Mesothelioma

Our industrial disease lawyers have dealt with many thousands of cases involving asbestos exposure leading to related conditions such as mesothelioma. This is a particularly aggressive cancer and is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos fibre/s. Many of our clients were exposed in the armed forces, during their employment with the MoD, through their work using or removing asbestos or as a result of contact through workers who were exposed and who would then take asbestos fibres attached to them on their hair, skin and work clothing home. We also regularly represent families at inquests where there is a suspicion that their loved one may have died as a result of exposure to asbestos and they want to find out what happened.

What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the mesothelial cells. These cells cover the outer surface of most of our internal body organs, forming a lining that is sometimes called the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of two layers, one which surrounds the organ itself, and the other which forms a sac lining around it. A small amount of lubricating fluid is normally produced between these two layers which helps the movement of the protected organs.

Pleural Mesothelioma
The most common form of mesothelioma is "pleural" mesothelioma. This occurs in the lining or covering of the lung. There are two pleura often known as pleural membranes and the gap between them is known as the pleural space. This gap is filled with a lubricating fluid which helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.

Other forms are "peritoneal" mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity, and "pericardial" mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the heart.

How common is mesothelioma?
Often the cancer may not appear for many years after the initial exposure to asbestos. The incidence of mesothelioma in Western Europe is expected to reach its peak between 2010 and 2020. The number of people suffering from mesothelioma in the UK is going to increase significantly over the next 10-15 years.

Who is at risk for developing mesothelioma?
Those who have worked directly with asbestos or asbestos products carry the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. Often their work would involve cutting through or removing asbestos which would cause a lot of dust. Those who would then sweep up at the end of the day would also be exposed as they would create further dust releasing the asbestos fibres into the air. In some cases we have seen, wives have developed mesothelioma as a result of washing their husband's work clothes.