Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma is a disease that effects the lining of many internal tissues (Mesothelium). In its malignant form, mesothelioma is a cancer. Not many cases of mesothelioma until the early 1900′s have been discovered. Since that time, the number of reported cases has increased at an alarming rate. It has recently brought lawsuits against various businesses and or property owners. The reason for the lawsuits is the result of a class action suit filed for persons who have mesothelioma and were exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos an impure form of magnesium silicate which was used for insulation, wiring, and various building materials. Due to its molecular structure, asbestos degrades and becomes a fine powder which can be inhaled. After a person inhales this powder, it can take up to 20 years to manifest itself in the form of mesothelioma.

The symptoms of mesothelioma will not always be recognized. As previously stated, it can take more than a decade before symptoms appear. With the onset of shortness of breath coupled with chest pains and/or a chronic cough, the sufferer should be seen by a health care provider. If during the exam, a malignant tumor is found in any lining in the body, the recommended treatment is removal of the tumor.

Certain tests may be run if mesothelioma is suspected. Mesothelioma can be detected by performing an open lung biopsy via a CT scan of the chest. If the diagnosis is found to be positive, in either case, for malignant mesothelioma, discussion of treatment should and often does begin.

A victim of mesothelioma should take time to think of any time at which they may have come into contact with asbestos. Sometimes this is easy when the victim has had a lengthy career in insulation manufacturing dating back before 1985, construction industry, electrical wiring manufacturing, shipyard, auto industry, demolition, or any career which may have exposed them to any insulation which may have been installed prior to 1985. If renting and the home was built prior to 1985, the owner should be contacted and an inquiry should be made regarding the last known date that the insulation was installed. This information will help in determining the person to file a lawsuit against.

There have been several ads on television and radio placed by law firms who want to represent victims of mesothelioma. Whether you choose to use one of these or to retain your personal legal counsel is entirely up to you. These ads claim to specialize in cases regarding this disease and perhaps should at least be allowed an initial meeting to determine which way to go. There are precedents where victims have received significant sums of money for damages done by asbestos exposure.

Anyone who has worked in any of the industries listed prior to the reduction of asbestos usage in 1985, should be aware of the symptoms and keep a close watch on their health. If overlooked, this life threatening disease can and will kill victims within several years. The most common complication is fluid leaking into the mesothelium surrounding the lungs. When shortness of breath and chest pains begin, seek immediate medical attention and recommend that a test be run for mesothelioma. If asked to by your physician, explain that exposure to asbestos may have occurred at some point in your work or home.

Today it is hard to tell where asbestos is. If remodeling a home or any building, be sure to wear adequate breathing protection such as a filtered respirator or air fed body suit. This will limit the exposure to asbestos and even other potentially harmful chemicals. If working in an industry which recycles wiring, the same rules apply. Older wiring could have been insulated with asbestos. When the wiring is chopped, it still contains the insulation and this creates a dust in the area which can easily be inhaled.

All of these industries are rapidly changing to meet the latest safety regulations, however, this will take some time to complete. In the meanwhile, the danger of asbestos is still present, although at a lower rate. At the same time, asbestos exposure from decades ago causes symptoms that only start to appear today.