Mesothelioma Law Firms

Archive for August, 2010

Mesothelioma cancer has an extremely low survival rate, with an expected life expectancy of only eight to twelve months after a mesothelioma diagnosis. The sooner one is able to discover the cancer the longer the amount of time one may have. Also, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma can give you more valuable time.

Since mesothelioma symptoms often occur after the disease had evolved into its deadly form, it is important to get a mesothelioma diagnosis before the onset of any signs.

Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, cough, fever, weight loss and chronic fatigue. People who can catch the disease early enough have even experienced a five-year survival rate – but time is of the essence.

Who should attempt to get a mesothelioma diagnosis?

Anyone who has been around asbestos for prolonged period of time.

This includes workers, manufacturers, and family members who came in contact with the clothing or individuals who worked around the hazardous material.

If mesothelioma symptoms lead you to the doctor’s office and ends up in a positive mesothelioma diagnosis, you do have some treatment options at your disposal.

Below are three kinds of treatment options for patients with malignant mesothelioma diagnosis:

1) Surgery to take out the cancer

2) Chemotherapy, which is the use of drugs to abate the cancer

3) Radiation Therapy – high does x-ray or high energy ray cells kill the cancer cells

Two or more treatments can be used to fight the invading cancer cells but as stated above, one usually doesn’t have much time let after mesothelioma symptoms develop and a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed.

Even with all the aid you can receive, more often than not, you only have a few years left. Your remaining time could be fraught with pain and worry over your family’s future. A mesothelioma attorney could be the answer to your problems.

With a mesothelioma attorney to represent you, you will be able to get compensation for medical bills and make sure your family is financially secure. With the right attorney at the helm, you can concentrate on the things that are most important to you and your family. This is also important, as stress can make or break your fragile health.

Worry can rob you of precious moments after a mesothelioma diagnosis – a good mesothelioma attorney will fight on your behalf, allowing you to spend time with family, loved ones and people who matter.

www.mesovideolibrary.com – When this interview was taped, Craig Kozicki had been living with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure, for 9 years. In this mesothelioma video, his wife Shelly gives the most recent news about his heroic fight against mesothelioma as of 2007. Sadly, on April 1, 2009, Craig Kozicki passed away, ending his courageous fight against mesothelioma. Learn more about Shelly Kozicki’s story by viewing this video at http If you have questions about dealing with mesothelioma, call us at 866-404-5805 or e-mail us at info@mesovideolibrary.com.

www.mesovideolibrary.com – Craig Kozicki was exposed to asbestos during his childhood and throughout his life. He later developed peritoneal mesothelioma. His wife Shelly recounts his numerous points of exposure that led to his development of mesothelioma. Learn more about Shelly’s story by viewing this video on our website www.mesovideolibrary.com Call us at 866-404-5805 or e-mail us at info@mesovideolibrary.com for more information about asbestos exposure.

Founding attorneys Jeffrey B. Simon, Ron C. Eddins and David C. Greenstone have tirelessly advocated for the rights of those with serious diseases such as mesothelioma or leukemia caused by hazardous and wrongful exposure to asbestos or benzene. SEG Law also fights the pharmaceutical industry on behalf of those harmed by dangerous prescriptions or medical devices. Our experience is shown by our highly successful track record in plaintiffs’ litigation. We’ve won substantial financial compensation for our clients, and our reputation for tenacity and courtroom success often leads to companies settling before trial. For decades it’s been known that exposure to asbestos causes Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer. Many manufacturers knew that asbestos was harmful but continued to produce and sell asbestos products anyway. Today, there are laws to protect victims from asbestos and hold manufacturers responsible for their actions. Learn about your rights as a victim of asbestos exposure. Benzene: Exposure to benzene, a Class A carcinogen, causes serious diseases such as Aplastic Anemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and several types of leukemia. Many workers have been negligently exposed to benzene and have a right to seek financial compensation for their illnesses. If you’ve been exposed to benzene, here’s what you need to know. Commercial Law: Has a party in your business relationship broken their contract? Has a company intentionally deceived you about the safety or quality of their …

Mesothelioma is a lethal form of cancer, usually found in the lungs, that has inextricably been linked to asbestos fibers. In fact, the story of mesothelioma is really the story of asbestos. Asbestos fibers are tiny particles that can be inhaled by a worker who is exposed to asbestos, or a family member that is exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on clothing and shoes. One of the critical elements of this story is the fact that mesothelioma often develops twenty to fifty years after asbestos exposure.

Asbestos has been used in many types of construction materials including insulation, roofing, and pipe fittings. It was used to insulate electrical wiring; was an important component of caulking and joint compounds; was incorporated into flooring and ceiling tiles; auto brakes and engine gaskets. It has great insulating properties for both sound and temperature, is resistant to water and electricity and acts as a flame retardant.

Widespread use of asbestos took off in the 1880s. By the 1930s, medical personnel were beginning to recognize a potential link between asbestos and various respiratory problems among people who were exposed to it. A respiratory illness given the name asbestosis was diagnosed in England in 1931. During this period 30s a new form of lung cancer was detected and named mesothelioma, although it was not associated with asbestos until sometime in the 1940s.

Also in the 1930s, employees of American asbestos producer Johns Manville produced evidence of high levels of illness in asbestos miners and provided testimony to the extremely dangerous nature of asbestos dust. The company successfully kept both this information and any lawsuits that developed from it out of the public eye. Other U.S. companies also successfully suppressed information about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

During the 1950s both Johns Mansville and National Gypsum went to extraordinary lengths to suppress or edit their own research and staff recommendations regarding the dangers of asbestos fibers and the need to protect employees from it. Evidence continued to grow linking ,a mesothelioma and asbestos, as did the lawsuits against asbestos companies. By 1979, asbestos use was virtually banned for use in the United States by the EPA.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a series of class action lawsuits representing mesothelioma and asbestosis victims established liability among both asbestos producers and industries that manufactured products using asbestos. Among the crucial points of evidence were multiple actions taken by asbestos producers and users to suppress information about dangers of the substance.

Between 1973 and 1984, mesothelioma has tripled among white males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the annual death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased by 50% to 3,000. The numbers of people who were exposed to asbestos fibers and the liability assigned to the companies who profited from asbestos has led to multiple bankruptcies among major corporations – among them Johns Mansville and W.R. Grace.

Multi-billion dollar trust funds have been established by these companies and others to provide compensation for mesothelioma lawsuit victims who spent careers working with asbestos, while management in the firms were well aware of the dangers deriving from asbestos exposure.

Due to the generic nature of mesothelioma symptoms they are usually ignored in most cases. Symptoms of mesothelioma are akin to those of other common diseases. Moreover, studies have concluded that patients would not develop symptoms of mesothelioma till much later in their life, ranging from about 20 to 40 years and thus not that many patients associate the symptoms to something that happened to them that long ago.

Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the protective linings of internal organs. These linings include:

• Pericardium: a sac holding the heart;

• Peritoneum: the lining of the abdominal cavity; and

• Pleura: the outer lining surrounding the lungs and chest cavity.

Due to the special nature and functions of each of these organs the symptoms of mesothelioma affecting them can vary. Some of these symptoms are very rare where as others may be severe. Therefore, it is suggested to visit a doctor if any of the symptoms exist.

Furthermore, if mesothelioma is detected at an early stage the chances of curing it are high.

The following are mesothelioma symptoms categorized by type.

Pericardium Mesothelioma Symptoms:

• Irregular breathing patterns

• Chest pain

• Unusual heart beating

• Coughing

• Shortness of breath

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms:

• Vomiting

• Weight Loss

• Abdominal pain

• Fever

• Bowel obstruction

• Hernia

• Swelling or mass accumulation in the abdomen

• Blood clots

• Nausea

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms:

• Fever

• Pleural effusions (accumulation of fluid in the lung lining)

• Coughing up blood

• Pain in chest

• Excessive coughing

• Loss of appetite

• Weakness

• Paralysis

• Hoarseness

• Shortness of breath

• Back pain

• Weight loss

• Swelling

• Problems in swallowing

A pleural mesothelioma may result in lung cancer or pneumothorax but only in severe cases and on the other hand some patients might not exhibit any symptoms at all.

Other minor diseases have similar symptoms as mesothelioma but if identified soon enough these can help cure mesothelioma cancer at an early stage. You need to remember that the existence of mesothelioma can only be confirmed by a doctor and he does so by examining asbestos exposure history, medical reports, MRI and/or CT scan and in some cases a needle biopsy.

If you feel that you may have mesothelioma, you need to see your doctor or health professional as soon as possible. Any delay may hurt your chances of survival and making a full recovery. The sooner you go to your doctor and get checked out, the sooner the doctors can start to help you recover or feel more comfortable.

Have you been a victim of Mesothelioma exposure? If you or a loved one has ever been exposed, you could be at risk for Mesothelioma. Exposure to Asbestos causes related diseases that may not show symptoms for decades. If you think you have been exposed, its important to let your doctor know. You can find out all about Mesothelioma exposure, and attorneys that can help you, at our website kazanvideo.com or call 877.622.5246.

Just how much asbestos can lodge in the lung and cause cancer or disease? Visit www.HSInjuryLaw.com for more information.

www.mesovideolibrary.com – Hear Mary Hesdorffer, a nurse practitioner, tell of her personal knowledge of younger mesothelioma patients and their stories. Learn more by viewing this video on our website www.mesovideolibrary.com If you have questions about asbestos exposure or mesothelioma, call us at 866-404-5805 or e-mail us at info@mesovideolibrary.com.

www.milesformeso.org Miles for Meso is a run and walk in support of mesothelioma cancer awareness and research. Miles for Meso is presented by the Simmons law firm, a leader in the fight against mesothelioma for patients and families. All money raised for Miles for Meso will benefit research for better mesothelioma cancer treatment options and the search for a cure.