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Mesothelioma: Questions & Answers
At Morgan & Morgan, we understand that following a mesothelioma diagnosis, you and your family may have many questions about the diagnosis, prognosis and legal options that may be available to you. We’ve compiled this free article to address some of these concerns.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Morgan & Morgan today to find out more about how we can help.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that’s caused by exposure to asbestos. When asbestos particles are inhaled or ingested, they can be trapped in the body and, over time, can cause inflammation or cancerous tumors. Tumors related to asbestos exposure can develop on the protective lining of the lungs, abdomen and/or heart, and in rare cases, in the testicles (tunica vaginalis).
What Are the Three Different Types of Mesothelioma?
Lungs
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs. This is the most common form of the disease and accounts for more than 75 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses.
Abdomen
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma is less common as it only accounts for roughly 10 to 20 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses.
Heart
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart. This is the least common type of the disease and accounts for roughly one percent of mesothelioma diagnoses.
How Is Mesothelioma Treated?
Treatments for mesothelioma include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery. Most often, mesothelioma patients undergo chemotherapy, which involves using drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, though immunotherapy has also proven to be effective.
In some cases, your doctor may want perform different surgeries to remove tumors or parts of the lung, heart or abdomen where cancer cells have spread. Surgery may also be followed by radiation to stop the recurrence of cancer.
In addition to these traditional treatments, clinical trials may also be available for mesothelioma patients. You should talk to your doctor to determine which treatments are right for you.
Mesothelioma: Support Groups
National and local support groups can provide you and your family with comfort, assistance and advice.
How Can a Support Group Help Me?
Support groups provide a sense of community and allow cancer patients the chance to realize they are not alone.
Patients in support groups can:
- Exchange information as to which doctors and/or treatments are working best for them
- Offer advice on how to cope with the stress of a mesothelioma diagnosis
-Provide insight as to what others can expect during the course of their treatments
Furthermore, many groups provide educational programs and counseling and can be a good source for the latest information on mesothelioma.
How Do I Find a Support Group?
- Ask your doctor or nurse for recommendations
- Contact The American Cancer Society, (800)227-2345, www.cancer.org
Because mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease, you may wish to join a general cancer support group if you cannot find one that is specific to your illness.
What Are My Legal Options?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to file a lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers, sellers and providers, submit a claim to asbestos trust funds, or both. Your options will depend on the details specific to your case. If you served in the Armed Forces, you may also be able to file a claim with the Veterans’ Administration.
What’s an Asbestos Trust Fund?
The asbestos industry knew for decades that asbestos was dangerous, yet failed to protect their workers and their families. Now that the inherent dangers of asbestos are widely known and asbestos has been banned in products, many asbestos companies have gone out of business and filed for bankruptcy. As part of the bankruptcy process, many of these companies established asbestos trusts to compensate mesothelioma victims and their families.
Why Should I Take Legal Action?
Filing a lawsuit or submitting a claim to an asbestos trust fund can provide compensation to cover costly mesothelioma treatments, as well as travel expenses related to these treatments. You may also be able to collect compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. Although taking legal action cannot erase a diagnosis or bring a loved one back, it can provide financial stability for the patient and their family.
Will a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Be Expensive?
You will incur no out-of-pocket expenses if you hire Morgan & Morgan to represent you. We handle our cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means you will not be required to pay legal fees or expenses unless we recover compensation on your behalf. If your case is successful, we will receive a fee from your total recovery and reimbursement of our out-of-pocket expenses.
Our practice of handling asbestos claims on a contingency-fee basis helps mesothelioma victims receive the legal assistance they need without having to worry about the costs of hiring an attorney.
What Will an Attorney Do?
If you contact Morgan & Morgan about filing a mesothelioma claim, you will first speak to an experienced intake specialist about the patient’s work history and medical information. Once we have a basic understanding of the patient’s medical condition and employment experience, our lawyers may come and meet with you and begin an investigation into the possible sources of the asbestos exposure.
From there, we may file a lawsuit, submit a claim to asbestos trust funds, or both. While many mesothelioma lawsuits settle, our attorneys are experienced trial lawyers who have successfully litigated many asbestos cases before judges and juries throughout the country.
How Involved Do I Have to Be?
Aside from providing medical records and answering questions regarding your work history, you do not have to be involved in the mesothelioma claims process if you so choose. Because our asbestos attorneys have handled hundreds of mesothelioma cases, we understand that our clients may be unable or unwilling to attend trial or be actively involved as their claims move forward. With that being said, we provide our clients with frequent updates and are always accessible to answer any questions they may have.
John Morgan, the founder of Morgan & Morgan, has built this firm around the ideal that care for clients must be dedicated, comprehensive and compassionate.
This has been the foundation for a remarkably successful legal career and, while each case is different, has helped Morgan & Morgan obtain millions for
mesothelioma patients and their families.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of silicate minerals that are found naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable strands. Asbestos was used for decades in many industries because it does not conduct electricity, is resistant to fire and does not react easily with other chemicals.
In the early 1970s, the newly formed Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the first ban on asbestos-containing products.
In the years thereafter, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other federal agencies removed asbestos from virtually all products, though the mineral can still be found in some older materials and buildings.
Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?
Once asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled into the lungs, they cannot be extracted. Over time, the asbestos fibers can cause scarring and cell mutation, which can lead to diseases and conditions such as:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung Cancer
- Asbestosis
- Pleural Effusions
- Pleural Plaques
What Products Can Asbestos Be Found In?
Before some of its uses were prohibited, asbestos could be found in:
Was I Exposed to Asbestos?
Individuals who worked in the mid-1900s in any of the following occupations may have had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
- Protective Clothing, Gloves and Blankets
- Adhesives
- Automobile Brakes, Gaskets and Clutches
- Cables
- Capacitors
- Cements
- Fireproofing Materials
- Floor, Roofing and Ceiling Tiles
- Grinders
- Hydraulic Assemblies
- Asbestos Plant Workers
- Appliance Installers
- Textile Mill Workers
- Shipyard Workers and Longshoremen
- Naval Machinists
- Boiler Tenders
- Power Plant Workers
- Pipefitters and Steamfitters
- Insulators
- Oil Refinery Workers
- Steel Mill Workers
- HVAC technicians
- Electricians
- Insulation Materials
- Meters
- Pipe Covering
- Rope Packing
- Sheet Rock Compounds
- Steam Pipes
- Talcum Powder / Baby Powder
- Transite Siding
- Tubing
- Valves
- Wallboards
- Construction Workers
- Cement Plant Workers
- Auto and Aircraft Mechanics
- Chemical Plant Workers
- Plumbers
- Railroad Workers
- Painters and Drywallers
- Automotive Part Manufacturers
- Protective Clothing Manufacturers
- Road Builders
- Building Inspectors
- Paper and Glass Factory Workers
Am I at Risk for an Asbestos-Related Illness?
While illness is exceedingly rare, it is important to note that any exposure to asbestos, whether by inhaling or ingesting the mineral, can increase your risk of developing an asbestos-related illness.
In many cases where patients have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, the illness stemmed from their exposure to asbestos on the job many years before the onset of the disease. Workers may have also brought the mineral home on their skin, clothes and hair, potentially putting their family members at risk for asbestos-related illnesses.
Why Choose Morgan & Morgan?
America’s largest personal injury firm has the resources, workforce, and experience to give your case the best possible outcome. Some law firms will charge expensive rates for their service yet haven’t tried a case in years. Our attorneys, on the other hand, aren’t strangers to litigation and are prepared to work with your case every step of the way.
For the last three decades, Morgan & Morgan has helped thousands of families during their time of need and has recovered over $20 billion in damages along the way. We believe that no one should have to fight a bully on their own, which is why we’ll do anything in our power to help you hold the at-fault party responsible for their intolerable behavior. Overall, we’re a family-centered firm, and we’ll never allow someone to take advantage of your loved ones.
Contact Morgan & Morgan’s Mesothelioma Experts
If you still have mesothelioma questions after reading our e-book, please contact us today by filling out our free, no–obligation form. Our attorneys have years of experience fighting for people diagnosed with mesothelioma, and they may be able to help if you or someone you love was diagnosed.