If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, support is available. Connecting with a qualified attorney who specializes in asbestos-related cases can help individuals and their families navigate the legal aspects of their situation. Additionally, seeking medical guidance and support from mesothelioma support groups can provide valuable resources and a sense of community during this challenging time.
A mesothelioma diagnosis can turn your world upside down.
As you’re probably learning, mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Because the primary source of asbestos exposure is through the workplace, you may recover compensation for your medical bills and other losses from your employer. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you.
Our team of asbestos attorneys at Vogelzang Law has helped people with mesothelioma in Chicago and nationwide file claims to get the resources they need for over 20 years. An experienced Chicago mesothelioma attorney can help you navigate the complicated mesothelioma claims process.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer that may affect the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Rarer is tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the testes or testicles.
Exposure to asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, whether by inhaling or ingesting the crushed or broken microscopic fibers during home renovation or building projects.
Mesothelioma affects the thin layer of tissue that lines the organs, made up of mesothelial cells. Malignant mesothelioma causes this lining to thicken and potentially spread, negatively affecting the functioning of the organ and other organs surrounding it. Mesothelioma tumors often produce fluid that fills the chest or abdomen.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are four main types of mesothelioma.
- Pleural mesothelioma – This is the most common type of mesothelioma. It can be in the chest cavity, on the surface of the lung, and in the diaphragm.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma – The second most common type of mesothelioma is found in the abdomen.
- Pericardial mesothelioma – Affects the lining of the heart.
- Tunica vaginalis mesothelioma – The rarest mesothelioma diagnosis, this affects the lining of the testicles, causing thickening of the ducts and glands in the testes.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Early symptoms of mesothelioma are very general and difficult to diagnose.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (lining of the chest) can include:
- Pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Cough
- Fever
- Sweating
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the face and arms
- Muscle weakness
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma (lining of the abdominal cavity) include:
- Belly pain
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fluid or a lump in the abdomen
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma might include:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Night sweats
Symptoms of tunica vaginalis mesothelioma:
- The main symptom of malignant tunica vaginalis mesothelioma is a painless scrotal mass with hydrocele, defined as swelling in the scrotum when fluid collects in the thin sac around the testicle.
Of course, other minor ailments cause these same symptoms. But if you worked with asbestos and have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos refers to a family of fibrous minerals made of silicate. Products like insulation, floor tiles, door gaskets, soundproofing, roofing, patching compounds, fireproof gloves, ironing board covers, and even brake pads once contained asbestos.
Many people are surprised to learn that asbestos is still legal to use in the United States. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which lobbies for the complete ban of asbestos in the U.S., reports that since 1900, the U.S. has consumed more than 31 million tons of asbestos.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a partial ban on asbestos in 1989, which banned the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of some asbestos-containing products and prevented new asbestos products from entering the marketplace.
In April 2019, the EPA issued a final rule that empowers the agency to review an extensive list of asbestos products no longer available in the market. This move enables the EPA to prohibit the use of these products or impose restrictions to safeguard public health.
However, U.S. companies still import asbestos from other countries to make some products, and some older homes and buildings still contain it. Up to 8 million Americans may have faced asbestos exposure. The danger of exposure to asbestos particles in building materials is greatest when they are removed.
People at risk for occupational asbestos exposure include miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, shipbuilders, gas mask manufacturers, and construction workers, particularly those involved with installing insulation.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Several studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma because the workers carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes. This is called secondary exposure.
The risk of developing mesothelioma is related to how much asbestos a person was exposed to and how long this exposure lasted. People exposed at an early age, for a long period, and at higher levels are most likely to develop this cancer. Asbestos fibers can also result in lung cancer.
The risk of lung cancer among people exposed to asbestos increases by seven times compared with the general population. Indeed, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are the three most frequent causes of death and disease among people with heavy asbestos exposure.
Mesotheliomas take a long time to develop. The time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years.
Where is Asbestos Found?
Products that may contain asbestos include:
- Vinyl flooring.
- Duct wrapping on heating and air conditioning systems.
- Insulation on hot water pipes and boilers, especially in homes built from 1920 to 1972.
- Some roofing, shingles, and siding.
- Ceiling and wall insulation in some homes built or remodeled between 1945 and 1978.
- Sheetrock taping compounds and some ceiling materials.
Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
The experienced mesothelioma lawyers at Vogelzang Law understand that mesothelioma patients may hold many companies liable for exposing people to asbestos. Asbestos-contaminated workplaces can expose employees over time, as can products that make their way into people’s homes.
Because it usually takes a long time between asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma diagnosis, the source of exposure is hard to pinpoint. Our legal team has tackled many of the bad actors who knowingly exposed the public to dangerous asbestos. We can take the time to trace your exposure to find liability.
While a lawsuit can’t change your mesothelioma diagnosis or provide you with a cure, a settlement can ease your financial burden and allow you to focus on your loved ones.
A mesothelioma lawsuit also is a path to justice, allowing you to hold manufacturers accountable for their actions. The asbestos industry concealed the adverse health effects of asbestos for years while promoting it as a miracle product. The asbestos industry actively lobbied against health and safety regulations to maintain the perception that asbestos was safe, while knowingly putting lives in danger. As a result, it exposed many people to asbestos, and severely affected their health.
Vogelzang Law Is Committed to Your Mesothelioma Journey
At Vogelzang Law, mesothelioma is personal. The firm was founded by Nicholas Vogelzang, whose father, Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, MD, FASCO, FACP, was a renowned Chicago oncologist who developed the first life-extending treatment for mesothelioma: a chemotherapy drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin.
Mesothelioma is always fatal, and before Dr. Vogelzang’s groundbreaking work, patients had no treatment options.
Dr. Vogelzang was a founding board member of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, dedicated to providing mesothelioma patients and their caregivers with support and guidance and funding mesothelioma research.
Vogelzang Law has a unique understanding of the personal challenges of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma patients and their families suffer a devastating health crisis through no fault of their own. Each of our clients is a person, not a diagnosis; they deserve justice and dignity.
Because mesothelioma usually takes a long time to develop after exposure, tracing back the source can take time. Our experienced team of asbestos lawyers can uncover the responsible party.
While investigating claims, we learned that manufacturers and corporations often knew about the danger but still exposed consumers and workers to asbestos. The Chicago-based team of Vogelzang Law mesothelioma lawyers have seen this many times. We know where to look. Let us help you hold the culprits accountable while you concentrate on your health and family.
Were You or a Loved One Diagnosed With Mesothelioma? Contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers at Vogelzang Law today.
If doctors diagnose you with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, we take your diagnosis seriously.
At Vogelzang Law, our mesothelioma & asbestos lawyers have secured more than $200 million in verdicts and settlements for more than 250 clients.
We will partner with you every step of the way, from consultation to potential litigation, to ensure you leave your case in the best hands possible.
Our primary offices are located in Chicago and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we handle mesothelioma claims nationwide. Call us at (312) 466-1669 or (616) 319-1874 or fill out the contact form on our website for your free consultation. There is no cost for the consultation or to file your lawsuit.
