Mayo Clinic reports that malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the outer lining of the lungs, called the pleura. This cancer is aggressive and deadly, usually beginning as an asymptomatic growth before spreading throughout the pleura and causing significant respiratory issues.
What mesothelioma does to the lungs is affect the pleura. As mesothelioma can cause pleural effusion, a buildup of fluid around the lungs and inside the chest cavity. Depending on the severity, pleural effusion can significantly limit the expansion of the lungs and make breathing very difficult or almost impossible.
Mesothelioma Causes Serious Lung-Related Symptoms
When a person inhales asbestos fibers, those small fibers can easily travel down the throat and into the lungs. Once there, they can embed deep within the outer tissues. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on asbestos and health, the fibers can remain there for several decades before malignancy develops in the cells nearby.
Early pleural mesothelioma looks like nodules on the outside of the lung. As time passes, though, these nodules get bigger and thicker and spread to chest lymph nodes and into the lung. According to the American Lung Association, it is rare for mesothelioma to “spread to the rest of the body.”
Mayo Clinic states that once pleural mesothelioma begins to spread throughout the chest, the affected individual can experience distressing symptoms, including:
- Chest pain
- Painful, persistent coughing
- Shortness of breath
- New and unusual lumps on their chest
- Unexplained weight loss
Other conditions may develop, including pleural effusion, which may put pressure on other organs and structures throughout the chest. This could lead to complications that include:
- Difficulty breathing because of lung restriction
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain and other symptoms caused by pressure on nerves or the spinal cord
If your loved one passed away due to mesothelioma linked to asbestos exposure, we may be able to help.
You May Be Eligible to Recover an Award from Asbestos Exposure
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis and can prove your occupational exposure to asbestos, or other moderate or heavy exposure, you are likely eligible to pursue an award or settlement. According to a report from the United States Government Accountability Office, workers who experienced asbestos exposure have participated in a mass tort holding asbestos companies responsible for the costs of their care since the mid-1970s. Hundreds of thousands of people have already recovered monetary awards because of the medical conditions they experienced related to asbestos exposure.
Your family should not suffer additional damages as a result of your mesothelioma diagnosis. The companies who profited while exposing you to this dangerous, carcinogenic material should pay for your treatment, pain and suffering, and other losses. You may be able to recover compensation by filing a claim with an asbestos trust fund that was set up to compensate the victims of this deadly material. You can discuss your options with our legal team by requesting a free consultation by calling (800) 307-3113 today.
Asbestos Trust Funds and Recovering Your Award or Settlement
After more than a decade of settling the constant onslaught of asbestos injury cases, the first asbestos product manufacturers began to file for bankruptcy in the late 1970s. During these bankruptcy proceedings, the courts required many of them to create multi-million—or multi-billion dollar—trusts. These asbestos trusts protect victims who suffered asbestos exposure decades ago but whose disease remains latent for some time.
If you recently received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may want to discuss your case with mesothelioma attorney. Act quickly; your state likely puts time limits on how long you can wait to file a lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 307-3113
Talk to a Mesothelioma Lawyer Today
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we believe the asbestos companies should foot the bill for your care, not you. We know how to navigate the process of pursuing an award on your behalf. We do not shy away from tough cases and will aggressively fight for your interests based on the facts of your case.
When you agree to allow our team to take legal action on your behalf, your family will pay nothing out of pocket and nothing upfront. We receive our fee from the settlement or award we recover for you.
Call our office today at (800) 307-3113 for your complimentary consultation.
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