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How to Tell Someone They Have Mesothelioma

February 29, 2016 By

There is no easy way for a doctor to tell a patient that they are suffering from mesothelioma and that there is not cure.

However it is suggested that the best approach is one of being honest and direct but also that each patient is different. The language should be language that the patient and the family can understand and not peppered with complex medical and scientific jargon.

At the same time the patient and the family should be allowed to express their emotions and not feel they have to bottle up their feelings. It should be clear exactly what the medical issues are and all questions should be answered clearly as well as future plans discussed and the patient should try and begin to discuss his or her preferences when it comes to treatment options.

The patient should also be encouraged to stay with the family as many will want to be alone having heard the news but being alone does not always improve the situation, it can in fact make it worse. Involving the family in the diagnosis and the potential future treatment plans help both the patient and those who may be left behind.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California mesothelioma

How Does a Mesothelioma Claim Work?

January 29, 2016 By

If you file a claim for mesothelioma the chances are that the claim will never reach a jury and could only take a year to be settled. Those cases which go to trial can take much longer.

In the case of mesothelioma, each case must be filed individually as each person’s prognosis, symptoms and medical history are different.

The amount of money the plaintiff will receive can be difficult to estimate as it depends on the type of mesothelioma the plaintiff is suffering from, the amount of lost wages and potential future earnings, the cost of medical expenses as well as damages for pain and suffering and how their life and that of their family has been affected by the disease.

Most asbestos personal injury cases are handled by an attorney on what is called a contingency fee basis. Your attorney will not charge you a fee at the outside, but will receive a percentage of the jury verdict or the settlement. Usually lawyers will charge between 25 and 40 percent plus recompense for expenses incurred.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: damages due to mesothelioma

How to Watch Out for Mesothelioma

December 30, 2015 By

Many of those employed in construction, carpentry, pipe trades, shipping industries and many other types of skilled labor face an increased risk for asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma. Even though new regulations were introduced in the late 1970s many people had been exposed to asbestos prior to then.

If you know that you had asbestos exposure it is wise not to wait until you experience symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath as unfortunately, mesothelioma symptoms usually appear late in the day when there are few treatment options.

If you know you were exposed to asbestos you should talk to your doctor and ask for asbestos related tests and you should also learn about the symptoms of mesothelioma. In addition, look at your overall health and start a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Also if you are a smoker, give up as that can improve the health of your lungs and reduce your risk of developing mesothelioma

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Mesothelioma effects

What Happens if Mesothelioma is Not Treated?

November 29, 2015 By

When diagnosed with mesothelioma, without treatment, the tumors which are present in pleural mesothelioma may spread from where they began in the lining of the lungs to the rest of the chest cavity.

This growth will affect how the patients feel and the original symptoms of chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath will become worse.

In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma if no treatment is given the abdominal pain and swelling and problems with digestion will also become worse.

In both cases other symptoms are likely to develop such as irregular heartbeat, sweats, and problems with swallowing, fever and weight loss.

At this stage palliative care and pain management become a priority and it is important to keep pain under control to enable the patient to have a higher quality of his or her remaining life.

Some of the best pain killers are opiates such as morphine and tramadol and in addition steroids can help with inflammation induced pain. Over the counter pain medicines can help with mild pain but can cause stomach problems if taken over a long period and should always be taken with food.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Mesothelioma effects

Since World Trade Center Attacks More Die

October 31, 2015 By

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, eleven more people have died over the last six weeks since the anniversary.

There is now an effort for new legislation to replace the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act for victims of Ground Zero who became ill as a result of their work there, as the Act expired on September 30 this year.

It is thought that more than 1,700 people have died from illnesses relating to Ground Zero including mesothelioma. The health program related to the World Trade Center has found that although mesothelioma typically develops around 11 years after exposure to asbestos, other studies have found that 96% of cases over 20 years to appear and around a third even 40 years. Hence it is vital that victims who may still develop the disease have access to health care and compensation for many years still to come.

There are now 63,000 people being monitored for health issues relating to 9/11 and of those 33,000 have at least one health problem related to the terrorist attacks.

It appears that to renew the legislation there is support across the Senate from both parties and it is expected to be passed. However getting any major legislation through Congress and signed by the President takes time and the fiscal impact need to be analyzed. As far as this Act is concerned it would cost around $4.4 billion over 10 years and if the Victims’ Compensation Fund is also extended that would be billions more.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Mesothelioma effects

Firefighters Learn How to Protect Against Cancer

September 30, 2015 By

Firefighter training in San Francisco now includes how to protect against cancer.

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network is a nationwide organization that educates firefighters on how to prevent and screen against cancer and if they are diagnosed, provides support to them and their families. The organization says that firefighters carry a higher risk of cancer than the population as a whole due to the amount and wide range of carcinogens, toxins and other potentially dangerous materials to which they are exposed.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) carried out research among firefighters in three American cities which were San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago. They looked at over 29,000 firefighters and discovered that the main cancers among them were of the lungs, the digestive system and the urinary system. However, in addition they had a rate of mesothelioma which was double that of the average in the United States, and that was probably due to asbestos exposure given the amount of asbestos present in older buildings.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California mesothelioma

Flooring May Contain Asbestos

August 24, 2015 By

You may think your home is safe but many homes built before 1980 have flooring which may contain asbestos which if disturbed can enter the lungs as microscopic fibers and lead to the deadly disease, mesothelioma.

Before 1980 many homes had asbestos used in building the floors ranging from the cement base to the vinyl floor tiles. According to the American Cancer Society, asbestos was used to not only keep the home warm but also to protect it in the event of fire.

If the flooring is in good condition, you do not need to be concerned as long as you leave it alone. It is not the asbestos which is present which causes the damage, it is only if the fibers are released when the flooring is repaired or removed. If you decide to renovate you need a professional to check the flooring and if they say it does contain asbestos, which is probably only known by taking a sample, then it will have to be taken up by asbestos removal certified professionals.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California mesothelioma

New Approach to Treat Mesothelioma is Encouraging

July 31, 2015 By

A new approach to treat mesothelioma has made its way from Toronto in Canada and is now being used at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle.

The treatment is known as SMART which stands for Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy and it was first carried out at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto.

The SMART approach is a five day course of intense radiation followed by the most aggressive type of mesothelioma surgery which removes the whole lung, the lining around the lung and part of the diaphragm as well. The levels of radiation involved are very strong and there is additional coordination between the radiation oncologist and the thoracic surgeon.

The theory is that having had the radiation there will be less risk of any of the cancer left behind following the surgery and the patient should be free from the usually incurable disease.
Initial results are very encouraging with Toronto three year survival rate under the procedure being 72% which is more than double the average 32%.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Mesothelioma treatment

Firefighters and Cancer

June 30, 2015 By

Following a two day meeting to discuss the studies which show a correlation between the jobs of firefighters and cancer, it appears that nothing is being done to lessen the risk.

The report stated that firefighters need information on how to reduce the risks of cancer including work related preventative measures such as proper maintenance of their personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as lifestyle changes such as diet, stopping smoking and exercise.

One of the studies showed that when firefighters were researched in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago they found above average cancers of the digestive tract, kidney, bladder, prostate, oral and respiratory cancers and mesothelioma.

The report went on to state that the current studies just look at exposures during a fire and not before or after, nor other environments so there is still a need to look at everything including stand by duties, and the toxins found within the fire house itself.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Contracted by U.S. Navy Officer

May 29, 2015 By

On Monday, May 11, the case began in California of a former U.S. Navy officer who developed terminal mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on the ship on which he served for more than 20 years. He is now seeking damages from the shipbuilders and suppliers that he says exposed him.

Barry Kelly was diagnosed in 2011 with peritoneal mesothelioma, which is cancer of the membrane surrounding the abdominal organs and which did not respond to either chemotherapy or other treatments. Mesothelioma usually comes from exposure to asbestos, and Navy ships were filled with the insulation material in order to conserve energy and protect against fires.

Kelly first noticed symptoms of his illness in 2010 some 50 years after he started serving on naval ships, which is the classic latency period for mesothelioma. Kelly is seeking damages for his loss of income, as well as his medical expenses and his wife’s economic losses after he dies.

The defendants at trial include Todd Shipyards Corporation, which built the ship on which Kelly served, along with suppliers Cleaver Brooks Inc. and Crane Company.

The defendants said that they had built the ships under naval guidelines which included the use of asbestos, and that they were only doing as instructed by the Navy.

If you have been diagnosed with any an asbestos related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To find out how we can help you recover for your asbestos related claim, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California mesothelioma
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