Asbestosis mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, usually from inhaling friable or airborne asbestos fibers; since inhalation is the main path of exposure, the lungs are often the site of cancer, which can lay dormant for twenty or even forty years. The asbestos fibers scar the lung tissue, and eventually, the patient will experience shortness of breath, pain in the lung cavity, and weight loss. Chest pain and shortness of breath (due to hardening of the lungs) are evident in 90 percent of mesothelioma patients, but these symptoms usually don’t manifest for twenty years. The new methods published in The New England Journal of Medicine would detect cancer before the symptoms develop.
Current treatment courses for mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. One of the most unfortunate facts of this cancer is that by the time its symptoms appear, the cancer is well established and difficult to eradicate. The new treatments being developed are biologic therapy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy; some patients also choose to participate in clinical trials of other methods (a mesothelioma diagnosis often means you have six months or a year to live, and, patients are typically in the latter part of their lives; clinical trials of new drugs and methods are not so difficult to find volunteers for). Biologic therapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy treats cancer when it affects the abdominal cavity. An aggressive surgery removes part of the cavity lining, followed by a process of heating and flushing the area with anti-cancer drugs.
Litigation around asbestos exposure has been going on for decades; the first mesothelioma lawsuit was filed in 1966 in Beaumont, Texas, against Owens Corning. Evidence was released in 1977 that companies making asbestos-laden products knew about the hazards of the material as early as 1940. Many thousands of lawsuits have been filed since the late seventies, and continue to be filed, in the U.S. and other countries, particularly in Europe and Australia. Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a lawsuit; chances for success are greater if the patient can connect their exposure to a job site. Should the patient die before a settlement can be reached, family members can file suit on their behalf.
If you or anyone you know has been exposed to asbestos as a course of their employment and seen their health decline, the wise move is to contact an attorney. At Mike Agruss Law, we offer a free consultation. We’re a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered injuries or losses due to occupational hazards and negligence. A good personal injury attorney can hold the people who caused the illness responsible, obtaining compensation for medical debt, lost employment income, and suffering.
Mike Agruss Law, will handle your personal injury case quickly, advising you every step of the way; and our firm will not hesitate to go to trial. Mike Agruss Law, does not charge attorney’s fees unless we win the case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. There’s no risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.
