Mesothelioma is a rare and severe type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Once airborne, the asbestos fibres can be inhaled attach to mesothelial tissues of body organs. They eventually induce the formation of tumorous cells that eventually grow to become mesothelioma cancer. In the 1930s to 70s, the amount of asbestos used by military and construction industries was high, and the profit margin was so big. The asbestos processing companies, on realising the health effects of asbestos, chose not to tell their blue-collar workers. It wasn’t long before the health complications started manifesting. The companies moved to court and declared bankruptcy to prevent prosecution. The court urged them to form trust funds to compensate those affected. Mesothelioma Cancer network is a platform where people living with mesothelioma can find help online and be connected with lawyers to help them with their lawsuit.
Some of the worst forms of cancer include Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, cervical, brain cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has a five-year survival rate of nine per cent and a ten-year survival rate of three per cent. There is about thirty-billion-dollar worth of trust funds set aside for mesothelioma patients. The average settlement for a mesothelioma lawsuit is about one million dollars to one and a half a million dollars.
Types and symptoms of mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
When the fibres of asbestos are inhaled and go straight to the lungs’ mesothelial lining, it causes pleural mesothelioma. In a research made by the America Cancer Society, eighty per cent of mesothelioma is malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Some symptoms include;
- Lump on the chest
- Dry cough
- Sudden weight loss
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is hardly recognisable. It is mostly recognised during autopsy. It a patient has a life span of about six months. The asbestos fibres invade the sac-like lining of the heart and cause malignancy.
Symptoms include;
- Persistent cough
- Heart murmur
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitation
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
When ingested, asbestos fibres attach to the abdomen’s mesothelial layer and induce malignancy in the mesothelial cells, which eventually causes cancer. The life span of patients with this type of mesothelioma is two years.
Symptoms include;
- Sudden weight loss
- Pain in the abdominal region
- Formation of tumorous cells in the mesothelium.
The amount of compensation varies from case to case. However, the settlement amount remains significantly less than that awarded when a case goes to trial. Even after the agreement, whether in court or settlement, some patients have to wait for a long time before receiving the cheque. Most of the time, the claimant is bound by nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from going public on settlement. Some of the notable settlements and verdicts are;
A former steelworker’s wife in Illinois was to be paid about two hundred and fifty million dollars by the U.S Steel in 2005. A post-verdict agreement was reached, and the amount paid was less than the trial amount.
- A one hundred and ninety million dollars award in New York to Weitz and Luxenberg client in 2013
- 2017 when Mariena and ED Robaey were awarded seventy-five million dollars.
Mesothelioma cancer network was formed to assist veterans and other person affected by mesothelioma. Seek help from mesothelioma lawyers if you want compensation for a loved one or yourself.
