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St. Louis Mesothelioma Lawyer

When people are exposed to asbestos through their jobs, place of living, or products that they buy, they could develop mesothelioma, which is a serious form of cancer. Mesothelioma gets its name from where the cancer forms, which is in the mesothelium, or the layer of tissue that covers most internal organs. The most common organs affected are the lungs, but the cancer can affect other organs in the abdomen, the heart, or the testicles as well.

Asbestos was used in a variety of ways before manufacturers and others realized how dangerous the substance was to people. If you developed cancer from asbestos exposure, it’s not your fault. With the help of a St. Louis mesothelioma lawyer, you’ll be able to hold the negligent party accountable for your wrongful exposure which led to your mesothelioma diagnosis. Our experienced attorney will listen to you and do what’s necessary to get you the justice you deserve.

Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

As mentioned above, mesothelioma is a serious and aggressive form of cancer that typically affects one of two areas: the lungs or the abdomen. Most cases of cancer from asbestos are classified as either pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the organs in the abdomen. Let’s look at these two types of mesothelioma and their symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma itself is a rare form of cancer and only around 3,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Upwards of 90 percent of those cases are of pleural mesothelioma because the most common method of exposure to asbestos is through breathing it in. Unfortunately, pleural mesothelioma can go undiagnosed for a long time because some of the symptoms can often be taken as other common sicknesses.

Here are the symptoms to look for if you have been exposed to asbestos and suspect you could have pleural mesothelioma:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Persistent cough
  • Hoarseness
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fever
  • Coughing up blood

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Although this is the less common form of mesothelioma, this happens when asbestos is ingested into the body and affects the organs in the abdomen. The symptoms for peritoneal mesothelioma are similar to pleural mesothelioma, just in a different region in the body. Here are some symptoms to look for:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Nausea
  • Unexplained weight loss

While these are not the only two kinds of mesothelioma that develop, they are the two most common. Mesothelioma can also affect the heart, lymph nodes, and other parts of the body if the asbestos fibers or cancer spread. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis from being exposed to asbestos can be difficult for you and your family. You shouldn’t have to worry about the financial effects of your diagnosis—that’s where a St. Louis mesothelioma lawyer from Thomas Law Offices comes in. We will help you and your family through the legal process so that you can recover what you deserve from medical bills, treatments, lost wages, and more.

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Call us at 502.473.6540 or fill out this form.

Where was Asbestos Used Most?

When a person has been exposed to asbestos, most often it has been because the substance is present in their line of work, so they have been around it for long periods of time over many years. Before realizing asbestos was linked to cancer, it was used in many ways in different labor fields as well as in some other products. According to a report published by the CDC, the workers exposed the most are construction workers.

At construction sites, asbestos has been used in many ways—insulation, asbestos-cement pipes, asbestos-cement sheets, and some roofing products. In fact, the construction industry consumes up to 80% of all asbestos products. The spraying of asbestos insulation mainly took place in the 60s and 70s, but exposure can still happen today when workers remove the insulation. Plumbers, electricians, and other workers could be exposed as well if they were on site when any asbestos was being sprayed or removed and they didn’t take the proper precautions.

According to that same report by the CDC, over 96% of mesothelioma deaths were workers from the construction and shipbuilding industries. Other occupations that have experienced exposure to asbestos are in industrial plants, railroad construction, and carpenters.

On top of occupations, you can be exposed to asbestos in other ways. Some products over the years have been found to contain amounts of asbestos. For example, talcum powder used to have trace amounts of asbestos that manufacturers neglected to remove. Also, if your apartment building or home has asbestos insulation that hasn’t been removed then you could risk exposure and developing mesothelioma.

When we look into your case, our mesothelioma lawyer will work hard at finding the source of your exposure. Through our investigation, we’ll look at where you were exposed, how, and for how long, so that we can build you a strong case. Learning where you were exposed can help us determine if a workers’ compensation claim, product liability claim, or another kind of claim is the most viable option for your financial recovery.

A Mesothelioma Lawyer You Can Trust to Fight for You

A cancer diagnosis can be scary. Especially when the specific type of cancer you were diagnosed with could have potentially been prevented if safeguards had been in place to prevent exposure to asbestos. Whether your exposure was on the job, through a product, or in your living space, you shouldn’t have been exposed in the first place. At Thomas Law Offices in St. Louis, we know how difficult this time is for you and your family.

Our mesothelioma attorney will ensure that your rights are protected and that we carefully evaluate every aspect of your claim to build the strongest possible case for your compensation. You shouldn’t have to worry about finances throughout your recovery process. We will fight to make sure that you get the compensation you need. Reach out to us today so that we can discuss your potential claim and begin the legal process.

Free Case Evaluation

At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

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National Civil Justice Institute - Trustee
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Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Ohio Association for Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America
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