Help for VAs
You can reach VISN 23: VA Midwest Health Care Network at 5445 Minnehaha Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55417-2300 Phone: (612) 725-1968.
Could you have been exposed to asbestos? Read the following to see if you fall under a category at risk. These individuals are people who: have had contact with asbestos through a "burst exposure" i.e. a very heavy concentration of asbestos in a limited amount of time, troubles with their respiratory system, prolonged exposure to asbestos, or friends or relatives of people who have dealt in asbestos-related environments even if the the one exposed to asbestos has no obvious signs of exposure.
In general, there is a group of diseases that result from asbestos exposure: 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), pleural plaque and thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung) and lung cancer. The main indicators of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, these warning signs of contact with asbestos can appear up to 25 years after primary exposure. Annual or even semi-annual asbestos detection tests are recommended.
If you don't understand your doctor's explanation, get him or her to explain it in a way that you can understand. It is important that the initial testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Further tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy. Doctors sometimes speak a language unintelligible to the layman. Weitz & Luxenberg believes that all men and women who have participated in the United States Armed orces should receive the services they deserve. This includes compensation for life-threatening diseases such as mesothelioma.
Being exposed to asbestos can significantly affect your health. Weitz & Luxenberg understands this and is here to help. For a free consultation, fill out the form below.
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Know more about information for VAs available at VISN 23: VA Midwest Health Care Network