South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer and an asbestos related disease. It is a cancer of the membranes lining the chest or abdomen. It is most often the result of workplace exposure to asbestos fibers, with about 70 to 80% of cases being linked to asbestos. Because diagnosis of mesothelioma is often made at a late stage of the disease, five-year survival rates are low compared to other cancers. If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers and diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may feel afraid and not know what to do.

The personal injury lawyers in South Carolina at McWhirter, Bellinger, & Associates, P.A., can help. We know that a mesothelioma lawsuit can help mesothelioma victims make plans for their future if they survive mesothelioma and for their family if they do not. Contact us today to learn more about your rights and legal options.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment

In its early stages, the symptoms of mesothelioma are not very specific and hard to pinpoint. They may include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. These may be accompanied by pain in the chest or abdomen, and abdominal swelling. If you have these symptoms long enough and go to a doctor, your doctor may order a chest x-ray, which should give sufficient evidence for a doctor to diagnose mesothelioma or order more detailed tests like a CT scan or an MRI. However, it is not uncommon for the x-ray to be misread, leading to a delayed cancer diagnosis.

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed, there are three treatment options, which may be used singly or in combination:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

There are other treatment options under investigation, including intraoperative photodynamic therapy, when the cancer cells are made more sensitive to light and exposed during surgery. Therapies designed to boost the body’s immune system are also being tried.

No matter what treatment is used, though, the 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma is less than 10%.

Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

If you are suffering from mesothelioma, the chances are it is the result of workplace exposure to asbestos. The dangers of asbestos have been known since the 1800s, but because asbestos was a relatively cheap material with useful properties, asbestos manufacturers kept producing it. It was also commonly used through the 1970s in many applications. Despite its known danger, many employers allowed their employees to work with asbestos with no or inadequate safety equipment. And many of these decisions were profit-driven.

Construction workers are especially pronged to exposure. The asbestos contained in contaminated building products such as spackling, paint, roof shingles, drywall, and masonry compounds can be breathed in, which may cause mesothelioma.

Now you are facing long-term illness requiring expensive treatment. Your family is at risk of losing the emotional and financial support you provide. You want to provide for your family, and it is only right that those who risked your life for their profit be made to pay. This is the goal of a mesothelioma lawsuit.

If you have contracted mesothelioma and want to talk to a lawyer about a possible lawsuit, call or email the South Carolina personal injury lawyers of McWhirter, Bellinger, & Associates, P.A., today.

With offices in Aiken, Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Sumter, South Carolina, our South Carolina mesothelioma lawyers are ready to serve you.

For immediate help, call today at 888-353-5513.

Is mesothelioma a form of lung cancer?

No. Mesothelioma affects the sac, or membrane, that lines the interior of the chest or abdominal cavity, not the lungs.

I worked with asbestos a long time ago, can it still be the cause of my mesothelioma?

Yes. The effects of asbestos exposure are long term. It is not unusual for people to be diagnosed with mesothelioma 30, 40, 50 years or more after working with asbestos. Even if you worked with asbestos in the 50s or 60s, there may be a connection between your exposure and your illness.

Could smoking be the cause of my mesothelioma?

No. Mesothelioma of the chest membranes is called “a signal tumor for asbestos exposure” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mesothelioma is only strongly associated with asbestos exposure. It is also not related to:

• Car fumes
• Paint fumes
• Chest x-rays
• Radon exposure

How do I know when I was exposed to asbestos?

If you worked in any of the following fields through the 1970s, it is likely that you may have been exposed to asbestos:

• Manufacturing of asbestos products such as insulation, roofing, brake pads, or others
• Automotive repair
• Construction or demolition
• Shipyards
• Railroading
• Steel mills
• Shipboard or offshore work

If you worked in multiple fields or with different employers, it is possible that you received multiple exposures to asbestos.

How can a mesothelioma lawsuit help me and my family?

A mesothelioma lawsuit can help you and your family cover expenses related to the illness and to make up for lost income. This can get financial worries out of the way and help you focus on dealing with the emotional ramifications of the illness. A lawsuit can get compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship (consortium)

In addition, it can help many people come to terms with this tragic illness if they can point to a definitive cause and a person who is responsible.

How do I start my mesothelioma lawsuit?

Simply contact the injury lawyers in SC at McWhirter, Bellinger, & Associates, P.A., They can provide you with some free legal advice that carries no obligation whatsoever. Don’t wait, please call or email today.

With offices in Aiken, Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Sumter, South Carolina, our South Carolina mesothelioma attorneys are ready to serve you.

For immediate help, call today at 888-353-5513.