumor develops in this tissue, and the cancer may spread to other areas of your body and cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties, pain or fatigue.
The first signs may not manifest until years after exposure to asbestos. In some instances the symptoms can be misinterpreted as other ailments, like the flu or pneumonia.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary according to the type. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lung's lining and chest, also known as the pleura. The cancer is often responsible for fluid buildup around the lungs that can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. As the disease progresses, it may also spread to the heart's lining and diaphragm. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can have a fluid buildup in the abdomen, which is called ascites.
The most frequent form is pleural mysothelioma which usually causes symptoms in the chest wall, lungs or the abdominal cavity. The most commonly reported symptoms are breathlessness and a cough that doesn't go away and chest pain or pressure. Other symptoms include an increase in weight, fever and fatigue.
When mesothelioma has been diagnosed, doctors will perform tests to determine the extent the cancer spreads or has grown. They will request a medical history and check for symptoms. They will also perform an examination, and perform X-rays and CT scans in order to determine if there are symptoms of mesothelioma.
In mesothelioma that is in the early stage, or stages 1 and 2 of the disease, the cancer is localized and doesn't have spread to other tissues. Most patients don't experience any symptoms at this stage. Stages 3 and 4 or later-stage pleural mesothelioma can cause symptoms as tumors grow faster.
Doctors can help you manage your symptoms, such as chest discomfort or fluid buildup to improve your quality and even extend it. This treatment is known as palliative care. It could involve removing fluid from your lungs, giving painkillers and helping you stay more active.
Diagnosis
Asbestos fibers can cause the lining to get thicker as they enter the lung. This can lead to the formation of tumors or cancer cells called mesothelioma. These cancerous cells can spread to other parts. Mesothelioma may be difficult to detect because early symptoms are similar to those of many common diseases. It can take years between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma.
To find out whether you have mesothelioma or not, doctors will conduct tests on your chest and abdomen. These tests include a physical examination as well as chest x-rays and CT scans. A doctor will also go over your medical background. They will ask you questions regarding your previous exposure to asbestos, and the symptoms that resulted from it.
A chest xray could reveal an accumulation of fluid around the lungs. This is referred to as the pleural effusion. A doctor can drain the fluid with the help of a needle. This test is called thoracentesis. A CT scan can also see mesothelioma tumors, or masses in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. A doctor may make use of a needle to take the tissue sample from a mass or tumor in your abdomen or chest. The doctor will then analyze the tissue sample to look for mesothelioma. A biopsy is the most effective method to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.
The mesothelioma type you are suffering from determines your treatment options. The two main kinds are epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common and more responsive to treatment. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a less favorable prognosis.
Some doctors may suggest an PET/CT. This is a specific test that highlights areas that have high metabolic activity which is typical of cancer cells. A PET/CT scan will determine if mesothelioma has been detected in other parts of the body, and at what stage.
Your doctor will also assign you a mesothelioma stage. The stages are indicated by roman numerals, and range from I to IV. Stages show how far the mesothelioma has grown and whether it is localized to the area surrounding your lungs, or has spread to other parts of your body. The test gives doctors information that aids in planning your treatment.
Treatment
Doctors who treat mesothelioma may employ a variety of treatment options. They can use chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy and radiation. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat since it doesn't develop as a single tumor mass and spreads to nearby tissues, nerves and blood vessels. However, treatments can enhance people's quality of life and increase the chances of survival.
The first step in a patient's treatment plan is to determine the stage of mesothelioma. It is based on whether or not the cancer has spread, the type of mesothelioma and the location it is located. Mesothelioma can grow for years without producing any symptoms, making it difficult to recognize. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma by using biopsies, fluid samples, CT scans and x-rays.
People diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma frequently have a lot of fluid in their chest cavity, making breathing difficult. This can be drained with the help of an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space. The fluid can be sent to a lab to be tested and used to identify mesothelioma.
Based on the type of mesothelioma and stage, doctors could undergo surgery to remove tumors, or to reduce breathing problems. They may drain fluid from the chest or remove the tissue that lines the lungs (pleurectomy). Doctors may inject medicine into the body of some mesothelioma patients in order to prevent the cancer returning after surgery.
A mesothelioma lawyer in Houston can provide information on treatment options and possible legal compensation. Lawyers can help the families of victims to claim damages for funeral expenses, medical expenses as well as loss of income, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Lawyers can also assist with filing a lawsuit in the event of the wrongful death of a loved one.
Compensation
Mesothelioma patients deserve compensation for their losses. A lawyer can help them seek compensation to ensure they get the treatment they need and ensure that their loved family members will be financially taken care for in the near future.
Asbestos victims can receive different types of mesothelioma compensation. These include trust fund claims as well as settlements and trial verdicts. Each case is different and compensation amounts can vary. However it is recommended that victims contact a Houston mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible to start the process of filing a claim.
A mesothelioma claim can be lengthy and complicated However, a knowledgeable attorney can make the process much simpler for the victims and their families. An attorney will take care of all paperwork, talk with lawyers representing the defendants, and then move your claim quickly through the litigation process. A mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and their families identify the place where asbestos exposure occurred. They will look over the history of a victim's employment and determine potential exposure sites where they may have worked.
A Houston mesothelioma lawyer can help asbestos victims get the justice they deserve. A mesothelioma suit can be filed to seek justice for the victim's losses.
Mesothelioma, a fatal disease that affects the mesothelium, which is the protective covering around the chest and abdomen. Victims may file a lawsuit against asbestos producers who failed to warn their workers or customers about the dangers of inhaling asbestos.
As soon as is possible mesothelioma patients and family members should contact an asbestos lawyer with expertise in the field to begin the legal process. If they delay they could run the risk of the statute of limitation expiring. This statute of limitations is a time window in which victims can sue responsible parties for the losses they suffered. In Texas the statute of limitations is two years from the date of diagnosis. Mesothelioma symptoms can be latent for many years. Mesothelioma is usually an exception to the general rules of statute of limitations.