What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that usually develops in the lining of the chest or abdomen, almost always as a result of inhaling airborne asbestos fibres. It is a painful condition that progressively worsens and invariably results in death.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, accumulation of fluid between the pleura, persistent coughing, coughing up blood, swelling of the abdomen, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anaemia, swelling of the feet, sweating and anorexia.

The condition affects the pleura, which are the lubricating membranes around the lungs. It is most common for mesothelioma to develop around the lungs.

Mesothelioma and asbestos

It is extremely rare to develop mesothelioma without occupational exposure to asbestos fibres. Around 1 person in every 1,000,000 diagnosed has not experienced such exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos are 1000 times more likely than an ordinary person to contract mesothelioma. Generally, around 1,500 cases are reported per year. Mesothelioma is significantly more common in men, who make up around 80% of those diagnosed. Certain occupations are significantly more at risk of developing the disease due to the presence of asbestos, including shipbuilders, railway engineers and asbestos product manufacturers.

Mesothelioma victims may be entitled to compensation of up to £81,500 for general damages, plus interest and an award for financial losses and the cost of care.

The precise molecular process by which the condition develops is not fully understood. It is most likely due to the inhaled asbestos fibres penetrating the lining of the lungs. It seems that a malignant mesothelioma cancer cell develops around the parts of the lungs in which inhaled fibres accumulate. The asbestos fibres act directly on the lungs through their presence, and indirectly through their interaction with the white blood cells released by the body to fight infections. It is likely that the smaller the asbestos fibre, the more likely it is to penetrate the lining of the lungs and start this reaction.

Diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma

The symptoms of mesothelioma are often non-specific and this can lead to a delay in diagnosis. The significant latency period of up to 60 years after exposure to airborne asbestos fibres contributes to possible confusion with conditions such as pneumonia.

A number of techniques are used to identify the condition. The doctor will ask about a patient’s prior exposure to asbestos, their symptoms and their medical history. An x-ray will be taken and lung functioning tests performed to identify the presence of scarring in the lungs caused by the body attempting to expel asbestos fibres (pleural thickening). Following on from this, if the doctor is concerned, they will test the chest fluid and carry out a lung biopsy. Once a malignant mesothelioma is identified, the doctor will ‘stage it.’ This involves identifying the extent to which the disease has progressed and the treatment that is most appropriate.

Treatments to reduce the symptoms include the introduction of talc between the pleura and the lung (talc  to prevent excess fluid accumulating, draining excess fluid, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, appetite stimulants, breathing apparatus and surgery. As mesothelioma is typically discovered in the later stages of development (because it does not show symptoms initially), chemotherapy is usually preferable to surgical treatments such as an extrapleural pneumonectomy.

The drugs administered for this purpose are Pemetrexed (marketed under the name Alimta) in combination with Cisplatin which can provide survival benefits. The treatment is administered once every three weeks using an intravenous drip. This takes around 10 minutes and may be followed up with a further drug that can add several hours to the total treatment time. It is not necessary to stay in hospital overnight to receive treatment.

Though chemotherapy has side effects including vomiting, nausea, fatigue and vulnerability to infection, the worst of these can be mitigated by other medicines and supplements. For this reason, mesothelioma patients are usually given folic acid and vitamin B-12.

Research into mesothelioma screening (to identify the cancer earlier in time, meaning that treatment is more likely to be effective), and targeted treatments that attack this specific type of tumour, is ongoing. The asbestos compensation claims solicitors at Humphreys & Co. are pleased to be able to support the work undertaken in this vital area by the North Bristol NHS Trust Mesothelioma Research Fund and the Avon Mesothelioma Foundation.

Next steps

If you believe that you may be showing the signs of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you should visit your doctor.

The Asbestos Compensation Claims website contains a lot more information about the process of claiming compensation for asbestos-related illness and disease, and how Humphreys & Co. Solicitors will support you every step of the way. For more information on the step-by-step mesothelioma compensation process, click here. To start the claims process today, click here.