Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma has a latency period (dormancy) which can last up to 50 years. When asbestos exposure does finally lead to mesothelioma, the symptoms can take weeks or months to be enough for a victim to seek medical care. Mesothelioma affects men in greater numbers than women. The most common symptom of early stage Mesothelioma is fluid on the chest wall, also known as the pleura. This can quickly develop into tumors, which can cause pain in the lower chest cavity. This pain can become increasing severe, causing the victim to seek prescription-strength pain medication. Before any mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed, a proper diagnosis must be undertaken.

Your doctor will typically perform an initial physical examination. The doctor may or may not order blood work at this time. However, blood work will not identify the presence of mesothelioma. A common problem at this point in diagnosis is that the symptoms associated with mesothelioma closely resemble other ailments such as bronchitis and chest flu. For that reason, further testing must be completed to identify the cancer.

MRI (magnetic resonance image) and PET (positron emission temography) scans may identify the presence of tumors, cancer cells, and areas of the chest wall and lung tissue that are inflamed. These two scans have increased contrast and will identify areas of the chest that may be of interest for a biopsy. Biopsies for diagnosing mesothelioma include:

• drainage of fluid from the chest wall
• drainage of fluid from the stomach wall
• removal of pleural tissue

If the findings from these biopsies are inconclusive, a lung specialist may perform a thoracoscopy. Your doctor will insert a lighted scope into the chest cavity, usually with a camera, to identify and extract tissue that looks abnormal.

Missouri Mesothelioma Lawsuits - Mesothelioma Claim

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, one of the first reactions is utter shock. After all, it only takes one single asbestos fiber to cause mesothelioma. This can be difficult for patients to believe. Two of the things you need to do immediately is 1. get the best medical care available, and 2. contact a Missouri mesothelioma lawyer. Contacting a St. Louis mesothelioma lawyer is critical in order to preserve the statute of limitations in your case and position yourself for financial recovery. A mesothelioma claim will be filed by our lawyers and all potential defendants will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice. Call (866) 840-3636 for more advice today.