The First Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Dealing with a cancer of any type is a difficult process, regardless of when or how it is contracted. Mesothelioma is no different. The beginnings of this cancer usually manifest in the chest, with shortness of breath or pain in the area. If the cancer happens to form in the stomach, with is rare, then you’d start to feel the pain there. To confirm that the symptoms are in fact due to mesothelioma, the doctors begin to look at x-rays and CAT scans and, generally speaking, a biopsy of the lining of the lung is necessary to make a definitive diagnosis.
I Haven’t Been Around Asbestos For Years; Why Am I Diagnosed Now?
One of the most difficult parts of this disease is that it seems to creep up on you. It’s usually an absolute shock to the families when a diagnosis is made. Mesothelioma is actually a very rare cancer but, unfortunately, it’s not so rare for those that have worked in industrial facilities. Most people who develop the disease haven’t been around asbestos for twenty, thirty or even forty years. It has what is called a long latency period. When you are exposed to asbestos, whether you were a pipe fitter, a welder, a millwright or a carpenter, the potential for the cancer is created. You may not be diagnosed for several decades. It then becomes a challenge to go back to all the different places you’ve worked to figure to out when exactly you were exposed.
The Next Steps To Take
At The Segal Law Firm, we’re kind of like historical detectives because, in order to determine causes for our clients, we’ve had to research to find out where asbestos was used in facilities throughout the decades. We’ve interviewed literally thousands of people over the years and taken sworn statements about the different types of asbestos that were used in hundreds and hundreds of industrial facilities, power houses, chemical plants, and storage facilities. We’ve done that now for over twenty-five years and it has led to one of the largest databases in the state.
The victim in a mesothelioma case goes beyond just the person who has contracted the disease; it touches the entire family. The patients lose enormous amounts of weight and there’s a huge amount of stress placed of the wives, husbands and children who are watching the disease take its course. It’s my job to take some of the burden away by taking care of the legalities, but I urge those dealing with this awful process to take advantage of the many support groups available for them. Hospice nurses and administrators are very familiar with these groups, both for the patient and the family.
There’s no doubt that you’re going to need some help and support during this time. The Segal Law Firm can make sure your financial affairs are in order and protect you in a court of law, but making sure you’ve got emotional support is also vital. If you have any thoughts or questions you’d like to run by me, I’m always more than happy to take those calls at 855-344-9100.