Mesothelioma lung cancer is a devastating condition with over two thousand new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. and many thousands more worldwide. Making matters worse, once mesothelioma has been correctly diagnosed, the average life expectancy of a victim is only eighteen months. Medical science has developed a number of treatments to help mesothelioma lung cancer victims including surgery, chemotherapy, gene therapy, and several others but for now, there is no cure.
As the amount of mesothelioma cases has risen and people have become more aware of the causes, there has been a corresponding rise in mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuits brought to trial. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer, the medical bills can be very steep and it is critically important to find an experienced mesothelioma lung cancer attorney to help you recover your expenses.
Although there have been rare cases reported where people with little or no exposure to asbestos have been diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer, the overwhelming majority of victims are people who worked with asbestos in some way or lived with someone who did. Generally, mesothelioma lung cancer cannot be diagnosed until decades after exposure when remedial measures are limited.
Mesothelioma develops in the body’s mesothelium which are membranes surrounding most of the internal organs. The mesothelial tissues act as a protective covering and allow organs like the lungs to expand and contract easily when we breathe. There are three main types of mesothelioma with pleural mesothelioma affecting the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma affecting the abdominal organs, and pericardial mesothelioma affecting the heart. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, anemia, and others which can easily be mistaken by victims and medical professionals alike as signs of other ailments.
If you wish to seek reparations for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, and other cancer-related losses, you may be able to file a mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuit in a court of law. Asbestos was used to manufacture a wide range of different products and many companies knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure but did little to protect their employees. Depending on the particulars of the case, they may be held liable for losses arising from mesothelioma lung cancer.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the first step for receiving possible reparations is hiring an experienced mesothelioma lung cancer lawyer to assist and guide you through the process. Even if the mesothelioma victim has passed away, you may still be able to file a lung cancer lawsuit but it is in your best interests to speak with a mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible and learn about your options.