Asbestos, which has been used for, literally, many thousands of years as a fire-retardant and insulation material has actually long been linked to sickness and death. Unfortunately, evidence has revealed many of the companies producing asbestos products were well aware of the dangers that asbestos posed but continued to expose workers and laborers to the hazardous asbestos fibers due to greed. A West Virginia Mesothelioma lawyer at GPW can greatly help your situation.

The Federal Government finally stepped in in 1972 through OSHA to begin to regulate the manufacture and sale of asbestos containing products. As more information on asbestos disease which had been hidden by the asbestos industry was uncovered the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission enforced strict regulations on its use in commercial and industrial products. Asbestos cancer diagnosis, including diagnosis of mesothelioma and lung carcinoma, can be difficult due to the fact that symptoms of the illness can in early stages mimic those of various other, more minor, respiratory complications. Signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or chronic dry cough may lead medical professionals to suspect mesothelioma, particularly if the patient has a known asbestos exposure history.

Analysis tools include CT scans and MRIs for patients where asbestos cancer is suspected. In most cases, these imaging scans will be able to provide a picture of the tumor, but a biopsy will likely be needed to determine a conclusive diagnosis of mesothelioma rather than other lung carcinomas. In cases where pleural or peritoneal effusions, liquid build-up have manifested in the patient, draining these and extracting the fluid through pleurocentesis can allow oncologists to test the fluid for the presence of malignant cells. A West Virginia Asbestos Attorney at GPW is ready to help you.