ASBESTOS TESTING
Health services for military veterans at the Vet Center in Charlotte, NC

Contact information for veterans to test for asbestos exposure: Charlotte Vet Center, 223 S. Brevard St. (Suite 103), Charlotte, NC 28202. Phone: (704) 333-6107.

Read on to find out about who may be at risk for asbestos exposure. Read each of the bullet points below for the cardinal characteristics of those who may be at risk for asbestos exposure:

• People with breathing problems
• Individuals with ongoing exposure to asbestos
• People who think they have had ongoing exposure to asbestos
• Immediate family members of individuals who have worked in asbestos-related industries, even if the person who worked with asbestos has no obvious signs of exposure or troubles with their respiratory system.

In general, there is a group of diseases that result from asbestos exposure: Mesothelioma (a cancer of the thin membranes lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities and surrounding internal organs), asbestosis (a serious, chronic, non cancerous fibrous hardening and scarring of the lungs), lung cancer, and pleural plaque and thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung). Some symptoms of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, the detectable 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 recommended to seek a professional opinion if you feel that you have been exposed to asbestos. The usual mode of testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Added tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy. Physicians may speak a language puzzling to the average person. Don't fear asking your doctor about your state. If you don't totally grasp your doctor, request that he break it down so can better understand. All people who have participated in the American 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 inhalation of asbestos, such as mesothelioma.

If you or someone you love has developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos, let us help. It's never too late for a free case evaluation. The form below initiates the process.

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