Mesothelioma in Great Lakes, Illinois
Prior to 1980, asbestos materials were widely used, including in the construction of naval facilities. As a result, Great Lakes, Illinois, Navy veterans and workers risked asbestos exposure at Naval Station Great Lakes. Asbestos-exposure victims are at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. Legal resources and treatment options for asbestos victims are included below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Great Lakes
Great Lakes, Illinois Mesothelioma Treatment
Patients in the Great Lakes area who were exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek treatment from specialized mesothelioma cancer centers. To optimize treatment results, mesothelioma doctors at these centers may recommend multimodal therapies. Multimodal treatment plans combine two or more types of mesothelioma treatment to achieve the best outcome for the patient.
Treatment plans for mesothelioma patients may include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and/or palliative care options. Patients who do not respond to conventional treatments may be eligible for experimental treatment options, often available through clinical trials.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Great Lakes, Illinois
Great Lakes, Illinois, mesothelioma patients should seek care at cancer centers experienced with treating mesothelioma. For example, mesothelioma patients may travel to nearby Chicago, Illinois, for treatment at The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UChicago Medicine).
UChicago Medicine has one of the largest mesothelioma programs in the nation and is a leader in the treatment and research of malignant mesothelioma. Innovative approaches to chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgeries are a main focus at the center. For instance, HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) is a chemotherapy procedure used after surgery. UChicago Medicine offers HIPEC as an option to qualifying patients.
Great Lakes, Illinois Mesothelioma Doctors
There are specialists in the Great Lakes area experienced in treating patients with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma care professionals will often collaborate to create a personalized and comprehensive care plan for each mesothelioma patient.
A patient’s care team may include surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, nurses and pain management experts, among others. Patient support staff members can help patients and loved ones navigate all aspects of treatment.
Great Lakes, Illinois Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos victims and their loved ones in the Great Lakes, Illinois, area may be eligible to receive compensation for their illnesses. Potential compensation options include asbestos bankruptcy trust claims, mesothelioma lawsuits and VA claims. Compensation can assist patients with mesothelioma treatment expenses, lost wages and other expenses.
Mesothelioma victims and their loved ones who wish to file a lawsuit or claim should consult a mesothelioma attorney for guidance and representation.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Great Lakes, Illinois
Asbestos law firms can guide patients or their surviving loved ones through the mesothelioma compensation process. Mesothelioma victims in the Great Lakes area should contact a nationwide law firm with extensive knowledge of asbestos law. Experienced attorneys have a proven track record for handling asbestos cases. They will know the asbestos laws by state, which can impact the filing process as well as deadlines for filing a lawsuit.
Asbestos law firms help mesothelioma victims and their loved ones get the compensation they deserve.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Great Lakes, Illinois
Strict, state-specific time limits, known as statutes of limitations, apply to asbestos lawsuits filed in Illinois. Asbestos victims who were exposed to asbestos in Illinois and later developed a related disease have 24 months to file a lawsuit for personal injury. This means individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos cancer have 24 months to start a lawsuit following their diagnosis. After a mesothelioma patient’s death, surviving loved ones also have 24 months to commence a wrongful death lawsuit related to asbestos exposure.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
Mesothelioma law firms can help victims in the Great Lakes area get the compensation they deserve.
Examples of clients served in the Great Lakes area include:
Age: 64
Occupations: Navy, Iron worker
Jobsites Worked at: United States Naval Training Station (1967)
Settlement: ~$6,183,244
Age: 53
Occupations: Navy, Boiler worker
Jobsites Worked at: United States Naval Training Station (1973 – 1975)
Settlement: ~$4,520,445
Age: 80
Occupations: Navy, Electrician
Jobsites Worked at: Great Lakes Naval Training Station (1955 – 1959)
Settlement: ~$3,518,470
Age: 81
Occupations: Navy, Communications
Jobsites Worked at: Great Lakes Illinois Boot Camp (1957 – 1959)
Settlement: ~$2,753,341
Asbestos Use in Great Lakes, Illinois
Asbestos use in the Great Lakes, Illinois, area was widespread until stricter asbestos regulations passed in the 1980s. The mineral was used for its strength and resistance to heat and flame. It was commonly used in manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding.
Great Lakes workers and residents may have been exposed to asbestos while working for the military. As a result, Navy veterans, active-duty personnel, naval recruits, civilian workers and others were put at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 139 |
| Female | 41 |
Asbestos Use at Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is a military town located in Lake County, Illinois. Opened in 1911, Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) occupies more than 1,600 acres and functions like a small city. It has its own fire station, utilities and security force. NSGL is the Navy’s largest training installation and the home of the Navy’s only Recruit Training Command facility.
Through the years, the NSGL experienced several building expansions. It is currently home to more than 1,100 buildings. Asbestos materials were commonly used during construction until around 1980. As a result, asbestos-containing products may have been used during the construction and repair of the buildings and facilities at the naval station.
A 2011 environmental condition report found several asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in NSGL buildings. The report was conducted on three buildings and found the following ACMs:
- Friable floor tile
- HVAC equipment
- Mastic
- Pipefitting insulation
- Tank end caps
- Textured plaster
- Vibration cloth
The high levels of ACMs in these three buildings could indicate further asbestos contamination across the naval station. As a result, thousands of Navy veterans, active-duty personnel, families, recruits, civilian employees and contractors may have been exposed to asbestos.
Great Lakes, Illinois Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Camp Boone
- Camp Decatur
- Camp Dewey
- Camp Farragut
- Camp Lawrence
- Camp Perry
- Camp Ross
- Great Lakes Hospital
- Gunner's Mate Service School
- Naval Hospital Great Lakes
- Naval Station Great Lakes
- Naval Supply Depot
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Commander, Navy Installations Command. Naval Station Great Lakes: Your Navy in the Midwest.
Illinois State Board of Education. Environmental Condition of Property for Buildings 130H, 129H, 128H: Corps School Property Lease for Charter School. August 2011.
Military Installations. Naval Station Great Lakes In-Depth Overview.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.