If you are suffering from mesothelioma, then you may already have some idea of how expensive the treatment will ultimately be. As with most cancers, there is no known cure for mesothelioma. Doctors can aggressively attack the cancer with drugs, radiation and chemotherapy as well as alternative medicines and cutting edge therapy, but the survival rate is not high and the cost of that treatment can be exorbitant.
Mesothelioma was once considered a very rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium – a sac that surrounds and protects many of our internal organs including our lungs. In recent years, the number of mesothelioma diagnoses has risen dramatically with even more cases expected to surface over the next couple of decades. The reason for the rise in cases over the past couple of decades is that unlike most cancers, mesothelioma has an extremely long latency period – in some cases as long as 50 years. The cancer’s long latency period means that the patients being diagnosed today were most likely exposed to asbestos in their work environment decades ago. While it is possible to develop mesothelioma without exposure to asbestos, doctors and scientists all agree that the biggest risk factor for developing the cancer is asbestos exposure. As many as 90% of all mesothelioma cases can be traced back to asbestos exposure.
The cost for treatment of mesothelioma can run over one million dollars. The cancer fighting drugs that are used to try and combat the cancer can cost over $5,000 per round of treatment. Gene therapy, another possible treatment for mesothelioma patients can run from $150,000 to $950,000 with no guarantee of success. Clearly, the cost to the patient for treating mesothelioma can quickly exceed what many people earn in a lifetime. Why should you be responsible for paying the cost to treat a disease that was likely caused by the negligence of someone else?
The laws of California allow victims to sue a negligent party for injuries and damages caused by that negligence. According to California personal injury lawyer Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates, California law has a special statute dedicated to victims of asbestos related injuries. Under the asbestos statute, victims of asbestos related injuries may file a lawsuit up to one year after suffering from a disability related to the asbestos or within a year after they reasonably should have known they were suffering from a disability related to the exposure to asbestos. What this means for mesothelioma sufferers is that even if your exposure to the asbestos was 30 years ago, if you have just now been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may still be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the products that contained the asbestos or your employer – both. If you are successful in your lawsuit, you may receive compensation for your injuries and your pain and suffering. Under California law, a negligent party can be held responsible for all the medical bills associated with the injuries that they caused which would go a long way in easing the burden on you – the victim.
If you believe that you are a victim of asbestos related mesothelioma and would like to explore your legal options, contact California personal injury lawyer Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit his website at www.ledgerlaw.com.
