In support of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we’re taking a look at Mesothelioma, one of the conditions known to arise after exposure to asbestos. According to NHS figures, more than 2,600 people are diagnosed with the condition in the UK each year with most patients being between 60 and 80 at the time of diagnosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is frequently linked to exposure to asbestos. This particular form of cancer affects the lining that covers many of the organs within the body.

Primarily this occurs within the lining of the lungs, which is known as Pleural Mesothelioma. However, it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and heart too.

The symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma can take a long time to develop and become noticeable, with many people only developing the condition potentially decades after the initial exposure.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma can include:

• A persistent cough
• Chest pains and shortness of breath
• High temperature
• Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
• Extreme tiredness

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should arrange to see their GP as soon as possible and during their examination should make it clear if they suspect they’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past.

Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma involves a number of key diagnostic procedures, such as X-Rays and CT Scans, to identify and understand the level of damage to the lungs.

How is Mesothelioma treated?

Due to the nature of Mesothelioma, the condition is normally only identified at a more advanced stage. Treatment then tends to involve managing symptoms or providing palliative care.

Different treatments are used to help with managing cancer and its symptoms. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy shrink and slow the growth of cancer while surgical intervention can be used to remove the cancerous area of the lungs to help prevent it from spreading further.

There are other treatments which can be offered in order to keep an individual as comfortable and pain-free as possible. This ranges from pain killers to help improve comfort to treatments that drain fluid from the lungs and help to manage some of the condition’s ongoing symptoms.

Why Choose MLA for asbestos-related Industrial Disease Medical Reports?

MLA is an industry leader in Industrial Disease Medical Reports. Our dedicated team understands the whole range of industrial diseases which can occur and know these cases demand detailed evidence from medical and liability experts. This includes extensive knowledge and experience of dealing with cases relating to asbestos and the risks exposure to asbestos can cause.

Through our extensive Expert Panel, we’ll find the most suitable expert for your case who will provide detailed reports covering medical history, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and prognosis.

If you’d like to learn more about our Industrial Disease services, please contact us here.