Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorneys

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a variety of serious injuries and illnesses. One condition in particular is caused only by asbestos exposure: mesothelioma. At the law office of Roussel & Clement, our lawyers and staff are dedicated to providing personalized and zealous representation of individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. We are experienced trial lawyers who utilize many years of experience throughout the course of pursuing a resolution to your toxic exposure case.

To learn more about mesothelioma, please review the content below or contact our office to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable member of our legal team.

Mesothelioma - An Overview

A very rare type of cancer called mesothelioma is associated to asbestos exposure. This form of cancer occurs in the membranous lining of the lungs, chest cavity and abdomen. It is not a lung cancer, as it occurs in the membrane around the lungs instead of being found in the lungs themselves. Unfortunately, most instances of malignant mesothelioma are fatal.

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. There have been cases in which an individual had mesothelioma but had no known exposure to asbestos. Though an individual may not know there was exposure, he or she very well could have been exposed to asbestos without knowing it.

Because asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, individuals who have worked with or around asbestos are particularly at risk. Plants, factories and shipyards that use asbestos products are hotbeds of mesothelioma cases. Also, individuals living with someone who works with asbestos may also be at risk.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The onset of mesothelioma is extremely slow. It is important to note that the symptoms of the disease may not surface until 10 years or more after the asbestos exposure occurred. In some cases, it has been 20-30 years after the exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma was identified. Symptoms are most often nonspecific and can mimic the symptoms of many other illnesses. Some of the symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath
• Accumulation of fluid in the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, causing swelling

Bowel obstructions, blood-clotting irregularities, anemia, fever and night sweats can also occur. However, the types of symptoms you experience may also be dependent on which of the three types of mesothelioma is affecting you.

The Three Different Types of Mesothelioma

• Pleural mesothelioma: The most common type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma directly affects the lungs, the protective membranous lining of the lungs and the lung cavity. Pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity, is the cause of most of the symptoms that mesothelioma patients experience
• Peritoneal mesothelioma: Rarer than the pleural type, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the stomach and abdominal cavity. Starting in the abdomen and spreading throughout the body, the cancerous tumors are the root of most of the symptoms as they press against the wall of the abdomen.
• Pericardial mesothelioma: The rarest type of mesothelioma is called pericardial mesothelioma. Affecting the membrane that surrounds the heart, the tumors are again the root of the symptoms that accompany the mesothelioma.

Informing Your Doctor

As previously stated, the symptoms of mesothelioma can mimic other conditions. If your doctor is not aware that you have had asbestos exposure, he or she may not consider that your condition could be mesothelioma. You must communicate every symptom, along with your asbestos exposure, to ensure that the proper tests are conducted.

Contact Us

To further discuss the causes of your mesothelioma 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 toxic exposure case 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 Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee 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.

Roussel & Clement
Attorneys at Law
1714 Cannes Drive
La Place, LA 70068-2407
Phone: (985) 651-6591
Fax: (985) 651-6592
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