Brayton Purcell, LLP - 222 Rush Landing Road, PO Box 6169, Novato, CA 94945

How to Watch Out for Mesothelioma

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.

What Happens if Mesothelioma is Not Treated?

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.

Since World Trade Center Attacks More Die

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.

Disturbing News About Mesothelioma

According to an article in the Journal of Clinical Imaging Science there is a new report which contains some disturbing news about just how little asbestos exposure it may take to cause malignant mesothelioma. Radiologists in New Delhi, India have published details of a case of mesothelioma in a young woman who experienced only very limited asbestos exposure as a child.

Having complaining of chest pain and breathlessness, X-rays and CT scans revealed that, not only was she suffering from the asbestos cancer, but that it had also spread to her liver and lungs. A biopsy of one of the tumors confirmed the diagnosis.

In addition to being much younger than most mesothelioma patients, the woman’s case is unique in that her only known exposure to asbestos was from contact with the contaminated work clothes of her father some 15 years earlier and she only lived with him for around three months. He was a miner in the asbestos-rich Jharkhand area of eastern India.

Lead investigator, Dr. Bharati Singhal of the ESI Model Hospital in New Delhi. Dr. Singhal and his colleagues conclude that these kinds of short-term or second-hand exposures to mesothelioma-causing asbestos are probably underreported because neither patients nor investigators recognize their significance.

If you have been exposed to asbestos, and have developed an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately. Or contact us online for a free consultation.

Family Opens Up Mesothelioma Coping Process for All to See -video-

When living with a loved one has mesothelioma, your emotions likely vacillate between highs – when you are filled with hope and positive expectation, and lows – when all seems lost. The disease is deadly and debilitating, but the human spirit is strong and hopeful. When these two collide it can take a tremendous emotional toll on both the sufferer of mesothelioma, and his or her family. Promises of aggressive treatments and possible breakthroughs often lead to one devastating setback after another. Ultimately, mesothelioma is almost always fatal.

For anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the future may seem quite uncertain. The emotional toll of having been given such news is likely to last for quite some time, but many families do decide on ways to both build hope for a cure and enjoy the time they have remaining. In a touching video, one family has opened up this private process to the world.

Though there is no cure for mesothelioma, scientists and doctors are currently hard at work. In the mean time, those suffering from the disease face a year or more of  difficult and expensive treatments. If you or someone you know has suffered the results of asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation