Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer which is almost exclusively as a consequence of exposure to asbestos. It is predicted that the number of people that die each year from mesothelioma in the UK will continue to rise.
Mesothelioma is a relatively slow growing tumour that most commonly originates in the lining of the chest cavity.
Symptoms include pain in the chest or breathlessness due to increased fluid in the lungs. Diagnosis as a disease can be difficult and symptoms may take up to 40 years to develop once asbestos dust has been inhaled. The current average survival period following a diagnosis of mesothelioma is 14 months.
New surgery techniques combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are being used by doctors in order to treat and control pain.
At present, the average time period from the first exposure to asbestos to the development of symptoms relating to a diagnosis of mesothelioma is 40 years. More often than not, patients suffering from mesothelioma have fluid on the lungs or pain. Approximately 20% of people suffering from mesothelioma have other evidence on x-rays of asbestos exposure such as pleural scarring on the lungs.
Several Courts have a special process for dealing with Mesothelioma claims to enable a solicitor to get a case to Court within 6 to 12 months due to the speed of the disease. It is important that you provide your solicitor with a detailed statement in the early stages of your illness to enable your solicitor to complete the case as soon as possible.
If you believe that you might have a legal claim relating to Mesothelioma , please complete the online enquiry form or call 0870 024 0558. Your enquiry will be forwarded to a solicitor who specialises in Mesothelioma .
If you have any comments in relation to Mesothelioma , please use the online discussion forum.
Related Areas
- Pleural Plaques
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- Asbestos Claims
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- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Industrial Disease Legal Advice
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Mesothelioma Team Members
- Geraldine Coombs
- Associate Solicitor
I am writing to you on behalf of both my mum and the rest of the family to thank you most sincerely the way in which you have conducted my father's claim. You may recall both my parents were a little reluctant to lodge the initial claim, thinking the likelihood of success would be minimal and in any event quite simply would not be worth the effort involved. You visited my father as he was not well enough to travel and took the detailed statement from him both sensitively and unhurriedly.
I know if my Dad were here today he would want to thnk you for getting the facts he needed as quickly as he could to ease the discomfort without putting him under pressure. You also advised us of the possibility of claiming the Governement compensation before we lodged our claim with you. My dad received this prior to his death which helped them to buy everything he needed to make his life more comfortable in his declining health. This included a wheelchair which meant he was able to get out of the house right up to the end which made his illness more tolerable for him. We must also thnk you for being sensitive to my mum's requests and spending the time to explain what her options were. The compensation whilst in no way compensates for our loss; it does feel to us that others have in some way valued our Dad as well as us. Although he was 80 years old he still had a lot of life in him and there is no doubt that the mesothelioma robbed us of more time with him. However, as a family we are all very grateful that we had as much time with him as we did as we are very aware that this is not the case for a number of your clients.
On behalf of my mum, myself and all the family many thanks for all your help, advice, sensitivity and hard work on our behalf. We know our dad would have been thrilled with the outcome.
