April, 2023

Can Teenagers Be Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?

April 21, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma occurs because of asbestos exposure. The people at significant risk of developing mesothelioma are those whose jobs expose them to asbestos, such as construction workers. Also, often such people develop mesothelioma later in life. This is because mesothelioma has a long latency period. Mesothelioma can take decades to develop after asbestos exposure. However, if you are wondering if teenagers can be diagnosed with mesothelioma, the answer is yes, they can. While mesothelioma among teenagers is rare, there have been cases of mesothelioma in teenagers.

It is important not to assume that young people cannot develop mesothelioma. It is crucial to be wary of doctors who refuse to consider the possibility that young people could develop mesothelioma, as that could result in a delayed diagnosis. Below, we discuss some of the main ways children can get exposed to asbestos and the symptoms of mesothelioma in teenagers.

Common Causes of Asbestos Exposure in Children

Pennsylvania Court Allows Mesothelioma Lawsuit to Proceed Against Employer

April 15, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

The Pennsylvania Common Wealth Court recently ruled that the exclusivity provision of the Pennsylvania state Occupational Disease Law applies to diseases that appear within four years and not to those with a long latency period like that of mesothelioma. This decision came after the University of Pittsburgh, also known as Pitt, one of the defendants in a mesothelioma claim, argued against a claim filed by an engineer who worked in the school, stating that they were protected from the claim by law.

The engineer worked at Pitt for 39 years, and during his time at the university, he was exposed to asbestos-containing products. According to the suit, the engineer suffered asbestos exposure until 2004 and only discovered he had mesothelioma in 2019, 15 years after exposure. The engineer filed the initial lawsuit. Sadly, he died before the case was concluded. The executor of the engineer’s estate took over the case.

The University of Pittsburgh filed a motion for summary judgment in response to the claim. The university argued that the exclusivity provision of the state’s Occupational Disease Law protects them from the claim. Pitt argued that the engineer could only file a Workers’ Compensation claim. The court rejected this motion, and the university appealed that decision. The Supreme Court then ruled that the law’s exceptions were not applicable in this case.

Mesothelioma and Self-Esteem

April 11, 2023 | Throneberry Law Group

A mesothelioma diagnosis can affect the patient in many ways. These effects can either be short-term or long-term. One of the major ways a mesothelioma diagnosis can affect a patient is by lowering their self-esteem. Self-esteem is how a person values and perceives themselves. It is based on what someone believes about themselves. The physical changes that come after a mesothelioma diagnosis or after a patient starts receiving mesothelioma treatment, such as hair loss, weight changes, and surgery scars, can affect how they feel about their appearance and body image. Also, unproductivity and dependency can lead to a mesothelioma patient having low self-esteem. Luckily, there are steps mesothelioma patients can take to maintain their self-esteem at a healthy level.

How Mesothelioma Causes a Decrease in Self-esteem

Coping with mesothelioma presents great challenges, some of which can negatively affect a patient’s self-esteem. A patient dealing with things such as weight loss/gain, hair loss, and scarring may end up with low self-esteem. When patients look at themselves in the mirror, they want to be happy with what they see. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Some patients do not like how they look without hair, with more/less weight, or with scars.