The rare and aggressive form of lung cancer Mesothelioma affects thousands of people across the world. For many the outlook is bleak but a lucky few have been the beneficiaries of a new cutting edge surgery in the US which increases lung function and life expectancy.
Thoracic surgeon Dr Jonathan Daniel, who is leading the team, said mesothelioma was an extremely rare disease that “really is a phenomenon of the last century” caused by exposure to asbestos. The dangers of asbestos have been known for many years, but the material was still used extensively as a building material in Britain from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s. This exposed countless workers to the dangerous fibres which can become trapped in the lungs.
The disease can be in the body for 20 to 60 years before the patient begins to display symptoms. It is this latency period which makes the condition difficult to detect early on. The prognosis for sufferers is just 6 months life expectancy if they don’t receive treatment. If the patient is fit and healthy and the disease is caught in its early stages, however, Dr Daniel uses trimodality therapy. In addition to the usual chemotherapy and radiation, he performs a challenging surgery called extrapleural pneumonectomy.
The procedure completely removes the lungs and diaphragm from the chest cavity to allow for all of the lung tumours to be removed. A new diaphragm is then constructed so that the organs can be put back into the body. The operation has already been successful on a number of American’s, who hope it will enhance the quality of what is left of their lives and relieve some of their pain.
If you experience any of the symptoms of mesothelioma such as breathlessness and chest pain, and suspect you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, it is vital that you first seek medical advice. It is also likely that you are eligible for compensation and it may be worth seeking legal advice.
If you are considering making a Mesothelioma claim, contact ead solicitors who are experts in dealing with mesothelioma cases and can tell you whether you are entitled to compensation.
The very first asbestos related lawsuit was filed in 1966, and since then hundreds of similar cases have been decided in favor of the victims that resulted in millions of dollars in cash settlements.
As far back as the 1920s companies possessed information informing them just how dangerous it was for their staff to work in and around asbestos. By the 1940s they were being told to quit using asbestos in their manufacturing processes. They didn’t listen, though, due to the fact it would have meant reduced profits for the company. Instead, they made the decision to ignore the findings and allow their workers to continue working in unsafe conditions. This practice continued until the mid 1970s. As a result, thousands of workers inhaled asbestos fibers which could cause this devastating form of lung cancer.
Don’t hesitate to file a lawsuit because you’re afraid of what an expert lawyer is going to cost you. These people are well aware of the lost wages and medical bills you’re already facing, and so they work on a no win, no fee basis. By so doing they guarantee that they will win your case and get adequate restitution for you or else the work they put in will be given free of charge.
First start by looking for an asbestos lawyer at bar associations, the Yellow Pages, the internet etc. The Internet is a superb place to obtain asbestos or mesothelioma lawyers because you might find reports on the various firms. To practise in asbestos litigation doesn’t demand any certifications so attorneys might not have “asbestos” listed as one of their specialties. It’s your job to ask. Seek an asbestos lawyer that is a member of reputable statewide or nationwide lawyer network.
1.Step 2
Find out how expertised the attorneys are at working on asbestos related cases. Discover how many mesothelioma lawsuits they’ve taken on and find out how many asbestos litigation cases they have WON. You want an attorney that has won more cases than not.
2.Step 3
You will want to find an asbestos lawyer that’s keen to take on your case. You might not need to go to court seeing that lots of asbestos claims are settled out of court. You do want a litigation firm though that is going to put every thing they have in to winning your mesothelioma case.
3.Step 4
Learn how many asbestos related resources the attorney has at their disposal. For instance: do they have inspectors that they work with that specialize in asbestos cases, people that work with asbestos product identification, and or people that have worked on sites contaminated with asbestos fibers (contractors, etc.) that they can refer to for assistance. You need an asbestos attorney that has some resources available
If you are interested in reading another mesothelioma article then visit this helpful web site http://mesotheliomaarticle.net
