Why is Mesothelioma Often Talked About in the Media?
You hear about it all the time when watching or reading the news: someone is suing a company because they or a loved one was exposed to mesothelioma. There’s a reason that cases like these are so newsworthy. While this cancer is fatal, it’s also totally preventable. Here is all you need to know about mesothelioma, including symptoms, what causes it, if there’s a treatment, and how to pursue legal action if a loved one died from this cancer.
What Is Mesothelioma?
As mentioned, mesothelioma is a cancerous medical condition. Those who have worked in a warehouse, mechanics, construction site, mine, or any other worksite where asbestos was present are most likely to develop mesothelioma. That said, you may not necessarily get mesothelioma after working around asbestos. If you do have mesothelioma, it is possible to bring it home and infect your family with the condition even if they were personally never in an environment where asbestos was present.
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Depending on the type of mesothelioma you have, your symptoms may be different. If you have abdominal or peritoneal mesothelioma, for example, you may experience an inability to gain weight, have visible bumpy tissue masses across the torso, have a swollen stomach, and experience insistent aches in that area. If you have lung or pleural mesothelioma, you may also find it difficult to gain weight and have those same bumpy masses. Besides those symptoms, you may find it hard to breathe, you may cough a lot, and your ribs and chest may hurt.
One major reason mesothelioma cases have made it into the news time and again is because these are just becoming an issue in recent years. If you worked in an environment with asbestos a decade or more ago, your symptoms may just manifest now. In some cases, some people develop symptoms 30 or 40 years after exposure. People have long since learned of the dangers of asbestos, but its effects are just being felt recently.
Is Mesothelioma Treatable?
In most cases, mesothelioma isn’t treatable, but it does depend. If a doctor diagnoses mesothelioma early enough, then certain treatments may be prescribed. Gene therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, and various surgeries may be effective in removing the cancer.
However, mesothelioma is a fast-moving condition. If it’s not caught early enough, most of the time there’s little if anything, a doctor can do.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have Mesothelioma?
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s crucial that you get medical assistance immediately. If someone you know has died from this condition, you may be eligible to receive compensation.
Can I Pursue Legal Action?
The law offices of Branch & Dhillon, P.C. specialize in personal injury cases, including mesothelioma deaths. Immediately after the death, you may be shocked and grieving. Parents, children, and a spouse of the deceased are all eligible to sue. Even if the death wasn’t recent, you have two years to take action.To learn more about filing a lawsuit associated with mesothelioma, contact us to schedule a consultation.