Mesothelioma is one of the more prominent diseases that result from asbestos exposure and is an aggressive form of cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is an extremely rare disease, with doctors diagnosing roughly 3,000 to 4,000 cases in the United States each year. Asbestos exposure is one of the only causes of mesothelioma, and nearly all diagnosed cases of the disease are patients who were around the harmful substance.
If a doctor has diagnosed you or a loved one with mesothelioma, it is crucial to seek legal representation from a mesothelioma attorney. These attorneys have experience in asbestos litigation and know how to handle the legal process on your behalf.
Exposure occurs when the asbestos-containing products are disturbed, often in the course of cutting or demolition.
The tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When breathed in, they get trapped in the lungs and slowly accumulate, causing tissue inflammation and scarring.
Extreme cases lead to mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer. It can take 20-30 years for the disease to develop. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.
If you have been exposed to asbestos and are having symptoms such as shortness of breath, trouble breathing, fatigue, coughing, or unexplained weight loss, please schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately.
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer found in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles. Because symptoms can resemble those of several other conditions, such as the flu or pneumonia, they can be challenging to detect or diagnose.
Malignant mesothelioma has one proven cause—asbestos exposure and has no known cure.
People who were exposed to asbestos fibers from asbestos-containing products in the workplace and were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease may be eligible to recover compensation for their medical expenses and other losses through a mesothelioma lawsuit.
Corporations were often aware of a worker’s exposure but did nothing to warn or protect them.
Why should you hire a Chicago asbestos or mesothelioma attorney?
At Vogelzang Law, we believe those wrongfully exposed to asbestos deserve justice.
As you and your loved ones cope with your mesothelioma or lung cancer diagnosis, one of our experienced asbestos attorneys can offer you helpful knowledge and resources to obtain justice.
Among the various types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent. Pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops in the pleura, the thin, sheet-like membrane that covers the inner surface of the rib cage and lungs. As the cancer progresses, the pleura thickens and makes breathing difficult.
People with pleural mesothelioma frequently suffer from pleural effusion, a medical condition characterized by the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space, which is the thin fluid-filled area between the membrane covering the lungs and the membrane lining the chest wall. In fact, pleural effusion is one of the most common complications and presenting features of pleural mesothelioma.
Treatment is possible and often includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. For patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, where the tumor cannot be surgically removed with clear margins or without significant risk to vital structures, specific drug combinations have been approved as a first-line treatment option.
Pleural mesothelioma comes with these symptoms:
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the lining (mesothelium) of the abdomen (peritoneum), which covers the visceral organs. When asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs and trachea, they can make their way into the abdomen and cause cancer to develop. This condition causes the abdomen to fill with liquid and begin to swell.
Like pleural mesothelioma, treatment for this type of malignant mesothelioma is possible. Patients often require surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
Pericardial mesothelioma is relatively uncommon. Those with this condition develop cancerous cells in the heart’s lining. Treatment typically involves multiple approaches and may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and participation in clinical trials.
Patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma show the following symptoms:
Testicular mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis, is an extremely rare cancer that develops in the lining of the testes. Because this condition is so rare, patients may require multiple treatments to slow its progression. Unfortunately, testicular mesothelioma is known for its few visible symptoms. Research is still developing to explain the link between asbestos and tunica vaginalis tumors.
Treatment options for testicular mesothelioma may involve a multimodal approach. Surgery may be an option in some cases; however, it is not a guarantee. Treatment options may include:
Epithelial mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that originates from the epithelial cells, which form the lining of various internal organs in the body. This type of mesothelioma accounts for about 50-70% of all cases.
Epithelial mesothelioma is typically slow-growing and tends to respond better to treatment than other types of mesothelioma. However, it can still be a serious and life-threatening condition.
Symptoms of epithelial mesothelioma can include chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of imaging tests (such as X-rays or CT scans) and biopsies (taking a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope).
Treatment for epithelial mesothelioma may involve surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy, depending on the stage and severity of the cancer.
Prognosis can vary widely depending on various factors such as the stage of the cancer, the age and overall health of the patient, and the specific characteristics of the tumor.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common cell type. Patients with sarcomatoid mesothelioma often face a less favorable prognosis. Sarcomatoid tumors are composed of large spindle-shaped cells that form fibrous bundles within the mesothelium. These fibrous cells develop in the pleural membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is aggressive, grows quickly, and spreads rapidly to other areas of the body. It is resistant to treatment and considered the most deadly. If you’re at increased risk of developing mesothelioma and experiencing any mesothelioma symptoms, it’s imperative to talk to your physician about this aggressive cancer.
Biphasic mesothelioma indicates the presence of both sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells. Patients with this type of mesothelioma may face an uncertain prognosis, which can vary depending on the ratio of epithelioid to sarcomatoid cells. Biphasic tumors are more common in pleural rather than peritoneal mesothelioma patients. But no matter where it occurs, cancer treatment for this type of mesothelioma may be more challenging with this diagnosis.
If cancer spreads beyond the primary tumor in the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testes, the condition is deemed metastatic. Metastatic mesothelioma can affect multiple parts of the body and is often associated with stages three and four of the disease.
Because mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to other conditions like pneumonia or the flu, it can be difficult to detect and diagnose. Common symptoms of malignant mesothelioma may include:
The four common modalities to treat mesothelioma are:
In addition to these treatment options, other therapies may include photodynamic therapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell transplants.
Understanding Your Prognosis
Many factors and combinations of factors affect your mesothelioma cancer prognosis. Some of them include the following:
Only an experienced mesothelioma cancer physician can recommend the best treatment for the best possible malignant mesothelioma prognosis.
Recent Statistics on Mesothelioma Prognoses
Considered a rare cancer, malignant mesothelioma can be challenging to diagnose, not just because of its rarity but also because the symptoms you experience could be due to another type of cancer, such as lung cancer.
That said, regardless of whether it’s lung cancer or mesothelioma, it’s important you see a physician if you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms described above and you were exposed to asbestos 20 or more years ago.
Ways Your Chicago Doctor Can Diagnosis Mesothelioma
Physical Test:
Imaging Tests:
Thoracoscopic Surgical Biopsy:
Needle Biopsy:
Originally developed by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, the TNM staging system is the most accurate and the most commonly used system in mesothelioma diagnosis. It describes the tumor (T), the lymph nodes (N), and whether your cancer has spread, or metastasized (M).
The TNM staging system is very detailed, involving notations like T1N0MX or T3N1M0, where the tumors, lymph nodes, and metastasis are further quantified.
By performing appropriate tests, your physician can determine the stage of your mesothelioma. This is important because it:
Mesothelioma Diagnosis? Our Team of Chicago Mesothelioma Lawyers Are on Standby For You
No Chicago worker or resident should have to face the consequences of mesothelioma from asbestos exposure alone. If you or a family member was exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related illness, Vogelzang Law can help.
With over 20 years of experience, a proven track record, and an unwavering commitment to clients, we are ready to stand by your side.
Our Chicago asbestos exposure attorneys will work to hold negligent corporations accountable for their actions, recover the compensation you deserve, and help ease the overwhelming challenges of an asbestos-related diagnosis. We want you to focus on your health and your family while we take care of the rest.
Don’t wait. Contact Vogelzang Law today at (312) 466-1669 or through our online form for a free consultation to discuss your case and legal options for financial compensation. Justice is within reach, and we are here to help you fight for it.
One of the reasons why mesothelioma is almost always fatal is because it is an aggressive form of tumor. It is also complicated for medical professionals to diagnose this disease because patients may present themselves to the doctor with symptoms resembling other illnesses. Since mesothelioma is so rare, doctors may not initially consider running tests. The disease may have already advanced when the doctor learns more about the patient’s history and runs mesothelioma tests. Accordingly, the five-year survival rate for mesothelioma is approximately 12 percent, and most patients will not survive beyond two years once receiving a diagnosis. Treatment can slow the spread of mesothelioma, but there is no cure for the disease.
If you or a loved one has developed an illness because of asbestos exposure, you can file a claim or lawsuit seeking financial compensation. A mesothelioma attorney can help you with the entire process, whether it involves filing a claim or a lawsuit. Some potential defendants have long gone bankrupt because of their liability from asbestos. As a condition of their bankruptcy, they had to set up trust funds to pay claims like yours. A mesothelioma lawyer can file this claim on your behalf.
Suppose the company that made the product that exposed you to asbestos is still in business. In that case, you can file a product liability lawsuit against the company because it used an unsafe component. Depending on the laws of your state, you can sue your employer for exposing you to asbestos (although it is difficult under the laws of many states because workers’ compensation is sometimes the exclusive remedy as far as your employer’s involvement).
You can file an asbestos lawsuit as a personal injury or wrongful death claim. In many cases, the named plaintiff may pass away while the case is pending, so it will convert to a wrongful death claim. Your family will get paid for the losses that you have suffered when a loved one has. In addition, a survival action will also pay the estate for the harm that the deceased person suffered between the time of their injury and death.
Mesothelioma lawyers understand these kinds of cases. They work closely with medical professionals to gather crucial evidence, review medical records, and consult expert witnesses. This collaboration allows them to build a strong case on your behalf, demonstrating the link between your asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma. With their knowledge and experience, mesothelioma lawyers can present your case compellingly, increasing your chances of obtaining fair compensation.
A mesothelioma lawyer is essential when you receive a diagnosis of this devastating disease. They will provide you with the legal experience, emotional support, and guidance you need to successfully deal with the legal process. With their help, you can focus on your health and well-being while they secure the compensation you deserve.