By The Lanier Law Firm

Mesothelioma is a rare and serious cancer that affects the mesothelium, or lining, of various organs. You are at risk of developing this cancer if you have been exposed to asbestos. There is a 20-40 year latency between exposure and cancer development. Every year, there are approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma in the United States.

Without treatment, the average life expectancy is only a few months. Treatment can extend this in certain patients, but mesothelioma is still considered incurable, and long-term remission is very rare.

Asbestos fibers are naturally long, thin and sharp. When inhaled, they can become embedded into the lung tissue and work their way into the surrounding pleura. They may also be coughed up and swallowed. Asbestos is so chemically stable that even stomach acid can’t destroy it, and the fibers can embed themselves into the digestive tract and may work their way through into the surrounding peritoneum.

It’s clear that asbestos is strongly associated with the development of mesothelioma, but scientists are still working to understand exactly how the mineral causes cancer. Any foreign substance in the body will naturally provoke an inflammatory response, and asbestos does so in the mesothelium. However, it’s such a stable mineral that the body isn’t able to destroy it.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are different types of mesothelioma, which are found in different places in the body.

Pleural mesothelioma

occurs in the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This is by far the most common type, accounting for about 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

occurs in the peritoneum, the lining of the digestive system. This is the next most common type, accounting for about 15 percent of mesothelioma cases.

Pericardial mesothelioma

occurs in the pericardium, the lining of the heart. This type is very rare.

Testicular mesothelioma

occurs in the tunica vaginalis, the lining of the testes. This type is also very rare.

How can The Lanier Law Firm help if I’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer?

You may be unaware of how or where you were exposed to asbestos. The Lanier Law Firm specializes in representing mesothelioma victims and those diagnosed with other asbestos-related illnesses.

Our attorneys will obtain a detailed life history to help you identify all sources of exposure. Based on this information, we can help you with the following:

• File a mesothelioma claim in the jurisdiction most advantageous to you
• File trust fund claims on your behalf
• File workers’ compensation claims on your behalf
• Gather the necessary evidence necessary to verify your claim

It is important to contact a mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after your diagnosis. Every jurisdiction has a deadline, called a statute of limitations, governing when you can file a claim. If this deadline is missed, your legal options may be severely limited. The statute of limitations may be as short as one year in some jurisdictions.

The Lanier Law Firm has experienced mesothelioma lawyers in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston serving clients nationwide.