Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawyer Pennsylvania

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that often affects the lungs, which is caused by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. Once inhaled or ingested, these asbestos fibers enter the body and cause damage to the lining of the body’s organs, frequently resulting in cancer. Most commonly, mesothelioma is a result of occupational asbestos exposure from working in a steel mill, power station shipyard, construction site, or other industrial location.

There are three main types of mesothelioma: 1) pleural; 2) peritoneal; and 3) pericardial.
1) Pleural Mesothelioma: an aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs.
2) Peritoneal Mesothelioma: an aggressive cancer that forms in the layer of tissue that covers the abdomen.
3) Pericardial Mesothelioma: a type of cancer affecting the surrounding membrane of the heart.
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Mesothelioma diagnoses are rare, but this diagnosis is life-changing. Mesothelioma is often a fatal disease, with the average life expectancy following diagnosis being around 12-18 months. After a diagnosis, victims typically experience severe physical pain, mental pain and suffering, depression, and emotional frustration. If you have been exposed to asbestos, and you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact a mesothelioma lawyer to protect your rights and explore your options for compensation.

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Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

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Asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania has also caused many cases of lung cancer. Lung cancer caused by asbestos fibers is serious, and it is often a terminal disease. After their diagnosis, victims’ lives are consumed with physical pain, depression, and piles of medical bills from their medical treatment. Similarly to mesothelioma, these victims may not experience symptoms of their disease until years, or even decades, after exposure.
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With the extended amount of time it takes for symptoms to present themselves, insurance companies may be quick to dismiss someone’s asbestos claim as unrelated. However, even if a victim of asbestos exposure was a life-long smoker, if asbestos exposure is established, that victim may still have a right to financial compensation.
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If insurance companies are downplaying your claim, or if they are doubting that your exposure to asbestos caused your disease, reach out to our experienced asbestos-related cancer attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates today. Our attorneys will stand by your side and help you through every step of the process.

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Who is at Risk?

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Most commonly, victims of mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancers were exposed to asbestos by their own employer. Pennsylvania asbestos exposure is common due to the types of jobs that Pennsylvanians have worked.

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People working in the following jobs faced a high risk of asbestos exposure:

• Steel and Metal Mills: Steel mill asbestos exposure is common due to the use of asbestos for heat resistance.
• Power Plants: Asbestos was frequently used for high-heat insulation, exposing employees to the dangerous material.
• Shipyards and Navy Service: Navy asbestos exposure could have occurred from working in engine rooms, or even from inside the cabins of the ship.
• Construction and Trades:  Asbestos exposure in union trades was common because the trade industry previously used asbestos for fire-resistance and insulation.
• Petroleum and Chemical Refineries: Chemical refinery asbestos exposure frequently occurred due to the use of asbestos for sealing materials and insulation.
• Paper Mills and Textile Mills: Paper and textile mill exposure to asbestos was often due to the manufacturing of asbestos textiles.
• Automotive and Heavy Equipment Mechanics: Automotive asbestos exposure often results from exposure to car parts that utilized asbestos for heat resistance, such as brake pads.
• Secondary Exposure: Secondary asbestos exposure is common. It occurs when workers bring home asbestos on their work clothes or tools, inadvertently exposing family members to asbestos.
  

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Exposure to asbestos that leads to mesothelioma or an asbestos-related cancer could have happened through a variety of different careers, or it could have simply happened through secondary exposure from your family member. Consulting with an experienced asbestos attorney could help determine who is responsible for exposing you to the dangerous material and help you understand your options for seeking compensation.

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Symptoms and Diagnosis

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According to the Mayo Clinic, asbestos-related illness symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath;
• A dry cough;
• Chest tightness or chest pain;
• Dry, crackling sounds in lungs while inhaling;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Clubbing, or rounding, of fingers; and
• Weight loss.

For individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, doctors usually perform x-rays, biopsies, and pathology tests to confirm the diagnosis. During this process, medical professionals will likely discuss the patients’ occupational history to determine if they might have been exposed to asbestos through their occupation.

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Most personal injury claims in Pennsylvania must be filed within two years of the incident. However, under Pennsylvania law (42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5524(2)), people with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related cancer have two years from the date they are diagnosed, or the date they should have reasonably known about their disease, to file a claim.
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Therefore, a victim of an asbestos-related disease still has the ability to receive financial compensation for their injuries, even if they were first exposed to asbestos decades ago, as long as they file their claim within 2 years of learning of their injuries.