St Louis Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma is devastating cancer that affects victims in many ways. It can take a long time to develop, sometimes 10-40 years after asbestos exposure. Many nationwide mesothelioma victims don’t realize they are sick until the cancer is advanced.
Mesothelioma is aggressive and often doesn’t respond well to treatment. As a result, most people with mesothelioma die within one year of being diagnosed. They may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. In addition to the awful prognosis, the victim and their family are left with medical bills and lost wages.
Were you recently diagnosed with mesothelioma decades after your asbestos exposure in the military or working in various industries? The experienced mesothelioma lawyers at Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, are aggressive advocates for victims and family members fighting for financial compensation through the legal process.
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Our St. Louis, Missouri, personal injury attorneys stay with our clients through every step of this complicated process.
Contact our specialized St. Louis, Missouri, mesothelioma lawyers to schedule a free case review. All confidential or sensitive information you share with the personal injury legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is life-threatening cancer that affects those who have been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma tumors form in the thin lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart and can cause shortness of breath and chest pain.
There is no cure for pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma cancer, and the average life expectancy for someone with the disease is 12 months after diagnosis.
The news is often shocking and devastating for those diagnosed with mesothelioma. The cancer is aggressive and can be challenging to treat. Patients often face a tough battle against this deadly disease.
If you know someone battling this disease in Missouri, call our lawyers for a case consult on how to proceed legally, to get the damages they deserve.
National Mesothelioma Statistics
According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for mesothelioma is about 9%. However, this number can vary depending on a person’s age and stage of cancer at diagnosis.
This type of cancer is aggressive and typically affects the lungs as peritoneal mesothelioma. Scientists have found a link between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma. The natural mineral was widely used in many industries until it was banned in the 1970s.
Veterans, civil employees, and others that came in contact with asbestos in various industries risk developing mesothelioma.
- Between 1999 and 2015, there were 45,221 deaths from mesothelioma in the United States.
- From 2006 to 2010, the average number of mesothelioma deaths per year was 3,186.
- Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women. The male-to-female ratio is about 4 to 1.
- Mesothelioma most often occurs in people between 50 and 70 years old.
- Between 1973 and 2009, 3,133 children and adolescents younger than 20 years old were diagnosed with pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma in the United States.
- In 2020, an estimated 2,500 new mesothelioma cases were reported in the United States.
- Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma is still a risk today, including in Missouri. Older buildings and residences still have asbestos insulation, and construction workers can suffer severe consequences from asbestos.
Because it is still a problem we face today, our St. Louis, Missouri, attorneys aggressively fight for our client’s rights. The lawyers in our law offices have helped many clients with the same issues you might be facing.
Asbestos Exposure: Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of pleural mesothelioma carcinoma. It occurs when asbestos dust and fibers are released into the air and inhaled.
Once inhaled, the fibers can become trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue, as well as other serious health problems.
Exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma in 8 out of 10 people. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they can get stuck in the lungs and stay there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can cause irritation and inflammation, leading to mesothelioma development.
Other risks factors for mesothelioma include:
- Exposure to other fibers, dust, and insulation: Non-asbestos fibers, dust, and insulation can also cause mesothelioma. These include:
- Talc: Talc is a mineral often used in cosmetics, baby powder, and other products. Some studies suggest that talc may increase the risk of mesothelioma if inhaled.
- Arsenic: Arsenic is a metal found in some rocks and soil. It can also be released from industries that process metals or make chemical products. Arsenic exposure may increase the risk of mesothelioma.
- Nickel is a metal found in some rocks and soil. It can also become airborne from industries that process metals or make chemical products. Nickel exposure may increase the risk of mesothelioma.
- Zeolites are a type of mineral that can be found in some rocks and soil. They can also be released from volcano eruptions, natural gas processing, and other industrial activities. Some studies suggest that zeolite exposure may increase the risk of mesothelioma.
- Being a smoker: Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma.
- A history of radiation therapy can damage the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavity, increasing the risk of developing mesothelioma.
- Family history of mesothelioma: Having a family member with mesothelioma may increase your disease risk.
Experienced St. Louis, Missouri attorneys will know exactly how to help if you have been the victim of asbestos. The specialized lawyers of Missouri will file a lawsuit on behalf of their clients to minimize the damages caused by this awful disease. Additionally, our lawyers will be with you through the whole process.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The symptoms of mesothelioma can take many years to develop because it takes decades for the asbestos fibers to damage the cells and cause inflammation.
The most common symptom of mesothelioma is shortness of breath which happens when cancerous tissue and masses press on the lungs or the chest cavity. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in the abdomen or lower back
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss and fatigue
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer affecting the lungs, heart, or abdomen lining. Symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
A St. Louis, Missouri asbestos and mesothelioma lawyer can help you and your family recover compensation for your suffering through a settlement or a lawsuit. Our specialized lawyers will fight for our clients’ rights every step.
How Mesothelioma Is Diagnosed
Mesothelioma is often found after a person has developed serious health issues. People often do not realize they have mesothelioma until the cancer is in an advanced stage.
Diagnosing Peritoneal and Pleural Mesothelioma
A mesothelioma diagnosis is often found to be associated with severe health issues. Cancer is most commonly found in the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
If a doctor suspects a person might have mesothelioma, they will often order imaging tests, such as chest x-rays or CT scans, to look for lung changes that might be signs of cancer. If these tests show a person has mesothelioma, the doctor will order a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
CT Scan and Echocardiogram
A CT scan is a type of x-ray that can create detailed cross-sectional images of your body. The scan can help doctors determine if you have mesothelioma and where cancer develops. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. This test can help doctors discover if you have fluid around your heart (a pericardial effusion). It can also show how well your heart is working.
PET Scans
A PET scan uses radioactive sugar that is put into the blood. The amount of radioactivity used is meager. Because cancer cells proliferate, they absorb more sugar than most other cells.
A special camera then captures images of areas of radioactivity in the body. The picture from a PET scan can give the doctor a better idea of whether a thickening of the pleura or peritoneum seen on a CT scan is more likely cancer or scar tissue.
If you or anyone in your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your Missouri doctor may use this test to see if cancer has spread (metastasized) to lymph nodes or other body parts. A PET scan can also be helpful if your doctor thinks cancer may have spread but does not know where.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
When a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, doctors will order an MRI scan using radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the soft tissues in the body. Doctors inject gadolinium contrast material into the patient’s vein before scanning to help highlight any tumors present.
MRI scans can be beneficial in diagnosing mesothelioma. They can provide detailed images of the diaphragm, a possible site of cancer spread. Additionally, MRIs can sometimes help ascertain the size and location of a tumor.
If you or a family member finds out after these exams that you have a disease likely caused by asbestos, do not hesitate to contact specialized Missouri attorneys to fight for your rights.
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
The plaintiff’s personal injury asbestos lawyer must first establish that the asbestos exposure led to their cancer diagnosis when filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. There are several potential defendants in a mesothelioma lawsuit, including:
- Asbestos manufacturers
- Material suppliers
- Asbestos product distributors
- Government agencies, including the military
An experienced Missouri, St. Louis mesothelioma attorney can help you identify all potential defendants in your case, establish liability, and build the most robust case against them, to get you the best possible outcome.
Proving Asbestos Exposure Led to Mesothelioma
It can be challenging to prove that a particular person’s cancer was caused by being exposed to asbestos since the disease has a long latency period.
However, an experienced St. Louis, Missouri personal injury attorney will know about the four elements of civil tort law that must be satisfied to win a case alleging an asbestos-related injury:
1. The defendant owed the victim and their family a duty of care, which usually means that the defendant had a duty to warn the victim of the dangers of asbestos exposure or to take steps to protect the victim from such exposure.
2. The defendant breached that duty, which could mean that the defendant failed to warn the victim of the dangers of asbestos or that they did not take steps to protect the victim from exposure.
3. The breach of duty caused the victim’s injuries, meaning that the plaintiff’s mesothelioma attorney shows that the defendant’s breach of duty caused the victim’s injuries.
4. The injuries resulted in damages, meaning that the victim has suffered financial or other harm due to their injuries.
The plaintiff’s economic and non-economic damages might include:
- Hospital costs of medical expenses
- Past medical bills
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
- Lost wages and future lost earnings
- Loss of benefits
- Loss of familial support
- Loss of companionship and consortium
- Pain-and-suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Fees that your St. Louis mesothelioma attorney might have incurred
- Punitive damages if the defendant’s actions were egregious
Speak with an experienced St. Louis mesothelioma attorney for answers concerning how asbestos exposure could have led to your pleural mesothelioma. Contact our personal injury attorneys in Missouri today to schedule a free case consultation.
Hire St. Louis, Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys to Resolve Your Mesothelioma Compensation Claim
Do you suspect your exposure to asbestos insulation, fiber, dust, or other particles led to your pleural mesothelioma? St. Louis, Missouri, mesothelioma attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team can provide immediate legal services as your advocate, holding those responsible for your damages financially accountable.
Our St. Louis, Missouri, mesothelioma lawyers have helped many clients with serious health issues caused by exposure to asbestos. Our specialized lawyers have recovered damages for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma and have established the liability of the responsible parties.
Contact a St. Louis, Missouri, asbestos lawyer today by scheduling a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with your mesothelioma lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Our Missouri attorneys accept all mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement ensures no payment for our legal services until your mesothelioma attorney resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.