Asbestos can show up in a chest X-ray, as well as other imaging tests for the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are different illnesses one can get from having asbestos in the body, not limited to asbestosis and mesothelioma. In both cases, the symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other common illnesses. That is why having a doctor confirm the presence of asbestos in your lungs can be an important step in identifying which medical treatment options you have.
No matter how you find out you have asbestos in your body, the diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness is not pleasant. Not only are the screening and treatment options somewhat invasive relative to other routine forms of care, but they can also be a huge financial burden, too. When you think that your illness may be related to asbestos exposure, it is important to understand the cause and to understand the liability surrounding your exposure. If you or a loved one were unknowingly exposed to asbestos, you may have a lawsuit on your hands.
About Diagnosis and Treatment of Asbestos-related Illnesses
Most people are not willingly exposed to asbestos. In fact, before asbestos was regulated by the federal government in the 1970s, asbestos was used for construction of housing, plumbing, and more for many households. However, concerns over asbestos go as far back as the 1920s, according to a report by Reuters.
Two of the most concerning effects of asbestos exposure include asbestosis and mesothelioma, which are not mutually exclusive.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a general term for “chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers,” according to the Mayo Clinic. If you have asbestosis, symptoms may not appear for years. That is just one of the many reasons it is so problematic. Side effects like “shortness of breath, dry cough, loss of appetite, and clubbing of fingertips,” may not appear for “up to 10 to 40 years after initial exposure.” That can be devastating for people who grew up before the regulation of asbestos and commonly brought into the home without knowing the risk of exposure.
Another devastating aspect of asbestosis, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that while it is possible to mitigate symptoms, it is not possible to completely remove asbestos from the lungs. Doctors can use chest X-rays and CT scans to detect asbestos, but this is only in an effort to monitor worsening symptoms or a progression to cancer.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer that begins in the linings of the body, according to the American Cancer Society. Like many other forms of cancer, no two cases of mesothelioma are exactly alike, but mesothelioma commonly starts in the linings of the lungs, heart, and stomach. Oncologists know that mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to one or many different toxic substances, from asbestos, to radiation, and zeolites found in mines, similar to asbestos. Like other cancers, mesothelioma can be staged for different levels of development.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is different from mesothelioma, and may even have similar symptoms. There are two main types of lung cancer: Small Cell, and Non-Small Cell, which the American Lung Association reports is “about 80 percent of lung cancer cases.” The severity of the cancer depends on how early it is caught, and what treatment options are available. A doctor who performs a chest X-ray on someone would be able to determine if he or she has a high amount of asbestos in the body and see something like a lung cancer tumor.
Asbestos Lawsuits
Since the laws around asbestos have changed drastically since the 1970s, many asbestos exposure lawsuits come from people who believe their exposure came from the men in their family who worked for construction companies, according to Reuters. Although asbestos exposure is much less common for younger people today, a 2019 U.S. Food and Drug Administration report of asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products did not work favorably for the corporation, which still uses talcum powder in its hygiene products today. Johnson & Johnson, along with other liable corporations, face nearly 18,000 lawsuits from people who suffered exposure to asbestos over a long period of time without warning.
If you or a loved one suffered exposure to asbestos and have declining health as a result, you may have a legal battle to face. The lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm want to represent your case.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 217-6099
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for Asbestos X-ray Legal Representation
Do not let negligent companies, corporations, and organizations get away with exposing you and your loved ones to toxic, carcinogenic chemicals. If you or a loved one were recently found to have high levels of asbestos in your body, you are entitled to compensation for all incoming medical bills from the liable parties who caused your exposure.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to speak with a member of our team about your asbestos X-ray results at (800) 217-6099.
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