ASBESTOS TESTING
Health care services for military veterans at the VA Clinic in Grafton, ND

Contact information for military veterans to test for exposure to asbestos: Grafton VA Clinic, ND St. Developmental Ctr., Health Service Bldg., West Sixth Street, Grafton, ND 58237. Phone: (701) 352-4059.

Different categories of people with asbestos exposure should be tested for asbestos-related diseases. First of all, 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? If any of your answers to these questions were affirmative, you may wish to discuss this with your health-care provider.

Certain illnesses 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 warning 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 essential to seek a doctor's advice if you think that you have been exposed to asbestos. 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. Often, doctors speak a language that is perplexing to the layman. Be sure to ask your doctor about your situation. If you don't fully understand your doctor, have him clarify so you can better get the picture.

Weitz & Luxenberg stands by the belief that all citizens who have participated in the United States Armed orces should receive the services they deserve. This includes compensation for potentially fatal diseases such as lung cancer.

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

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