Mesothelioma Help

• Why File a Lawsuit
• Lawsuit FAQ
• Understanding Your Legal Rights
• Time Constraints
• Overview of a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
• Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
• Finding the Right Lawyer
• Hiring a Lawyer
• Contact a Lawyer
• Compensation for Victims

When you are faced with something as devastating as a Mesothelioma diagnosis, you have a right to seek answers about why you weren’t forewarned of the dangers of asbestos, and you have the right to seek reparations for you and your family. If you are a grieving family member or executor of the will of a person who has died from asbestos-related disease or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a claim as well and our mesothelioma lawyer can help.

Legal details are understandably the last thing that someone wants to confront after the initial shock of an asbestos-related illness. However, taking advantage of your legal rights can create the necessary funds to finance aggressive treatment, pay off huge medical bills incurred during diagnosis, and provide financial security for your family for years to come.

Proving the link between one’s illness and their asbestos exposure is a difficult and time-consuming responsibility. This is why the guidance of an experienced Mesothelioma lawyer is critical in helping victims and their families seek and receive financial compensation for their profound suffering. A good Mesothelioma attorney understands the unique complexities involved in this kind of lawsuit, including asbestos product identification, specific asbestos-related medical issues, and specific time constraints that narrow the window of opportunity to file a claim. It’s important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer before your state’s statutes of limitations expire, leaving you and your family grieving and empty-handed. There's no time to wait - contact our lawyers today for a free case review.

Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Mesothelioma is one of the most disastrous, yet preventable, diseases of the last century. Substantial evidence has emerged proving that the dangers of asbestos exposure - the only known cause of malignant mesothelioma - have been known since as early as the 1920’s. The industry has systematically valued profits over human lives by suppressing such information. This kind of deadly deceit is both immoral and illegal.

A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is a tragic and extremely emotional experience, and the last thing on a victim’s mind is the nightmare of legal logistics. Unfortunately, this is the time when filing a lawsuit is so important, for a successful suit is one of the few ways to ensure financial security for the family, and a rare opportunity to help offset huge medical expenses that pile up during treatment and diagnosis. A successful suit can provide a financial safeguard for you and your family. Don’t wait – contact an experienced Mesothelioma lawyer today.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit FAQ

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

What should people do if diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease?

Are there time constraints for filing a Mesothelioma suit?

What does the compensation cover?

How can I afford to pay a lawyer?

Understanding Your Legal Rights

When you are faced with something as devastating as a Mesothelioma diagnosis, you have a right to seek answers about why you weren’t forewarned of the dangers of asbestos, and you have the right to seek reparations for you and your family. If you are a grieving family member or executor of the will of a person who has died from asbestos-related disease or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a claim as well.

Legal details are understandably the last thing that someone wants to confront after the initial shock of an asbestos-related illness. However, taking advantage of your legal rights can create the necessary funds to finance aggressive treatment, pay off huge medical bills incurred during diagnosis, and provide financial security for your family for years to come.

Understanding your legal rights is the first step towards receiving atonement for the grievous and unjust negligence that led to you or your loved one becoming so ill. Although money could never rectify the devastating harms already done, a victory can provide emotional closure and make sure that your family is protected financially as well. Don't be intimidated by powerful companies who jeopardized your safety - contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer today who can help you understand and protect your legal rights today.

Time Constraints of a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Time is especially critical when dealing with a heartbreaking diagnosis of Mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease. Because of the extremely quick progression of the cancer after diagnosis, there is little time to waste before fighting for important reparations that can offset huge medical expenses and provide financial security for the family as well.

Though no one wants to deal with legal issues so soon after a traumatic diagnosis or untimely death of a loved one, it is absolutely imperative that you contact an experienced Mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible. This sense of urgency is not only due to the rapid speed of the malignancy, but also because varying statutes of limitations require that you file a claim within a few years of a Mesothelioma diagnosis. Missing out on this window of opportunity could be disastrous for families and victims already reeling from the shock of the disease.

Overview of a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

A diagnosis of any asbestos-related disease is not only emotionally exhausting, but financially draining as well. A Mesothelioma lawsuit is an important way to fund treatment options for victims and to provide necessary financial security for their family's future. Because of the aggressive nature of this cancer, a victim tragically has limited time to spend with loved ones and to prepare for after they are gone.

The absolute first step after receiving such a devastating diagnosis is to seek expert medical care and a strong emotional support network to aid in the uphill fight against the malignancy. Quality healthcare is important in helping to manage both the physical symptoms of the disease and the emotional grief that accompanies a terminal illness.

However, the next step must be to contact a qualified Mesothelioma attorney who is experienced in the complexities of asbestos-related law and who can help make the negligent industry take responsibility for their greed. A successful lawsuit can provide the necessary financial compensation to aid with expensive medical bills and to ensure the financial security of your family in the future. A lawyer specializing in Mesothelioma cases will know how to establish and prove a victim’s exposure history, which is often essential information for a successful lawsuit. Don’t let time run out before you fight for what you deserve. Call a lawyer in your state today.

Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

There are little experiences more devastating than a terminal diagnosis or the sudden death of a loved one. This is why filing a Mesothelioma lawsuit as soon as possible is so important; not only does it give victims a tangible way to fight the greed of the asbestos industry and help bring about systematic change, but it also helps provide financial security for paying medical bills and providing for one’s family. Speed is vitally important – not only are victims left with a miniscule amount of time after diagnosis, but statutes of limitations can prevent the claim from being filed at all.

It’s also important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer – someone who you can trust to lead such a crucial undertaking. Asbestos-related claims are complex, and a solid link between illness and exposure must be proven. It takes extraordinary focus and incredible compassion to fight decades of methodical lies in order to win needed funds for a victim’s remaining days and their family’s security. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost a loved one to the disease, don’t hesitate to call a lawyer today, before it’s too late to get what you deserve.

Finding the Right Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you are suffering from the horrible effects of asbestos exposure, you are not alone. Because of the shameless and systematic deception of the asbestos industry, Mesothelioma litigation can reap large settlements for victims and can be extremely profitable for attorneys as well. Therefore there’s been a huge influx of lawyers joining the fight against these manufacturers and the field has become so crowded that it’s extremely important to carefully select someone truly qualified in Mesothelioma law.

Proving the link between one’s illness and their asbestos exposure is a difficult and time-consuming responsibility. This is why an experienced Mesothelioma lawyer is critical in helping victims seek and receive vital reparations for their suffering. A good Mesothelioma attorney understands the unique complexities involved in this kind of lawsuit, including asbestos product identification, specific asbestos-related medical issues, and specific time constraints that narrow the window of opportunity to file a claim. It’s important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer before your state’s statutes of limitations expire, leaving you and your family empty-handed. Contact one today.

Hiring a Mesothelioma Lawyer

There are little experiences more devastating than a terminal diagnosis or the sudden death of a loved one. This is why filing a Mesothelioma lawsuit as soon as possible is so important; not only does it give victims a tangible way to fight the greed of the asbestos industry and help bring about systematic change, but it also helps provide financial security for paying medical bills and providing for one’s family. Speed is vitally important – not only are victims left with a miniscule amount of time after diagnosis, but statutes of limitations can prevent the claim from being filed at all.

Facts for Hiring a Mesothelioma Lawyer:

It’s also important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer – someone who you can trust to lead such a crucial undertaking. Asbestos-related claims are complex, and a solid link between illness and exposure must be proven. It takes extraordinary focus and incredible compassion to fight decades of methodical lies in order to win needed funds for a victim’s remaining days and their family’s security. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost a loved one to the disease, don’t hesitate to call a lawyer today, before it’s too late to get what you deserve. Many law firms may accept your mesothelioma case, but our firm actually litigates your case. This is a highly important fact so be sure to ask.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Guide:

We represent mesothelioma victims nationwide. To begin simply fill out the form provided. We can personally come to your home 24 hours to consult with you and your family. We make the process of finding the right mesothelioma lawyer easy.

Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer

A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is a tragic and extremely emotional experience, and the last thing on a victim’s mind is the nightmare of legal logistics. Unfortunately, this is the time when filing a lawsuit is so important, for a successful suit is one of the few ways to ensure financial security for the family, and a rare opportunity to help offset huge medical expenses that pile up during treatment and diagnosis. A successful suit can provide a financial safeguard for you and your family. Don’t wait – contact an experienced Mesothelioma lawyer today.

Steps for Contacting a Mesothelioma Lawyer:

Some of the things to remember when you need to contact a mesothelioma lawyer – is to make sure that firm actually are the ones to litigate the case – some law firms simply pass your case to a different firm. We care about your case and can even come to your home.

If you are suffering from the debilitating disease called mesothelioma, or have lost a loved one to it, you may have the right to receive reparations from the industry that failed to adequately warn consumers of the risks associated with their product. A knowledgeable and understanding mesothelioma lawyer will help you fight the complete financial compensation to help counter those increased medical expenses and to provide financial security for your family's future. Don't hesitate though, because the law limits how much time you have to file your claim - contact a mesothelioma lawyer today.

Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims

If you’ve been one of the growing number of victims suffering from a heartbreaking mesothelioma affliction or other asbestos-related disease, you have the right to be compensated for your horrible experience. Though no amount of money can make up for the physical pain and emotional turmoil that comes with a terminal illness, you can at least begin to take financial control of escalating medical bills, fund aggressive therapy treatments, and provide for your family’s security long after you are gone.

It has been proven that asbestos manufacturers were aware of the dangers of the material as early as the 1920s but actively conspired to keep their knowledge of these hazards secret for over 50 years. Finally, with public outcry and government intervention, the industry is willingly negotiating settlements with the innocent victims. Don't wait until it's too late, leaving you to face an inevitable passing empty-handed. Contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer today, so that you can help provide for your family's tomorrow.

http://www.resource4mesothelioma.com

1. What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

2. What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

3. How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

4. What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

5. Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

6. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

7. How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

8. How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

9. Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI’s cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI’s Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.

http://www.cancer.gov

Statement on malignant mesothelioma in the UK

Cancer and its management (4th edition)

Information on the treatment of mesothelioma

Specialist reviewers:

What does advanced cancer mean?

• What the diagnosis means
• What treatment is available
• How treatment can help you

Coping with every day life

• Your feelings
• Talking to people: who and what to tell
• Talking to children
• How you can help yourself
• Who else can help you
• Sick pay and benefits: coping financially

Compensation

• Why research?
• Causes and prevention
• Finding a tumour marker for diagnosing, screening or monitoring treatment
• Genetics
• Chemotherapy
• Chemotherapy for controlling symptoms
• Treating fluid collection around the lung (pleural effusion)
• Surgery
• Gene therapy
• Anti-angiogenic therapy (to disrupt the blood supply to the cancer)
• Immunotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy

Why research?

• We can be sure they work
• We can be sure they work better than the treatments that are available at the moment
• They are known to be safe

Causes and prevention

• Building industry
• Ship building industry
• Manufacture of household appliances
• Motor industry
• Power stations
• Telephone exchanges

Finding a tumour marker for mesothelioma

Chemotherapy

• Gemcitabine and cisplatin
• Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• Topotecan
• Irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin C
• Pemetrexed
• Raltitrexed (Tomudex)
• Onconase

Chemotherapy for controlling symptoms

Onconase

Treating fluid around the lung

Surgery

Gene therapy

• Oncogenes
• Tumour suppressor genes
• Gene therapy and repair genes

Anti-angiogenic therapy

Immunotherapy

• Interferon and interleukin 2
• Vaccines

Interferon and interleukin 2

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

• An intravenous infusion (drip) to give you liquid
• Drainage tubes from your chest to stop fluid collecting there
• A tube down your nose and into your stomach to stop you feeling sick
• An oxygen mask
• A tube into your bladder so you won't have to get up to pass urine and so that your nurse can record your urine output (this helps to show that your kidneys are working properly)
• A fine tube going into your back, carrying painkillers

Painkillers

Going home