Do You Have Asbestos Cancer Or Mesothelioma? What It Means For You And Possible Treatments

Do You Have Asbestos Cancer Or Mesothelioma? What It Means For You And Possible Treatments
By George S. Hughes

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer, or by its clinical term, mesothelioma, it means you have a form of cancer that damages the mesothelium which is a membrane that encases our lungs, chest, abdomen and heart. The heart is protected by mesothelial tissue that surrounds it and is dubbed the pericardium. The lungs and chest cavity is covered by the pleural mesothlium membrane, and the peritoneum is what covers the abdominal cavity using mesothelial tissue. Asbestos damages every one of these membranous cells, however the most typical is pleural mesothelioma, usually in the advanced stages of this disease the cancer spreads and attacks other areas of the body.

The main reason behind people contracting asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, but it can be brought on by other things, such as exposure to zeolite, which is a chemical also found in asbestos. The worrying thing is how prevalent asbestos is in many materials that around us every day, including cement, roof shingles, flooring, textiles, brake linings and insulation. The asbestos inserts itself via our respiratory system and settles within, making carcinogenic tumors. Individuals in the construction industry need to be especially careful about fighting asbestos, asbestos mine workers, workers at shipyards and mills are the most susceptible to asbestos cancer, thanks to continual exposure to it. It might take as long as 50 years for symptoms to display themselves, but unfortunately once mesothelioma is located the common person will have 1 - 2 years left to live, this is why early detection is important for any hope of treatment.

There are rules established by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) as to the legal amounts of asbestos that can be allowed in the workplace. Anybody who deals with the substance is forced to adhere to strict guidelines and wear protective equipment. Asbestos carried home on clothing has also been shown to affect family members of workers, therefore showers and a change out of protective clothing is demanded before workers can leave the workplace.

Successful treatments of mesothelioma differ greatly depending on many factors, the patient, when it is diagnosed, where it is located and the health of the patient. Quite a few patients will undergo surgery, and then chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Surgery will excise tumors but the normal health of the patient decides how effective this will be. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both efficient strategies to fight the symptoms, however he side effects from these treatments can cause issues themselves. Anybody who thinks they might have been exposed to asbestos for a long period of time should go in for regular check ups and look out for symptoms that could demonstrate the surfacing of mesothelioma, because remember if you catch the disease early your chances of survival increase dramatically.

To learn more about possible treatments for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma [http://www.mesotheliomatreatment-options.com/asbestos-cancer-mesothelioma/] go to the mesothelioma treatment options [http://www.mesotheliomatreatment-options.com/] blog and website.

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Top 5 Mesothelioma Settlement Process

Mesothelioma settlements are the benefits awarded to the victims who develops mesothelioma resulting from the extended exposure to asbestos. These types of settlements are mainly agreed upon by both parties in an avoidance of a possible trial. Due to the high degree of uncertainty in trials, these settlements are obvious way of getting the indemnification.

 
Mesothelioma Settlement Process

• Filling a lawsuit: At this stage, just before the trial, the lawyer of the defendant together with those of the plaintiff discuss all the aspects of the case. Sometimes in this stage the defendant might offer a settlement, which mostly happens when the defendant is trying to avoid the litigation expenses or if the defendant has been in another case of mesothelioma found guilty.

• Verdict: This mostly happens when both the plaintiff and defendants fails to agree to a settlement, the case proceed to trial. Asbestos, similar to other civil litigation, the jury delivers a verdict at the end of a trial. The results mainly depend on the level of liability of the defendant’s actions that resulted in harming the plaintiff. The verdict mostly considers the level of liability in determination of the compensation. The attorney’s work will be to prove that the parties sued are responsible for damages caused. Should the jurors agree, they will decide the total compensation to be paid?

• Compensation and damages: After the issuance of the verdict in the favor of the plaintiff, consideration is made on the damages to be compensated i.e. the actual economic loss, punitive damages are also considered by the jury. The above is mainly aimed setting a public example and also to deter the defendant from causing the injuries again. In most cases the higher the level of liability in accordance to the jury the larger the punitive damages. However in some states the compensatory damages is limited.

• Settlement decision: Any case can result to a large punitive damages but this is not guaranteed. In most cases the amount offered is far more less than the one expected, but at least a compensation is guaranteed. The settlement decision or the verdict decision is mostly informed by experienced mesothelioma attorney. Mostly it’s up to the client to accept or decline the settlement offer. Upon the acceptance of the offer the case is ended. But the question of accepting is mostly answered by either the plaintiff or the family to the plaintiff.

• Attorney’s payment: Finally after the case is won the amount to be paid to the attorney is agreed upon. It’s mostly a percentage of the total compensation paid to the plaintiff.

CONCLUSION: Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease caused by exposure to asbestos. It mostly caused by the negligence of one party to take the duty of care. In an effort to fine the negligence on the part of one party various lawsuit have been filed and compensation has been accorded, however payment is not the solution, solution is taking the responsibility of avoiding such exposure.