Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawsuit

What Is Peritoneal Mesothelioma?

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that forms in the peritoneum, the thin layer of tissue lining the abdomen.

This type of cancer shouldn’t be confused with pleural mesothelioma, which is cancer for the tissue lining the lungs and chest wall.

Like other forms of mesothelioma, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma happens due to exposure to asbestos fibers, which are tiny, heat-resistant mineral particles that can be inhaled or ingested.

Once inside the body, asbestos fibers can lodge in the peritoneal lining, leading to inflammation, cellular damage, and eventually cancerous growth.

Causes of Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is primarily caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals once widely used in construction, manufacturing, and other industries due to its heat-resistant properties.

People ingest or inhale asbestos fibers in workplaces where asbestos-containing materials are handled, such as insulation, roofing, and automotive parts.

The tiny, needle-like fibers enter the body without many immediate effects, so people can go on with their daily lives without feeling any symptoms of the exposure.

Once inside the body, however, the fibers can lodge in the peritoneal lining of the abdomen, triggering inflammation and scarring over time.

Many experts believe that chronic inflammation caused by asbestos fibers plays a central role in the development of cancerous cells in the peritoneum.

Genetic mutations caused by ongoing cellular damage may also eventually lead to the formation of malignant tumors.

In many cases, individuals exposed to asbestos may not develop mesothelioma until 20-50 years after the initial exposure, making asbestos exposure from decades ago a significant risk factor even today.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause a range of symptoms as the disease progresses.

These may include unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats, and a general sense of fatigue or weakness.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients might also experience digestive issues, such as nausea, vomiting, or changes in bowel habits, like constipation or diarrhea.

Individuals may feel lumps or masses in the abdomen as the cancer develops to diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a more aggressive type.

The most uncomfortable symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma would be the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and the growth of tumors in the peritoneal lining.

These conditions can severely impact a person’s daily life.

As the build-up of fluid creates pressure on the organs, the person may feel discomfort, difficulty eating, abdominal pain, and even breathing issues.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

How is peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed?

The process involves a combination of tests and evaluations to help determine the presence of cancer cells in the peritoneum.

Imaging tests, blood tests, and biopsies.

Diagnostic imaging such as CT scans or MRIs is used to detect tumors in the abdominal cavity, while a biopsy allows for laboratory analysis of tissue samples.

If your doctors find that you have peritoneal mesothelioma, they will classify it based on the peritoneal cancer index (PCI).

In this method, doctors divide your abdomen into 13 sections and assign a number for each one.

“0” means no cancer while “3” means there are tumors greater than 5 centimeters.

To treat the cancer, surgery and systemic chemotherapy drugs are the most common options.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are also another drug used to treat pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

This option helps the immune system locate and kill the malignant cells.

There are modern advances today that provide more efficient ways to address malignant growths.

These treatments include the following.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

HIPEC, also known as heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, is a targeted treatment where heated chemotherapy drugs are circulated directly in the abdomen after tumor removal.

The heat helps increase the drug’s effectiveness, allowing it to kill remaining cancer cells while minimizing systemic side effects.

It’s commonly used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma following cytoreduction surgery.

Cytoreduction Surgery (CRS)

Cytoreduction surgery is a type of surgical oncology procedure that aims to remove as much of the visible tumor as possible from the peritoneal lining.

Often followed by HIPEC, this procedure is critical for controlling mesothelioma’s spread.

While not curative, cytoreductive surgery can improve patient outcomes, extending survival and alleviating symptoms like abdominal discomfort and fluid buildup.

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy

PIPAC is an innovative approach where chemotherapy is delivered as a pressurized aerosol directly into the abdominal cavity to kill cancer cells.

This method allows better drug penetration to target cancer cells while reducing systemic toxicity.

PIPAC is still undergoing clinical trials but shows promise for treating peritoneal mesothelioma, especially in cases resistant to traditional chemotherapy.

Oncolytic Virus Therapy

This type of peritoneal mesothelioma treatment is a type of immunotherapy that uses viruses to infect and destroy the cells.

Oncolytic virus therapy is often paired with Paclitaxel, one of the various chemotherapy drugs used for treating mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma treated with virus therapy is still highly experimental, but the future looks promising.

Occupations Most Likely To Be Diagnosed With Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Certain occupations carry a higher risk of asbestos exposure, and workers in these industries are more likely to develop peritoneal mesothelioma and other types of abdominal cancer.

Occupations include:

• Construction workers
• Shipyard workers
• Industrial plant workers
• Insulation installers
• Firefighters
• Mechanics (particularly brake and clutch repair specialists)
• Asbestos mining and manufacturing workers

These industries often involved handling or being in proximity to asbestos-containing materials, such as insulation, cement, and fireproofing materials, before regulations limited the use of the substance.

Over the years, these individuals may be living with asbestos inside their bodies, developing peritoneal mesothelioma without their knowledge.

Due to disease progression, people may slowly start feeling the cancer symptoms.

Some patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may even succumb to the disease, leaving their families grieving and with no financial support.

Filing a Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawsuit

For individuals diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, pursuing legal action can help secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

A Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawsuit often targets companies that were negligent in protecting their workers from asbestos exposure.

By filing a claim, affected individuals can hold these companies accountable and obtain the financial resources needed for treatment and support.

From Initial Consultation to Lawsuit Outcome: How a Peritoneal Mesothelioma Claim Works

The legal process for filing pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma lawsuits begins with an initial consultation with a mesothelioma attorney.

During this meeting, your attorney will gather essential information about the patient’s diagnosis, work history, and potential sources of asbestos exposure.

It’s crucial to provide the attorney with detailed accounts of any jobs, environments, or products that could have contained asbestos.

This stage helps establish the foundation for the case.

After the consultation, the attorney conducts a thorough investigation to identify the parties responsible for the asbestos exposure.

This may include former employers, manufacturers, or suppliers of asbestos-containing products.

The goal is to determine the liable parties who failed to adequately protect workers from asbestos-related risks.

Once the responsible parties are identified, the attorney will file the lawsuit on behalf of the client.

The lawsuit then moves into the discovery phase, where both sides exchange evidence and gather information to support their arguments.

Depositions of witnesses, expert testimonies, and medical records are often presented during this stage.

Settlement negotiations frequently occur during discovery, as companies may prefer to avoid the costs and risks of a trial.

If either party doesn’t reach a settlement, the case may proceed to trial.

In a court, a judge or jury will hear arguments and evidence from both sides.

The outcome of the trial can lead to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages.

While trials carry inherent risks, many peritoneal mesothelioma cases end in settlements before reaching the courtroom, providing quicker resolution for peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma patients and their families.

The Importance of Specialized Legal Representation

Mesothelioma lawsuits, particularly those related to peritoneal mesothelioma, are highly complex and require specialized legal representation.

Asbestos litigation is a niche area of law with unique challenges, including the identification of multiple liable parties, navigating intricate legal precedents, and gathering decades-old evidence.

Only attorneys with deep expertise in mesothelioma cases can effectively manage these complexities and secure favorable outcomes for their clients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cases Are Lengthy and Complex

One of the key reasons specialized representation is vital is the lengthy latency period of asbestos-related diseases.

With peritoneal mesothelioma often developing 20-50 years after exposure, it can be difficult to trace the exact source of asbestos exposure without the knowledge and investigative resources that specialized attorneys possess.

Experts like us have access to extensive databases of asbestos manufacturers and job sites, which can be critical in proving exposure and determining responsibility.

Multiple Liable Parties Are Possible

Peritoneal mesothelioma cases often involve multiple defendants, including companies that may no longer exist or have merged with other corporations.

An experienced mesothelioma attorney will know how to handle these situations, including navigating bankruptcy trusts established by companies that have filed for bankruptcy due to asbestos litigation.

These trusts provide compensation for asbestos victims, and a skilled lawyer can ensure that clients are able to access funds from these sources.

Negotiation With Defendants

Another reason specialized legal representation is crucial is the ability to negotiate effectively.

Many defendants prefer to settle out of court to avoid the uncertainty and expense of a trial.

Attorneys who specialize in mesothelioma cases are well-versed in negotiating high-value settlements that cover medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of the disease.

Choosing a lawyer who understands the intricacies of asbestos litigation increases the likelihood of achieving the best possible outcome in a timely manner.

Establishing a Clear Link Between Asbestos Exposure and Diagnosis

In a peritoneal mesothelioma lawsuit, establishing a clear link between asbestos exposure and the diagnosis is critical to the success of the case.

Asbestos companies will often attempt to dispute or minimize their liability, so it’s essential to present compelling evidence that directly connects the exposure to the onset of the disease.

This connection forms the core of the case and is what allows victims to pursue compensation for their suffering.

Medical Records and Documentation

The first step in establishing this link is compiling thorough medical documentation.

This includes pathology reports, scans, and diagnostic records that confirm the peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis.

These records are necessary to demonstrate that the patient’s condition is indeed caused by asbestos exposure rather than another source.

Malignant mesothelioma is a signature disease of asbestos, making it easier to argue causation than other conditions, but a clear diagnosis is still required.

Proving the Exposure to Asbestos Fibers

Next, the plaintiff’s legal team must prove that asbestos exposure occurred and that it happened in an environment or job linked to the defendant.

This is where detailed occupational histories and witness testimonies become essential.

Your lawyer will gather records of employment, job duties, and any known use of asbestos-containing materials at the worksite.

Testimonies from coworkers, safety experts, and even industry documents that prove asbestos was used in the workplace will help support the case.

Attorneys may investigate secondary exposure.

Family members of workers exposed to asbestos can also develop the rare cancer after coming into contact with contaminated clothing or materials.

Establishing this link requires further evidence to demonstrate that asbestos fibers were brought into the home, proving that secondary exposure contributed to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Expert Testimony

Expert witnesses, such as industrial hygienists or medical professionals, can further strengthen the case.

These professionals provide scientific analysis of how asbestos exposure leads to mesothelioma and confirm the causal connection between the victim’s workplace environment and their diagnosis.

This evidence is essential to countering any defense claims and securing a favorable settlement or trial outcome.

TorHoerman Law: Experienced Asbestos Attorneys

Having to endure the suffering brought about by peritoneal mesothelioma can take a toll on your physical, mental, and even financial health.

Those who have been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma must take legal action if they believe that neglect caused their exposure to asbestos and the development of the rare cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, it’s crucial to act quickly.

Reach out to TorHoerman Law for a free legal consultation.

Our experienced team can help you explore your options for compensation, guiding you through the lawsuit process to hold negligent parties accountable.

Contact us now to schedule an appointment with our team or use the chatbot on this page to find out if you instantly qualify for a case.