Types of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Types of Mesothelioma by Site

Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma often originates within the chest cavity and can, at times, involve the lung. This particular form of mesothelioma can metastasize to numerous organs in the body - even the brain - and tends to do so more frequently than not.

Pleural mesothelioma is not always easily detectable. Frequently, in the early stages of the disease, such as stage 1 mesothelioma, symptoms may be mild. Patients usually report pain in one area of the chest that never seems to go away, weight loss and fever. Occasionally, other symptoms are more severe and include problems with breathing due to fluid build up in the chest. A CT Scan of the chest area has proven to be the best test for identifying how far along the disease has progressed.

Frequently serum markers are used to diagnose of various forms of cancer. Mesothelioma cannot be diagnosed using this method as no serum markers currently exist. If high levels of hyaluronic acid are present it may be possible to distinguish mesothelioma types from other types of cancer or to determine the effectiveness of a treatment protocol.

The mesothelioma survival rate for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma typically is not high as patients often do not live beyond seventeen months from the onset of symptoms. Only 8% of those with a mesothelioma diagnosis will live three to five years from the onset of mesothelioma symptoms.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and will frequently spread to other organs in area including the liver, spleen or bowel. Severe abdominal pain is the most common complaint that patients present to mesothelioma doctors. There may also be a discomfort level with fluid buildup in the abdomen as well. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include difficult bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, fever and swollen feet.

The survival rate is even worse for those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma with patients typically surviving only ten months from the time that they first started experiencing the symptoms noted above.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of mesothelioma. Pericardial esothelioma, as the name suggests, involves the heart. This rare type of mesothelioma cancer invades the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart. As the cancer progresses, the heart is not able to deliver oxygen as efficiently to the body causing further decline in health at an increasingly rapid rate. The symptoms most commonly associated with pericardial mesothelioma mimic those of a heart attack: nausea, pain in the chest and shortness of breath.

Types of Mesothelioma Tumors

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer and of all asbestos related diseases, the most serious. The symptoms associated with the disease make it difficult for doctors to diagnose. Often, by the time that a proper diagnosis is made, the disease has progressed to a point where patients do not respond well to treatment therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by the inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. Another unique factor associated with the disease is that there can be a long latency period between the time of asbestos exposure and the actual manifestation of the disease in the form of malignant mesothelioma.

Benign Mesothelioma

Benign mesothelioma, or non-malignant mesothelioma, is much easier to treat than the malignant form of the cancer and can be treated successfully in many cases.

Mesothelioma Cell Types

Epithelial Mesothelioma

Epithelial Mesothelioma is the most common cell type and accounts for approximately 50-75% percent of all diagnosed cases each year. These cells are uniform in shape, with an elongated pattern that makes them easily distinguishable when viewed under high magnification. These types ofcancercells are adenocarcinomas, malignancies which are more commonly associated with pure lung cancers as opposed to cancers of the mesothelium.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less common cell type, accounting for between 7 and 20% of mesothelioma cases each year. These cells grow forth out of supportive structures, such as muscles and bones.

Biphasic Mesothelioma

Biphasic mesotheliomas are those with a mix of epithelial and sarcomatoid cell types. Mesothelioma treatment options do not vary greatly for different cell types, but often sarcomatoid mesotheliomas are more difficult to treat as a result of the surrounding affected tissues that they spread from.

Papillary Mesothelioma

Papillary mesothelioma, also known as well-differentiated mesothelioma, is a form of the asbestos cancer that typically affects women. In many cases this cell type is benign and not likely to spread to other organs in the body.

Causes of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Causes of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin membrane encompassing the body’s internal organs and cavities. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos fibers that are inhaled through the mouth and nose may eventually become embedded in the lining of the lungs, causing harmful inflammation of the pleura and resulting in mesothelioma or asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found that swallowing asbestos fibers could contribute to a form of the malignancy originating in the abdomen known as peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma generally results from occupational asbestos exposure but there are instances of environmental exposure that can also cause the disease. Oftentimes a family member can be affected indirectly by second hand exposure from an asbestos worker’s soiled work clothes.

Asbestos was an effective insulation material. It was used liberally in commercial and industrial products in the United States until being regulated in a joint effort between the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency in 1989. Occupational exposure was common among workers who encountered these products in many industries including shipbuilding, power plants, and other industrial settings.

Asbestos insulation workers appear to have the highest rate of asbestos related disease. One study reports that almost six percent of asbestos workers fall victim to mesothelioma or experience respiratory symptoms. Asbestos insulation workers are over 300 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than those with no exposure history.

How does exposure to asbestos cause mesothelioma?

Asbestos fibers are microscopic, though they are also quite durable. For this reason, asbestos was used in a number of different industrial compounds to enhance strength and resistance to temperature extremes- two properties at which the mineral is highly adept. Asbestos exposure most often occurred among individuals who worked extensively with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. Friable asbestos (meaning loose or airborne fibers) is easily inhaled- often without the exposed person realizing.

When inhaled, asbestos lodges easily in the outer lung tissue and within the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane of cells which produces a lubricating fluid on the surface of the organs. This lubricant allows the lung and other internal structures to expand, contract, and move freely without friction in the body cavity. There is a great deal of latency associated with mesothelioma between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms. Over time (often 40 or 50 years) asbestos irritates this tissue, causing inflammation and malignant scar tissue plaques on the surface of the mesothelium. These plaques are the foundation of the mesothelioma tumor.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common variety of the disease and forms on the pleural membrane, which surrounds the lung and chest cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and forms on the surface of the peritoneum, a thin membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common variety of the disease and forms in the cardiac cavity that envelops the heart, a mesothelial membrane known as the pericardium.

Inhaled asbestos fibers are known to be the cause of pleural mesothelioma, whereas ingested asbestos fibers are the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. While the exact causal nature between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma is not known, physicians and cancer researchers surmise asbestos fibers in the blood stream lodge in the outer layers of the heart’s ventricles and lodge in the pericardium. Once asbestos fibers reach the surface of the peritoneum or pericardium, the inflammation process is essentially the same as it is on the surface of the pleura.

Primary workplace exposure to the mineral was common in naval shipyards, power plants, railroad infrastructure, and other industrial jobsites. However, asbestos-related mesotheliomas have also been diagnosed in spouses or children of those exposed to asbestos. Workers often brought home dangerous asbestos fibers on their clothing, hair, or person. Those who came into contact with these fibers on the person or their clothing have developed mesothelioma as a result.

Other Contributing Factors

Mesothelioma is also causally associated with a few other factors, but many of these are attributed to the development of mesothelioma in conjunction with exposure to asbestos.

1. Smoking

Those who smoke are at a higher risk of mesothelioma, though smoking is more commonly associated with traditional lung carcinomas. Smoking tends to enhance risk even further in those who were also exposed to asbestos.

2. Radiation Exposure

While extremely rare, some mesothelioma patients attribute their diagnosis to exposure to radiation rather than exposure to asbestos. Radiation tends to transform and mutate cell growth patterns and is more commonly associated with brain and blood cancers.

3. Carbon Nanotubes

Research is extremely preliminary in this study, but some laboratory studies indicate a molecular similarity between asbestos mineral fibers and carbon nanotubes. Tests indicate a pronounced risk of mesothelioma in some laboratory animals implanted with carbon nanotubes.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Diagnostic Tests: Imaging Scans and Biopsies

Asbestos Mesothelioma Diagnostic Tests: Imaging Scans and Biopsies

If you believe that you may have mesothelioma, a qualified medical professional will use a variety of diagnostic tests and methods to confirm the presence of the disease.

The first step that mesothelioma doctors will take in evaluating an asbestos related disease is to obtain a full medical history to determine the level and severity of mesothelioma risk factors and presenting mesothelioma symptoms. This interview will consider among other things, where asbestos exposure occurred, the length of exposure and the amount of asbestos that you were exposed to.

In addition, he/she will perform a medical exam to look for signs and symptoms of various types of mesothelioma. For example, if pleural mesothelioma is suspected the doctor will look for fluid in the chest, peritoneal mesothelioma often shows fluid in the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma presents with fluid in the area of the heart.

Diagnostic Tests

Imaging Scans

Diagnostic image tests like x-rays, CT scans and MRI's are useful in obtaining more information about the cancer including how far it is progressed. Each method provides another piece of information for your doctor to assist him/her in making an accurate diagnosis. Chest x-rays are used to identify abnormalities in the lungs including unusual thickening, mineral deposits and fluid in the chest area. CT scans are capable of providing images of the same location from many different angles. MRI technology uses magnetic fields rather than x-ray to provide additional views.

PET Scan - Positron Emission Tomography, more commonly referred to as a PET scan, is a nuclear medicine diagnostic technique. Nuclear medicine involves introducing a small amount of radioactive material into the body (in this case, intravenously) to help doctors determine if the body is functioning properly. PET scans in mesothelioma patients are often used in conjunction with CT scans. PET scans can be particularly helpful in determining if the cancer has metastasized beyond its point of origin.

CT Scan - A Computer Tomography scan or CT scan, as it is more often referred to, is a commonly utilized method for locating the tumor in the body and determining the extent of the disease. Doctors will often prescribe a CT scan if mesothelioma is suspected because it offers more detail than a traditional X-ray. The CT scan provides cross-sectional imaging of the internal body structures that can be reconstructed on a computer monitor.

MRI - A magnetic resonance image, more commonly referred to as an MRI, is a noninvasive method used for diagnosing mesothelioma within the body. The MRI uses a magnetic field and radio frequency pulses, transmitting them to a computer. Traditional MRI equipment consists of a cylinder within which the patient lies. The MRI poses no risk for patients, though some find the enclosed spaces uncomfortable. These patients may request a mild sedative to allow them to remain still and calm during the procedure.

X-Ray - An x-ray is a commonly utilized mechanism not only for cancer diagnosis but for many different respiratory abnormalities, including bronchitis and pneumonia. Nevertheless, given that the symptoms of these respiratory disorders closely mimic those of malignant mesothelioma, often a chest x-ray is the first imaging technique used in a mesothelioma diagnosis. X-rays are particularly adept at identifying the proliferation of fluid within the pleural cavity, a symptom of mesothelioma known as a pleural effusion. If effusion is detected in the pleural cavity, doctors will often prescribe a surgical biopsy to test the fluid for malignant mesothelioma cells.

Biopsies

A biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure recommended by doctors for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of mesothelioma that have a history of asbestos exposure. Fine needle aspiration is the less invasive type of biopsy that can be performed. More invasive surgical biopsies are recommended if results from a needle biopsy are inconclusive or if a needle biopsy is not recommended for medical reasons.

Needle Biopsy - The needle biopsy is considered the less invasive biopsy procedure. A pleural biopsy is generally recommended for patients in whom mesothelioma is suspected. Fluid is extracted through a syringe and then tested for the presence of malignant cells. Upon determining the presence of malignant cells, cancer specialists will determine the cellular classification of the malignancy and if mesothelioma is, in fact, present. The extraction of fluid from the pleural cavity, chest wall, or abdominal is also used as a palliative procedure to alleviate patient symptoms.

Surgical Biopsy - A surgical biopsy is a far more extensive procedure than needle biopsy. Nevertheless, these procedures are sometimes necessary to make a conclusive diagnosis of mesothelioma. Surgical biopsy can be particularly useful once a diagnosis has already been established. For instance, a mediastinoscopy is a procedure, which assists physicians in staging the cancer. Once cancer is effectively staged, treatment recommendations can be made based on the best possible scenario for each individual patient’s circumstances.

11 Symptoms of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Symptoms of Asbestos Mesothelioma: Warning Signs of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the early signs and symptoms of the disease can be subtle or mistaken. Symptoms are all too frequently ignored or dismissed by people who are inclined to attribute them to common every day ailments. Sometimes patients live with symptoms for up to 6 months before being diagnosed but usually the symptoms are present for two to three months prior to a mesothelioma diagnosis.

About 60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain or side chest pain and there are frequent reports of shortness of breath. Lower numbers of people may experience difficulty swallowing, or have a persistent cough, fever, weight loss or fatigue. Additional symptoms that some patients experience are muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, coughing up blood, facial and arm swelling and hoarseness.

Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and as a result, symptoms often include abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. In the event that there is a hernia present, fluid buildup may occur in the abdomen as well.

Asbestos exposure is considered the primary risk factor for the development of the cancer. Anyone previously exposed to asbestos displaying any of these symptoms should seek medical attention from a doctor who specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of mesothelioma and thoracic oncology.

How long does it take for mesothelioma symptoms to appear?

One of the most unique facts about mesothelioma is that the disease is characterized by a long latency period that is very often associated with the disease. The latency period is the amount of time that elapses from the first point of asbestos exposure to the point where symptoms begin to appear so that a diagnosis can be made. In some mesothelioma cases the latency period is reported to be 10 years but the average latency for the majority of cases is between 35 and 40 years. As a result, the cancer often progresses to later stages before a diagnosis is made. When diagnosed in the later stages, mesothelioma treatment options become more limited and are less effective.

Symptoms of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Provided below is a list of symptoms that mesothelioma patients may experience. Please click on a symptom to learn more about it.

1. Anemia

Mesothelioma patients diagnosed with anemia have a lower than normal red blood cell count or hemoglobin in the blood which can cause fatigue and if left untreated, result in a loss of bone marrow.

2. Blood Clotting Disorder

A symptom experienced by many mesothelioma patients that can lead to anemia and other serious complications if not given appropriate medical attention.

3. Bowel Obstruction

A very painful symptom that can sometimes develop in peritoneal mesothelioma patients due to fluid buildup in the abdomen.

4. Chest Pain

Often experienced in pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma patients, chest pain can develop as the tumor grows and places strain on the lungs and heart.

5. Dysphagia

Pleural mesothelioma patients often develop difficulty swallowing (esophageal dyphagia) as the mesothelium continues to grow on the lungs.

6. Fluid Effusion

An effusion can occur in mesothelioma patients when there is fluid buildup affecting either the pleura or pericardium.

7. Hemoptysis

Hemoptysis, or the symptom of coughing up blood, can have its origins in the lungs, bronchi or trachea of mesothelioma patients.

8. Nausea

Nausea is experienced in a number of cancer patients as it is often a side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma may also experience nausea as a result of increasing abdominal pressure.

9. Peritoneal Effusion

Peritoneal mesothelioma patients may experience a buildup of fluid in the peritoneum as the tumor continues to grow. This can result in an effusion which can inhibit the function of abdominal organs.

10. Pleural Effusion

In pleural mesothelioma patients, pleural effusion may develop when there is a large amount of fluid present in the pleura, the lining between the lungs and chest cavity.

11. Weight Loss

Weight loss can occur in mesothelioma patients as a side effect from cancer treatment or as the result of other symptoms that may also be present such as difficulty swallowing or nausea.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits and Compensation

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits and Compensation

Mesothelioma is an occupational disease caused by exposure to asbestos. Most of the individuals diagnosed with this rare form of cancer are those who worked with the toxic mineral at a variety of occupations including shipbuilding, construction work, welding, insulating, auto repair, oil refinery and chemical plant work, plumbing, and many more. They may have also been exposed at home through do-it-yourself projects. For decades before the U.S. halted all new uses of asbestos, scientists, doctors, and others knew it was toxic, yet it stayed on the market and companies continued to use it.

Though it's been more than 30 years since the government issued guidelines and warnings about asbestos use, the dangerous mineral can still be found in a high percentage of the homes and commercial buildings that were constructed prior to 1980, so exposure is still a real possibility. Furthermore, it sometimes takes up to 50 years after exposure for victims to be diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer because of the disease's long latency period. Hence, those exposed in the 60s and 70s can still be diagnosed with the disease in the near future.

It has been proven that, in many cases, owners or operators of plants, factories, or other businesses that made use of asbestos knew that the mineral was hazardous to the health of their employees yet no moves were taken to remove asbestos or to replace it with a safer material. Furthermore, those who manufactured asbestos-containing materials were also familiar with its hazardous qualities yet continued to make and market them. As a result, many individuals were wrongfully exposed to this toxic material and many were sickened as well.

During the last few decades, countless individuals who were injured by asbestos and developed mesothelioma have filed lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and/or the owners of the companies responsible for their exposure in order to seek compensation. Treatment for this aggressive form of cancer is expensive and results in extensive medical bills and loss of income. Furthermore, victims of the disease have a right to be compensated for pain and suffering. In addition, they may wish to seek funds that will insure that their families will be secure after they pass away.

Asbestos Cancer and the Law

From the 1930s through the 1970s, tens of thousands of individuals, including union workers, were exposed to asbestos, mostly in the workplace. Those with jobs such as shipbuilder, construction worker, contractor, insulator, welder, oil refinery worker, chemical plant employee, railroad engineer, auto mechanic, and a host of other occupations were regularly exposed to asbestos on the job. As a result, many hardworking individuals developed serious asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma, a tough-to-fight cancer that continues to claim lives.

Those who worked with asbestos were rarely informed that the material was toxic and that their health was being compromised, despite the fact that executives at companies nationwide knew that hazardous asbestos was making their employees sick. Hence, no protection was provided and workers regularly breathed in dangerous asbestos fibers. Years later, many of these individuals would discover they had asbestosis - or worse - mesothelioma cancer.

The willing exposure of people to known toxins such as asbestos is, in the end, a matter of gross negligence. Employers who allowed exposure to this hazardous material were literally stealing the good health of their workers, resulting in the loss of quality of life for many individuals who would eventually be affected by mesothelioma. Furthermore, spouses, children, and other family members would also face the risk of acquiring mesothelioma through secondhand exposure. Those who grew up near asbestos plants or mines may have also suffered from exposure, not recognizing until years later that their close relationship with toxic asbestos would make them gravely ill.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit and Litigation Process

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit and Litigation Process

Even though United States health and safety regulators have set guidelines aimed at protecting workers from the dangers of asbestos, up to 3,000 people a year in this country alone are diagnosed with mesothelioma; worldwide, the numbers are even greater. For those workers and their families, a diagnosis is devastating. It means countless medical treatments, mounting medical bills and additional stress and worry about the future.

For those who have been exposed to asbestos on any level, there are legal remedies that can help victims alleviate some of the financial pressures that come with such an overwhelming diagnosis. Many have already turned to the court system to win financial compensation for their sicknesses.

The Asbestos Mesothelioma Litigation Process

A diagnosis of mesothelioma isn't something that comes quickly or easily. Because the disease symptoms start slowly and develop over time, it is often 20 to 50 years after an initial asbestos exposure that a patient is diagnosed with this devastating disease. Many people who develop mesothelioma do so after working in an industry that had utilized asbestos, including the military and construction work. Even family members of those workers are known to come in contact with asbestos through "household exposure" — that is, when the worker unwittingly brings the dangerous asbestos fibers into the home on work clothes and shoes.

For mesothelioma victims and their families, the litigation process can be difficult. Many states have time limits, called statutes of limitation, for asbestos victims to file lawsuits, so it is important to act soon after a diagnosis. Once you have found a qualified, experienced and knowledgeable attorney, you will be guided through the legal process. That includes discovery, depositions, possible settlement talks, a trial, a verdict and a possible appeal. However, because of the huge number of asbestos-related lawsuits, many never go to trial. They typically quickly reach a settlement.

The first step in any claim will be determining where the asbestos exposure happened and the best route to a legal remedy with the at-fault company or companies. Once you file a formal written complaint in court, your lawsuit begins. The complaint will detail your claims and helps outline your case. After the complaint has been filed, the company or companies that have been sued, called the defendants, have a set period of time to respond. During the next phase, called discovery, both sides work to gather information about your claim. Both sides will be asked to answer sets of written questions, produce evidence and documents and participate in depositions. Often this could take weeks to months. Many times the claimant is asked to participate in a videotaped deposition. You will be asked several questions under oath and it will be videotaped for future viewing. Your attorney will be by your side to help you prepare for the questions and responses and to advise and assist you.

Sometimes before a trial starts, and sometimes in the midst of a trial, the defendant's attorneys may ask to resolve the case for a set sum, called a settlement. Your skilled mesothelioma attorney will negotiate the best deal for you. If no settlement can be reached, the case will go to trial. A trial could take several weeks, but the claimant is often not required to attend. Upon winning the case, the claimant starts receiving payments within several weeks. To date, nearly one million mesothelioma litigation cases have been filed, resulting in millions of dollars in compensation.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Trust Funds

Asbestos Mesothelioma Trust Funds

In the wake of an increasing number of once-solvent companies filing for bankruptcy following asbestos litigation, dozens of trust funds have been established as a way to give restitution to mesothelioma victims. With more than $30 billion in trusts, these accounts have become a major source of compensation for injured mesothelioma victims nationwide.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that forms in the chest area and is predominantly caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic mineral that has fibers that settle in the lungs and eventually leads to cancer. Although asbestos has been used for centuries because of its heat-, fire- and chemical-resistant properties, it was not widely used in the United States until the 1930s. Since then, it's been used in a multitude of workplaces, including shipyards, construction sites, mines and mills. It is also been used in a large amount of products, including plumbing and electrical insulation, automobile brakes and floor and ceiling tiles. Use of this toxic substance skyrocketed during World War II and subsequent military actions. Even though most companies knew early on about asbestos dangers, many did not put measures in place to protect the workers or their families. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have been injured or died.

Mesothelioma is known to have a 20 to 50 year latency period, so by the 1960s thousands of people were being diagnosed with the disease and courthouses were flooded with claims. In the 1970s, the United States Congress began trying to enact Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution bills that would create federally mandated trust funds. The most recent revival of this bill, in 2006, would have allowed for a $140 billion trust fund financed by insurance companies and defendant companies. It would have severely limited a claimants right to pursue financial compensation and would have cleared all asbestos manufacturers from wrongdoing. It also would put an end to individual asbestos litigation. Lawmakers summarily shot it down. No bill was ever created.

Mesothelioma Bankruptcies and Bankruptcy Trusts

Today, 56 bankruptcy trusts have emerged from at-fault companies that have filed for bankruptcy. According to the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit global think thank, the largest 26 trusts have paid out at least $10.9 billion on 2.4 million claims so far. These trust have billions set aside for future claims.

The rules that govern these trusts vary among the companies, which makes the legal process very complex. Further complicating the situation is that payout amounts vary greatly from state to state because of differing statutory laws and court rules. A recent study by RAND showed that bankruptcy trusts are playing a larger role in asbestos-injury compensation, but there is no standard system to coordinate payments.

Because of the complexities that surround these trusts, it is important to have an experienced asbestos attorney by your side. A specialized mesothelioma attorney can maneuver through the complex world of court litigation and bankruptcy trusts to ensure you and your family get just compensation. This compensation should not only pay for current medical bills and treatments, but also must cover household expenses and lost wages. An appropriate compensation will also help fund alternative medical treatments that you might not be otherwise able to afford.