Facts Sheet About Mesothelioma
The U.S. National Library of Medicine characterizes mesothelioma as a “rare but serious” type of cancer. And yet, unless you or a family member has this condition, it is rarely ever discussed, and not very well known. Some of the major points to be aware of regarding mesothelioma are:
- The major, if not sole, cause of malignant mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers.
- A significant portion of cases – up to 20% initially – are misdiagnosed as lung cancer, which can be problematic – lung cancer affects the lung itself, while mesothelioma is a tumor in the membrane surrounding the lungs, heart or stomach.
- Mesothelioma takes an extremely long time to manifest. Depending on the rate of exposure, between 20 and 50 years can elapse between asbestos exposure and diagnosis.
- The rate of diagnosis is higher in men than in women by almost a 2:1 margin. There are many reasons for this.
Mesothelioma Videos
Common Types of Injuries Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma can appear in several different areas of the body. The most common are in the lungs, heart and stomach, but it does appear elsewhere. The symptoms can be difficult to diagnose simply because they mirror so many other, less serious conditions – for example, breathing issues, coughing, constipation, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Also, asbestos exposure can give rise to several conditions, not all of which fall under the umbrella of mesothelioma. Often, they can occur in addition to the cancer itself. Some of the conditions commonly occurring due to asbestos exposure are:
Malignant mesothelioma
The mesothelium is the membrane that covers several internal organs, and mesothelioma is when tumors develop within it, rather than in the organ itself. The prognosis with this form of cancer is often poor, though that is partly due to the fact that it is almost always not detected until cancer cells have metastasized.
Asbestosis
It is a respiratory disease that causes scarring in the lungs and difficulty breathing, but there are no tumors, and the prognosis is generally good, though it does increase one’s odds of developing mesothelioma in future.
Lung and other forms of cancer
Other cancers can be caused by asbestos exposure, differentiated from mesothelioma. Many lung cancers tend to be of the small-cell variety, though non-small cell varieties are not uncommon.
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While a mesothelioma lawsuit cannot prevent individuals from acting carelessly, a lawsuit can provide monetary damages to compensate you for the injuries such conduct causes. Contact Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C., your Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorneys for a free consultation.
Investigating Mesothelioma Claims Requires Resources
The defendant must be shown to have had a legal duty of care toward you, as stated, and that duty has to have been breached. You must be able to show that the defendant’s conduct was a direct cause of your harm, and the harm must be tangible.
Evidence is of paramount importance, but evidence may also encompass testimony. Very often, defense attorneys will attempt to claim for a myriad of reasons that their client is not liable. One of the most common defenses is that you have been misdiagnosed – that their client is not liable because your mesothelioma diagnosis simply because it is incorrect. However, with the appropriate evidence and testimony, you can prove the diagnosis correct
When you have been diagnosed with a serious condition, you need an advocate who can help shoulder the burden. The firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. has the knowledge to represent you and your interests in the most complete way possible. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
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$4.2 million
Recovering $4.2 million for a woman who was exposed to asbestos, and developed mesothelioma, as a result of her father’s job as a boilermaker;
$3.8 million
Recovering $3.8 million on the behalf of a woman exposed to asbestos during home construction;
$3.7 million
Recovering $3.7 million for an electrician who was exposed to asbestos during the course of his work; and
$3.3 million
Recovering $3.3 million on the behalf of a worker who was exposed to asbestos during his work in carpentry.
While results in prior cases do not guarantee similar results in your case the following listing of recent case victories should hopefully provide you with the assurance that we are experienced and know how to get you the compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Incidents
Whether your injury requires a lengthy hospital stay or allows you to return home the same day, the costs associated with treating and healing your injury can quickly escalate. The law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. i devoted to seeing that you obtain the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled.
