Mesothelioma Attorney - Houston
Mesothelioma patients and their families are entitled to financial compensation. A national asbestos law firm is recommended to assist in submitting a claim. Expert firms are well-versed in asbestos-related products, asbestos businesses and high-risk occupations.
The top mesothelioma attorneys also have a database with confirmed asbestos exposure sites across the country. They also have years of experience in litigation.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in mesothelium cells. The mesothelium membrane protects and covers the majority of your internal organs. The mesothelium tissue may develop into malignant tumors, which may spread to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like pain, fatigue or breathing difficulties.
It may take many years for the first symptoms to be noticed following exposure to asbestos. In some instances symptoms, they can be confused with other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mesothelioma you are suffering from. Pleural mesothelioma, a form of cancer, that affects the linings of the lungs and chest, as well as the abdomen. The cancer can cause the formation of fluid around the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain. As the disease progresses, it may also expand to the lining of the heart and diaphragm. Ascites is a swelling of fluid in the abdomen of patients with the peritoneal sarcoidosis.
The most prevalent form is pleural mysothelioma which typically causes symptoms in the chest wall, lungs or abdominal cavity. The most frequent symptoms include shortness of breath or a cough that does not disappear, and chest pressure or pain. Other signs include a fever, weight gain and fatigue.
When mesothelioma has been diagnosed by doctors, they will conduct tests to find out how far the cancer has grown or spread. They will take an examination of your medical history, look for signs of the disease and inquire about any asbestos exposure in the past. They'll also conduct an examination, and perform X-rays and CT scans in order to determine if there are symptoms of mesothelioma.
In early-stage mesothelioma, or stages 1 and 2 of the disease, the cancer is localized and hasn't spread to other tissues. Most patients don't suffer symptoms during this stage. When the stage is between stages 3 and 4, also known as late-stage mesothelioma, tumors grow faster and can trigger symptoms.
Doctors can help you manage your symptoms, such as chest discomfort or fluid buildup, which can improve your life quality and even extend it. Palliative care is the term of this treatment. It could involve removing fluid from your lungs, giving you painkillers and helping you stay more active.
Diagnosis
Asbestos fibers can cause the lining to get thicker as they enter the lungs. This may lead to formation of tumors or cancer cells called mesothelioma. These cancerous cells or tumors can then spread to different areas of the body. Mesothelioma may be difficult to identify because the early signs are similar to those of other common diseases. It can take several years between the first exposure to asbestos and the diagnosis of mesothelioma.
To determine whether you are suffering from mesothelioma doctors will do tests on your chest and abdomen. These include a physical exam including chest x-rays, and CT scans. A doctor will also go over your medical history. They will ask about your symptoms and any asbestos exposure in the past.
A chest xray could reveal the lungs are filled with fluid. This is called pleural fluid. A doctor can drain the fluid with a needle. This test is known as thoracentesis. A CT scan can also see mesothelioma tumors, or masses in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. A doctor can use an needle to remove tissue from a tumor or a mass in your chest. The doctor will then search for mesothelioma cells in a tissue sample. A biopsy is the best way to confirm mesothelioma as a diagnosis.
Your treatment options are determined by the type of mesothelioma you are suffering from. The two major types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. The most common type and the one that is the most responsive to treatment is epithelioid. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a poorer prognosis.
Certain doctors may recommend an PET/CT. It is a test that can identify areas that have high metabolic activity which is typical of cancer cells. A PET/CT scan can help determine if mesothelioma has been detected in other parts of the body, and at what stage.
A doctor may also assign the mesothelioma's stage. The stages are identified by roman numerals, and vary from I to 4. The stages indicate the extent of mesothelioma, and whether it has spread beyond the lungs to other parts. The test gives doctors information that helps them plan the treatment plan.
Treatment
The mesothelioma doctors may use several treatment options. These can include chemotherapy, surgery or immunotherapy, as well as radiation. It is often difficult to treat mesothelioma because it doesn't grow in an enormous mass it expands to nearby nerves, blood vessels and tissues. However, treatment can improve people's quality of life and increase their odds of surviving.
The first step of an effective treatment plan is to determine the patient's mesothelioma's stage. This depends on whether or not the cancer has spread or spread, the type of mesothelioma, and the location it is located. It is also possible for mesothelioma cancer to progress without any symptoms for a long period of years, which can make it difficult to recognize. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma using samples of fluid, biopsy, CT scans and x-rays.
Patients with pleural asbestosis typically have an excess of fluid in their chest cavity. This can make breathing difficult. This can be drained with the help of a tube inserted through the chest wall and then into the space between the pleural cavity. The fluid will then be checked for mesothelioma cell growth and sent to the laboratory.
Depending on the mesothelioma type and stage, doctors can undergo surgery to remove tumors, or to ease breathing issues. They may drain the fluid from a patient's chest or remove the tissue that surrounds the lungs and chest (pleurectomy). Doctors can inject medicines into the body of some mesothelioma patients in order to prevent the cancer from returning after surgery.
A mesothelioma lawyer from Houston can provide details about treatment options and possible legal compensation. Attorneys can help the families of victims to seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses as well as loss of income, pain and suffering and emotional stress. Lawyers can also assist with the filing of a lawsuit for wrongful death.
Compensation
Mesothelioma victims deserve financial compensation for the losses they've suffered. An attorney can assist those suffering from the disease to seek compensation so that they receive the treatment they require and that their loved family members will be financially taken care for in the future.
There are various types of mesothelioma compensation available to asbestos-related victims. These include trust fund claims as well as settlements and trial verdicts. Each case mesothelioma attorneys is unique and the amount of compensation can differ. However, victims should contact an Houston mesothelioma lawyer as quickly as possible to start the process of filing a claim.
A mesothelioma claim can be lengthy and complicated however a skilled attorney can make the process much simpler for the victims and their families. An attorney will prepare all the necessary paperwork and will communicate with the various lawyers representing the defendant companies, and move the claim through the litigation process quickly and efficiently. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can also assist victims and their families determine the places where they were exposed to asbestos. They will go over a victim's work history and determine potential exposure areas where they might have worked.
A Houston mesothelioma lawyer can assist asbestos victims receive the compensation they deserve. A mesothelioma lawsuit could be brought against negligent asbestos manufacturers to obtain justice for a victim's losses.
Mesothelioma is a fatal illness that affects the mesothelium, or protective covering, that surrounds the chest and abdomen. Victims may bring a lawsuit against asbestos producers who failed to warn their workers or consumers of the dangers associated with inhaling the asbestos material.
Mesothelioma sufferers and their loved ones should hire an experienced asbestos attorney as soon as they can to begin the legal process. Delay could result in the statute of limitations running out. This statute of limitations is a window in time during which victims can sue individuals accountable for their losses. In Texas, the statute of limitations runs for two years after the date of diagnosis. But mesothelioma patients can experience long-term symptoms that are not apparent for years. This is why mesothelioma cases are often exceptions to the general statute of limitations rules.