How to Test for Asbestos Exposure:
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous-like mineral, that can be separated into thin, durable threads for use in commercial products. Asbestos fibers are naturally heat-resistant, so they’ve been used in a number of industries. Even though asbestos is used in a limited number of products today, exposure can still happen when asbestos fibers are disturbed and enter the air or water, where they can be inhaled or ingested.You may have heard that asbestos exposure can cause long-term health problems including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other cancers. Unfortunately, there is often a decades long gap between asbestos exposure and a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancer. If you suspect that you’ve been exposed to asbestos, how can you be sure?
- See a doctor regularly and get screened.
You should always have regular checkups, but you can ask your doctor whether you should have regular tests and screenings to check for asbestos-related disease. While chest x-rays, CT scans, and lung function tests can’t detect the presence of asbestos fibers, they can detect damage to the lungs and tumors.Madeksho Law is offering
free asbestos screenings in Galveston and Baytown, Texas, April 25-27.
Watch for more details coming soon on our blog and Facebook page.
- Watch for symptoms of asbestos exposure.
If you experience shortness of breath, a new cough or one that is worsening, trouble swallowing, coughing up blood, tightness in the chest, or unintended weight loss, tell your doctor right away.
- Seek a SMRP blood test.
There are blood tests that measure the amount of serum-measured soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the blood. High levels of SMRP can sometimes indicate the presence of mesothelioma years before a doctor can make a medical diagnosis through standard tests. However, other types of cancer can also cause an elevated SMRP and some types of mesothelioma tumors don’t release high levels of SMRP. So, a blood test is not definitive.If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation. For a FREE consultation, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO, or contact us here.
