Mesothelioma Lawyer Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma, it is a good idea to discuss your legal options with a mesothelioma lawyer Fort Lauderdale, FL trusts. Although the disease can take decades to develop in the body, the cause can almost always be traced back to one source: exposure to asbestos.

A Disease and Diagnosis Overview

While mesothelioma often impacts the lungs, it is not the same thing as lung cancer. Instead, it is a cancer that attacks the mesothelium, which is a tissue layer surrounding most of your internal organs. The specific diagnosis will be determined which part of the mesothelium is cancerous.

Here are some terms to know:

·        Pleural mesothelioma: impacting the lungs

·        Peritoneal mesothelioma: impacting tissues in the abdomen

·        Pericardial mesothelioma: impacting tissue around the heart

Symptoms and Life Expectancy

Mesothelioma is treatable but not yet curable. While treatments may extend a patient’s life, the disease is almost always fatal. Depending on the specific diagnosis and when it is made, most patients are expected to live just 12 to 21 months after diagnosis.

Symptoms also vary depending on the type of mesothelioma, but they commonly include:

·        Coughing and shortness of breath (pleural and pericardial)

·        Chest pain (pleural and pericardial)

·        Sudden and unexplained weight loss (pleural and peritoneal)

·        Tissue lumps discovered on your chest, underneath the skin (pleural)

·        Abdominal swelling and pain (peritoneal)

·        Frequent nausea (peritoneal)

Who is Liable for your Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

Asbestos exposure is the number one cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural mineral that was very commonly used up through the first half of the 20^th century as an insulating and fire-proofing material. It was eventually outlawed when its health risk became known, but still exists in older homes and buildings in the United States.

The most likely place to be exposed to asbestos was on the job, or living with someone who was exposed on the job. Obviously, those who mined or manufactured asbestos products were at high risk for exposure. Other high-risk jobs included:

·        Plumbers and boiler workers

·        Construction and demolition workers

·        Firefighters

·        Those who work in insulation

·        Navy personnel who spent time at sea

·        Those building naval vessels

A personal injury lawyer Fort Lauderdale, FL trusts may tell you that it can be very difficult to trace a mesothelioma case back to its source because the disease often takes decades to develop. Usually, exposure happened on the job, but those companies may no longer exist. Thankfully, many of these former companies have been forced to set up trusts to compensate asbestos victims. Additionally, the U.S. government can be successfully held liable for the workers and servicemembers it exposed to the deadly material.

Contact Us Today to Learn How We Can Help

The attorneys at Needle & Ellenberg, P.A., are an experienced Florida legal team helping patients secure compensation for mesothelioma caused by exposure to toxic asbestos. We have the skills, resources and experience to take on these difficult cases. Please contact our firm and speak to a Fort Lauderdale, FL mesothelioma lawyer today to learn more; we look forward to meeting with you.