Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Typical immunohistochemistry results

Positive	Negative
EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) in a membranous distribution	CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)
WT1 (Wilms' tumour 1)	B72.3
Calretinin	MOC-3 1
Mesothelin-1	CD15
Cytokeratin 5/6	Ber-EP4
HBME-1 (human mesothelial cell 1)	TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor-1)

(Source Wikipedia)

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

• Chest wall pain
• Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or anemia
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• A mass in the abdomen
• Problems with bowel function
• Weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

• Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Low blood sugar level
• Pleural effusion
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
• Severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

(source Wikipedia)

Mesothelioma; Definitions

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,^[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.^[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer.^[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

(source Wikipedia)

Claims

For all our mesothelioma clients each Houston Mesothelioma attorney pursues every possible avenue for compensation.

Each mesothelioma attorney files a mesothelioma lawsuit for each of their mesothelioma clients against every company we determine is responsible in some way for causing the client's mesothelioma.

Each mesothelioma attorney actively pursues each mesothelioma case in state court. There are dozens of company that have unfortunately gone bankrupt over the years.

At Heard- Robins a mesothelioma lawyer will pursue mesothelioma claims with the bankruptcy trust.

Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements

The lawyers at Heard Robins have achieved many victories through trial verdicts and settlement of mesothelioma cases. Here are a few of the recoveries. These are amounts listed after the deduction for attorney fees and expenses. In other words, the amount the clients actually put into their pockets. Please remember every case is different, and the results depend on the facts of the case, and past performance is no guarantee of future results.

$3,665,000.00 Net to client, for a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 70. He was a construction worker and eventually owned his own construction company. He was exposed to various asbestos containing products.

$3,625, 000.00 Net to client, an aircraft mechanic with mesothelioma. The case went to trial and verdict against one of the asbestos pipe insulation manufacturers. The case was settled after the jury verdict.

$2,828,000.00 Net to client, the family of a man who died of malignant mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos as a machinist and welder.

$2,450,000.00 Net to Client, family of a refinery worker with mesothelioma. Case was tried to verdict against Pittsburgh Corning and was settled at a later date.

$2,200,000.00 Net to Client, for the family of a shipyard worker with mesothelioma. He had worked at Todd Shipyards in Galveston, Texas where he was exposed to asbestos. Case was tried to verdict against Pittsburgh Corning and was settled at a later date.

$1,629,202.60 Net to client, family of a construction worker who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 54. His father had worked at a refinery in Port Arthur, Texas and he was exposed to the asbestos brought home on his father’s clothes. In addition he worked as a drywall worker and was exposed to joint compound himself after high school.

$1,402,497.81 Net to client, family of a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 73. He worked at a chemical plant in Odessa, Texas where he was exposed to asbestos.

$1,414,444.58 Net to client, family of a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 85. He worked at the Union Carbide chemical plant in Texas City, Texas where he was exposed to asbestos.

$1,251,325.06 Net to client, family of a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 56. He worked as a Navy Machinist and later as machinist for Amoco in Texas City whre he was exposed to asbestos.

$1,158,019.63 Net to client, family of a man who died at age 77 of mesothelioma. He worked as a machinist at the Union Carbide chemical plant in Texas City where he was exposed to asbestos.


* Some of the above results may have been attained by a Heard Robins attorney while at a previous law firm.

What Is Mesothelioma?

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos that can affect the abdominal region, the lining of the lung, and even the lining of the heart. Asbestos is the only known cause for developing mesothelioma. Most cases of mesothelioma take an average 40 years before the victim starts showing signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. Once a case of mesothelioma is diagnosed the average person has around 1-2 years to live if caught early. That is why you need to take action quickly and seek medical and legal advice. Contacting an aggressive and quick mesothelioma attorney is crucial in getting the compensation for you and your family that is deserved. A skilled an effective mesothelioma attorney that can successfully litigate your case is difficult to find. Each mesothelioma attorney at Heard & Robins has years of experience and has successfully fought many cases in the courtroom.

Mesothelioma can be a benign or malignant tumor that starts by affecting the lining of different organs and cavities inside the body after you have been exposed to asbestos particles in the air. This lining that is affects by asbestos is called the mesothelium and produces a special fluid that protects and covers organs allowing them to move around inside the body smoothly. This lining can be found around the lungs, heart, stomach, and other bodily organs. These organs have a chance of developing tumors that are cancerous or non-cancerous. No matter if the tumors are cancerous or non-cancerous health problems can still arise and you should contact a mesothelioma lawyer at Heard & Robins for a free initial consultation to see if you have a case.

Cancerous Mesothelioma

Cancerous mesothelioma can come in three different forms. The first form is pleural mesothelioma. This is the most popular form of mesothelioma affecting about 50-70% of all the cases of mesothelioma reported. This certain type of mesothelioma starts in the lining of the lung and stops the re-absorption of liquid back into the lung causing shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle pain, and other symptoms that mimic the common flu. This is the most common form of mesothelioma and takes many lives each year. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer today for an initial consultation and to get the compensation that you deserve.

20% of all mesothelioma case is peritoneal mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen and can cause symptoms such as swelling and bowel obstruction or blockage in the intestines.

The last type of mesothelioma is pericardium mesothelimoa and affects the lining of the heart. This type of mesothelioma is very rare and only affects around 1% of all victims diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Hiring an Aggressive Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop but as soon as you are diagnosed with the disease it will only take a few years before it reaches full effect. That is why it is very important the act quickly and consult an aggressive and professional mesothelioma attorney to fight your case and get what you and your family deserve.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Houston

The mesothelioma attorneys at Heard-Robins have been representing victims since 1992 and have handled a wide variety of cases involving Asbestos. One of our main goals is to provide effective and aggressive attorney representation to victims who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you have contracted mesothelioma it is most likely causes of long time exposure to Asbestos and you should contact a Houston lawyer to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve from the responsible parties.

Our Houston lawyers have years of experience handling these types of cases all the way through trial if needed. We have many successful verdicts and settlements obtained by our experienced attorney division. Any lawyer at Heard-Robins strives to achieve the best possible results for their clients regarding their cases. If you call or email The Law Offices of Heard-Robins you will be able to speak directly with a Houston attorney, not an office assistant. Our lawyers personally return any calls or emails themselves to better understand your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Highlights of our cases have been seen in The New York Times, The National Law Journal, Lawyers Weekly USA, The Houston Chronicles, The Texas Lawyer, The Wall Street Journal, and in a variety of other publications. The Houston attorneys at Heard-Robins have tried over 100 mesothelioma and asbestos cases in a court of law all the way to a jury verdict. With this many verdicts and settlement you can be sure that the lawyers at Heard & Robins will stop at nothing to provide you with the best results possible towards your mesothelioma case.

A lawyer at Heard-Robins is a vital asset in bringing justice to the responsible parties involved in your case. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma please do not hesitate to contact a Houston attorney at Heard-Robins today. Our trained lawyers will cover your expenses during the trial process and work to get you the compensation you deserve. Having a skilled mesothelioma attorney by your side is a critical asset in resolving your case.