Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer: Asbestos Exposure Claim Settlements

Texas Mesothelioma lawyer, Jason Coomer, handles asbestos exposure claims including mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and other asbestos cancer claims. More specifically, he commonly represents families who have lost loved ones to asbestos related diseases.

Contact Jason Coomer, a Texas mesothelioma lawyer, for a FREE CASE REVIEW. Further, reach out today by email or call 866-474-1477 (toll-free) to contact the Law Offices of Jason S. Coomer for more information on reviewing your asbestos exposure Mesothelioma claim.

Ovarian Cancer and Mesothelioma Claims: Texas Talc Powder Lawyer

Modern talc litigation refers to a large and ongoing wave of lawsuits against companies that manufacture or sell talcum powder products, most notably Johnson & Johnson. These lawsuits generally allege that talc-based products (like baby powder) contained asbestos, a known carcinogen, and that long-term use led to serious health problems such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. As a Texas talcum powder lawyer, Jason Coomer handles baby powder and shower to shower product cases where these products have caused ovarian cancer and 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 fiber 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.

Asbestos Secondary Exposure by Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer Jason Coomer

Unfortunately, in asbestos exposure cases it is not always just the primary exposed person that suffers exposure, but many times the exposed worker can unknowingly bring home asbestos dust and fibers that are kicked up in the air and breathed in by the worker's wife and family. Over time these secondary exposure claims can also cause serious asbestos diseases including mesothelioma for the families of asbestos workers.

Many families along ship channel or industrial areas were supported by workers that were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers. Many of these workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibers and asbestos dust home exposing their wives and families to toxic dust fibers that were inhaled. These secondary exposure claims are becoming more common as relatives of asbestos product workers are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. If you are the spouse or family member of an asbestos worker and are experiencing severe symptoms, you should be screened for asbestos diseases such as Mesothelioma.

Texas Asbestos Secondary Exposure Lawyer Jason Coomer has worked on several primary and secondary asbestos exposure claims including mesothelioma claims and other asbestos disease claims. Secondary exposure claims include asbestos claims by the spouses, widows, and families of asbestos workers including insulators, pipefitters, ship builders, refinery workers, construction workers, asbestos abatement workers, maintenance workers, and other asbestos workers who received exposure to asbestos fibers and dust that were brought home on the clothes of asbestos workers. Many family members were unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers and have breathed in fibers causing mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.

Texas Mesothelioma lawyer, Jason Coomer, Provides Information on Asbestos Use in the United States

The term asbestos describes six naturally occurring fibrous minerals, namely chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophylitte and actinolite. When mined and processed, asbestos is typically separated into very thin bundles of fibers and then commonly mixed with a binder during processing.

Asbestos has been known to man for centuries and has been used in literally hundreds of products. Asbestos was used because it is strong, insulates well, and resists fire and corrosion. Common modern uses are as thermal pipe and boiler insulation, spray-applied fire proofing and sound proofing, floor coverings, ceiling tiles, roofing materials and transite pipe and sheeting.

In the United States, asbestos became widely used in the early 1900s and its use peaked during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Despite wide spread use of asbestos many asbestos manufacturers and industry insiders became aware of the serious health issues surrounding asbestos in the 1930s and 1940s, but kept the information secret from workers and from the public. In the 1970s the Federal government stepped in and regulated the use of asbestos products. It is also now commonly agreed that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other health problems.

Today despite being better regulated an estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer on Various Types of Asbestos Products

Asbestos fibers are strong, durable, and resist heat, acids, and friction. As such these extremely durable fibers have useful physical properties that have made them popular to be used in thousands of refinery, pipeline, shipping, chemical, commercial building, residential building, and industrial products. Below some types of asbestos products:

Asbestos Industrial Insulation

Typically these asbestos products are used in chemical processing and are most dangerous when they are being cut, torn apart, or applied. This is because asbestos fibers can be kicked into the air and inhaled. Types of asbestos insulation products include:

• pipe insulation
• boiler insulation
• block insulation
• sprayed in insulation
• blown in insulation
• thermal paper products
• electrical wiring insulation

Asbestos Compounds

These products are useful for in construction and are most dangerous when mixing them or when tearing them apart. Types of asbestos comound products include:

• Cement
• Adhesives
• Joint compounds (spackling, patching and taping)
• Caulking
• Putty

Asbestos Fireproofing Products

Typically these fireproofing asbestos products are used for their heat resistance and durability, particularly in construction and industrial structures. These fireproofing asbestos products are most dangerous when being mixed, applied or abated. Types of asbestos fireproofing asbestos products include:

• Cloths
• Textured products
• Acoustical plaster
• Decorative coatings (plaster and paint)
• Fire blankets, curtains and doors

Asbestos Textiles and Asbestos Cloth Products

Typically these fireproofing asbestos products are used for their heat resistance and durability, particularly in construction and industrial structures. These fireproofing asbestos products are most dangerous when being mixed, applied or abated. Types of asbestos fireproofing asbestos products include:

• Protective Cloth Coverings
• Blankets
• Garments
• Threads (cords, yarns and braids)
• Fire blankets, curtains and doors

Asbestos Gaskets and Packing Products

Typically asbestos gaskets and packing products primary functions include sealing joints and preventing leaks in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Types of asbestos gaskets and packing products include:

• Engine and exhaust manifold gaskets
• Flange gaskets in pipe systems (oil, gas, steam, chemical)
• Boiler, heat exchanger, and pump gaskets
• Seals for valves and pressure vessels

Asbestos Tiles, Wallboard, Siding and Roofing

Widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial construction due to asbestos's durability, fire resistance, and insulating properties. Types of these asbestos products include:

• Floor tiles
• Ceiling tiles
• Cement board or transite board
• Shingles or clapboards
• Corrugated roofing sheets
• Roof rolling

Asbestos Product Dumping by Texas Mesothelioma Attorney Jason Coomer

In addition to domestic exposure, some companies have taken asbestos products that cannot be sold in the United States and have sold the product in other countries. This product dumping of dangerous asbestos insulation, asbestos block, and other asbestos products can cause serious problems including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other health problems. Texas companies that dump dangerous products in other countries and cause significant harm can sometimes be brought into the Texas courts to answer for their wrongful dumping and be made to pay money compensation for their wrongful acts.

Mechanic Mesothelioma Caused by Brake and Clutch Components

Automobile mechanics should be aware of the potential danger of asbestos exposure which can cause Mesothelioma and other types of cancer. The EPA has published information to help automobile mechanics avoid or minimize their exposure to asbestos: Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers.

Retired automobile mechanics should be aware that the danger of Mesothelioma can extend for 20 to 50 years after exposure. Further, many of the worst asbestos brake and clutch components required repairs in the late 1980s and 1990s making the potential danger of Mesothelioma extend well into the future. Former mechanics who have worked with asbestos brakes should be aware of the danger and symptoms as well as communicate the potential danger and any symptoms to their physician.

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 lawyer, Jason Coomer.

Texas Mesothelioma lawyer, Jason Coomer has worked on a wide variety of asbestos exposure cases

As a Texas Mesothelioma lawyer, Jason Coomer has worked on a wide variety of asbestos exposure cases and has had the opportunity to work with and against some excellent lawyers. Assembling litigation teams of Texas Mesothelioma law firms for the larger cases and building multimedia presentations for large trials, mediations, and hearings can be time consuming, but when you are dealing with someone's life and the devastation that can be caused by asbestos exposure, the effort is worth it. Individualized attention to a Texas Mesothelioma claim 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.

More information regarding asbestos-induced neoplasm originating in the mesothelial lining of the lung cavities.

Wrongful Death Claims - As a Texas asbestos death lawyer handling asbestos death claims, Mesothelioma Claim Lawyer, Jason Coomer assists the families of the deceased and assert their rights after a death caused by asbestos exposure. He helps the family pursue asbestos death claims including people injured in Texas or killed by corporations in Texas that sell dangerous asbestos products.

Premises Liability and Dangerous Condition Claims - Numerous people are injured and killed each year by dangerous asbestos conditions and hazardous hidden traps. Asbestos hidden in old refineries, chemical plants, schools, commercial buildings, homes, and other buildings can cause severe disease and even death. Many times property owners or premises maintainers know or through a reasonable inspection should have known about hidden asbestos products, but don't want to spend the money for proper asbestos abatement. When attempting to seek compensation from the premises owner/maintainer for negligently exposing workers to asbestos or fraudulently concealing asbestos, an injured person or the family of an injured person often needs assistance proving liability and damages as well as avoiding traps that many insurance adjusters set to avoid paying just claims.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) manages the Texas Asbestos Program. The main goal of this program is to safeguard people in Texas from the dangers of asbestos, a harmful substance often present in older structures, by providing education, enforcing regulations, conducting inspections, and ensuring compliance.

Contact Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer Jason Coomer for a Free Case Review

If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one through the wrongful actions of another, feel free to contact Texas 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.

Contact Jason Coomer, a Texas Mesothelioma lawyer, for a FREE CASE REVIEW. Further, reach out today by email or call 866-474-1477 (toll-free) to contact the Law Offices of Jason S. Coomer for more information on reviewing your asbestos exposure Mesothelioma claim.