For asbestos claims in Manchester come to Branton Bridge Solicitors.

Mesothelioma A rare form of cancer almost always caused by exposure to asbestos dust. It affects the linings of the chest wall (pleural mesothelioma) or the lining of the stomach or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). It is difficult to diagnose and quiet often a biopsy needs to be carried out to diagnose mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer there is no known connection between cigarette smoking and the development of mesothelioma. The development of the disease can take between 10 - 40+ years after exposure to asbestos dust. The courts have adopted a special procedure to deal with mesothelioma cases which means your case will be dealt with a lot quicker. Lung Cancer Lung cancer is quite a common complication of asbestosis. Medical experts are divided on whether lung cancer can be caused by exposure to asbestos dust in the absence of asbestosis. Recent changes in the benefit system mean that you no longer have to have asbestosis to be able to claim benefits for lung cancer provided that certain other criteria are met. It is not impossible but still very difficult to obtain compensation through the courts for lung cancer if you are not suffering from asbestosis. Lung cancer can take around 20 - 40 years to develop from exposure to asbestos. Smoking dramatically increases your chance of developing lung cancer if you have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestosis Asbestosis is fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs caused by long term or heavy exposure to asbestos. This usually progresses slowly and can cause severe breathlessness. There is no known treatment to alter the progression of the disease. Asbestosis can take around 10 - 20 years from when you were first exposed to asbestos until it is detected. There is usually a 10% chance of developing mesothelioma and a 20 - 50% chance of developing lung cancer (the commonest complication of asbestosis). Smoking significantly increases your chances of developing lung cancer if you have asbestosis. There are other conditions which can mimic asbestosis such as Cryptogenic Fibrosing Alveolitis or Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (eg bird fanciers lung), Carcoidosis or Rheumatoid Disease. Pleural Thickening Pleural thickening is damage and thickening of the wall between your lung and your rib-cage. This is more serious than pleural plaques as it can cause pain and breathlessness because the lung has difficulty in expanding. This can reduced your quality of life. There is no cure for pleural thickening. You are normally at around a 1 - 5% risk of developing a further asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma. It can take around 10 - 20 years from when you were first exposed to asbestos until pleural thickening is first detected on a chest x-ray. There are other conditions which can mimic pleural thickening such as rib fractures and pleural bleeding, tuberculosis and pneumonia with empyema (pus in the pleura) and rheumatoid disease. Pleural Plaques These are raised areas of thickened pleura, the lining of the chest wall. They are the least serious asbestos related disease as they do not cause you any problem although you are normally at a 1 - 5% risk of developing a further asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma. These are not usually detected until around 10 - 20 years after you were first exposed to asbestos. In 2006 the Court of Appeal ruled that pleural plaques is no longer a condition which attracts compensation. This has been appealed to the House of Lords. It is not due to be heard until the end of June 2007. You still need to contact us so that we can register your claim with your former employers or their insurers.

Asbestos Related Diseases

`Asbestos Related Diseases`