{"id":27771,"date":"2025-04-10T10:27:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T14:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?p=27771"},"modified":"2025-04-14T22:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T02:58:45","slug":"construction-worker-gets-legal-help-for-mesothelioma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/blog\/construction-worker-gets-legal-help-for-mesothelioma\/","title":{"rendered":"Exposed on the Job: A Roofer\u2019s Mesothelioma Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jose Sanchez-Martinez was a hard worker dedicated to building a better future for his growing family. After he accepted a construction job in Los Angeles, the family immigrated from Mexico to California.<\/p>\n<p>He worked long days but continued to prioritize his family\u2019s future and fill his free time painting vibrant canvases inspired by his heritage and Aztec culture.<\/p>\n<p>But everything changed in 2016 when Jose was diagnosed with stage 4 <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/\">mesothelioma<\/a>, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. No longer able to work and concerned about how to provide for his family, Jose knew he had to seek help.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Alicia-Sanchez.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>\u201cOur story needs to be known by everyone since <strong>there are people who can help you through mesothelioma<\/strong>, which is so hard for both the family and the patient.\u201d<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Alicia Sanchez-Martinez, wife of mesothelioma warrior Jose<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<p>Learn how Jose battled this cancer and found support, hope, and justice with help from our legal partners.<\/p>\n<h2>When Seemingly Common Symptoms Lead to a Rare Cancer Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p>Alicia described her life with Jose as typical until he began to lose weight without changing his routine. She noted other <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/symptoms\/\">symptoms<\/a>, including fatigue, which disrupted his ability to work, spend time with his family, and pursue his passion for painting.<\/p>\n<p>Jose didn\u2019t want to go to the doctor, but he listened to Alicia\u2019s concerns and made an appointment. The doctors took X-rays of his lungs and discovered the cause of his symptoms: a rare cancer called <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/pleural\/\">pleural mesothelioma<\/a>, which develops in the lining of the lungs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Alicia-Sanchez.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>\u201cThe pulmonologist told him he had cancer cells spread throughout his lungs and suggested that we go to the ER so they could study his case and find out what it was all about. Within a week, they diagnosed him with mesothelioma.\u201d<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Alicia Sanchez-Martinez, wife of mesothelioma warrior Jose<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<p>The couple had no idea what to do next. They barely knew anything about mesothelioma, what <a href=\"\/treatment\/\">treatment<\/a> might look like, or how Jose even developed it in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>For many families, a mesothelioma diagnosis comes as a shock. Read how other patients like Jose found hope and strength in our <strong>Free Survivors Guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Years of Asbestos Exposure on Construction Sites<\/h2>\n<p>After his diagnosis, Jose\u2019s medical team explained that mesothelioma is caused by <a href=\"\/asbestos\/exposure\/\">exposure to asbestos<\/a>. However, he couldn\u2019t remember how he might have been exposed. It wasn\u2019t until his doctors asked about his work history that he connected the dots.<\/p>\n<p>From the 1930s to the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in construction materials, including <a href=\"\/products\/roofing\/\">roofing products<\/a>, due to its fire-resistance, durability, and low cost. As a roofer, Jose spent his days cutting, sanding, and shaping asbestos-containing building supplies.<\/p>\n<p>These actions released hazardous asbestos into the air, putting Jose and other <a href=\"\/occupations\/roofers\/\">roofers<\/a> at risk. To make matters worse, Jose was never warned about the dangers of these materials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Alicia-Sanchez.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>\u201cHe had no idea that he could get a health condition. <strong>No one ever told him about covering his airways or the risk he was taking.<\/strong> He really had no clue of the danger he was in or what could happen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Alicia Sanchez-Martinez, wife of mesothelioma warrior Jose<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<p>For decades, <a href=\"\/asbestos\/companies\/\">asbestos companies<\/a> hid the risks of their products to protect their profits. As a result, hard workers like Jose have continued to suffer the consequences of corporate greed.<\/p>\n<h2>Seeking Justice With Mesothelioma Legal Help<\/h2>\n<p>As Jose and Alicia processed the realities of the diagnosis, they feared for their future more than ever. They had heard about <a href=\"\/legal\/lawsuit\/\">mesothelioma lawsuits<\/a>, but like many families, they hesitated to pursue legal action, especially since their first language is Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>However, as medical bills mounted and they learned that Jose\u2019s illness was not his fault, they decided to seek support from Simmons Hanly Conroy, Mesothelioma Hope\u2019s partner law firm. The help they found surprised them from the very first meeting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Alicia-Sanchez.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>\u201cPeople don&#8217;t want any legal process because they are afraid of not being heard, of not being understood. But we were really lucky. <strong>Our legal team truly helped us navigate this legal case very easily.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Alicia Sanchez-Martinez, wife of mesothelioma warrior Jose<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<p>All of their fears about the legal process quickly faded as their <a href=\"\/legal\/mesothelioma-lawyer\/\">mesothelioma lawyers<\/a> walked them through each step with compassion and care. They explained complicated medical and legal terms in Spanish and got to know the family personally.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI was with people who spoke my language<\/strong>,\u201d Alicia recalled when thinking back to what made the process so effortless for her. She could easily share her story and the story of her beloved husband and companion, even as his cancer progressed.<\/p>\n<p>Jose\u2019s lawsuit was successful, securing <a href=\"\/legal\/compensation\/\">mesothelioma compensation<\/a> that Alicia contributes to helping her and the family get through his illness. Unfortunately, the lawsuit didn\u2019t bring Jose\u2019s health back, and he passed away at the age of 65.<\/p>\n<p>A compassionate legal team, like the one that supported Jose and Alicia, can turn the legal process from daunting to hopeful. If someone you love is facing mesothelioma, get a <strong>Free Case Review<\/strong> to start the journey toward justice and peace of mind.<\/p>\n<div id=\"23978\" class=\"one-off-23978 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"23978\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-23978{margin:60px auto}.one-off-23978 a{box-shadow:0 20px 20px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.03);background:linear-gradient(180deg,#0FAEBF 0,rgba(129,208,217,0) 100%);border:1px solid rgba(230,231,236,1);display:block;text-decoration:none;color:#000;max-width:370px;margin:0 auto}.one-off-23978 a>div{background:#fff;margin-left:3px}.one-off-23978 .vque-content{padding:20px 20px 25px}.one-off-23978 .heading{font-size:20px;line-height:23px;display:block;letter-spacing:-1px;text-align:center;max-width:260px;margin:0 auto 20px}.one-off-23978 ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:210px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 20px}.one-off-23978 ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.one-off-23978 ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.one-off-23978 ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;font-display:swap;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";color:#fff;border:0;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.one-off-23978 .button{display:block;text-align:center;padding:10px 17px;max-width:245px;margin:0 auto}.one-off-23978 .image-wrap{background:rgba(15,174,191,1);color:#fff;padding:0 30px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}.one-off-23978 img.shc-logo{max-width:168px;margin:0 auto 15px}.one-off-23978 img.rep{max-width:70px;transform:scale(-1,1);margin-right:15px}.one-off-23978 img.mh-logo{display:none}.one-off-23978 .name{font-size:13px;line-height:15px;margin-bottom:9px}.one-off-23978 .name strong{font-size:15px;line-height:17px;display:block}.one-off-23978 .description{font-size:12px;line-height:14px;max-width:165px}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-23978 a{max-width:530px;padding-right:210px;position:relative;min-height:260px}.one-off-23978 .vque-content{padding:25px 30px}.one-off-23978 .heading{text-align:left}.one-off-23978 ul{margin:15px 0 20px}.one-off-23978 .button{display:inline-block}.one-off-23978 .image-wrap{display:inline-block;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;bottom:0;max-width:210px;padding:25px 23px 0}.one-off-23978 img.shc-logo{max-width:180px;margin:0 0 15px}.one-off-23978 img.rep{width:180px;margin:0 auto;transform:none;position:absolute;bottom:0;max-width:unset}.one-off-23978 img.mh-logo{display:block;bottom:45px;position:absolute}}<\/style><a href=\"\/simmons-hanly-conroy\/\" title=\"Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review Ad\"><div>\r\n    <div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/logo-simmonsfirm-color.png\" alt=\"Simmons Hanly Conroy\" class=\"lazyload shc-logo\" >\r\n        <strong class=\"heading\">Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review<\/strong>\r\n        <ul>\r\n            <li>Over $30 billion available<\/li>\r\n            <li>No cost to file a claim<\/li>\r\n            <li>Avoid going to court<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n        <p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get a Free Case Review\">Get a Free Case Review<\/strong><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"image-wrap\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shara-fisher-ad.png\" alt=\"Shara Fisher\" class=\"lazyload rep\" >\r\n        <span><div class=\"name\"><strong>Shara Fisher<\/strong> Senior Paralegal<\/div><div class=\"description\"><strong>17+ years<\/strong> providing legal help to mesothelioma victims<\/div><\/span>\r\n         <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/MH-logo.png\" alt=\"Mesothelioma Hope Logo\" class=\"lazyload mh-logo\" >\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Get Personalized Help in the Fight Against Mesothelioma<\/h2>\n<p>Jose\u2019s story highlights the importance of finding personalized help when battling mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Our team can help you:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Get a <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/diagnosis\/second-opinion\/\">second opinion<\/a> on your diagnosis and treatment plan<\/li>\n<li>Access top mesothelioma specialists<\/li>\n<li>Pursue expert legal assistance<\/li>\n<li>Find <a href=\"\/resources\/support-groups\/\">support groups and peer mentors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>You don\u2019t have to navigate this diagnosis alone.<\/strong> Get the help you need today by calling <strong><a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a><\/strong> or request our <a href=\"\/survivors-guide\/\">Free Survivors Guide<\/a> to learn how families like Jose\u2019s found support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jose Sanchez-Martinez was a hard worker dedicated to building a better future for his growing family. After he accepted a construction job in Los Angeles, the family immigrated from Mexico to California. He worked long days but continued to prioritize his family\u2019s future and fill his free time painting vibrant canvases inspired by his heritage&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":27778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[257],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-survivor-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}