Pleural mesothelioma is the most common kind and affects the lining of the lungs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma involves cancer of the abdominal cavity lining.
Pericardial mesothelioma begins in the lining that surrounds the heart.
Testicular mesothelioma is cancer of the testicular lining.
Asbestos is a mineral that naturally takes the form of microscopic fibers that do not degrade, break down, or pass through your system. Instead, they embed themselves in the lining of your lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles. Once embedded, they irritate the tissue and cause abnormal growth, which leads to cancerous tumors. This condition is what we call mesothelioma.
It takes several years for asbestos fibers to cause abnormal tissue growth in your organ lining. It takes even longer for abnormal growth to become a cancerous tumor. While you may have experienced minor respiratory symptoms, much of these signs go unaddressed for years. It isn’t until severe nausea or breathing issues affect patients that they see a doctor. By then, patients often have late stage cancer.
It is highly likely that your employer knew asbestos could cause you lifelong harm. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was published in 1899. While it took decades for researchers to corroborate, the U.S. discovered the link between asbestos exposure and cancer in 1934. The link between asbestos and mesothelioma has been strengthened since then, so by the 1950s plenty of factory owners and corporations knew the risk asbestos posed.
Because this is a fatal illness and developed over the course of decades, patients are entitled to years’ worth of medical treatment, as well as any imaging tests and other diagnostic expenses you’ve paid. More importantly, patients are entitled to enough money to pay for medical care for the rest of their lives. Non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) may also apply.
For decades, Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC has been a dedicated personal injury law firm in the United States. With decades of experience, he is no stranger to taking on corporate giants for everyday people. Since then, we have continued to work for our clients, fighting tooth-and-nail to provide for their medical needs while making their voice heard in court.
Our firm has an entire division dedicated to mesothelioma litigation - and that distinction is crucial. We have the playbook on nearly every hotbed of asbestos exposure. Through extensive research and investigation, we have identified and learned virtually everything there is to know about the types of job sites and other locations where people are commonly exposed to asbestos.