Pleural mesothelioma is a fast-acting disease that typically causes pain, suffering, and an untimely death. Receiving a diagnosis is absolutely devastating. This kind of cancer is fast-acting and often doesn’t present serious symptoms for years after exposure to asbestos. Many people are exposed through their jobs. While companies are supposed to take safety measures and precautions to protect their employees, this doesn’t always happen. Asbestos fibers get into the body with little to no signs or symptoms and result in a life-ending disease. Those companies should be held accountable for their actions. Frost Law Firm, PC is ready to help victims of asbestos exposure and their families get the justice they deserve.
Before explaining how our lawyers can help, let’s look into what pleural mesothelioma is and what it does. There is more than one type of mesothelioma and it’s important to have as much knowledge as possible. The more we know about your diagnosis and condition, the more information we have to fight for your rights.
How Asbestos Exposure Leads to Pleural Mesothelioma
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos is a mineral fiber. Occurring in rock and soil, asbestos fibers are strong and can resist heat. This substance was used in construction as a form of insulation and fire retardant. It’s also appeared in a number of manufactured goods. Unfortunately, it’s extremely harmful to humans.
Humans can breathe in asbestos fibers. When the fibers get into the body, they can settle for years. Often, people start to develop health issues years after their exposure. The Mayo Clinic states it can take 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop.
Asbestos gets into the pleura, or lung lining, and will cause gradual damage over time. It harms DNA and will start to grow cancerous cells. This is what causes the replication of these cells and will form a tumor.
When the tumor is in the lung area, it can cause many health issues. Those with pleural mesothelioma will likely experience difficulty with breathing and swallowing, pain in the chest area, and pain from pressure on nerves and the spinal cord. Pleural mesothelioma can also cause pleural effusion, where fluid gathers in the chest. This compresses the lungs and contributes to suppressing a person’s ability to breathe.
Experiencing health issues due to asbestos exposure doesn’t necessarily mean the ailment is mesothelioma. There are a few ways the lungs can be affected after asbestos exposure. While pleural mesothelioma is one of the outcomes, there’s also the chance it could be another type of lung cancer. Let’s go over those differences.
The Differences Between Pleural Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
When health complications arise, you or your loved one will likely undergo a series of tests until the doctor can make a diagnosis. If you suspect asbestos exposure led to your health issues, you may be eligible for compensation. Before seeking out a mesothelioma lawyer, you’ll need to know how the exposure has affected you. There are different diagnoses for lung ailments.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs from asbestos exposure. When the asbestos causes cancer, the malignant mesothelioma cells are epithelial, sarcomatous, or mixed. Typically, 80% of mesotheliomas affect the pleura. These will typically present with chest pain and a chest radiograph will show a pleural mass. The mortality rate is high, as there is a less than 30% chance of survival after one year. Most survival rates are between 8-14 months after diagnosis.
However, it’s important to note that other lung cancers could be caused by asbestos. There are several key differences between lung carcinoma when compared to pleural mesothelioma. Lung carcinoma is associated with tobacco smoke. While asbestos exposure can play a role in lung cancer, about 4%-12% of lung cancers are related to asbestos exposure through one’s occupation. A person’s history of tobacco use does increase the chances of getting lung cancer. When patients are diagnosed with lung carcinoma, they may have a cough, wheezing breath, and dyspnea. The mortality rate varies from pleural mesothelioma, with a 14% five-year survival rate.
When you or a loved one receive a definitive pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, it can be a scary and uncertain time. You may wonder where to start—you’re thinking about treatment and responsibilities, but also may wonder how you or your loved one were exposed in the first place. If someone’s negligence led to the exposure and this terminal disease, you deserve to hold them accountable.
The Benefits of Having an Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyer at Your Side
Acting quickly to receive medical treatment is of the utmost importance after a diagnosis. When you’re going into treatment, you’ll likely have past medical bills and are looking toward a future that will have more medical expenses. To some, this may seem overwhelming as the costs of medical care can be high. However, when you have experienced Hawaii mesothelioma lawyers at your side, you’ll have peace of mind knowing we’re going to fiercely advocate for your rights to full compensation.
When Frost Law Firm, PC is representing you, we’ll fight for your compensation to cover what this disease has cost you. This can include the following:
- Medical expenses, including past and future care
- Homecare
- Prescription costs
- Treatment therapies
- Lost wages
There is another side to compensation as well, the damages this disease has cost you or your loved one in other ways that aren’t financial. For example, pleural mesothelioma and its treatment may cause pain and suffering. Painful symptoms along with the emotional pain of having a terminal disease weigh heavily on the person diagnosed and their loved ones. If you’ve already lost a loved one to the disease, you may be able to seek wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial expenses and loss of companionship.
Our lawyers understand that we cannot take away the diagnosis, but we can help you or your loved one seek justice for what’s happened. We’ll fight for you to get the compensation that will provide financial peace of mind, so the focus can be on treatment and spending time with loved ones.
When you’re looking to begin your legal journey, it’s important to act quickly. Contact Frost Law Firm, PC today for an obligation-free consultation. We’ll go over the facts of your case and your options for the future.
