What is Asbestos ?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber extensively used in construction due to its stability and resistance to fire. It may be found in vinyl flooring, patching compounds and textured paints, sprayed acoustic ceilings, acoustic ceiling tiles, stove insulation, furnace insulation, pipe insulation, wall and ceiling insulation, roofing shingles and siding as well as appliances. Exposure to asbestos can be a serious threat to one’s health and has been linked to cancers of the lungs. There are a number of choices available for dealing with asbestos. They include leaving it alone, encapsulation and abatement. Removal of this material is a specialized procedure and should be attempted only by a qualified and licensed expert. Information regarding identification of asbestos, its hazards and safe removal may be obtained from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and other governmental agencies.

Definition of Asbestos :

Asbestos is a common form of magnesium silicate which was used in various construction products due to it's stability and resistance to fire. Asbestos exposure by inhaling loose asbestos fibers is associated with various forms of lung disease. (2) The name given to certain inorganic minerals when they occur in fibrous form. Though fire-resistant, its extremely fine fibers are easily inhaled, and exposure to them over a period of years has been linked to cancers of the lung or lung-cavity lining and to asbestosis, a severe lung impairment.

Asbestos Eligibility

If you are a victim of Mesothelioma or Asbestosis, your eligibility will depend on several factors:

a) Statute of Limitations
b) Identify Your Exposure
c) Responsible Parties

 

Wrongful Asbestos related Death Suit

The law also says that if you are a close family member of a person who died of an asbestos-related disease, you may also have the right to seek compensation for your loss. This right is called a "wrongful death" suit. The laws of different states vary as to which family members have the legal right to recover for the wrongful death of a family member. We can help decide which state is best for your case, depending upon your individual situation.

 

Statute of Limitations

While you have the right to sue if you have, or a family member has, an asbestos-related disease, there is a time frame during which you must file your case. This statute of limitations varies from state to state, but if you wait too long, you will be barred from taking legal action. If you are interested in filing a case, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible.

 

What does asbestos have to do with mesothelioma ?

The only known cause of mesothelioma in the U.S. is previous exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos manufacturers knew about the hazards of asbestos seventy years ago - but they kept this knowledge to themselves. The first warnings to workers exposed to asbestos were given in the mid-1960s, and they were terribly inadequate. Even today, workers are not always told they are working around asbestos and are at risk for asbestos disease.

What can someone with mesothelioma do ?

Seek out the best and most up-to-date information
Seek out the best medical care.
Stay in close contact with your doctor.
Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this asbestos-related injury.

Remember that resources are available to you through community and medical support groups, asbestos victims' organizations, your place of worship, as well as your family and friends.

Do you want more information about mesothelioma attorney ?

Please explore our website or contact us to request additional information.

Asbestos Attorney Advice to Victims of mesothelioma and their families...

We put you in contact with experienced Asbestos attorneys who have successfully tried cases in your state.

Asbestos Attorney is a FREE consumer service. Our goal is to help legal consumers get in touch legal professionals and to keep the public aware of new discoveries in treatments for Asbestos.

Those dealing with asbestos face a number of challenges, including the tremendous costs of treatment. If you were unknowingly exposed to harmful levels of asbestos, you have legal rights.

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO MONETARY COMPENSATION.

If you are in need of legal advice or services, or simply wish to speak to an attorney who has successfully handled asbestos cases in your state, you may use this Free Online Consultation Form .

There is NO COST or obligation for this service.

Seek mesothelioma attorneys legal advice as soon as possible after diagnosis. There are a number of reasons to get mesothelioma legal advice immediately-not the least of which is the fact that certain jurisdictions have a limit on the amount of time that can pass between diagnosis and filing a suit. Mesothelioma legal advice is available from a number of sources, but books and articles, web sites, and counselors can not replace the mesothelioma legal advice that you can get from an attorney who fully understands the legal issues surrounding mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma attorneys can help victims of this disease and their families to decide upon the best course of action. Seeking a mesothelioma attorney for legal advice does not necessarily mean that you have made your mind up about whether you will file suit and against whom-but using mesothelioma attorneys legal advice as a tool, you may be able to make sound decisions about your personal situation. The time limitations imposed in certain areas make it critical that the mesothelioma legal advice you receive be of the highest caliber and as thorough as possible. Overlooking important steps in the process of gathering information and/or filing a motion can adversely affect your end results. By discussing the mesothelioma legal advice you get with an attorney, you may find that you have more options that you had initially considered.

If you are seeking mesothelioma attorney legal advice you can expedite the process by giving as much information as possible about your situation to an attorney. Names and locations of specific places where asbestos exposure may have occurred, the names of potential witnesses, medical records, any correspondence with the insurance company or employers-all of these things can help an attorney provide the best possible mesothelioma legal advice to you and your loved ones.

Asbestos Treatment

There is no certain cure for malignant mesothelioma, but medical researchers have recently developed procedures that can slow the progress of the disease and extend, with quality, the lives of some of those suffering from it.

Below are brief summaries of the available treatment options.

Tri-modality Therapy

Tri-modality therapy combines surgery with radiation and chemotherapy. It is being performed at major medical centers including:

Brigham and Women's in Boston
Mount Sinai in New York
M.D. Anderson in Houston
UCLA in Los Angeles
UCSF in San Francisco

Surgery

In the past several years, surgery has become an important tool for treating mesothelioma. Here are some surgical procedures doctors use to treat mesothelioma:

Pneumonectomy, the surgical removal of a lung. It can be performed in one of two ways:

Traditional pneumonectomy — only the diseased lung is removed.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy — the diseased lung is removed, together with the pleura, the diaphragm, and the pericardium, to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Pleurectomy

The pleura is removed. This is a palliative procedure, which means it is done to make the patient feel better more than to cure the disease.

These surgeries are accompanied by intra-operative radiation and multi-cycle post-operative chemotherapy. These are not considered experimental procedures and should be covered by insurance and Medicaid. Paul, Hanley & Harley, LLP will be happy to work with you and your primary care physician should you need more detailed information and to refer you to one of the surgeons performing this procedure.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high dose radiation (X rays) to shrink the tumor by destroying cells at the tumor site. Once the size of tumor is reduced, the patient may feel better and be able to breathe more deeply. Radiation may also keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Side effects of radiation can include tiredness, skin rashes, and internal mucosa (throat) irritation or hoarseness.

For more information on radiation therapy visit
www.cancerbacup.org.uk/info/radiotherapy.htm
or
www.oncolink.com

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy agents are medicines that kill cancer cells. They may be used on their own, before or after surgery, or along with radiation. Chemotherapy is especially used instead of surgery when a tumor is inoperable. To get chemotherapy, the patient usually goes to the doctor’s office or the hospital, where they are either given medicine to take orally, or they are given the medicine through an IV tube.

Side effects are common, and they include nausea, vomiting, weakness and fatigue. The efficacy of chemotherapy as a single agent in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma has been limited.

Chemotherapy Clinical Trials

Clinical trials (also called medical research and research studies) are research studies used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. If you take part in a clinical trial, you might be given new medicines or other experimental treatments before they are widely available.

There are many clinical trials of new and combination chemotherapy agents in process around the country.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

This is a highly experimental treatment using a drug that causes cells to become light sensitive. The drug is applied or injected and attaches itself to the tumor. Then the doctor uses fiber optics to focus intense light on the tumor, killing the tumor cells. This may be able to destroy the whole tumor or residual tumor not reached during surgery. However, keep in mind that the procedure is still under investigation.

For more information, go to this drug-company-sponsored site:
www.lumacare.com

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is still being researched and is not yet easily available. Researchers are manipulating genes to make them more susceptible to certain anti-cancer drugs. It is possible that this therapy will destroy tumor cells while preserving healthy cells.

Gene therapy for mesothelioma is currently being investigated by Dr. Steve Albenda at the University of Pennsylvania. He may be contacted through www.uphs.upenn.edu.