Yes. While many individuals who develop mesothelioma have, indeed, worked in jobs where they were exposed to – and inhaled – asbestos particles, that’s not the only way the disease is triggered. Other sufferers were exposed to asbestos dust in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, blood-clotting abnormalities, anemia, and weight loss. It’s important to note that these symptoms may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and the risk of developing it increases with age, but the disease can appear in either sex, at any age.

Because its symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, mesothelioma is a difficult disease to diagnose. The first step is a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. Next, a complete physical examination – including chest or abdomen X-rays – is typically performed. A physician may also order a CT or MRI scan to create a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. If mesothelioma is suspected, a biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Here, a sample of tissue is removed from the patient and studied under a microscope by a pathologist. In some cases, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

The treatment of mesothelioma – like that of other cancers – will vary from patient to patient. Factors that can impact the type and extent of treatment include the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease (how advanced it is), and the patient’s age and overall health. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (the use of anticancer drugs) – either alone or in combination – are the standard treatment options.

Yes. In fact, monetary damages awarded by the courts have totaled billions of dollars. Suits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers, but also against employers who neglected to implement the necessary safety measures after links between asbestos and mesothelioma became known.

As you might expect, a mesothelioma case can be a particularly complex lawsuit. Not only must the medical aspects be understood and explained to a jury, but the standard elements of negligence must be shown. To do this right – and best serve their client – a law firm needs to have both technical and legal expertise. It also needs the mastery of procedures, nuances, and pitfalls that comes from trying complex personal injury cases day after day, year after year. At Mary Alexander & Associates, we’ve been fighting – and winning – complicated negligence cases for more than a quarter of a century. We have the technical background to understand the science and the courtroom skills to make our case to juries. Leveraging decades of experience, we know the tactics and strategies. But most of all, we know how to win, getting our clients the answers and accountability they deserve.

At Mary Alexander & Associates, we handle mesothelioma cases on a contingent-fee basis. That means the risk is all ours, and you pay us only if we obtain a recovery via jury award or settlement. If we are unable to recover, you pay us nothing. Expenses work the same way. We pay all costs of the litigation – and are reimbursed only if we successfully conclude the case. In short, it may be your lawsuit, but it’s always our risk. That’s why you can be assured that if we take your case, it’s because we fully intend to win it.