Mesothelioma is a rare form of
cancer that is usually found in those previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous
cells form in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining that covers most of
the body's internal organs. These cells typically form in the lining of the
lungs, abdomen, or the sac that encircles the heart.
The average life span of a person
diagnosed with the disease is about 4 to 24 months from the finding. About
3,000 people in the U.S. die of mesothelioma every year. People at risk are
those who have been previously exposed to asbestos dust, including former steel
workers, auto mechanics, mineworkers, and military workers, among many others.
Their family members may also be at risk, as the asbestos dust from clothing
can travel through the air.
Mesothelioma has an extremely long
latency period, which means that symptoms of the disease may not emerge until
30 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma,
which is the most common type and affects the area around the lungs, may cause
shortness of breath, chest pains, and a persistent cough, which may lead to
coughing up blood. These symptoms are caused by the build up of fluid between
the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. The disease may start in the chest
area and spread to other areas of the body. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma
include weight loss, severe breathing trouble, fever, difficulty swallowing,
and swelling of the face and neck areas. It should be noted that some people
with the disease do not experience any serious symptoms at all.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is rarer than
pleural mesothelioma, and affects the abdominal area. Symptoms of peritoneal
mesothelioma include abdominal swelling and pain due to the build up of fluid
in the abdominal cavity, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Breathing
complications and chest pains may also be present, as well as bowel
obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting.
The rarest form of the disease is
pericardial mesothelioma, which first forms in the area surrounding the heart.
Tumors grow in the tissues around the heart and spread from there. Chest pain,
shortness of breath, constant coughing, and shivering may be symptoms of this
form of mesothelioma.
Diagnosis of the disease is
oftentimes difficult, due to the fact that the symptoms associated with
mesothelioma are similar to those of other conditions. The symptoms of the
disease become more serious as the cancerous tumors enter the later stages of
development, so people who have been exposed to asbestos at any time in their
lives should contact their doctor immediately. Even if a person has never been
exposed directly to asbestos but is experiencing any of the above symptoms,
they should inform their doctor as soon as possible, as asbestos dust and
fibres may have traveled through the air from items such as clothing.
People who have been diagnosed with
any form of mesothelioma should immediately contact a lawyer. Individual states
have their own statutes of limitation, meaning that there is a set time limit
regarding how long a patient has to act on their diagnosis. When searching for
a lawyer to handle your case, be sure to find one that has prior experience
with mesothelioma cases. They will have the contacts and resources to take care
of your case in a timely manner. The Internet is a helpful and efficient
resource for a mesothelioma lawyer search.
Patients do not have to be concerned
with paying lawyers up-front, since the majority of mesothelioma lawyers work
on a contingency fee basis, which means that they will not request payment of
any kind unless they successfully settle your case. Lawyers will usually take a
35% cut of whatever settlement or reward the patient receives, but patients
seeking compensation for their disease have nothing to lose and everything to
gain in going to a lawyer for help.
The average mesothelioma-related
settlement in the U.S. is $1 million. Cases that go to trial average awards of
approximately $6 million, according to the RAND Corporation. A bill called the
Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (FAIR Act of 2005)
introduced on March 17, 2005, seeks to create set amounts of compensation for
mesothelioma victims, which would depend on their symptoms.
People who have mesothelioma are
able to seek large compensation amounts because their disease is a result of a
company's decision not to take sufficient measures to protect its workers from
breathing in asbestos while on the job.
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