Bluffton, SC Mesothelioma Lawyer

Bluffton, SC Mesothelioma Attorney

Prolonged exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos fibers can result in a deadly chronic illness called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that grows within the thin layers of tissue that coats the internal organs. It’s painful, aggressive, and deadly, and there is no known cure. Treatment is possible, but survival is rare. Asbestos exposure remains the only known way to contract mesothelioma.

If you have this disease, you may want to speak with a Bluffton, SC mesothelioma lawyer with experience in asbestos exposure claims.

Mesothelioma Statistics and Definition

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 45,200 people were reported dead in the United States from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2015. The state of South Carolina specifically has a mesothelioma death rate of 7.1 per one million people, which sits just under the national average. Across the country, the only way to contract mesothelioma is by inhaling asbestos fibers. These are so microscopically small that you are likely totally unaware that you are even inhaling them.

When you inhale asbestos fibers, the fibers latch onto your internal organs by burrowing into the lining of those organs, particularly the lungs, stomach, heart, and testes. The fibers cause irritation and inflammation in the organs they are attached to, which can cause the cells of those organs to mutate into an aggressive cancer. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there is a decent chance that, at some point in your life, you were exposed to asbestos.

Sources of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is naturally mined from the earth, a strong insulator, and resistant to heat, which is why it was so prominently used in construction materials throughout the 20th century. It was a useful component in insulation, cement, adhesives, and all sorts of materials before it was found to be hazardous.

According to the Asbestos and Silica Claims Procedure Act of 2006, asbestos was used in thousands of offices, homes, and factories between the 1930s and 1980s. That means that many older buildings still contain asbestos. If one of these structures is disturbed in any way, it could dislodge the asbestos fibers and open anybody in the area up to possible inhalation of those fibers.

Various companies in Bluffton, SC have had to deal with cases of asbestos exposure to their employees and employees’ families, who may have contracted mesothelioma as a result of their work. In fact, one such plant that has employed blue-collar workers in Bluffton for decades may be responsible for exposure through multiple companies, such as Westinghouse Electric Corp, International Paper, and Panolam Industries.

What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

The symptoms of mesothelioma, at least at the onset of the disease, may resemble those of a bad flu or an infection in your lungs. As the disease progresses, your symptoms may gradually get worse until they are unbearable. There are several different forms that mesothelioma can take inside your body, and your symptoms may differ depending on the infected area:

• Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This form of the disease manifests in the tissue lining around the abdomen. If you develop this variant, your symptoms may equate to bad chest pains and flu-like symptoms. Other signs include:
  • Abdomen pain
  • Abdomen swelling
  • Nausea
  • Unexplained weight loss
• Pleural Mesothelioma: This variety of the disease takes shape in the tissue lining around the lungs. The subsequent strain on the lungs may feel similar to a bronchial infection or a bad cold. If you have any of these symptoms and they persist for longer than they should, you should consider seeing a doctor:
  • Severe chest pains
  • A bad cough
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained tissue lumps forming on your chest
• There are several other forms of mesothelioma that are so rare that the symptoms remain relatively unclear, as there haven’t been enough recorded cases for doctors to examine. These forms include pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the tissue lining surrounding the heart, and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, which affects the tissue lining surrounding the testes.

The Risk Factors

Prolonged exposure to asbestos does not guarantee a case of mesothelioma. You may never develop a chronic condition at all. Alternatively, your exposure could result in a case of asbestosis or lung cancer instead of mesothelioma.

You won’t develop mesothelioma a day after inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers may stay inside you for decades, impacting your organs and slowly developing the conditions for mesothelioma to manifest. You might not get the condition until 10 or 20 years after you first inhaled the fibers. It is entirely possible that you may never have mesothelioma. In fact, most people who are exposed to asbestos fibers do not contract mesothelioma.

However, if you have a history of cancer in your family, you may be genetically predisposed to developing mesothelioma if you are exposed to asbestos fibers. Here are some other factors that might contribute to your condition:

• Prolonged Exposure: If you have been directly exposed to asbestos in your home or workplace, that exposure can greatly increase your risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or some other asbestos-related condition.
• Close Proximity: You may not have any asbestos in your home or your place of business. However, you may also live with someone who does have constant exposure to asbestos at work. You could be at risk of developing mesothelioma if someone you live with is tracking in asbestos fibers on their clothes, shoes, or skin every day. These fibers can build up in your home and greatly increase the chances of getting mesothelioma.

Reach Out to a Mesothelioma Lawyer Today

Developing a case of mesothelioma and realizing that there is no cure can be an overwhelming, tragic moment to deal with. You may have to come to terms with the unfortunate fact that your quality of life is about to change for the worse, and very little can be done about it. Seeking compensatory damages from the party responsible for installing asbestos may be one of the few ways you can seek closure and try to accept these changes in your life.

Wallace & Graham, P.A., understands what you are going through, and we are prepared to offer our assistance with your case. Our firm can help you identify the asbestos source that caused your condition, gather the evidence that proves liability, and ensure that your rights are protected. Contact us to speak with a valued team member and schedule a consultation.