How to choose a good Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorney or Lawyer?

How to choose a good Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorney or Lawyer?

When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.

Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.

Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.

But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

Asbestos  Mesothelioma Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

How Long do I Have to File a Claim?

A statute of limitations applies to any lawsuit.  The statute of limitations is the amount of time a claimant has to file a suit.  Once the statute of limitations has run out, the victim can no longer file a lawsuit.

What is the Statute of Limitations for a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

With mesothelioma lawsuits the statute of limitations varies from state to state.  Mesothelioma lawsuit statutes of limitation often differ from the statutes that apply to other types of personal injury claims because the latency period of this type of cancer is so long.  Patients can end their asbestos exposure years before they show any mesothelioma symptoms, so the statute of limitations for a mesothelioma lawsuit usually begins at the time of diagnosis. Though the statute of limitations for a mesothelioma lawsuit is different in every state, the average mesothelioma victim has 1 to 2 years to file a claim.

Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit Statutes of Limitations

In cases where the mesothelioma patient has passed away, his or her surviving family members may choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the parties responsible for the decedent’s exposure to asbestos.  As mesothelioma is an entirely preventable type of cancer, and many employers and manufacturers knew of the risks of asbestos exposure for the last century, these negligent parties can be held accountable for the death of their employees and customers due to an asbestos-related disease.  As with the statute of limitations for a mesothelioma lawsuit, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit varies from state to state.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Eligibility

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Eligibility

Medical evidence from as early as 1900 attests to the knowledge that asbestos exposure leads to lung cancer and other illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.  Unfortunately, asbestos mining was not discontinued in the United States until 2002 and persists in other parts of the world today.  Even the U.S. Navy used significant amounts of asbestos in its ships until the 1970s.  People who were harmed by exposure to asbestos and the family members of people who have died from asbestos-related diseases are eligible to bring action against those responsible for asbestos exposure.

Types of Asbestos Exposure

There are 2 ways a person can be exposed to asbestos: occupationally and non-occupationally.

Occupational exposure is the most common type of asbestos exposure. There are certain jobs that have a high risk of asbestos exposure, such as:

• Asbestos miners
• Navy Veterans
• Armed Forces Service Members
• Painters
• Plastic manufacturers and the workers who used these products
• Makers of heat-resistant fabrics or clothing
• Ceiling and floor tile workers
• Shipyard workers
• Boat builders
• Electrical workers
• Building engineers
• Drywallers
• Construction workers
• Automobile plant workers
• Automobile mechanics
• Construction workers
• Demolition crews
• Custodians
• Railroad workers
• Sheet metal workers
• Rubber workers
• Warehouse workers

Non-occupational exposure to asbestos is not as common as occupational exposure, but it does happen.  Individuals who live near asbestos mines, asbestos plants, or in an area where asbestos naturally occurs may have inhaled or swallowed asbestos particles.  Additionally, family members of individuals who work in the above-mentioned industries may be exposed to asbestos brought into the home on clothing, hair or skin.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against the parties responsible for your exposure.  Likewise, if you have lost a loved one to mesothelioma, you may also be able to file suit.

Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos is a common mineral which has been used throughout history as an insulation material and as a fire retardant.  While the connection between asbestos and illness has been known for thousands of years, the correlation between asbestos and cancer was only officially acknowledged in the last century.

Types of Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos cancer, the most notorious form of which is pleural mesothelioma, can also affect the abdominal cavity, heart, colorectal and gastrointestinal systems.  Studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC) have shown that exposure to asbestos can also increase a person’s risk for developing lung, gallbladder, throat, kidney, esophagus, breast and prostate cancer, as well as lymphomas and leukemia.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive asbestos cancer that develops in the cells that line many of the body’s internal organs, known as mesothelial cells.  Roughly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the cells that line the lungs, known as the pleura.  Mesothelioma can also attack the cells that line the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (lining of the heart).  In very rare cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, mesothelioma can affect the cellular lining of the testicles.

Asbestos Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is another disease that can be caused by asbestos exposure.  While many people think of mesothelioma as a lung cancer, it is not technically classified as such because it affects the mesothelial cells that line the lungs and not the lungs themselves.  There are two types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.  Non-small cell lung cancer affects roughly 80 percent of patients, while small-cell lung cancer is the more aggressive form of the two.

Common lung cancer symptoms are similar to mesothelioma symptoms, and can include:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Anyone who displays these symptoms for a prolonged period of time and who has been exposed to asbestos should consult a doctor to rule out lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits

Because so many companies and unions exposed their workers to asbestos while knowing the deadly repercussions of asbestos exposure, many people who were occupationally exposed to asbestos have successfully filed lawsuits against these negligent parties.  Likewise, people who were exposed non-occupationally to asbestos, such as family members of asbestos workers, have filed asbestos cancer lawsuits to pursue compensation from the parties responsible for their asbestos exposure.

Contact an Asbestos Cancer Attorney

If you or someone you love has developed asbestos cancer or another disease related to asbestos exposure, you need to understand your rights.  You may be able to hold negligent parties accountable for the toxic asbestos exposure that led to asbestos cancer.  Your should approach to some dedicated asbestos mesothelioma attorney and lawyer who has dedicated his or her career to becoming fully educated on asbestos cancer, mesothelioma, and the rights afforded to victims of asbestos exposure. He / She can help guide you and your family through the legal process, tirelessly pursuing just compensation for you and your loved ones.

18 Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Worldwide

18 Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Worldwide

1. Brigham and Women’s Hospital
15 Francis Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
877-637-6347
Web Site: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/surgery/services/thoracicsurgery/services/mesothelioma/default.aspx

2. Cleveland Clinic
Taussig Cancer Institute
R Building
2010 East 90th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
877-637-6347
Web site: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/cancer/default.aspx?utm_campaign=cancer-redirect&utm_medium=offline&utm_source=redirect

3. Dana – Farber Cancer Institute
Thoracic Cancer Treatment Center
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
617- 632-6875
Web site: http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/adult/thoracic-cancer

4. Duke University Medical Center
Duke Cancer Institute
2301 Erwin Road
Durham, North Carolina, 27710
Web Site: http://www.cancer.duke.edu

5. Johns Hopkins
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
10753 Falls Road, Pavilion II, Suite 415
Lutherville, Maryland 21093
410- 955-5222
Web site: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center

6. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Thoracic Oncology Program
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, Florida 33612
877-637-6347 or  1-877-637-6347
Web site: http://www.moffitt.org/site.aspx?spid=A567BDDCC59845298A683F181F94FB4B

7. Mayo Clinic
200 First Street S.W.
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
877-637-6347
Web Site: http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester    

8. Mayo Clinic
13400 East Shea Boulevard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
877-637-6347
Web Site: http://www.mayoclinic.org/arizona

9. Mayo Clinic
4500 San Pablo Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32224
877-637-6347
Web Site: http://www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville

10.  MD Anderson Cancer Center
Thoracic Care Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77030
877-637-6347
Web Site: http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/care-centers-and-clinics/care-centers/thoracic/index.html

11. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10065
877-637-6347 ( 866-MSK-LUNG)
Web site: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/76954.cfm

12. UCLA
Thoracic Oncology Program Clinic
UCLA Oncology Center
200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 120
Los Angeles, California 90095
310- 825-7341
Web site: http://lungcancer.ucla.edu/index.html

13. UCSF
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion
1600 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, California 94115
415- 885-3882
Web site: http://cancer.ucsf.edu/about

14. The University of Chicago Medical Center
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
1-888-UCH-0200
Web  site: http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/cancer/mesothelioma

15. University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Patient Care Center -  877-637-6347
Web site: http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/cancertreat/thoracic/lung_cancer.shtml

16. University of Pittsburg Cancer Institute
Hillman Cancer Center
5115 Centre Avenue, Second floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
Phone: 412-623-LUNG (5864)
Web site: http://www.upmccancercenters.com/portal_lung/program.cfm

17. University of Washington
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
1354 Aloha Street
Seattle, Washington 98109
877-637-6347
Web site: http://www.seattlecca.org/diseases/mesothelioma-overview.cfm

18. Yale Cancer Center 
Thoracic Oncology Program
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06520
203- 688-5864 or  203- 785-4198
Web site: http://www.yalecancercenter.org/top/index.html

Asbestos Mesothelioma Therapy

Asbestos Mesothelioma Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy usually involves the intravenous administration of drugs designed to interfere with the processes that occur during cell division, thereby killing rapidly-dividing cancer cells.  Depending on the stage of a patient’s mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary treatment or in conjunction with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.

While chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, they also kill or damage some normal cells.  Thus, careful attention must be paid to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment while minimizing the side effects.

Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a form of mesothelioma treatment that is usually given in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. Radiation works by using X-rays to kill cancer cells.  There are 2 types of radiation therapy that have proven effective with mesothelioma cancer patients: external beam radiation and brachytherapy.

External beam radiation entails bombarding cancer tumors with X-rays to kill cancer cells.  Brachytherapy is a newer radiation treatment that involves the implantation of radioactive material directly into tumors to provide a stronger dose of radiation while doing very little damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

In some cases, radiation therapy is the main form of mesothelioma treatment.  This is more common in patients whose overall health has declined to a state where they are too weak to endure chemotherapy or invasive surgery.  In other cases, such as a follow-up to mesothelioma surgery, radiation therapy is used as a complementary treatment.  Radiation is also used as a palliative therapy to relieve mesothelioma symptoms such as pain, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and bleeding.

As with chemotherapy, radiation therapy damages healthy, normal cells as well as cancerous cells.  For this reason, careful planning is needed to ensure the proper dosage to maximize the benefits of radiation therapy while minimizing the damage to healthy cells.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Gene Therapy

Mesothelioma gene therapy is a newer treatment used in conjunction with chemotherapy. The type of gene therapy used for mesothelioma patients is often referred to as “suicide gene therapy” because it forces cancer cells to cause their own death.  In essence, genes are introduced into the body that render cancer genes’ defense mechanisms useless and thus make them more susceptible to cancer medications issued through chemotherapy.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is commonly used to treat skin cancers, some types of lung cancers, and pleural mesothelioma. This therapy involves the use of light energy to eliminate cancer cells. The patient is given an I.V. solution of medication designed to make cancer cells highly particular to a specific kind of light. A few days after administration of this medicine, the patient is exposed to this specific kind of light, killing the medicated cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy is only effective in localized mesothelioma, and is unsuitable for patients with other types of mesothelioma.