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Chicago Mesothelioma Lawyers

What you need to know

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We Are Your Leading Chicago Mesothelioma Law Firm

Nicholas J. Vogelzang
Nicholas J. Vogelzang

Mesothelioma is an extremely serious type of cancer that is almost always fatal. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you need an experienced mesothelioma law firm on your side.

Vogelzang Law is one of the leading mesothelioma law firms in the country, and we have a proven track record of success. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients in the Chicago area and are ready to put our experience to work for you.

Contact our personal injury law firm in Chicago today to learn more about our legal services or to get a free case evaluation.

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About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer found in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles. Because symptoms can be similar to those of several other conditions like the flu or pneumonia, they can be difficult to detect or diagnose.

This rare cancer is caused by prolonged asbestos exposure and has no known cure.

Quick Medical Facts:
  • Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
  • Men are four times more likely to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis than women.
  • Symptoms usually take between 20 to 50 years to develop.
  • The average mesothelioma patient is over the age of 70.
  • According to the NIH, eleven million people were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1978. Gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer may also be linked to asbestos exposure, but more research is needed.
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Our Legal Process for Handling Chicago Mesothelioma Cases

Malignant mesothelioma has one proven cause—asbestos exposure.

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.

Vogelzang Law has helped over 200 families with asbestos-related litigation.

Our team of top-notch attorneys will prioritize you as we guide you through each step of the process.

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Types of Mesothelioma

pleural mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancer in the lining of your lungs or chest cavity

peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Cancer in the lining of your abdomen

pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma

Cancer in the lining of your heart

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Symptoms of Mesothelioma

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:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent coughing
  • Pain under the rib cage
  • Abdominal pain, swelling or lumps
  • Prolonged hoarseness
  • Persistent constipation
  • Excessive blood clotting indicated by redness, swelling and pain
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MESOTHELIOMA CANCER IN CHICAGO

The four common modalities to treat mesothelioma are:

  • Surgery – This modality includes two different techniques:
    • Using a scalpel to cut out the tumor and surrounding tissue.
    • Injecting chemicals to create scar tissue to prevent fluid build-up in the affected area.
  • Radiation Therapy – Treating the malignancy with X-rays and other forms of radiation.
  • Chemotherapy – A treatment that uses a combination of chemicals known to shrink tumors.
  • Targeted Therapy – Using drugs or other substances to target cancer cells.
  • Immunotherapy – A newer treatment using a person’s immune system to fight cancer. It can be done in a couple of different ways:
    • Stimulating or boosting the natural defenses inherent in your immune system so it works harder and smarter to attack the cancer cells.
    • Utilizing lab-made substances that imitate immune system components and use them to restore or enhance your existing immune system to find and attack cancer cells.


In addition to these treatment options, other therapies may include photodynamic therapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell transplants.

mesothelioma cancer prognosis

Many factors and combinations of factors affect your mesothelioma cancer prognosis. Some of them include the following:

  • The type of malignant mesothelioma – This includes where it is located in the body
  • The stage of mesothelioma cancer – A “stage” refers to the size of the cancer and where it is located in your body
  • The grade of mesothelioma cancer – A “grade” refers to how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope. Grading provides clues about how quickly the cancer will likely grow and spread.
  • Certain traits of the mesothelioma cancer cells
  • Your age and how healthy you were before your malignant mesothelioma cancer – Generally speaking, the younger and healthier you are, the better your prognosis
  • How you respond to treatment


Only an experienced mesothelioma cancer physician can recommend the best treatment for the best possible malignant mesothelioma prognosis.

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Mesothelioma Staging

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 tumors (T), lymph nodes (N), and how your cancer has spread, or metastasized (M).

The TNM staging system is very detailed, involving notations like  T1N0MX or T3N1M0 where the tumors, the lymph nodes, and the metastasis is further quantified.

By conducting the appropriate tests, your physician can determine the staging of your mesothelioma. This is important because it:

  • Qualifies how serious your cancer is and your chances of survival
  • Helps your physician plan the best treatment for you
  • Enables your physician to identify clinical trials that may be treatment options for you
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Recent Statistics On Mesothelioma Prognoses

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 tumors (T), lymph nodes (N), and how your cancer has spread, or metastasized (M).

The TNM staging system is very detailed, involving notations like  T1N0MX or T3N1M0 where the tumors, the lymph nodes, and the metastasis is further quantified.

By conducting the appropriate tests, your physician can determine the staging of your mesothelioma.

Recent Statistics On Mesothelioma Prognoses

Considered a rare cancer, malignant mesothelioma can be difficult 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.

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Ways Your Chicago doctor can diagnose mesothelioma

Some techniques your doctor in Chicago may use to diagnose your mesothelioma include:

physical tests
Physical tests:
  • Lung function test
imaging tests
Imaging test, which may include:
  • Chest X-ray
  • CT Scan
  • PET Scan
  • MRI
Thoracoscopic surgical biopsy:
  • General anesthetic is administered.
  • An endoscope is inserted into the chest cavity through the chest wall.
  • Various types of biopsy tools can be inserted through the endoscope to obtain a sample of lung tissue for examination.
  • Often referred to as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) biopsy.
needle biopsy
Needle biopsy:
  • Numbing medication is administered.
  • A long, thin, hollow needle is inserted into the pleura. 
  • Small samples are taken out for examination.
  • Needle biopsies are also used to retrieve samples of lymph nodes between the lungs to test for cancerous cells.
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Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
Our team of Chicago Mesothelioma Lawyers
is on standby for you.

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