Assistance for VAs: VISN 18: VA Southwest Health Care Network
Do you need to contact VISN 18: VA Southwest Health Care Network? 6950 E. Williams Field Road Mesa, AZ 85212-6033 Phone: (602) 222-2681.
Read on to find out about who may be at risk for asbestos exposure. First of all, there are some questions one should ask to figure out if asbestos is a personal health threat. These are: Do you think you have had prolonged exposure to asbestos? Are you an immediate family member of someone who has worked in asbestos-related industries? Have you worked somewhere where asbestos insulation was used? Is it possible your exposure to asbestos was in the form of a "burst exposure" (a very heavy concentration) to asbestos for short periods of time? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may wish to discuss this with your health-care provider.
Four specific diseases have been linked to asbestos exposure: lung cancer, asbestosis (a serious, chronic, non cancerous fibrous hardening and scarring of the lungs), mesothelioma (a cancer of the thin membranes lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities and surrounding internal organs), and pleural plaque and thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung). The warning signs of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, these signs of asbestos exposure can appear up to 25 years after primary exposure. Annual or even semi-annual asbestos detection tests are recommended.
It is essential to seek a doctor's advice if you imagine that you have been exposed to asbestos. Initial testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Additional tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy. Physicians may speak a language that is baffling to the average person. Be sure to ask your doctor about your circumstance. If you don't fully understand your doctor, request that he put it in plain words so you can better understand. Weitz & Luxenberg believes that all men and women who have participated in the U.S. Armed orces should receive the services they deserve. This includes compensation for deadly diseases such as lung cancer.
Coping with lung cancer can be tough. Weitz & Luxenberg can help relieve some of the burden by providing you with a free case evaluation. Your first step is to fill out the form below.
your next step . . .
| | | |
Discover more about services for VAs available at VISN 18: VA Southwest Health Care Network