Asbestos
LOUISIANA MESOTHELIOMA LAWYERS
ASBESTOS, CANCER AND MESOTHELIOMA INFORMATION
Exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances can leave you with serious, permanent injuries, and may
cause death. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, cancer, or other types of disorders, we may
be able to help you. At the office of Roussel & Clement, we utilize our many years of experience in order to
construct a strategy that can help us gain the best possible resolution of your case. Our firm is trial savvy
and is dedicated to aggressively pursuing your case.
For more information about asbestos and how it can affect your life, please review the content below or, if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, contact our office to schedule your free consultation with a confident member of our legal team.
Asbestos – An Overview
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been used as insulation and a fire retardant in a wide variety of products. Asbestos can produce dust that, when inhaled or ingested, becomes deposited in the body. Asbestos can cause or contribute to the development of serious illnesses including peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer of the abdominal lining), pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), pericardial mesothelioma (cancer of the heart lining), lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, asbestosis, esophageal cancer, and other sever illnesses.
The ingestion or swallowing of asbestos can also cause cancer. Because of health concerns, new uses of asbestos in the United States were banned in July 1989. That year, the EPA published the Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions, the effect of which was to eventually ban about 94 percent of the asbestos used in the U.S. (based on 1985 estimates).
Illnesses Associated with Asbestos Exposure
There are several illnesses associated with asbestos exposure. The most common include asbestosis, lung cancer, cancer of gastrointestinal tract, and mesothelioma.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, respiratory disease. Asbestosis starts when inhaled asbestos fibers damage lung tissue and cause scarring. Symptoms of asbestosis may include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. The disease may eventually cause cardiac failure in its advanced stages, and could lead to lung cancer or mesothelioma. There is no known effective treatment for asbestosis, and the disease is usually disabling and can be fatal.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer causes the largest number of asbestos-related deaths. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.
Mesothelioma
One of the most serious health problems associated with asbestos exposure is a rare form of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure and are fatal. An increased risk of mesothelioma is especially present in people who have worked with or around asbestos, such as in plants, factories, and shipyards that used asbestos products. In addition, people who live with asbestos workers or with persons exposes to asbestos at work are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Although rare, a very high number of persons in Louisiana have developed asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma, including wives and children of persons who worked with or around asbestos.
Malignant mesothelioma may present itself in many forms. Common forms include: (1) peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer of the abdominal lining); (2) pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining); and (3) pericardial mesothelioma (cancer of the heart lining). The form of malignant mesothelioma someone has is an important factor in evaluating both treatment options and symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of mesothelioma are usually nonspecific and may not appear until 10 or more years after someone is exposed to asbestos. When symptoms do finally appear, they may include shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. In addition, symptoms may include weight loss, abdominal pain, and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. In some cases, symptoms may even include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, fever, night sweats and anemia.
Because the early symptoms caused by mesothelioma are similar to some less serious health problems, it is important to see a doctor for a correct diagnosis. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are fatal. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact us immediately.
Contact Us
To further discuss the causes of your illness and how we may be able to pursue compensation for your losses, contact a lawyer at Roussel & Clement today. An attorney at our office can meet with you to discuss your exposure and your options.
The attorneys at the law office of Roussel & Clement confidently represent clients exposed to toxic substances in Louisiana although these clients are currently living in California, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Washington or other states.
Roussel & Clement represents clients from the communities of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houma, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, Iberville Parish, Jefferson Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Vermilion Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, the River Parishes, and all of the surrounding areas.