Pennsylvania has a history as an industrial state. As a result, many workers have been exposed to asbestos and have developed mesothelioma. This disease has always been thought to be a death sentence as it is almost always fatal within several years after diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease. Unfortunately, the numbers show that the number of cases diagnosed has not decreased. There are still millions of people alive who had exposure to asbestos when it was still commonly used in things such as building materials and brake lining. For them, the damage is already done as the effects of asbestos exposure have built up in their bodies.
If there is any good news, it is that patients are surviving for slightly longer after their diagnosis. Most cases of pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type of the disease, had resulted in death in less than one year. Now, approximately half of the patients with the disease will survive for at least one year. While the three-year rate of survival remains low, it has roughly doubled. There are some new treatments available that have been prolonging the lives of those with mesothelioma and giving them better quality time with their remaining days. While there is no cure on the horizon, at least there is some hope for more time.
If you have developed mesothelioma, chances are that it resulted from your exposure to asbestos. The company that was responsible for your exposure and disease can be made to pay for your injuries. Mesothelioma cases may settle without trial because defendants know that they will be hard-pressed to challenge your claims in court. These settlements also tend to be on the higher side because the ultimate damage is most often death. Contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your legal options and the process which you would need to follow to obtain compensation.