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Asbestos Mesothelioma Claims
Texas
Mesothelioma Lawyer Jason Coomer has
worked on several mesothelioma claims for insulators, ship builders, refinery workers,
construction workers, asbestos abatement workers,
maintenance workers, and others exposed to asbestos products.
If you have mesothelioma and need a
mesothelioma lawyer or a loved one
that has mesothelioma,
use our free online submission form
or
contact Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer, Jason Coomer via
e-mail,
for a
free review of your potential claim. He
handles mesothelioma claims including asbestos product dumping
claims, asbestos secondary
exposure claims, asbestos death claims, asbestos premises
liability claims, asbestos negligence abatement claims,
asbestos non-subscriber claims, and other asbestos exposure
claims that have caused mesothelioma.
Information on Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused
by asbestos exposure in which malignant (cancerous) cells
are found in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is
a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal
organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells:
One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a
sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid
that is released between these layers, allowing moving
organs.
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium)
is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become
abnormal and divide without control or order. They can
invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells
can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to
other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in
the pleura or peritoneum. The pleura is the outer lining of
the lungs and chest cavity. Mesothelioma may also
occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal
cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart),
or the layer surrounding reproductive organs.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have
worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or
have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways,
such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked
with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement
products. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association
between mesothelioma and smoking.
Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of
cancer, but reported incidence rates have increased in the
past 20 years. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently
ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized
Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos
products used in the society. The incidence is
expected to continue increase in many parts of the world as
asbestos products become more common. Mesothelioma occurs
more often in men than in women and risk increases with age,
but this disease can appear in either men or women at any
age.
In the United States between 1939 and
1980, approximately 30 million people were occupationally
exposed to asbestos in the United States. Between 1970 and
1990, there was a large increase in the diagnosis of pleural
mesothelioma in asbestos workers and their families. Though
many asbestos exposure mesothelioma cases have been
misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung or other
diseases, it is clear that the incidence of mesothelioma
increases with use of asbestos products.
In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to
asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a
noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such
as those of the larynx and kidney.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma can appear 20 to
50 years after exposure to asbestos. These symptoms include
shortness of breath, chronic cough, coughing up blood, night
sweats, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of
fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural
mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma
include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and
pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal
cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may
include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities,
anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the
mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include
pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
Mesothelioma can affect several areas of
the body and can cause the following symptoms:
-
chest wall pain
-
pleural effusion, or fluid
surrounding the lung
-
shortness of breath
-
fatigue or anemia
-
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
-
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed
up
-
abdominal pain
-
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of
fluid in the abdomen
-
a mass in the abdomen
-
problems with bowel function
-
weight loss
-
blood clots in the veins, which may
cause thrombophlebitis
-
disseminated intravascular
coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many
body organs
-
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes
and skin
-
low blood sugar level
-
pleural effusion
-
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in
the arteries of the lungs
-
severe ascites
Shortness of breath and pain in the chest
from accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms
of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma
include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a
buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of
peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood
clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the
mesothelioma cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to
other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble
swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
Many of the above symptoms may be caused
by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is
important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only
a doctor can make a diagnosis. Please read below for
information on the diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Diagnosing mesothelioma begins with a
review of the patient's medical history to determine if the
patient has had exposure to asbestos. A physical examination
also performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung
function tests. The X-ray is used to determine if there is
any pleural thickening that is commonly seen after asbestos
exposure. If there is pleural thickening it increases
suspicion of a diagnoses of mesothelioma.
A CAT scan or an MRI and cytology is then
done to determine if a large amount of fluid and or abnormal
cells are present. To study the pleural fluid a
pleural tap or chest drain is done, in ascites with an
paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion
with pericardiocentesis. If cytology is positive or a plaque
is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a
diagnosis of mesothelioma.
The biopsy is performed by a surgeon or a
medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing
and treating cancer). This surgeon or oncologist
removes a sample of tissue for examination under a
microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in
different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is
located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may
perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes
a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted
tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs.
Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and
obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the
doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for
examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen
and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope
into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield
enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be
necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the
doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the
disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to
find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which
parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps
the doctor plan treatment.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if
the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it
originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread
beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the
body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or
abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Treatment for mesothelioma vary depending
on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and
the patient’s age and general health. Some of the more
common treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy,
chemotherapy, and drainage of fluid.
Surgery
is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may
remove abnormal or cancerous tissue and some of the tissue
around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma),
a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy.
Radiation therapy,
also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy
rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation
therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area.
Chemotherapy is
the use of drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the
doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that
has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for
removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis.
Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis.
Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent
more fluid from accumulating. It is common to use surgery,
radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and fluid drainage to
relieve symptoms and treat mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Lawyers
If someone you know has mesothelioma or other form of cancer
related to Asbestos exposure it is important that they get
the best medical care that they can find and that the source
of their exposure is stopped. If you have any questions feel
free to send an
e-mail to Texas Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer, Jason Coomer.
As a Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer,
Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer, Austin Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorney, and San Antonio
Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer,
Jason Coomer has worked on a wide variety of cases
and has had the opportunity to work
with and against some excellent asbestos mesothelioma lawyers including Dallas Mesothelioma Lawyers, Houston
Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers,
San Antonio Mesothelioma Lawyers, and Austin Mesothelioma Lawyers. Assembling
litigation teams of Texas Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers for the larger cases and building
multimedia presentations for large trials, mediations, arbitrations,
and
hearings can be time consuming, but when you are
dealing with a serious mesothelioma claim and the devastation that can be
caused by asbestos exposure, the
effort is worth it. Individualized attention to a
Texas Mesothelioma Claims
is extremely important. Make sure that you have a
Texas Mesothelioma Attorney that knows your name and is familiar with your
asbestos
death claim or asbestos personal injury
claim as well as your wants and needs.
If you have been seriously injured or
have lost a loved one through the wrongful actions of
another,
feel
free to contact Texas Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer, Jason Coomer, with your name, dates of
exposure,
location of exposure, injuries or loss, and
name of the potential defendant for a
free review of your potential claim.
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