Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung. It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos many years earlier. Although there have been advances in treatment of this condition, mesothelioma claims more lives than any other asbestos disease.
Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it is quite advanced. Symptoms can include breathlessness, chest or back pain, weight loss and general tiredness. The condition leads to the build-up of fluid around the lining of the lung. Although there is no cure for the disease, the symptoms of mesothelioma can be reduced with the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
It is believed that mesothelioma can be caused by a relatively low level of exposure to asbestos and a mesothelioma claim can often be brought more easily than other claims for asbestos-related conditions, such as asbestosis.
Mesothelioma can develop in anyone who has been in direct contact with asbestos in the past. Common types of worker who can claim compensation for mesothelioma are:
- Builders
- Plumbers
- Laggers
- Electricians
- Fitters
- Power stationworkers
In addition, due to the relatively low amount of exposure to asbestos, claims for compensation can often be made by people who had ‘secondary exposure’ to asbestos. These are people who did not work with asbestos themselves but came into contact with this via someone else, for example, a wife shaking out or washing her husband’s overalls covered in asbestos.
Contact us to make a claim for compensation for mesothelioma.
