Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma compensation claims

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung caused in the vast majority of cases by exposure to asbestos dust.  Fortunately it is a very rare cancer, even among people who have been heavily exposed to asbestos dust. 

Mesothelioma comes about when asbestos fibres breathed in through the lungs work their way into the pleura.  The pleura is a membrane which protects the lungs from damage by the ribs when breathing.  This is also known as the lining of the lung.

Asbestos fibres cause damage to the cells of the pleura, and it is thought that over time that damage results in changes which eventually turn them into cancer cells.

Experts are of the view that it takes between five and 10 years for the cancer cells to reach the point that symptoms occur.  So for example, someone who is diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2011 has had the condition developing since about 2001.  This means that in such a case all exposure to asbestos dust before 2001 could have contributed to causing the disease, but asbestos dust after that time played no part in it because the disease was already developing.

The average time for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos dust is around 40 years, but all exposure to asbestos dust up to about 10 years before the onset of symptoms could have caused the illness.

Mesothelioma can be caused by very small exposures to asbestos dust, but the bigger the dose of asbestos, the greater the risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain, and tiredness.  More information about treatments for this condition is included in the further information sections on mesothelioma.

At present, about 2000 cases per year are diagnosed in the UK.  It is thought to be on the increase, and it is estimated that the number of cases will peak between 2015 and 2020 at around 2500 cases per year.  After that it will gradually decline in numbers, but it could be many years before the disease disappears, because of the large amount of asbestos still remaining in buildings in the UK.

Mesothelioma cases are complex cases which need careful investigation by lawyers with expertise in asbestos litigation.

Making a mesothelioma compensation claim

For further information about how Pannone can help you make a compensation claim for mesothelioma please click here.

To arrange a free discussion with a mesothelioma compensation solicitor click here or call us on 0800 0384 384. We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.