Asbestos-related illnesses / cancer

Asbestosis 

Asbestosis can develop when someone has been in heavy contact with asbestos – normally more than 20 years ago.  You can make a compensation claim once you have been told you have the condition, which can be a long time after contact with asbestos. 

Symptoms include a shortness of breath, abnormal chest sounds and a condition called “clubbing” of the fingertips.  Diagnosis is by chest x-ray, a CT scan and tests on the lungs.  The condition gets slowly worse and can be very disabling, but patients rarely die.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis, Claims Direct can help.  We use lawyers who are experts in making asbestos claims.  Call us today for a free first discussion about your claim.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer can develop following contact with asbestos, particularly if the sufferer was also a smoker.  Although it takes many years for lung cancer to develop following contact with asbestos, it is sadly quite often fatal. 

You can make a claim for compensation if you have been diagnosed with lung cancer following contact with asbestos.  However, you will have to prove on balance that contact with asbestos was at least partly the cause of your cancer. 

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and think it was caused by contact with asbestos, Claims Direct can help.  We use lawyers who are experts in making lung cancer claims.   Call us today for a free first discussion about your claim.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a tumour, normally in the lining of the lungs, which is fatal.  It is caused by contact with asbestos.  Mesothelioma can develop even if you weren’t in contact with asbestos often or for very long. 

The disease can appear between ten and fifty years after being in contact with asbestos.  It is very serious and normally causes chest pain and shortness of breath which gets worse.  It is diagnosed using x-ray, CAT scan, biopsy and other lung tests.  There isn’t any cure.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Claims Direct can help.  We use lawyers who are experts in making mesothelioma claims.  Call us today for a free first discussion about your claim. 

Diffuse pleural thickening

Pleural thickening happens when the lining of the lungs is scarred by asbestos fibres.  When the thickening covers a large area of this lining, it is known as diffuse pleural thickening. 

This condition leads to shortness of breath during activity but is not fatal.  It is diagnosed by x-ray and lung tests. 

If you have been diagnosed with diffuse pleural thickening, Claims Direct can help.  We use lawyers who are experts in making claims for asbestos-related diseases.  Call us today for a free first discussion about your claim.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are a scarring of the lining of the lung tissue caused by being in contact with asbestos.  They are diagnosed by x-ray but don’t normally harm the lungs or cause any symptoms. 

However, because diagnosis of pleural plaques proves you have been in contact with asbestos, many people suffer from anxiety over whether they will develop a more serious asbestos-related illness, such as mesothelioma, in the future.  In summer 2007 there will be a decision about whether you can claim compensation for pleural plaques.

If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques, Claims Direct can help.  We use lawyers who are personal injury experts and who will be able to advise you if you have a claim.  Call us today for a free first discussion about your claim.