Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that cover many of the internal body organs. The two main types are plural mesothelioma in the chest and peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen.
Most cases of mesothelioma are caused by past occupational exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is an insulating material which was commonly used during the 1950s until the mid-1980s in industries including construction and ship building. Asbestos fibres are inhaled and absorbed into the membranes around the lungs which can cause pleural mesothelioma, or, to a lesser extent, fibres ingested and absorbed around the abdomen/pelvis and heart can cause peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma.
Statistics
Mesothelioma accounts for less than 1% of all cancers in the UK. In men, it is the 17th most common cancer, however, it is outside of the 20 most common forms of cancer in women.
It has been reported by Cancer Research UK that, in Great Britain, mesothelioma death rates have increased more than eleven-fold in men and around eight-fold in women since the 1970s. In 2011, around 2,300 people died from mesothelioma in the UK. Statistics show that 46% of mesothelioma cases occur in those aged 75 and over and only 8% of cases occur in those under the age of 60.
Research has also shown that the lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma in the UK is an estimated 1 in 150 for men and 1 in 773 in women.
Trends in mesothelioma incidences correlate with the rise and fall of asbestos exposure in the UK. It is estimated that asbestos use peaked by 1963 but then decreased rapidly. By 1999, the supply and use of asbestos in the UK was banned and any work on asbestos already in place is now regulated closely.
The Health and Safety Executive has conducted research into the numbers of mesothelioma cases and how the disease rates are connected to geographical area. The research has found that rates of mesothelioma cases tends to be rising more in areas associated with shipbuilding activity. This is thought to correlate with the wide use of asbestos in the past in the shipbuilding industry.
For men, the geographical areas with the highest mesothelioma death rates were Barrow-in-Furness, West Dunbartonshire and North Tyneside.
Making a mesothelioma compensation claim
Symptoms of mesothelioma appear on average around 40 years after exposure to asbestos. The long period of symptoms remaining dormant combined with the significant drop in asbestos exposure after the 1960s means that the peak of cases has more than likely yet to be reached. In the UK generally, it is predicted that the peak of cases will be reached in 2016 before the rates begin to decline or stabilise.
Making a mesothelioma claim requires a sensitive approach with a high level of expertise and knowledge. Although mesothelioma can develop many years after exposure to asbestos, once it is diagnosed, the mortality rate is around 85% within three years of diagnosis. This means that solicitors have to act very quickly.
The solicitor pursuing the claim has to fully understand all the medical issues and the immediate care needs, to be sympathetic to the individual’s position but at the same time be practical to pursue the claim as quickly as possible and seek to recover maximum compensation and interim payments.
At Nelsons, our Personal Injury team has significant experience and expertise in this area. For more information, please a member of the team in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.