Mesothelioma Healthcare For Those Exposed To Asbestos In Louisiana It’s an unfortunate truth that for many people in New Orleans and Louisiana, health insurance remains unaffordable, or that sick people find out too late that the plan they have is inadequate to achieve the kind of care they require. When that happens to people suffering from mesothelioma from toxic exposure to asbestos, you have a right to know your options. Free Healthcare For Mesothelioma Victims That Are Military Veterans First, many veterans of America’s armed services are in a high-risk group for mesothelioma, and may have access to VA care. Mesothelioma is recognized as a service-related illness by the Veterans Administration. Eligible veterans are entitled to see cancer specialists throughout the VA system, including mesothelioma specialists, and may be eligible for inclusion in clinical trials where cutting edge treatments and procedures can make a difference. Veterans with mesothelioma are also…Read More
Helping Mesothelioma Victims and Their Families In Louisiana and Across The Country If you, or a family member, have been exposed to asbestos and recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’re likely looking for answers to the many questions you have. Perhaps the two most common questions we hear from our mesothelioma clients are: Can I expect to collect any money from a lawsuit? If I file a mesothelioma lawsuit, how much money will I receive? If it can be proven that you, or your family member, were exposed to asbestos, then the likelihood of receiving significant money damages is good. How much you, or your family, will receive varies greatly because it depends on a number of factors, such as: Will the case be settled or go to trial; The costs of medical expenses; Lost wages; And other damages that can be secured by a lawsuit. When it’s proven that you…Read More
This is something you should discuss with your doctor. However, there are numerous instances of spouses and children developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related health problems through the occupational exposure of a family member. In many industries, and for many decades, workers would wear clothes home from their jobs that were covered in asbestos dust, and over time the home environment would become contaminated. Playing with the kids or sitting down to dinner together after work would create airborne asbestos fibers that family members could breathe in. Why some people develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos while others don’t remains a mystery. The important thing for family members of those who developed mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure in their working life is to have an open and ongoing dialogue with their healthcare providers so that symptoms can be investigated and appropriate care can be provided. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because of the…Read More
For most people in New Orleans and Louisiana, exposure to asbestos, which is a naturally occurring substance in the environment, will be negligible and poses almost no health risk. However, because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, it is possible that Gulf Coast residents encountered higher levels of exposure as old insulation, shingles, siding, and other asbestos-containing materials were damaged and exposed and buildings were torn down quickly. The results of this potential exposure won’t be known for many decades, but the Environmental Protection Agency has warned that airborne asbestos resulting from the storm and its aftermath may pose health risks to residents and those who worked to rebuild the region. Some occupations have become notorious for exposing workers to airborne asbestos fibers, which become lodged in lung tissue and may result in mesothelioma later in life. Shipyard workers experience a higher-than-normal rate of mesothelioma (particularly those in Navy…Read More
The U.S. government did not begin officially tracking deaths caused by mesothelioma until 1999. While the late date for tracking this information has resulted in a limited pool of information, it is an unfortunate fact that many of the industries where employees suffer a high rate of mesothelioma are the same type of industries prevalent in the New Orleans region. Overall, approximately 80 percent of mesothelioma cases can be directly linked to a job where asbestos was present. Exposure at work is by far the most common cause of asbestos-related diseases. In 2005, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) issued a report that set forth data on the 18,068 mesothelioma deaths that occurred in the U.S. between 1999 and 2005. This report found that workers in the following industries suffered the most mesothelioma related deaths in that time period: Shipbuilding and Repairing Industrial and Miscellaneous Chemicals Petroleum…Read More
While there’s no one “typical mesothelioma” or a “typical prognosis,” for those in New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana, there are many factors that will contribute to an individual’s ability to fight the disease effectively. Age and health status are two major pieces of the prognosis puzzle. A younger patient with no other serious health concerns will, in general, do better when facing mesothelioma than much older patients, who often have other ailments to contend with. The type and location of mesothelioma is another consideration. Epithelial mesothelioma is the most common form, and the most treatable. Mesothelioma that occurs in the lining of the lungs, called pleural mesothelioma, is generally more treatable than that which occurs in the abdomen or other parts of the body. Finally, the stage at which the cancer is caught is extremely significant in survival rates. Diagnosis at an early stage can add months or years…Read More
Is Surgery An Option For Mesothelioma Treatment In Louisiana? Doctors describe how advanced cancers like mesothelioma are given a four-stage grading system, where Stage I is the least advanced and most treatable, and Stage IV is the most advanced and most dangerous. For mesothelioma in particular, catching the disease early can extend life considerably, and even give cutting edge treatments a slight chance to the beat the disease. In Stage I mesothelioma, the cancer cells are localized on one side of the chest wall, and may include cancer cells in the chest cavity between the lungs. In advanced Stage I, cancer may have infiltrated to the lining of the lungs and diaphragm. In Stage II, cancer will have spread further in the chest wall, the lining of the lungs and diaphragm, the cavity between the lungs, and will have infiltrated the diaphragm itself, the lung tissue, or both. Stage II is considered…Read More
SV40, or Simian Virus 40, is a virus that is thought to have contaminated millions of doses of polio vaccine administered to Americans between 1958 and 1963. The virus originates in the kidney cells of rhesus monkeys, which provided tissue that was used in the production of the vaccines. It is known to cause kidney disease and cancer in monkeys, as well as attacking the body’s natural defenses against tumor growth. Sv40 And Asbestos Exposure In Louisiana In the decades since, there has been considerable evidence that SV40 plays a role in the development of mesothelioma in humans, though whether it directly causes mesothelioma or acts as a co-factor in the development of the disease remains an open question. Researchers have found that individuals who have had exposure to both SV40 and asbestos are at higher risk of developing mesothelioma, so individuals who were vaccinated against polio in Louisiana, between…Read More
Are Louisiana Mechanics Exposed To Asbestos? Auto mechanics continue to be at unique risk for asbestos exposure in Louisiana and nationwide. Consequently, mechanics and their family members may be at higher risk for developing mesothelioma later in life. Because many automotive engine parts produce heat through constant friction, asbestos has long been the preferred insulator in components like brake pads and linings, transmission parts, and clutch facings. While asbestos has become much more highly regulated in the United States since the 1970s, the automotive industry continues to rely on it. Mechanics are exposed to asbestos dust when replacing brakes, gaskets, repairing or replacing transmissions, and other work, especially on older cars and trucks. Even modern brake systems use asbestos, and when replacement is performed in a shop, the asbestos-containing dust produced by the action of the worn brakes is released into the air where it can be breathed in by employees…Read More
Am I At Risk For Mesothelioma If I Was Only Exposed To Asbestos For A Short Time? Short-term asbestos exposure may be hazardous for people in New Orleans, especially if the level of exposure is high. People who worked in a high-exposure field for a part of their career may be at risk for asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma, especially if they have lifestyle risks like smoking in addition to asbestos exposure. Experts have concerns about asbestos exposure for those who worked to rebuild the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. People who took jobs in demolition and cleanup, even if the work only lasted a short time, may have come into contact with airborne asbestos fibers regularly for the duration of the work. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to know the full scope of this exposure for many years, but it’s important that people who pitched in to help in…Read More
