Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung called the "pleura," is almost always caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Every year thousands of workers and retired workers are diagnosed with this disease. The attorneys at Martin & Jones have been helping victims and their families obtain asbestos disease compensation for more than two decades. If you have been diagnosed, it is important that you speak with a mesothelioma lawyer.
Below we briefly discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments available to those diagnosed with this form of cancer, and how we can help you and your family with a mesothelioma claim.
Symptoms
There are generally two types of mesothelioma. The most common is pleural, and the second is peritoneal. Pleural affects the lining of the lung, and peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal lining.
The most common symptoms are shortness of breath; pain while breathing; chest, back or shoulder pain; difficulty swallowing; frequent coughing and unexplained fever.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and bowel problems.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed following an x-ray or CT scan which detects fluid around the pleura of the lung or peritoneum of the abdomen. A biopsy may also be used by doctors to obtain tissue which is examined by a pathologist to confirm a diagnosis. The American Lung Association has a mesothelioma fact sheet which provides helpful information on diagnosis.
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
There are several medical centers in North Carolina and Georgia that have experience in treating mesothelioma. These include:
Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center - 2424 Erwin Road, Hock Plaza, Suite 601, Durham, NC 27705 (888) 275-3853
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center - 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 (919) 966-4431
UNC Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University - Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157 (336) 716-2008
Emory Winship Cancer Institute - 1365C Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322 (888) WINSHIP
The National Cancer Institute also provides a listing of all the NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers across the country.
Asbestos Exposure Hazards
Many workers may not recall specifically being exposed to asbestos. However, asbestos was used extensively in insulation and construction materials, including in power plants such as Duke Power, Carolina Power and Light, Georgia Power and other utility plants. Paper mills owned by companies such as Weyerhaeuser, Federal Paper, International Paper and Champion, used asbestos extensively in their plants. Other plants such as Dupont, Babcock & Wilcox, shipyards in Wilmington, Norfolk and Newport News and other industrial facilities all used large quantities of asbestos. Individuals who worked as insulators, boilermakers, pipefitters, mechanics, carpenters, electricians and plumbers, as well as other bystanders, may have been exposed to asbestos.
Metropolitan areas see the most incidents of mesothelioma since that is where many of the industrial facilities using asbestos-containing insulation products were located. In North Carolina, they include Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham and Wilmington. In Georgia, they include Atlanta, Augusta and Macon. These cities report numerous cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases annually.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos disease regardless of the city or state where you live, we can help. The attorneys at Martin & Jones have represented families in asbestos disease claims in many states, including North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Georgia (GA), Florida (FL), Texas (TX), Ohio (OH), Alabama (AL), Virginia (VA), Illinois (IL), California(CA), Pennsylvania (PA) and Tennessee (TN). You can talk to a attorney for free if you have any questions about an asbestos claim.
