My name is Tony Ulrich and I am a kidney cancer patient and husband of a wife who got diagnosed with breast cancer. During my research I came across with indicia lading me to believe that there might be a considerable chance that my Renal Cell Carcinoma was caused by exposure to asbestos. This is why I started to look into more depth and learn about asbestos induced diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a material that was widely used all over the world as an insulator and in all different kind of other building an household materials, including asbestos shingles, asbestos tiles, toasters, fireplaces, drywall, etc. Further to that a whole industry employed thousands of asbestos jobs.

What is Mesothelioma?

The name mesothelioma is derived from mesothelium, which is a very thin lining that embeds the majority of the internal organs in a human body. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that starts to develop in the mesothelium. From a histological perspective, mesothelioma is categorized in three primary types:

- Epithelioid
- Sarcomatic
- Biphasic (Mixed)

The disease develops mainly in three areas inside the body:

- The Pleura: a thin lining of the lung (pleural mesothelioma)
- The Peritoneum: this is the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma)
- The Pericardium: by the heart (pericardial mesothelioma)

Generally, the most common symptoms a patient may exhibit are shortness of breath, chest pain, and pain in the abdomen. A specialized health care professional may order x-rays of the chest and the abdomen. There are several diagnostic tools and techniques that may be used to make a conclusive diagnosis. With a special instrument called thoracoscope, a surgeon can actually look inside the chest cavity and look for mesothelioma signs. Basically, a small cut will be made between two ribs through which the thoracoscope will be inserted. The procedure is called thoracoscopy and is usually performed in a hospital under local anesthesia. Similar to a thoracoscopy, a peritoneoscopy might be ordered. Via this procedure, a tool (peritoneoscope) will be used to check the inside of the abdomen. In case of abnormal tissue occurrence, the doctor will cut out a small sample (biopsy) to have it further evaluated in a lab and checked on mesothelioma cells. The general prognosis of mesothelioma is rather poor.

The Mesothelioma Types

We can divide the disease into three types of mesothelioma:

- Epithelioid mesothelioma, which accounts for up to 70% of all cases of malignant mesothelioma, and is therefore also its most common variant.

- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, with roughly 10% of all diagnoses, is the least common form.

- Biphasic or mixed mesothelioma, as implied by its name, it is a combination of the both aforementioned types, and constitutes for up to 20% of all cases.

Is Mesothelioma a common disease?

The question as to whether or not an individual may develop an asbestos induced illness strongly depends on the intensity and the duration of the asbestos exposure. Family members of asbestos workers are also at a considerable risk of getting sick, as well as people who live near an asbestos containing area. The reported data suggests that incidents rates have risen continuously over the past 20 years. In the scheme of things though, and compared to other forms of cancer, mesothelioma is rare. Between 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Mesothelioma occurs four times more often in men than in women and the risk of a diagnosis increases with age.

As we just learned, Mesothelioma can impair the function of several vital organs. Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, causes the build up of fluids and that results in a number of symptoms, including persistent dry coughing, difficulties swallowing, and shortness of breath. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the stomach and the abdomen. Patients exhibit related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, bowel obstructing and loss of appetite. Pericardial mesothelioma manifests in signs including palpitations, coughing and mild to severe chest pain. The truth of the matter is: many asbestos manufacturers and employers were aware of the dangers associated with their employees being exposed to asbestos and the risks of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos related health conditions. And since the effects are coming now to light, these corporations are forced to pay millions of dollars to victims who have received severe and fatal personal injuries.

This explains why many lawyers and law firms started to specialize in mesothelioma law suits to help mesothelioma victims and their loved ones to get the monetary compensation they deserve. After a mesothelioma diagnosis is conclusive, it is very important to find an asbestos lawyer as soon as possible. As the statute of limitations in each of the U.S. States regulates the amount of time with regards to how long a claimant can take legal action. If you fail to adhere to the rules set forth by the statute, you may lose you eligibility or miss out on the maximum compensation you would have been otherwise entitled to.

As you take the next steps, you should seek out an asbestos attorney who is experienced in dealing with mesothelioma law suits. Because these litigators have the resources and contacts to handle your case efficiently. The internet is full of mesothelioma lawyers and lawfirms who are offering their services to asbestos victims, you will therefore have no trouble finding someone who will be willing to take a t look at your case. Once you found a mesothelioma lawyer, make an appointment for a free consultation to further explore your case. Some lawfirms allow you to fill out an online form to gather basic information about you and your situation, which will be reviewed and then you will be contacted. A reputable attorney will give you reliable advice as to whether or not you should pursue your asbestos cancer lawsuit.

Your mesothelioma attorney will also need to make your case as bullet-proof as possible. This is another reason why you should seek legal assistance as soon as you know that you have been diagnosed. Your attorney may then start to investigate further, which may take up a lot of time, too.
Especially if it is not clear, whether or not your mesothelioma diagnosis can be conclusively linked to somebody else's misconduct, your lawyer needs to hire someone to look into all the details of your case. Your asbestos claim might not require the involvement of a court. Many lawyers are in a position to negotiate substantial personal injury compensation amounts for their clients directly with the plaintiff's insurance companies. In general, you do not need to be concerned about your mesothelioma lawyer's honorarium, as most of them work on a contingency fee, and only get paid a percentage of your settlement amount if they win your case for you. And if they are unsuccessful, you don't have to pay them anything.

A compensation pay out can be anywhere form in the thousands of dollars to hundreds of millions. It all depends on a variety of factors. Your lawyer will explain all the details to you. Of course, there is no 100% guarantee that your case will be successful. But you've got nothing to lose, since you don't have to pay for any legal fees in the first place. Over the past decade, we have seen numerous compensation payouts in the millions to asbestos victims, especially when the diagnosis can be linked back to occupational asbestos exposure.

Why are asbestos victims legally entitled to receive a compensation?

In most incidents, a cancer is not the fault of another party. Smokers, for example, by their own choice, willingly inhale toxins. But mesothelioma is a different story, at least in the vast majority of all reported cases. This illness could have been prevented, especially since most of the employing asbestos companies were well aware of the potential hazard of asbestos exposure, yet, decided to not protect their workers adequately against the dangerous asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma, certain forms of lung cancers and asbestos are the result of regular and prolonged exposure to asbestos particles, which are ingested or inhaled into the body and cause severe damage to the protective lining that embeds many of our vital organs. As we discussed earlier, by the time the first symptoms of an asbestos related disease start to surface, the disease has typically already progressed into an advance stage. Mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to help victims of mesothelioma to seek monetary compensation for their mesothelioma injury. The compensation will help to deal with the astronomical medical expenses and their suffering. I know exactly what I am talking about, as I can assure you that my wife's and my cancer has left us with a hefty bill.

Again, please make sure that you consult with an experienced and trustworthy mesothelioma lawyer as soon as you learn about your diagnosis. By contacting a specialized asbestos attorney at the earliest opportunity, you can explore further the various options and ask all the questions you have. The lawyer will evaluate your case and then inform you of the viability of your lawsuit and whether you should proceed with a litigation in order to recover compensation for your asbestos injury.