Asbestos-related illness might sound like a problem from the past, but, in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Medical conditions related to asbestos inhalation can appear decades after exposure. Hundreds of people still die every year in the UK from asbestos-related illnesses and new patients are diagnosed all the time.
In most cases, asbestos-related disease occurs as a result of working in the construction or manufacturing industries. However, it’s not only people who work with asbestos that are at risk; people that live with them can be affected due to secondary exposure. What’s more, although most asbestos products were phased out by the end of the 80s, today, demolition technicians, refurbishment workers and firefighters can all still be exposed to the substance in the course of their work.
The two most common diseases associated with asbestos are mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer affecting cells lining the lungs (mesothelium) and asbestosis. Both are very serious illnesses requiring long-term treatment and, certainly in the case of mesothelioma, may not develop until 50 years after exposure.
Sadly, there is no cure for mesothelioma and treatment is focussed on alleviating the symptoms and slowing the progress of the disease. Pleural mesothelioma in particular is associated with a poor prognosis, which is why if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, it’s important to get a diagnosis early on and look at claiming compensation to offset the costs associated with treatment and changes to your lifestyle.
The fact is, if you have symptoms, resulting from asbestos exposure from decades ago, you still have a case for compensation – even if your former employers have ceased trading.
Here at Personal Injury Solicitor we have years of experience in asbestos claims and can offer valuable advice on the best treatments and support for sufferers of asbestos-related disease, so if you’re already living with an illness because of asbestos, you can significantly improve the quality of your life.
If you think you may have a case, begin by calling 0800 998 1990.
