Mesothelioma is just one of the diseases that people can develop after prolonged asbestos exposure. It is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells which cover the outer surface of most of the body's internal body organs. This is caused by the exposure to asbestos which was around quite a lot in certain areas before it was banned. It could have been contracted in a number of ways from simply breathing it in to picking it up second hand from other people's clothing, hair or skin.



Mesothelioma can take various different forms and can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or abdomen. The most common type that is diagnosed is pleural mesothelioma which affects the tissues lining the lungs called the pleura. Fortunately, it is unusual for his disease to spread to other parts of the body and even if it does, it doesn't usually cause any problematic symptoms.

Most people who develop mesothelioma will have worked in jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. The most commonly affected trades were dockers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, shipyard workers and power station workers. However, it is possible for someone to contract the illness even if they have never had direct asbestos exposure. For example, family members may have breathed in the dust particles from the clothing of someone who worked with it.

There are various different symptoms that people can look out for if they know there is a chance they could have mesothelioma. Shortness of breath, a prolonged cough, chest pain, weight loss, abdominal swelling and fever are just some of the signs to look out for. These symptoms may not start showing until 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure however which is why many people don't realise what it is at the time.

Diagnosing mesothelioma can be very difficult because the symptoms are similar to many other conditions. For this reason it is extremely important that doctors are made aware of any history to asbestos exposure so they know what to look out for. In order to make a proper diagnosis, a physical examination, a chest x - ray and lung function tests will be performed in order to see if there is any pleural thickening which is common amongst those who worked around asbestos. If anything suspicious has been found then a biopsy will be performed so that a diagnosis can be confirmed and treatment can begin.

Many people have enlisted the help of an asbestos lawyer in order to claim compensation against asbestos manufacturers. The first lawsuit was in 1929 and since then people have successfully won billions of pounds from these companies who neglected to implement safety measures to protect workers against exposure.