ASBESTOS TESTING
Health care services for military veterans at the VA Clinic in Sherman, Tex.

Contact information for military veterans to test for exposure to asbestos: VA Clinic, 2612 N. Loy Lake (Suite 300), Sherman, TX 75090. Phone: (903) 891-8317.

Certain types of people with asbestos exposure should be tested for asbestos-related diseases. These people include those that: have had contact with asbestos through a "burst exposure" i.e. a very heavy concentration of asbestos for short periods of time, irregular breathing patterns, prolonged exposure to asbestos, or friends or relatives of people who have labored in asbestos-related areas even if the the one exposed to asbestos has no obvious signs of exposure.

Four specific diseases have been linked to 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). Certain specific signs of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, the tangible warning 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 crucial to seek medical council if you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos. Initial testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Other tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy. Doctors sometimes speak a language puzzling to the typical patient. As a patient, you should be sure to question your physician about your state. If you don't fully understand your doctor, ask her to break it down so can better understand. Weitz & Luxenberg believes that all citizens who have participated in the U.S. Armed orces should receive the services they deserve. This includes compensation for life-threatening diseases such as mesothelioma.

Living with mesothelioma can be challenging. Weitz & Luxenberg can help diminish some of the difficulty by providing you with a free case evaluation. Your first step is to fill out the form below.

Your next step . . .