Important Information for Veterans
You can reach Kent CBOC at UW Medicine Kent/Des Moines Clinic, 23213 Pacific Highway South, Kent, WA 98032 Phone: (206) 870-8880.
Different categories of people with asbestos exposure should be tested for asbestos-related diseases. General attributes of these people are those that have had contact with asbestos through a "burst exposure" i.e. a very heavy concentration of asbestos for small amounts of time, difficulty breathing, long-term dealings with asbestos, or friends or relatives of people who have been involved in asbestos-related industries even if the one who was involved with asbestos has no visible symptoms.
Certain illnesses 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 warning signs of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, these signs of contact with asbestos can appear up to 25 years after initial exposure. Annual or even semi-annual asbestos detection tests are recommended.
It is important to get tested if you presume that you have been exposed to asbestos. Other ways of testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Supplementary tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy. There are times when a doctor may speak a language puzzling to the layman. Be sure to ask your medical professional about your status. If you don't understand your doctor, ask her to break it down so can better understand. All citizens who have participated in the U.S. Armed Forces should receive the services they deserve. Weitz & Luxenberg is committed to making this happen. This includes compensation for potentially fatal diseases that are caused by exposure to asbestos, such as mesothelioma.
Contact with asbestos can negatively impact your health. Weitz & Luxenberg understands this and is here to help. For a free consultation, fill out the form below.
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Find out more about help for Vets available at Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center