Mesothelioma is a grave and uncommon sickness, caused by sustained and persistent exposure and breathing in of the asbestos fibers rampantly used in most industries till early 1980s. It is the cancer of the Mesothelioma layer, a protective sac that encloses some major organs in the human body. The Calamity: Sadly the fact remains that the disease of Mesothelioma is diagnosed only in the final stages and remains incurable at that time. The fat is further psychologically worsened by the fact that it was caused by pure carelessness and avoiding using proper preventive covering and precautions. The risk has been made evident by research since the 1920s, but the corporations that had the risk never encouraged use of these precautions. These facts bring to light a simple hope of compensation that a victim could be eligible for in the darkness of this disease that ends in death. Compensation: When a victim realizes that he is going to die of Mesothelioma, a skeptical question arises "Compensation for what?" Think about what the disease has cost you emotionally, physically and in hospital bills. Think about the family of the victims, their suffering in the knowledge that the victim would certainly die. Loss of the years of life suffered, and loss of the years of life the victim may have lived and provided for the family. Procrastination: Many victims do not want to go ahead with a compensation claim because of the time elapsed between the cause and the diagnosis of the disease. Moreover many victims feel that the court and the hearings are a burden on them in addition to the sickness they are already suffering form. An experienced solicitor can arrange for an investigation on the victim's behalf to find out where and when he might have contracted Mesothelioma. Finding a solicitor as soon as possible without procrastination will be a good way to begin your fight for your rights. Talk to the solicitor and give him all information you possibly have, since they would need some time ascertain the facts and collect evidence on your behalf. Solicitor: Make sure that you understand the workings of a Mesothelioma solicitor, their fees structure and how it adds up. Most of the solicitors work on a contingency basis, meaning that if they cannot find evidence to substantiate compensation, the client need not pay for the legal costs, and if the case is successful and the compensation awarded, the solicitor collects the fee from the lawsuit. Please make sure that the lawyer has experience in Mesothelioma cases and the success rate. Another important issue is to trust your solicitor and relax with him. Be honest and truthful with him to let him get you the best compensation you are entitled to.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Cancer
If you have researched a little, you should know that diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer is very difficult in many cases, because its symptoms can be associated with other diseases too. Hence patient's medical history is quite important to know, since if there was an exposure to asbestos from the sick person, the risk factors for developing Mesothelioma are greater.
The doctor will order you a physical examination, including chest and abdomen x-rays, and lung function tests. A computerized tomography (CT) or a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan may be useful, along with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The CT scan allows a computer x-rays machine to create a series of detailed pictures of inner body areas. The MRI allows to obtain detailed images of areas inside the body through a powerful magnet linked to a computer.
The way to confirm a Mesothelioma diagnosis is a biopsy, in which an oncologist or a doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating cancer pathologies takes a sample of tissue from the patient to examine it under a microscope. The biopsy may be performed in various ways. In a thoracoscopy the name of the biopsy if the cancer is in the chest the doctor makes a small cut through the patient's chest and introduce a tube called thoracoscope to look inside and take tissue samples.
In a peritoneoscopy if the cancer is in the abdomen the doctor makes the same procedure but in the patient's abdominal cavity to obtain tissue for examination.
The stage of the disease is important to know if cancer is metastasized to other parts of the body, and to apply the best treatment for the patient.
The disease will be 'localized' if the cancer is found only on the surface of the membrane, but it will be 'advanced' if it has spread to other parts of the body, such as lungs, abdominal organs, chest wall, lymph nodes.
by
Herry
California Mesothelioma Laws And California Mesothelioma Lawyer
Finding a highly qualified and competent California mesothelioma attorney involves a little investigation. Newly diagnosed victims of Mesothelioma in California often have ample questions involving their health, their future, and their lawful recourses in the event of a mesothelioma diagnosis. The facts of mesothelioma are not easy to hear, nor are they easy to deal with. While a Mesothelioma doctor is equipped to answer medical and health questions as they relate to Mesothelioma, only a qualified Mesothelioma attorney is capable of answering questions that are associated with the legal ramifications of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
California mesothelioma victims are encouraged to make a list of questions that they feel they need answers to, one list for their Mesothelioma physician and another list for their attorney. The top ten questions to ask a California mesothelioma attorney have been suggested here, but there will be many more questions regarding a Mesothelioma case.
1. It is vital to contact a Mesothelioma lawyer as quickly as possible as many states have complicated regulations concerning Mesothelioma lawsuits. The first question to ask a qualified Mesothelioma lawyer is whether or not you qualify to file a Mesothelioma lawsuit. This of course will involve divulging all the information possible to allow the Mesothelioma lawyer to determine if you qualify to file a Mesothelioma lawsuit.
2. Some California mesothelioma lawyers are already involved with other Mesothelioma lawsuits or Mesothelioma settlements which may preclude them from taking on any new cases. It is possible that you may qualify for a class action lawsuit or perhaps an individual Mesothelioma lawsuit, depending on the circumstances. Mesothelioma patients need to inquire whether their case would be handled as an individual case or as part of a class action Mesothelioma lawsuit, and which would benefit them the most.
3. Knowing that your potential Mesothelioma lawyer has ample actual courtroom experience is a highly important part of hiring a Mesothelioma lawyer. It is perfectly acceptable to inquire with your potential Mesothelioma lawyer about their prior Mesothelioma and courtroom experience. Mesothelioma lawsuits are not the type of lawsuits you want a newbie cutting their teeth on, there is simply too much at stake.
4. California mesothelioma lawsuits tend to be large cases with a lot of complicated laws and circumstances to navigate. A Mesothelioma attorney needs to have ample support and resources to assist in the research and argument process. You will want to ask the Mesothelioma attorney how many Mesothelioma cases are in the firm, how many Mesothelioma expert lawyers are in the firm, and how much extra support services they can receive from the other California mesothelioma attorneys in the law firm.
5. Mesothelioma victims tend to be victimized by the contraction of the disease and are often very sensitive to other people's feelings, including their Mesothelioma lawyer's feelings. Asking questions that validate their experience is a good thing, and is not offensive to a Mesothelioma lawyer. If your potential Mesothelioma attorney reacts to questions with offense, it is not in your best interest to hire them. Asking them about their track record with Mesothelioma cases, how many went to trial versus how many of them were settled, as well as the results of each case is a reasonable line of questioning.
6. It is rarely in the best interest of the Mesothelioma victim for their case to be split between multiple law firms. Asking whether your lawsuit will be handled in house or if there is the possibility of splitting the case between law firms is a question of relative importance.
7. The vast majority of California mesothelioma cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means the attorney gets paid a percentage of what he or she is able to win on the Mesothelioma victim's behalf. If the case goes nowhere, the Mesothelioma lawyer typically doesn't get paid. The percentage of the Mesothelioma award or the Mesothelioma settlement which typically goes to the representing Mesothelioma lawyer is between 30 and 40 percent.
8. Asking your California mesothelioma lawyer to describe the process of a lawsuit will enable you to understand the process which you are about to enter as well as inform you of how well your Mesothelioma lawyer communicates..
9. It is important to understand how long the Mesothelioma lawyer will need for research and how much information he or she will need from the Mesothelioma victim and the Mesothelioma doctor. Television has given us the impression that lawsuits and court proceedings happen quickly. They don't it takes time, and for a Mesothelioma victim, time is very precious.
10. California mesothelioma laws may vary by county. Establishing the jurisdiction that the Mesothelioma case will be tried is vital. Often it is tried in the county which the exposure to asbestos took place. Your Mesothelioma lawyer will have to have access to that region.
by
Herry
A Mesothelioma Diagnosis Sometimes Involves Mesothelioma Lawyers
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the lungs, chest and abdominal area. It begins in the outer layers of the lungs and can spread through the chest wall and eventually to other parts of the body. But there is also a legal side to a mesothelioma diagnosis. Many cases have been caused by the neglect and sometimes criminal actions of companies whose number one interest was making profit when it should have been looking out for the people they employ. Many people who find themselves with a mesothelioma diagnosis are also finding an abundant supply of mesothelioma lawyers that can deliver them justice and monetary reparations. Mesothelioma is a disease that is caused by exposure to asbestos.
There is no other known cause of this disease. Asbestos is a material that is very strong and heat resistant. This makes it is ideal for the use of manufacturing products and structures of all kinds. It is also a material that breaks down into a very fine dust. This dust is made up of tiny barbed like fibers that become airborne. When these fibers are inhaled they stick in the lungs and this can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and a number of other illnesses.
Most cases involve people that have had frequent exposure to asbestos at their workplace. Currently there are over 400 items that we use in our everyday society that contain asbestos. The shipping industry uses asbestos to insulate boilers and smoke stacks. The automotive industry uses it to manufacture many different parts for their cars. The construction industry uses asbestos for insulation, concrete reinforcement and for electrical wiring to name only a few of the many different uses. There have been laws passed in the United States in the last few decades that prohibit or restrict the use of asbestos materials, but there is still a lot of this material being used today. Many companies have ignored the laws that have been passed and continue to illegally use these materials or facilities constructed with these materials. There is also the legal side of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Many cases of this disease have been caused by neglect or illegal behavior on the part of the patient's employer or former employer.
Complying with Federal laws regarding asbestos can cut into a company's profits. For example, instead of replacing old asbestos materials at the workplace they choose to ignore the laws and hope they do not get contacted by any mesothelioma lawyers many years later. Mesothelioma can take several decades to develop in a person's body so these companies often get away with their crimes. Many patients never make the link to their asbestos exposure at their workplace because many times they have not worked at the place of exposure in many years.
There has been a lot of attention given to mesothelioma cancer in recent years. This is due to the fact that more and more people are receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis from their doctors. A mesothelioma diagnosis is bad news but it is important to know that there are legal courses of action available to anyone who has had a crime committed against them by an employer. Thanks to modern medical and scientific technology many people with a mesothelioma diagnosis have been able to trace their asbestos exposure back to their places of employment. Many of these patients have hired mesothelioma lawyers to sue their former employers. A lot of people have been awarded big settlements.
There is no shortage of mesothelioma lawyers on the internet that will fight for your cause. Just make sure you do research on them before you hire them. Just go to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) online and enter the names of the mesothelioma lawyers or law firms in the search box and you will get a history of complaints on them (if there are any). You should also do a Google search on them as well. Just go to Google.com, enter their names and you will get any information that has ever been posted on the internet about your prospective mesothelioma lawyers. © 2006 Copyright. Michael Connelly
by
Herry
What is Mesothelioma and How Did I Get it?
If your doctor has told you that you have mesothelioma, you may still have a lot of basic questions about the disease. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you probably have many questions. One of the most basic questions asked by patients and their families is "What is Mesothelioma and how did I get it?" There has been a lot of coverage in the press about this disease and you may already have a lot of information about Mesothelioma from your doctor. Our purpose is to offer what we hope is a simple explanation and define some terms you will hear when you are talking to you doctor, so that you and your family can have a solid understanding of the disease. Before you can understand Mesothelioma, you have to understand asbestos (the substance that causes Mesothelioma). Asbestos is actually just a commercial name for a naturally occurring mineral. Asbestos is a fibrous silicate that was commonly used in insulation and construction materials, as well as electrical insulation, fireproofing materials, roofing, and filters, because it offered high heat resistance. This mineral was also used to make automobile brakes at one time. If you or a loved one worked for a company that made asbestos-containing products, or if you lived or live in a house that still has asbestos insulation, that is probably the source of your illness. The U.S. government has since regulated the amount of asbestos that can be used in any product and how and where these products can be used or installed. Because asbestos is so fibrous, tiny threadlike fibers can circulate in the air and water within or around a house or business containing asbestos materials. Therein lies the problem! With prolonged exposure to asbestos you can sustain gradual but serious damage to your lungs. The medical term 'mesothelioma' relates to the area of your body that is affected by the asbestos fibers when you inhale them. The 'mesothelium' is a two-layered membrane that protects most of your internal organs. One of these layers envelopes the organ, and the other layer forms a sac around the organ and the first layer to protect it even further. In between these two layers is a volume of fluid that lubricates everything, and allows flexible movement so that the heart can beat and the lungs can expand and contract without rubbing against other structures in your body. The 'peritoneal' mesothelium covers the abdominal cavity, and the 'pleural' mesothelium covers and protects the lungs and the chest cavity, whereas the 'pericardial' mesothelium protects the heart. When you inhale asbestos into your lungs, the cells around these inhaled fibers become abnormal or cancerous. And these rogue cells damage the tissue and the organs near the site of invasion. Because asbestos is inhaled, most cases of mesothelioma start in the pleural or the peritoneal mesothelium (because they are the closest to the lungs). The three most common diseases caused by asbestos are 'asbestosis' (a non-cancerous form of lung disease), lung cancer and mesothelioma (a cancer that starts within the layers of the mesothelium). The symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear for years after exposure (sometimes as long as 50 years later), and may begin as shortness of breath or pain in the chest. These symptoms come from a build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity. If the disease is in the peritoneal mesothelium, your symptoms may start as weight loss and abdominal pain as your abdomen fills with fluid. To diagnose mesothelioma, your doctor will look for a history of exposure to asbestos at work or at home and he will perform a physical, including x-rays and possibly a lung function test. He may order a CT (CAT) scan or MRI to get more information.
Ultimately, your doctor will need to take a biopsy to positively confirm that mesothelioma is present. A surgeon will remove a small sample of tissue from your body so that it can be tested and examined for disease. If you have mesothelioma, your doctor will try to figure out what 'stage' the disease is in - in other words, how long have you had the disease - so he can determine how best to treat the disease. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments. Your doctor will talk to you about the possible tests for mesothelioma, your specific test results and his treatment recommendations.
by
Herry
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