One of the reasons that doctors may struggle to diagnose mesothelioma is the variety of ways that it can present. Much like skin cancer, mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the lining of the body’s internal organs, which means that it can form in various places in the body. Just as skin cancer can develop on the nose, the arm, the leg, or anywhere else where there’s skin, mesothelioma can form around the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen, and each type will present with different symptoms. In pleural mesothelioma, early symptoms are easy to dismiss because they’re so typical for minor ailments. Tightness or pain in the chest, fever, and weight loss are typical early symptoms that you and your doctor may easily ascribe to many other factors. By the time more significant symptoms have developed – including fluid buildup in the lungs leading to difficulty breathing – the cancer…Read More
Asbestos-related cancers can be difficult for doctors to detect, because symptoms can be subtle for a long period of time. For instance, a persistent cough may be indistinguishable from normal allergy symptoms, and a routine doctor’s visit might result in a prescription for a stronger antihistamine drug. If you are experiencing symptoms you believe may be related to asbestos exposure, you should consult your doctor and ask for additional screening. Be prepared to provide a complete medical history, including work experiences that may have exposed you to asbestos. Your doctor will order a series of tests to look for signs of mesothelioma. Imaging of the lungs, from x-rays to MRIs, will be used to look for evidence of abnormalities, thickening of pleural walls, venous irregularities, fluid build up, and more. If doctors find anything unusual through imaging, they will than take a sample of the fluid or tissue. If a…Read More
There is help for people in Louisiana who develop cancer related to asbestos exposure. From outstanding cancer treatment centers to financial support from sources like asbestos trust funds and the Veterans Administration, residents of our state who are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases have access to a variety of sources of help in their fight against asbestos cancer. Many Louisiana job sites are known to have been contaminated with airborne asbestos fibers for years or decades, exposing countless of thousands of employees to chronic exposure at varying levels. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they can become lodged deep in the small airways of the lungs, where over the years they can irritate surrounding tissue and ultimately cause cancerous tumors to form. Asbestos cancers like mesothelioma are often extremely hard to treat and claim many lives. Family members of those who worked in asbestos-contaminated sites may also be at risk, as the…Read More
There is no known, minimum threshold level of asbestos exposure in regard to mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long period of time. Over time, the fibers accumulate causing breathing problems and can sometimes lead to contracting mesothelioma. If you reside in Louisiana and have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
Age does play a role in survival rates for mesothelioma in New Orleans. While no one should draw individual conclusions from statistical data based on large groups, it is true that individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma before the age of 50 have a considerably better chance at surviving the first year after diagnosis (approximately 50{d37eae5b8410ed8fb22098597e6ecfa689963c7e8a6548fdf24949bed3e82123}) than those who are older than 75 at diagnosis (approximately 30{d37eae5b8410ed8fb22098597e6ecfa689963c7e8a6548fdf24949bed3e82123}). Again, statistics apply to large groups, so whatever your age, you and your doctors will develop a mesothelioma treatment plan appropriate for you, designed to give you as much good time as possible – which can be many years. There are a variety of reasons for the discrepancy in outcomes across age groups. First, younger people tend to be in better overall health, and are often candidates for a wider selection of therapies than might be advisable for an older person diagnosed at the same stage of…Read More
Cigarette smoking does not cause or contribute to mesothelioma. Smoking is usually the main cause of lung cancer, not mesothelioma. However, if you do smoke it’s imperative that you quit if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Smoking while being treated for mesothelioma may increase your risk of complications. If you reside in Louisiana and have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 581-6411 for a free consultation.Read More
You may be entitled to compensation for injuries if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is the only cause of mesothelioma. Companies that exposed you to asbestos owe you compensation for your illness. Keep in mind that every case is unique and will have to be evaluated based on exposure history. If you have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 581-6411 for a free consultation.Read More
There are a number of factors that play into how doctors estimate a prognosis when a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, but you should keep in mind that any prognosis is a doctor’s best guess. Your body is unique, and how you respond to mesothelioma treatments may differ dramatically from what your doctors expect. Don’t treat any stated prognosis as a sentence handed down by your doctor. Patients surprise their doctors all the time. When it comes to determining a prognosis, doctors base their estimates for survival on several key factors about your mesothelioma. Where it is, and how contained it is, can matter a lot. If the cancer cells are relatively contained, your doctors will likely describe your mesothelioma as early-stage, which usually results in a better prognosis. Early-stage mesothelioma can often be approached surgically, which often provides the best outcome. When mesothelioma has spread from its original location to involve…Read More
Louisiana companies usually create mesothelioma trust funds as a feature of a bankruptcy reorganization, and they are intended to provide compensation to injured employees, former employees, and their families, in lieu of future litigation. Eligibility will vary slightly between companies (and with the Veterans Administration) but in general, claims can only be made on mesothelioma trust funds if there is a specific injury related to asbestos exposure. If you are not sick from an asbestos-linked disease, you are likely not eligible to receive money from a mesothelioma trust fund. In most cases, eligibility for mesothelioma trust funds will include family members of a sickened person. If you have lost a loved one in Louisiana to an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, you may be able to receive compensation from the trust fund of their employer. Your claim stands a much better chance of being processed promptly and successfully if you enlist the help of…Read More
Yes, you can. Many people develop mesothelioma as a result of indirect exposure. And it’s more common than you would think. In fact, we’ve represented a number on clients that never worked with, or were directly exposed to asbestos, yet had mesothelioma. If you have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
