Asbestos exposure victims may be at risk of mesothelioma cancer
Workers and other individuals who were exposed to asbestos may be at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. Patients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the asbestos products to which they were exposed.
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that can affect the lining of the heart, lungs, and abdomen (also known as the mesothelium). Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was used for decades as an insulator, fire retardant, and heat protector until its carcinogenic properties were made widely known in the 20th century.
Unlike many other cancer-causing materials, there is no “safe” dose of asbestos exposure. Even exposure to a single asbestos fiber can be enough to cause mesothelioma, or other diseases associated with asbestos, including asbestosis and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive form of cancer. Although scientists and doctors have been working for years on ways to treat this disease, in most cases, mesothelioma cancer is fatal within one to five years.
Because of the long latency period of mesothelioma, individuals who were exposed to asbestos may only develop this type of cancer decades later. As a result, many workers and other individuals who were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s may only now begin to show the first signs of developing mesothelioma cancer.
Some of the workplaces that are most associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma include:
- Aluminum Plants
- Chemical Plants
- Metal Works
- Oil Refineries
- Oil Rigs
- Paper Mills
- Power Plants
- Shipyards
- Steel Mills
- Trains and Railroads
- U.S. Navy and Merchant Marines ships
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
There are three main types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs; peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the stomach and intestines; and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart. The symptoms of patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma will differ depending on the type of the disease that they have developed.
Some of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
- chest pain
- fever
- lung infection
- persistent cough
- problems swallowing
- shortness of breath
- swollen lymph nodes
- tiredness or fatigue
- weight loss
Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
- anemia
- fever
- nausea
- rasping
- swollen feet
- vomiting
- weight loss
The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may include:
- chest pain
- coughing
- heart palpitations
- shortness of breath
What to do if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma
Because of the long latency period of mesothelioma and the aggressive nature of the disease, most patients receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in the advanced stages of the disease.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor may prescribe treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in order to treat the disease. Most recently, other therapies such as immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and multimodal treatments have been developed in an attempt to cure mesothelioma.
Patients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may wish to consider filing a lawsuit against the companies who made the asbestos products that caused their cancer or against the companies that were responsible for their asbestos exposure. Because of the high costs associated with mesothelioma treatments, filing a lawsuit may be one way to obtain the financial resources in order to treat your cancer.
Thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed since the first case in 1966. Because of the clear link between mesothelioma and asbestos, many plaintiffs have been successful in proving that asbestos manufacturers and companies who used asbestos products were legally responsible for their mesothelioma diagnosis.
Free Legal Consultations for Mesothelioma Victims
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of asbestos products to which you were exposed or companies who used these products. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an attorney with experience in mesothelioma litigation about your case.
The lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend have represented thousands of clients across the U.S. who were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos diseases. Our attorneys have also represented thousands of clients who were injured by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, or other consumer products.
For more information about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit and to find out if you qualify, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend for a free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by following this link to our free online case evaluation form.