ASBESTOS TESTING
Veterans Services at the VA Salem Clinic in Salem, Oregon

Contact information for veterans to test for asbestos exposure: Salem Clinic, 1660 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301. Phone: (503) 316-8817; ext. 51499.

Read on to find out about who may be at risk for asbestos exposure. Primarily, there are some questions one should ask to figure out if exposure to asbestos is an issue. The questions 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 result from 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, the detectable warning signs of asbestos exposure 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 other 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. All men and women who have participated in the United States Armed Forces should receive the benefits they deserve. Weitz & Luxenberg is committed to making this happen. This includes compensation for life-threatening diseases that are caused by inhalation of asbestos, such as lung cancer.

Living with lung cancer can be hard. Weitz & Luxenberg can help reduce some of the difficulty by providing you with a free case evaluation. Your first step is to complete the form below.

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