Found 1 local business for "mesothelioma lawyers" near Saint Louis, MO with reviews.

About Mesothelioma

History

The use of asbestos actually dates back several thousand years. Its properties of being resistant to fire were well known long before the days of industrialization. However toward the end of the 19th century, its properties as a fire-retardant, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive material helped asbestos to be adopted for use by industry on a large scale in a wide variety of products, especially building materials.

Unfortunately, it turned out that asbestos fibers can easily become airborne and are then often inhaled. When this happens, the microscopic fibers can cause damage to the lungs. By the 1930s it was recognized that many asbestos workers suffered from this condition, and the disease was termed asbestosis.

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, was known in the 1930s and was later linked to asbestos, and it is the most common cause of the disease. The most common area of the body affected by mesothelioma is the outer lining of the lungs, but it can also occur in other areas, such as in the tissues of the abdominal cavity or the pericardium, which surrounds the heart.

Lung cancer can also be caused by asbestos, as well as by exposure to radon gas or some forms of air pollution, such as second-hand cigarette smoke.

The production of asbestos was banned in the U.S. in 1978. However, asbestos products that had already been produced were still allowed to be used. It wasn't until 1989 that the EPA issued a ruling banning almost all asbestos products. Even today, asbestos is still allowed in certain products in the U.S.

Nature and Characteristics of Mesothelioma

Some symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath and chest wall pain. Making a correct diagnosis however is difficult as there are other common ailments with similar symptoms. The symptoms may be so mild that they often go unnoticed in the earlier stages of the disease.

There is no general cure for mesothelioma. If found in the early stages, treatment tends to yield a better prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the area around the lungs, is estimated to account for about three-fourths of the incidents of mesothelioma. Some treatments currently in use include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Results have been variable, with chemotherapy apparently being more effective at improving survival in randomized and controlled trials.

Legal Issues - Should I Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer?

Lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers date back to 1929. In Australia, legal action began to be taken beginning in 1979 against an operator of mines that exposed workers to potentially lethal levels of asbestos. In the United States in 1999, it is estimated there were about 200,000 asbestos-related cases pending in the federal court system.

In the U.S., as part of the bankruptcy process, a defendant can opt out of the litigation system but must put money into trusts which are then used to compensate people affected by companies that manufactured asbestos. A 2011 report found that about $36 billion remained in asbestos trusts. It was also estimated that about $17 billion has already been awarded to victims of asbestos-related diseases.

In the past, victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases often had to rely on lawsuits in order to obtain compensation. However, with the availability of mesothelioma trust funds, there are now more options which may be available in order to receive compensation. A lawyer who is experienced in asbestos and the issues related to it and the diseases caused by asbestos can help those affected with information about what legal options are available to them. Many may offer free assistance such that that sufferers do not incur any financial risk.

Asbestos-related diseases are generally regarded as 100% preventable. If you are suffering from one of these diseases, you may be able to receive compensation from any company or other entity which caused you to be exposed to asbestos. Compensation can be determined by factors such as lost wages, medical expenses, physical and mental distress, and travel costs for treatment.

For more information on asbestos and mesothelioma, try visiting www.mesothelioma.com, www.asbestos.com, or the Wikipedia article on Mesothelioma, all of which have information about both the medical and legal issues pertaining to mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.