Mesothelioma is an asbestos-induced cancer of the membrane surrounding and protecting the internal organs. Mesothelioma most commonly strikes the lining of the lungs, but can also affect that of the abdomen, heart or testicles. Severe symptoms of mesothelioma of the lung include shortness of breath, chest pain and cough. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our firm to speak with an experienced asbestos attorney about your legal rights.
Mesothelioma Resulting from Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately many individuals continue to be diagnosed with this fatal disease. The law firm of Summers and Wyatt has proudly represented mesothelioma and asbestos victims and their families now for over 30 years. Unlike many firms, Summers & Wyatt has never advertised for this type of work, nor has it ever advocated for the mass screenings of certain employee groups (like labor unions) in an effort to drum up business. Although the majority of Summers & Wyatt clients over the years were exposed to asbestos while working in some of the larger local industrial plants like DuPont, Combustion Engineering, and some of the T.V.A. facilities, Summers & Wyatt has represented many clients whose exposure to asbestos came from other settings including military, railroad, or exposure in the home through a loved one who worked at a job site where asbestos was used. In doing so, Summers & Wyatt has handled cases originating from exposure to asbestos from throughout the country including particularly southeast Tennessee, middle Tennessee and northwest Georgia.
Please know that if you contact Summers & Wyatt about your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, a lawyer based in Chattanooga will speak with you and give you sound legal advice about your situation. Summers & Wyatt is NOT a 1-800 number -- as you unfortunately see often on TV -- where you are likely to be connected to a law firm in some far away state that has no intention or ability to advise you or actually handle your case. These 1-800 number law firms often are pure "case brokers", who will simply farm your case out to some other law firm.
Instead, if you contact Summers & Wyatt, a knowledgeable and experienced attorney will speak with you, evaluate your potential case, and, if feasible, pursue legal justice for you. If you contact Summers & Wyatt about your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, you will not be some random number and you will not have difficulty speaking on a regular basis (in person even if you like) with an attorney about your case. Rather, your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case will receive the personalized attention, from an attorney, that it deserves. That is the way Summers & Wyatt has been handling mesothelioma and asbestos cases now for over 30 years, and that is one of the reasons why we have been successful in doing so. The fact that other law firms associate and refer cases to us speaks volumes as well about our standing in the mesothelioma and asbestos legal community.
Summers & Wyatt continues to receive calls and accept new mesothelioma and asbestos clients based on the great reputation and solid results that Summers & Wyatt has historically achieved for its clients. That is the only form of advertising that Summers & Wyatt utilizes. If you appreciate and share these values, and if you want an experienced attorney to review your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, please contact Summers & Wyatt as soon as possible.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related lung disease and would like to speak with an attorney about your rights, contact Summers & Wyatt, P.C. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you have not yet been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related lung disease, but you have concerns or questions because you know you have been exposed to asbestos, our attorney will be happy to speak with you about that as well. To speak with or schedule a free consultation with a lawyer at our firm, call 423-933-2738, or contact us by e-mail.
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Our attorneys have more than 140 years of combined legal experience and have handled hundreds of asbestos and mesothelioma claims. To put our experience to work for you, contact Summers & Wyatt, P.C.
Mesothelioma Basics
Mesothelioma, a relatively rare condition, is a deadly, aggressive cancer almost always linked to contact with asbestos. Typically, people suffering from mesothelioma have a history of asbestos exposure that was heavy, repeated and concentrated in an industrial setting. However, the heavy exposure may have been for a period as short as a couple of months.
If you or a loved one suffers from mesothelioma, you should seek the legal advice of a skilled, experienced asbestos attorney today. Contact Summers & Wyatt, P.C. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to schedule a consultation.
With mesothelioma, cancer invades the mesothelium - the lining of tissue that surrounds vital organs. By far the most common is pleural mesothelioma - cancer of the lining of the lungs. Next common is cancer of the lining of the abdomen or peritoneal mesothelioma. Very rarely, mesothelioma manifests in the lining of either the heart or testicles.
Symptoms
The mesothelium has two layers: one around the organ itself and another forming an outer sac. Between these two layers is a fluid that aids organ movement. Mesothelioma causes the mesothelial cells to multiply wildly and to produce excess lubricating fluid. Ultimately, the mesothelium becomes a thick, tumorous coating of the organ accompanied by excessive fluid. This coating and fluid prevent complete, comfortable expansion of the lung.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can include:
- Trouble swallowing
- Lumps
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Localized pain to the particular cancerous lining
- Swelling and fluid buildup
- Shortness of breath
- Painful breathing
- Fever
- Respiratory infection
- Fatigue and anemia
- Digestive problems
- Bowel problems
- Fever
Doctors perform a variety of tests to diagnose mesothelioma and to determine how advanced the cancer is including x-rays, blood tests, pathologic tests, endoscopic ultrasound, bronchoscopy, CT scans, lung-function tests, biopsies or other diagnostic surgeries, MRI and PET scans.
Prognosis
Mesothelioma can metastasize or spread into the organs themselves or to other areas of the body. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the patient usually has only a matter of months to live and treatment is usually palliative - to alleviate symptoms and slow the progress of the disease.
Treatment
Treatment can include surgery to excise the mesothelial and surrounding tissue, chemotherapy, drug regimens, drug trials, gene therapies, radiation, draining of fluid followed by the injection of medication to prevent further buildup, and, rarely, lung removal. Research into new treatment methods continues, as current therapies have relatively disappointing results. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is usually a terminal condition. Current patients may be eligible to participate in experimental treatments, if they desire.
Risks
About 2,000 people in the US are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. Risk factors include:
- History of heavy exposure to asbestos
- Being male
- Advancing age
- Living with someone who had concentrated asbestos exposure at work
- Living in a country with a history of asbestos mining or industrial use
While the vast majority of mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure, only a fraction of those with heavy exposure develop mesothelioma, so it is assumed that other genetic or environmental factors, in addition to asbestos, must contribute to mesothelioma development. Puzzlingly, a few mesothelioma patients report no known asbestos exposure.
Conclusion
Since the 1970s, federal and state governments have heavily regulated workplace asbestos exposure. Because mesothelioma takes decades to develop, most cases are seen in older retirees exposed before that time. Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones should obtain information about possible relief through the legal system from a knowledgeable asbestos lawyer like one at Summers & Wyatt, P.C. in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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