Assistance for Our Vets
In order to get more information, the contact info for VA Records Management Center is 4300 Goodfellow Blvd., Bldg. 104N St. Louis, MO 63120 Phone: (314) 538-4500.
There are certain individuals who are more easily injured by exposure to asbestos. At first glance, there are some questions one should ask to figure out if exposure to asbestos is an issue. 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? Was yes a response to any of these? If so, you may wish to discuss this with your health-care provider.
Four specific diseases are associated with 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 most commonly known symptoms of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, the detectable signs of contact with asbestos can appear up to 25 years after initial 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 crucial that the usual mode of 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 citizens who have participated in the U.S. Armed orces should receive the benefits they deserve. This includes compensation for potentially fatal diseases such as lung cancer.
Living with lung cancer can be daunting. Weitz & Luxenberg can help relieve some of the distress by providing you with a free case evaluation. Your first step is to fill out the form below.
your next step . . .
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