Treatment for Asbestos Diseases
Treatment for asbestos diseases depends on the nature of the illness and any unique circumstances surrounding the patient. That said, there are some treatments that are common for lung cancer and mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medication. Although medical sciences are advancing, there are still no guaranteed ways of fighting these diseases.
Surgery is a common tool that doctors use to combat asbestos diseases. Doctors can remove cancerous growths and tumors, and may even need to remove lungs or portions of lungs in order to help patients. These surgeries can be extremely painful and invasive, and can leave the patient exhausted and unable to take care of day-to-day needs.
Chemotherapy is another key tool for fighting asbestos diseases. This therapy relies upon the administration of powerful drugs that attack fast-growing cells, including cancerous cells. Unfortunately, these drugs may attack normally functioning cells as well, leading to significant side-effects and risks for patients. Doctors frequently combine chemotherapy with other therapies, such as surgeries and radiation therapy, to fight asbestos-related diseases.
Another way of combatting asbestos diseases involves targeted radiation. Targeted radiation can damage and destroy the DNA of cancerous cells. Radiation treatment can have significant side-effects and may take a long time to complete, but it can help patients. Radiation is often combined with other treatments to help patients fight the disease.
Medicines may alleviate the symptoms of asbestosis, cancer, and other diseases related to asbestos exposure. In many cases, there is no effective treatment that can cure illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. Doctors may prescribe medication that reduces inflammation, eases symptoms, and tries to alleviate problems that these diseases cause.
Compensation for Asbestos Disease Claims
When you’re fighting a disease, you may incur significant expenses and suffer significant losses. An asbestos disease claim may include:
- The cost of medical treatment related to your disease. Asbestos-related diseases may require significant treatments, including expensive surgeries, medications, and long-term treatments. In many cases, these treatments can drain your finances and leave you with a mountain of bills for medical care that you need. An asbestos disease claim may include the cost of past, present, and future treatment that you may need.
- Lost wages and damage to your future earnings. An asbestos disease can leave you unable to work and earn income that you and your family need every day. A disease may also prevent you from working in the future or growing in your career as you planned. A claim may include compensation for the damage the disease does to your wages and your future income.
- Physical pain and emotional anguish. Asbestos diseases can leave you in crippling pain that can change your life and take away the activities that you love. These diseases can also lead to significant mental anguish that can disrupt your life and lead to depression, anxiety, and a host of other problems. A claim may include compensation for these injuries.
Sadly, many people with a disease related to asbestos exposure die from the disease. In these situations, surviving family members may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim in order to recover compensation for their tragic loss.
About Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Funds
In some cases, manufacturers and other organizations file for bankruptcy. This may be due to business circumstances or due to their responsibilities to those harmed by their products. In these cases, the government may require them to establish an asbestos bankruptcy trust fund to cover any asbestos claims they may be responsible for.
These trusts are overseen by independent trustees and can be an important source of recovery for asbestos exposure victims. Many of these trusts hold significant assets to be paid out to those who have been harmed by the company’s asbestos products. In each case, those who manage the trust will review the claim and make important decisions about how to resolve the claim.
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and have suffered as a result, speak with an asbestos lawyer today. A lawyer can discuss your questions, build your claim, and work to find compensation from those responsible.
Statute of Limitations on Asbestos Claims
The statute of limitations on asbestos claims is usually two years from the date you knew or should have known about the disease. In most cases, this two year period begins to run when you receive a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. In cases where a loved one passes away due to an asbestos-related disease, the period usually begins to run from the date of that person’s death.
There are very few exceptions to this rule, so if you think you may have a claim, it’s important to speak with a lawyer about your situation as soon as possible. A lawyer can advise you on how much time you may have to bring your claim and can begin developing your claim right away.
How an Asbestos Attorney Can Help
When you are dealing with an asbestos-related illness, you have enough on your mind. An asbestos attorney can help you and your family in many ways, including handling everything your claim needs and keeping you up-to-date about how it is proceeding.
Just a few examples of the many ways an asbestos lawyer can help include:
- Building your claim and securing the evidence your claim needs.
- Evaluating your injuries and helping you calculate the full extent of your losses.
- Taking the burden of your claim off you while you focus on your health.
- Handling any communications with the parties responsible for your illness.
- Negotiating for the compensation that you deserve.
- Litigating your case and fighting for the compensation you are entitled to.
If you are suffering from an asbestos-related disease, do not add the stress of a lawsuit to your plate. Let an attorney handle the fight for compensation while you focus on your health and recovery.