If someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be lost for words, overwhelmed by the unfortunate news they just told you. Next, you’ll want to help them in any way you can.
First, you should know that mesothelioma is “an aggressive and deadly form of cancer” in the “thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your organs.”1 Researchers have linked mesothelioma to asbestos exposure.
Therefore, your loved one may be entitled to compensation if they were exposed to asbestos at their workplace or while using a contaminated product.
To help you through this difficult time, here are 4 steps you can take to help a loved one after a mesothelioma diagnosis:
1. Encourage your loved one to get a second opinion
In the case of mesothelioma, many of its symptoms are nonspecific, such as shortness of breath or fatigue.3 While these symptoms can be caused by mesothelioma, “more often they are caused by other conditions.”3 Moreover, lung cancer and mesothelioma share similar symptoms, so they may have a different type of cancer.
If your loved one has been given a mesothelioma diagnosis, they should seek a second opinion to verify if the first diagnosis was accurate. Keep in mind that this will involve more tests, screenings, and/or biopsies.
2. Find a mesothelioma professional
If the results come back positive for mesothelioma, you should help your loved one find a mesothelioma professional to get the best treatment options available.
Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer, many primary care physicians and even general oncologists lack experience in effectively treating the disease. Depending on where you live, you may have to travel out of the state to see these mesothelioma professionals.
3. Help them remember where and when they were exposed to asbestos
After you’ve found the right medical treatment for your loved one, you should then help them identify where and when they were exposed to asbestos. It likely happened decades ago, as the “time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years.”2
Most people are exposed to asbestos at their work, even after the EPA banned its use in several industries in the 1970s.4 They may also have been exposed to asbestos through talc-containing products, such as baby powder. If your loved one is a veteran, they may have been exposed to asbestos during their service.5
4. Contact us for an experienced mesothelioma attorney
Shannon Law Group, P.C., is ready to help your loved one after a mesothelioma diagnosis from wrongful asbestos exposure.
You can start by filling out our online contact form. You can call us at (312) 578-9501 or toll-free at (886) 881-9980, too. One of our team members will be in touch with you soon. A free, no-obligation consultation is available as well.
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