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South Dakota Mesothelioma Lawyer

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Mesothelioma is cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, which is a tissue that covers the body's internal organs by producing a fluid that allows them to move. The most common form of mesothelioma starts in the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma); however, it can also originate in the abdominal cavity and the heart cavity. It may be a rare form of cancer, but it is also a severe form that oftentimes is fatal.

More often than not, the warning signs for mesothelioma are overlooked as symptoms for the common flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, and a cold. Signals for mesothelioma include a difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Others are chest pain, dry coughing, or chronic painful coughing. Some less common warning signs are loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. A diagnosis can only be determined after a chest x-ray or CT scan. Since the signs are usually ignored, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it has already developed into late stages of cancer. In fact, the average mesothelioma patient is 60 years of age.

The pressure that mesothelioma tumors place on structures within the infected cavity can also cause death, thus causing complications that can lead to lung failure, heart failure, and stroke, to name a few.
In addition, one might develop pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung, and the disease may also metastasize to other parts of the body. It is essential to catch mesothelioma as soon as possible; your life may depend on it.

Treatments are based on patient age and physical shape, and can include one or a combination of: drug therapy, chemotherapy, alternative therapies, and surgery. Sadly, the survival rate is one year after diagnosis that's because the signs are not often taken seriously. Only 10 percent of patients live five years after diagnoses. Although the treatments are making medical advances, and the chances of survival are better than in the past, it is still important to consider the symptoms and probable causes of cancer.

Mesothelioma cancer is most commonly caused by asbestos exposure. The long-term ramifications of asbestos exposure have only recently been discovered. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, with only 2,000 to 3,000 new cases being diagnosed each year in the United States. Asbestos was used commercially as early as the 1800s in the United States; however, it wasn't until World War II when its use increased in shipyards. Soon after, the automotive industry, the construction industry, and manufacturing industry noticed its usefulness it is resistant to heat, fire, and electricity conduction. It remained unregulated for more than 50 years, and it wasn't until the mid-1970s that regulations were put into place. Even today, thousands of buildings still contain asbestos. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States has set limits on acceptable levels of asbestos exposure and enforces a policy that people who work with asbestos wear protective equipment to lower their exposure and risk of developing mesothelioma.

If you or a loved one believe that exposure to asbestos has led to your condition, then it may be in your best interest to contact a lawyer to discuss your rights. The chances of getting mesothelioma seem to be higher with prolonged, excessive or heavy exposure to asbestos; however, people who have had only brief exposure have also gotten the cancer. There are many experienced attorneys right here in South Dakota who are equipped with the knowledge of the legal system specific to asbestos exposure. Have documentation of the time, dates, and place or places that you worked where you were exposed to asbestos and the conditions of your exposure. The more detail you have, the easier it will be for a South Dakota mesothelioma lawyer to review your case and determine the validity of your case. You may be entitled to compensation that can help your family pay for the inevitable medical bills that arise in cancer cases.