Assistance for Veterans: Martinsburg Vet Center
Contact information for Martinsburg Veterans Center is 900 Winchester Avenue Martinburg, WV 25401 Phone: (304) 263-6776.
Do you fit the description below? If so, you may want to consider getting tested for exposure to asbestos. At first glance, there are some questions one should ask to figure out if the threat posed by asbestos is a problem. 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.In general, there is a group of diseases that 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). Some symptoms of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, the tangible signs of asbestos exposure can appear up to 25 years after initial exposure. Annual or even semi-annual asbestos detection tests are recommended.
It is vital to seek a doctor's advice 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.
Surviving with lung cancer can be tough. Weitz & Luxenberg can help relieve some of the burden 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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Learn more about benefits for VAs available at Martinsburg VA Medical Center