Asbestos and Mesothelioma Attorneys Serving San Diego
and the United States
Our asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys provide clients in the San Diego area and throughout the United States with professional and knowledgeable legal representation during this difficult and stressful time for the client and his or her family.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium, a protective membrane that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Mesothelioma usually starts in the chest or abdominal cavity, but the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma can strike anyone, but according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, about 70 percent to 80 percent of mesothelioma patients worked with asbestos at some time in their lives. The symptoms of mesothelioma, however, can take up to 30 to 50 years to appear after asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in many products, including insulation, roofing, flooring, cement, fertilizers, and brake linings. Many mesothelioma patients worked in the shipbuilding industry. It has been estimated that between 1940 and 1980, more than 27.5 million workers were exposed to asbestos on the job in the United States. Moreover, many old houses in the United States still contain asbestos insulation. The magnitude of the asbestos-induced damage to the health of so many individuals and their families has compelled Congress to plan a multi-billion dollar trust fund to compensate mesothelioma victims. The mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys at the San Diego offices of the Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center can tell you more about this issue.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Shortness of breath and pain in the chest, weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever are all symptoms of mesothelioma. If the cancer has spread, trouble swallowing and swelling of the neck or face may occur. However, all of these symptoms may indicate something other than mesothelioma. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you need to contact a physician; be sure to tell him or her about any possible exposure you’ve had to asbestos.
Treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Much research is being done to determine the cause(s) of mesothelioma and to prevent and cure it, but a cure appears to be years away. If you or a loved one has suffered from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, contact the mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys in the San Diego offices of the Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center.
