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Mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer that is caused by many years of exposure to asbestos through the workplace or living environments where the material is present. For many years, manufacturers hid the dangers of asbestos from the public, placing millions at risk of preventable and needless deaths.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we understand that you may not know where to turn for reliable legal and medical advice. This disease is more often fatal than not, so family members are devastated when they learn that their loved ones have developed it due to long-term exposure.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you pursue the compensation and justice that you seek in order to hold these companies accountable for everything you and your loved ones have needed to endure in the name of greed. To learn more about how we can help, we invite you to arrange a free consultation with one of our award winning Chicago mesothelioma attorneys at no cost or obligation.
The Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Since mesothelioma results from the steady accumulation of asbestos fibers in the lungs, it is possible for victims to live without symptoms for decades before the onset of the disease. In fact, it is common for many people to develop mesothelioma long after they have left the environment where they were exposed to the substance. Initially, the disease may be mistaken for other common and less serious respiratory illnesses, but the symptoms quickly progress afterward.
The initial symptoms include the following:
- Unexplained weight loss accompanied by fatigue.
- Loss of appetite and nausea.
- Pain in the chest that does not go away with treatment.
- Coughing and shortness of breath.
- Painful breathing.
- Accumulation of fluids surrounding the lungs.
If you have ever been exposed to asbestos in the past, it is important that you treat any respiratory symptoms as warnings of a more serious condition. Early detection is instrumental in giving a better chance of survival.
Occupations where workers were routinely exposed to asbestos include the following.
- Construction and excavation
- Shipbuilding
- Power plant workers
- Textile factory work
- Glasswork
- Electronics manufacturing
- Steelworkers
- Pipefitters
- Firefighters
- Railroad workers
- Farming and agriculture
- Food processing plant workers
- Auto manufacturing and repair
- Aerospace manufacturing
- Insulation installers
- Carpenters
- Machinist
- Naval yard workers
- Painters
Getting Treatment for Mesothelioma in Illinois
Thankfully, there are more hospitals and medical facilities today compared to decades earlier, that offer specialized treatment for mesothelioma. Nonetheless, if you or a loved one is in need of care, it is best to seek out an experienced mesothelioma treatment center. Some of the more recognized mesothelioma treatment facilities in the Chicago area include:
University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center has more than 25 years experience treating people with mesothelioma. The Center offers treatments including: surgery, chemotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), Lymphedema Surgery and general surgery.
Other Illinois facilities with experience in Mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment:
The University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
1740 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612
Clinical Research, Decatur Memorial Hospital Cancer Care Institute
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
James L. Wade III, MD
2300 N. Edward
Decatur, Illinois 62526
Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Mark F. Kozloff, MD
One Ingalls Dr
Harvey, Illinois 60426
Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
James E. Hannigan, MD
1325 Memorial Dr
LaGrange, Illinois 60525
Illinois CancerCare
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
James A. Knost, MD
Paul A. S. Fishkin, M.D.
Srinivas Jujjavarapu, M.D.
Sachdev P. Thomas, M.D.
8940 N. Wood Sage Rd
Peoria, Illinois 61615-7828
CCOP-Carle Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Kendrith M. Rowland, MD
602 W. University Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Kathy Albain, MD
2160 S. 1st Avenue
Maywood, IL 60153
Similarities Between the Asbestos Industry & Big Tobacco
In the same way the tobacco industry manipulated scientific research to downplay the health risks of its products, asbestos manufacturers hid the risks of long-term exposure to their products from the public for decades. It is estimated that as many as 15,000 people die each year due to asbestos related illnesses. Of these, 3,000 die due to mesothelioma.
While many asbestos products have been banned from the United States, the public is generally ignorant of the fact that it is still permitted in a number of industries. Its usefulness is primarily as a flame retardant, which acts as an effective insulator, binder and fire prevention material. It also has applications in the clothing industry and was once used in a number of personal care products until the link was discovered between the use of those products and conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Its flame retardant properties prompted the military to use it in the manufacture of nearly every naval vessel produced in the World War II era along with Jeeps and other military equipment. The objective was to prevent the spread of fires throughout ships and to make military hardware more resilient to enemy fire.
It was as early as 1920 that asbestos manufacturers were aware of the link between their products and asbestos related illnesses, but they continued to produce and sell the products while withholding knowledge from the public. By 1970, many products containing the substance were banned, but since it can take as long as 50 years for victims to develop mesothelioma following exposure, many of the people who were exposed have not become ill until now.
We Are Dedicated to Protecting the Legal Rights of Mesothelioma Victims
The asbestos industry is made up of very powerful and influential corporations that have access to very well paid and experienced legal teams. It is for this reason you need to be able to rely on only the most qualified attorney to bring your mesothelioma case to trial. Our lawyers have experience negotiating settlement so that you recover the compensation you are entitled to, but we also have access to vital resources you will need to ensure you have the greatest chance of survival.
These resources include access to medical specialists, the ability to communicate on your behalf with Medicare and to file paperwork for Social Security Disability. By connecting you with the best physicians available and ensuring you have the resources you need to be able to pay for your medical care, we can give you a fighting chance.
For those who have lost loved ones, we are aggressive in our pursuit of justice and you can be sure that we will seek the maximum compensation the law allows for these cases. There should be no reason any company should profit at the expense of other peoples’ lives and we will help your family send that very important message to any corporation that should consider doing so in the future.
Receive a Complementary Case Evaluation Today
Contact us today to arrange a risk free consultation with one of our Chicago mesothelioma attorneys so that we can review the details of your claim and let you know about your legal rights and options in greater detail. We operate solely on a contingency basis in order to allow people of all financial backgrounds to be able to have access to top quality legal services. This means that you will never be required to provide upfront fees and our services are completely free of charge in the event that we are unable to secure damages on your behalf.
