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MESOTHELIOMA: WHAT IS IT?

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancerous disease of the cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is thought to be associated with exposure to asbestos, and this asbestos association has been documented in 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is very difficult to assess and diagnose consistently. The time between exposure and the onset of the disease, and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma, make diagnosis very difficult. It is believed that even insignificant exposure to asbestos in environments such as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or even patient's homes can result in mesothelioma. In many cases mesothelioma does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing asbestos. 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma per year are currently being diagnosed.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuits

When people with similar claims join forces to seek monetary compensation through litigation, we talk about a class action lawsuit.
This process can be highly time and cost efficient, for both, the claimants and the courts. Mesothelioma is a fatal disease, and along with asbestosis and certain kinds of lung cancer, is caused by exposure to asbestos particles. A cure is yet to be found and even though the available treatments can help to improve a patient's quality of life, they are very expensive. I am a cancer patient, too, and so is my wife. Therefore, we know that our unwanted 'hobby' cancer can leave a person with a huge bill. But Mesothelioma treatments are on the extreme side and for that reason, filing for a compensation claim might result in the needed financial funding to keep up with the medical expenses. Of course, a mesothelioma patient needs to have the legal grounds before he is eligible to file a claim.
Mesothelioma class action lawsuits are complex and may therefore go on for a long time. Quite frequently we see a whole group of asbestos lawyers or a law firm taking on the litigation for the claimants. Finding the best legal representatives is imperative. They can make sure that the filing process will be handled quickly plus they can help you with the entire administrative burden. If you ever had to deal with completing any kind of legal paper-work, you probably know what I'm talking about. A mesothelioma class action lawsuit needs to be authorized by a judge, who will evaluate the claim, taking into consideration the number of claimants, the scope of the claim and the similarity of the individual cases to validate that everything can be handled in one bundled lawsuit.
Mesothelioma class action lawsuits are not always the best option for an asbestos victim who seeks to get compensated for his pain and suffering. Strategically, it might make more sense to pursue legal action individually as opposed to a group approach. It all depends on the circumstances and this is why the advice of a reputable and accredited mesothelioma lawyer is absolutely crucial. The single most important aspect is to consult with a legal expert as soon as the diagnosis is conclusive, since the statue of limitations sets forth a timeframe in which a claimant has to file his case. Rules and regulations may vary from state to state and jurisdiction.
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers go back to the 1960s. Former workers in the shipbuilding, mining and construction industries, who got sick because their employers either failed to warn or adequately protect them from asbestos exposure, decided to gather their efforts and file one combined class action lawsuit.
Since then, nearly 800,000 asbestos lawsuits have been filed, either through mesothelioma class actions or individual claims.
The author Tony Ulrich was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. In his research on what his cancer could have been caused by, he came across with data that suggests a strong link to environmental toxins, such as asbestos. Please visit his Kidney Cancer and Mesothelioma Litigation website for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Ulrich

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What Are The Risk Factors For Mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma cancer. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

How to Treat Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure
There are many forms of treatment for Mesothelioma. Their effectiveness is on a cases by case basis. Here are five possible treatments that have been used:

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an extremely nasty and permanent cancer that infects the membrane surrounding most internal organs. It is also a very subtle form of cancer providing only a few noticeable symptoms until it becomes extremely advanced. The most common type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It causes shortness of breath and/or chronic coughing that can easily be mixed up with allergies or a common cold. In many cases mesothelioma is discovered by accident when patients are looking into these symptoms. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Mesothelioma Video