What Is Mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma (often simply called “mesothelioma”) is an aggressive, potentially deadly form of cancer that usually attacks the tissue linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, and testicles. These linings, composed of mesothelial cells and collectively known as the mesothelium, secrete a special fluid that permits your organs to move against each other without being damaged by friction.
For example, lungs with a functioning mesothelium can expand and contract without issue, thereby allowing you to breathe easily, but your ability to do so could be deeply compromised if you develop pleural mesothelioma, the most common cancer affecting these linings.
While there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, which tends to grow rapidly and can be fatal when unaddressed, various treatments can slow the disease’s progress and alleviate a patient’s suffering, though frequently at a cost that few families could afford on their own.
Fortunately, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, a group of minerals that used to be incorporated in many products before being linked to mesothelioma.
To learn how you can make a valid claim for compensation and maximize its value, schedule a free case review with one of the seasoned Indiana mesothelioma lawyers at Hensley Legal Group by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.
How Many Americans Have Mesothelioma?
Because of its strong resistance to flames and its insulation properties, asbestos was widely adopted by the American construction, shipbuilding, and automotive industries from the 1940s through the 1970s, when activists and lawmakers began pushing for its ban.
Though experts are not sure exactly how asbestos causes mesothelioma, studies suggest that it can take 15 to 40 years for someone to develop the disease after being exposed to this substance. As such, it may be no surprise that the nation saw the largest number of new mesothelioma diagnoses from the 1970s to the 1990s, roughly two to four decades after the patients would have been likeliest to encounter asbestos.
Now that asbestos has mostly been phased out, only about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported in the United States each year. However, that’s cold comfort for everyone who already has this terrible disease and for anyone who may be stricken with it in the future thanks to the lingering presence of asbestos in so many buildings throughout Indiana and across the country.
Age of Mesothelioma Patients
Since mesothelioma can take decades to develop after initial exposure to asbestos, most mesothelioma patients are understandably older. At the moment, the average age for diagnosis with pleural mesothelioma is 69, at which point the clock begins ticking on a truly tragic race.
Indeed, the five-year survival rate for mesothelioma is between 5 and 10 percent, but the sooner you are diagnosed, the higher your odds of living may be, so it is critical to keep a watchful eye out for symptoms of mesothelioma.
Typical Mesothelioma Symptoms
Every case of mesothelioma is unique, but typical symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Pain in the sides of the chest or lower back
- Trouble swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swelling of the face and arms
Anyone who worked in the construction, auto manufacturing, or shipbuilding trades in the mid-twentieth century is at the greatest risk of asbestos-related mesothelioma, but you might still have a legitimate claim even if you were employed in another field. As stated above, many commercial and residential structures built during that era continue to contain asbestos, and dangerous levels of asbestos particles could be released into the air during renovation projects.
Moreover, the family members of those who were directly exposed to asbestos could themselves have developed mesothelioma from asbestos that remained on their loved ones’ clothes when they came home from work.
Treatment for Mesothelioma
The treatment for mesothelioma is similar to the treatment for other cancers and can include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy, but mesothelioma is different in that it does not generally emerge as one single tumor.
Instead, mesothelioma spreads along nearby blood vessels and nerves, and the cancer’s reach may have expanded into too many parts of the body by the time of diagnosis for it to be successfully removed. For this reason, early detection is key, as is taking advantage of every viable treatment option, something you might not be able to do with an inadequate mesothelioma settlement.
Get the Best Mesothelioma Settlement Possible
To get the best mesothelioma settlement possible and increase your chances of enjoying a longer, healthier life, consider following in the footsteps of countless victims of asbestos exposure before you and reach out to Hensley’s dedicated Indiana mesothelioma attorneys. Hensley Legal Group has been advocating tirelessly on behalf of the wrongfully injured for over a quarter century and would be honored to provide you with the same attentive service.
For a complimentary consultation with an accomplished Indiana mesothelioma lawyer, please call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form today.
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