Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Diagnosing an asbestos-related disease can be challenging due the diseases’ long latency period. Symptoms of these diseases may not arise for 10, 20, or even 50 years after asbestos exposure.

When symptoms do begin to appear, they are often similar to those of less serious conditions and respiratory illnesses, making asbestos-related diseases even more difficult to accurately diagnose.

The three most common asbestos-related diseases are mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Listed below are the most common symptoms related to each disease. If you believe you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

There are three main types of mesothelioma, each affecting a different part of the body. Symptoms vary depending on the type of mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, or the pleura.

Early symptoms often include:

• Chest or lower back pain
• Shortness of breath

Other symptoms may include:

• Persistent hoarseness or dry coughing
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty swallowing
• Painful breathing
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of the abdomen, or the peritoneum.

Early symptoms often include:

• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Change in bowel habits

Other symptoms may include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Bowel obstructions
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Anemia

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that develops within the lining of the heart, or the pericardium.

Symptoms may include:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Heart palpitations or murmurs
• Difficulty breathing
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Fatigue

Symptoms of Other Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestosis Symptoms

Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease.

Symptoms of asbestosis may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Cracking sound when breathing
• Persistent cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Swelling in neck or face

Lung Cancer Symptoms

The ratio of lung cancer diagnosed in people directly exposed to asbestos is significantly higher than in the general population. Some of the more common symptoms of asbestos lung cancer include:

• Persistent hoarseness or coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Anemia

Veterans Day and Mesothelioma

Each year on Veterans Day, Americans honor the approximately 22 million veterans in the country who have served in the armed forces. More than a million of these men and women have served in two wars, and more than 100,000 have served in three, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 1954, November 11 is the annual day to pay tribute to and thank these brave men and women who have given so much to their country.

For many, Veterans Day is an excuse to go shopping and enjoy the sales, however for others, the day is about so much more than that. Many communities celebrate with parades and ceremonies, directly honoring the people in their towns who have served. The federal government honors veterans, too, with an annual proclamation from the President of the United States. “From the Minutemen to our post-9/11 generation, these heroes have put their lives on the line so that we might live in a world that is safer, freer and more just, and we owe them a profound debt of gratitude,” President Barack Obama said last year.

But, many veterans still suffer health consequences as a result of putting their lives on the line, even if they returned from service seeming healthy. Many were exposed to asbestos, a deadly carcinogen that was once a commonly used, fire-resistant building material. Asbestos products were used all over the country until the 1970s, including in construction materials used on military bases. This exposure has resulted in high incidences of mesothelioma among the veteran community.

It can take years after the asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to be diagnosed. Many former military personnel may not even know of his or her exposure. Even very recently, military members were potentially exposed to asbestos. For example, in both of the Gulf Wars of the past 20 years, demolition of old buildings in the Middle East could have exposed soldiers to asbestos through the inhalation of toxic airborne fibers.

Cooney and Conway has created a Veterans Guide to Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. The guide includes information about potential exposure, as well as resources for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you believe that you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos, you may have legal rights. Contact Cooney and Conway, a law firm that focuses on helping those with lung cancer and mesothelioma. 

- See more at: http://www.cooneyconway.com/blog/veterans-day-and-mesothelioma#sthash.8EMaXdru.dpuf

Lung Cancer in the Veteran Community

Lung Cancer

Though it is now widely recognized as a cancer-causing toxin, asbestos once was a very popular building material, commonly used in hundreds of products and countless structures across the United States until the 1970s. (Asbestos is still used in the U.S., but to a much lesser extent.)

Asbestos was often used in construction materials on military bases, regularly exposing members of the U.S. armed services to the toxin regularly. Members of the Navy were especially highly exposed to the toxin. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs lists a vast array of occupations that could have resulted in exposure to asbestos: work on insulation and shipyards, construction, carpentry, mining, milling, building demolition, and the manufacturing and installation of roofing, flooring and other products. Even though asbestos is no longer a regularly used building material, armed forces members who have recently served in countries such as Iraq in the Middle East during either of the two last Gulf wars may have been exposed during building demolition.

Unfortunately, asbestos exposure also carries beyond direct work with asbestos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that secondary exposure could occur if, for example, an electrician worked in a navy shipyard. Even if he did not touch or go near the asbestos, if he shared workspace with those who did, he could be exposed.

Because of this high level of exposure, many veterans in the United States have developed lung cancer and mesothelioma. An estimated 40,000 cancer cases are reported each year to the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry, according to a 2012 report published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The researchers examined data from 2007 to provide a comprehensive picture of cancer amongst veterans. They found that in 2007, 18.8 percent of the VA cancer patients were diagnosed with lung or bronchial cancer, the second most common kind of cancer in the group, followed only by prostate cancer.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers some services to veterans who are worried about having been exposed during their service, including lung cancer screenings. There are also local support groups available to veterans with cancer offered through some chapters of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

To learn more read Cooney and Conway’s Veterans Guide to Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. If you believe that either you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, contact Cooney and Conway, a law firm specializing in lung cancer and mesothelioma, to find out more about your legal rights.

- See more at: http://www.cooneyconway.com/blog/lung-cancer-veteran-community#sthash.bLGBHurj.dpuf

Key Points To Consider When Choosing A Mesothelioma And Asbestos Attorney

Will the firm handle all aspects of your case? It is important to ensure that your prospective attorney will actually file your case and not simply send it off to some other law firm. At Brayton Purcell LLP, we will keep your case, work up your case, and handle any settlement or litigation. We are NOT a referral firm like many of the mesothelioma ad firms you see on TV.

Get the information you desire: An initial consultation with a prospective attorney should be informative — ask frank questions.

Seek legal advice as soon as possible: Contacting an attorney as soon as you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or when you know that you have been exposed to asbestos can help preserve a wide range of legal options.

Does the firm have experience with these types of cases? Make sure your prospective attorney has experience in taking asbestos or mesothelioma cases to trial.

Does the firm have the proper resources? Your prospective attorney should have the information and resources needed to help you prove your asbestos claim.

When Should I Contact A Lawyer Regarding Asbestos Exposure?

This question is a particularly important in cases involving toxic substances. Unlike a car wreck, for example, where injuries are often readily apparent, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may take decades to develop. Cancers such as mesothelioma may not develop until five to 70 years after the initial exposure.

Asbestos fibers are microscopic and dangerous levels of dust are often not recognizable to the person working with or around asbestos, the person who washes the clothing of a loved one who has worked near other workers using asbestos containing products, but did not himself work directly with asbestos containing products.  Due to their microscopic and invasive nature, harmful exposure to asbestos fibers may occur without a person ever knowing it.

For both legal and medical reasons, as soon as you are aware that you were exposed to products containing asbestos and may be at risk of developing a serious disease, you should consult an experienced lawyer to determine what your legal rights are, and when and how they should best be protected.

Settlement Or Trial? Why Experience Matters.

While we always try to settle our cases for an appropriate amount without the risk and expense of trial, we strongly believe that the best asbestos trial lawyers achieve the best results. Defendants and their attorneys respect and regularly evaluate the trial skills of a plaintiff's lawyer when deciding how to respond to a lawsuit. When defendants know that they are dealing with an experienced mesothelioma attorney who is able to efficiently try a case and obtain a verdict, they are much more likely to be engaged in settlement negotiations.

Lawsuits involving asbestos exposure benefit from a law firm that has experience with jury trials, an understanding of construction and building practices, and keeps up to date with cutting-edge medical science. When it comes time to choosing legal counsel, your attorney of choice should not only have a proven track record in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation, settlement and trials, but he or she should also have a substantial commitment to asbestos and mesothelioma cases as an integral part of his or her practice.

What Is Our Track Record In Mesothelioma And Asbestos Cases?

Our trial attorneys have achieved some of the largest verdicts ever handed down in California in an asbestos case — over $70 million to a retired U.S. Navy machinist's mate suffering from mesothelioma and over $41 million to a retired California plumber also suffering from mesothelioma. We have also obtained the largest asbestos rewards inOregon for asbestosis and Washington for mesothelioma. In Utah, we obtained the only asbestos verdict ever handed down — a $5.2 million verdict for a woman suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.

While we cannot guarantee the outcome of any case, our attorneys vigorously fight for the rights of our clients. See our record of court successes for a more detailed list of verdicts involving mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other personal injury claims. We try more asbestos cases than any other plaintiffs firm.

Putting Our Resources To Work

Our legal team has created an extensive computer database of information on asbestos products and manufacturers from around the world. This massive collection runs in excess of 34,000 lineal feet, over 10,000 volumes of depositions and transcripts, and more than 6 million pages of data on asbestos work site conditions, asbestos product identification and other information necessary to maximize the value of a mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis or other asbestos-related disease case.

We are able to cross-reference the specifics of a client's mesothelioma or asbestos case with this invaluable evidence previously identified in thousands of cases. This unique ability ensures that your case will be built upon the strongest evidence available to help you achieve the best possible results.

Contact The Lawyers At Brayton Purcell LLP

We would be pleased if you would consider our attorneys when making a decision on whom to hire for your asbestos disease lawsuit. Please don't be fooled into hiring a so-called "mesothelioma firm" from a television commercial. Most of those "firms" are little more than referral services. To find out how we can help you, contact us online or through our main offices in California, Oregon and Utah. We handle mesothelioma and asbestos cases in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Iowa, and throughout the nation, associating with high-quality local counsel when necessary.

Steps To Finding The Best Lawyer or Law Firm

Choosing a mesothelioma attorney is not a task that should be done in haste. You should never hire a lawyer just because a law firm’s TV ad was loud and flashy. There are many attorneys and law firms competing to handle asbestos or mesothelioma cases, but some are inexperienced newcomers who might not be able to handle your case properly. You need to separate the good lawyers from the not-so-good ones. But with so many law firms and attorneys out there, how do you find the right one?

1: Research 

The first step is to do research on mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys. This sounds easy enough, but it requires time, patience, and energy. These three assets might be in short supply, especially when you are tired and don’t feel well, yet it’s important to make sure you seek out the mesothelioma law firm for your particular case and needs. Even if they don’t, they can help you conduct Internet searches and make lists of law firms or attorneys who may be qualified to handle your case.

Whether you conduct your own research or delegate it to others, look for attorneys with the right qualifications and established histories of dealing with asbestos law. Don’t make a list that’s too long. Select a manageable number of prospective mesothelioma law firms and ask for a case evaluation as quickly as possible. If a law firm can’t evaluate your case in a timely manner, there is a chance they may be too busy to take on your case. With cases as sensitive as mesothelioma lawsuits, you’ll need an attorney who not only has the experience, but also the time and effort to dedicate to your case.

2: Internet 

Looking on the Internet is a convenient and relatively simple method to find the best attorney. The search terms “asbestos lawyer” and “mesothelioma attorneys” yield literally thousands of search engine results. Though the sheer number of lawyer websites is staggering, you can figure out the better ones simply by reading the information provided on home pages and FAQ sections. An experienced mesothelioma law firm’s website should provide you detailed information regarding all aspects of asbestos-related diseases, state statute of limitations, pertinent information regarding lawsuits, and answers to important questions you may have.

3. Comprehensive Websites 

If the information is well-written, free of hyperbole, and covers detailed information, add the firms’ names to your list of possible choices. Steer clear of websites belonging to attorneys who make exaggerated promises about how much you will win if you retain them to handle your case. Although it’s important to seek out a law firm’s track record of previous successful mesothelioma lawsuits, no law firm can guarantee exactly how much you’ll win.

Keep in mind, however, that although mesothelioma legal cases were relatively obscure until the number of documented mesothelioma cases rose in the 1990s and 2000s, they are usually lucrative.Yet, there are an array of factors that affect each case, such as the stage of the disease, how you long you were exposed, and much more. Therefore, it’s not possible for a mesothelioma law firm to promise you a set amount of money beforehand. The best lawyers will never make you false promises of how much compensation you can win.

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Hiring the Best Mesothelioma Attorney

If this is the first time that you have needed to hire an attorney, you need to know that asbestos and mesothelioma cases should not be handled by just anyone with a law practice. Like car accident or nursing home abuse lawyers, asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys specialize in a narrow niche of personal injury law, with a unique focus on asbestos-related lawsuits.

This field is extremely complex and requires knowledge about the asbestos industry, knowledge of mesothelioma treatments, exposure to asbestos, and investigative methods to determine who is at fault. The average personal injury lawyer might have a general idea about cases related to asbestos, but may not have the experience or skill sets to handle your case in a way that an accomplished mesothelioma lawyer can. A mesothelioma attorney has the right tools and experience to help you deal with the complexities of your case and to help you win fair compensation for your asbestos-related illness.

Keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all mold which produces mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers. Every individual lawyer has a unique method of handling cases, and each law firm has its own set of legal strategies in dealing with asbestos law. Some lawyers have dealt with cases such as yours for years and understand first-hand about the disease, including the harsh symptoms of mesothelioma and what victims have to live with on a daily basis.

On the other hand, other attorneys are newcomers to the world of mesothelioma law, and although they may have asbestos-related training, they lack the experience of actual cases. Choosing the right lawyer to handle your case can be a challenge, especially if you’re stressing over your illness, your bills, and how this is affecting your loved ones. However, as previously mentioned, if you arm yourself with knowledge and options, finding a good lawyer doesn’t have to be difficult.

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Finding the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer or any other illness caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos, there are many decisions you must make. Of course, your top priority will be taking care of yourself and focusing on the medical aspects and mesothelioma treatment choices. You will also have to deal with an array of issues, such as how much will it cost to treat your asbestos-related illness and how will it affect your family. In the first few days, you might not even think about hiring a mesothelioma lawyer because of your pressing emotional and medical concerns.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other illness due to asbestos, keep in mind that you may be entitled to substantialcompensation. We invite you to use our Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find a top mesothelioma lawyer in your area. With over $30 billion currently in asbestostrust funds, now is the right time to take the first step in determining what you may qualify for.

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