Asbestosis is a commonly prescribed term to describe Asbestos disease. However it is important to properly establish the correct diagnosis.
Asbestosis develops as a result of long term heavy exposure to Asbestos. It can develop after at least one year of heavy exposure or five to ten years of intermittent exposure.

Symptoms include progressive shortness of breath, possible clubbing of the finger tips and abnormal chest sounds (known as basal crackles).

Many people think they are diagnosed with Asbestosis but only those with a large Asbestos dose may develop this condition.

The Disease

Asbestosis is a fibrosis of the lungs. This fibrosis breaks down the blood cells and inflames and irreversibly scars the lungs.

The affects of the exposure to Asbestos do not tend to appear for many years, often between 25 to 40 years after exposure. The main symptoms are shortness of breath, tiredness, coughs, chest tightness and chest pain.

A diagnosis of this condition is made on a history of a large dose of exposure, chest x-rays or scans confirming fibrosis and lung function tests. If these prove Asbestosis then we can make a claim.

There is no treatment nor cure for Asbestosis. Patients may be prescribed medication to relieve symptoms and improve breathing. Severe sufferers may be given oxygen either at home, for when they are out or both. Some drugs such as Nintedanib are being prescribed in some areas for fibrotic diseases of the lung. We can help advise you about this.

Asbestosis (if proved) can attract significant sums in compensation. A very careful review of your medical and full working history will be needed. The condition can attract compensation for the care you might need or equipment to make your life easier.

For more information, call us today on 0800 083 7839 for free, confidential and friendly advice.

Asbestos Pleural Thickening and Pleural Plaques are often confused. Pleural Thickening is a singular disease. The diagnosis and possibility of a claim means you need clear and honest advice.

Asbestos Pleural thickening is sometimes difficult to diagnose. The lung is covered with a thin membrane called the Visceral Pleura. A similar membrane lines the rib cage and is called the Parietal Pleura. Where a worker has been exposed to Asbestos the fibres may move out to the pleura. This can cause inflammation, scarring and other damage. This affects how elastic the lungs are when you breathe in or out. This can affect you when you are exerting yourself.

Treating doctors often use the term Pleural Plaques and Pleural Thickening interchangeably. Diffuse Pleural Thickening may attract compensation particularly where you can show that the thickening affects at least 50% of one lung or 25% of both lungs.

This criteria is also applied if you are to make a claim under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme (D9 for Pleural Thickening). It can be the case that if you succeed in a claim for benefit then a claim for compensation may prove fruitful. Follow this link here about claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

How is Pleural thickening found and proved?

Investigation is by x-ray or scan, a careful review of your lung function and consideration of other conditions. Pleural Thickening may be left as a result of a Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism or irritation of the lung lining due to the Asbestos damage.

We have specialist solicitors and a panel of medical experts who can get to the bottom of whether you have a claim for compensation or benefits – or both.

What do you need to do?

Firstly get to the bottom of your medical situation. Ask for copies of any x ray or CT scan reports. We can check the language and what the reports mean. If you have had lung function tests ask for them as well. They will be important.

At Corries we are happy to look at your documents on a FREE no obligation basis. If we can help you we will. If you cannot make a claim right now then we will tell you. You may be able to go on our Pleural Plaque register

Our firm has great experience in winning claims for Pleural Thickening. These cases can be hard fought but we always do our best. If you have pleural thickening then you might be able to get compensation for the care you may need. We can also claim for equipment such as Electric Scooters that might need to make your life easier.

For more information, call us today on 0800 083 7839 for free, confidential and friendly advice.

Asbestos Pleural Plaques are the most common disease resulting from exposure to Asbestos. They cause no symptoms but are a marker for future disease.

What are Asbestos Pleural Plaques?

Pleural Plaques are scarring of the membranes surrounding the lung and the rib cage. These are due to Asbestos exposure. Where Asbestos has been breathed in it migrates through the lung leaving a residue. This can be on the visceral pleura (which surrounds the lung) or the parietal pleura (which protects the rib cage).

Over a course of time the Pleural Plaques may cause fibrosis or scarring or localised thickening or calcification.

Pleural Plaques rarely causes symptoms.

Pleural Plaques do not go onto develop into progressive Asbestos disease. They are a marker of and a potential indicator of future disabling Asbestos disease.

If diagnosed with Pleural Plaques it is important you are aware of the potential implications. Many people will have Pleural Plaques but are not aware of them.

People with Pleural Plaques can have genuine anxiety and fear about what the future may bring. Your treating doctor can help you with this. We are specialists in keeping our Pleural plaque register to help plaques victims and to help secure their future should the worse happen.

Can you get compensation for pleural plaques?

Since January 2006 compensation for Pleural Plaques has stopped. it is unlikely to be re introduced although those in Scotland and Northern Ireland may still claim for this condition.

A limited Ministry of Justice scheme paid compensation in 2010 but this has now closed.

What should I do if I have been diagnosed with pleural plaques?

In most cases people with Pleural Plaques will have no current claim for compensation. Please click right here to the section on Pleural Thickening for further information.

However, the use of the term Pleural Plaques and Pleural Thickening can be confused. You should check with your doctor whether you have Pleural Thickening. Find out if it is is affecting a significant portion of your lung. If so, your case may need investigation.

Click right here to look at our FREE pleural plaque register. The service is FREE and may give you and your loved ones some peace of mind.

For more information, call us today on 0800 083 7839 for free, confidential and friendly advice.

Lung Cancer affects about 40,000 people in the UK. It is thought that as many as 10% of those diagnosed could have Asbestos related lung cancer.

Smokers who develop this condition are often reluctant to make a compensation claim. Medical evidence shows that those with a history of significant exposure to Asbestos are much more likely than non smokers to develop Asbestos lung cancer. The affects of smoking and lung cancer multiply the risks rather than add to each other.

The risks of developing cancer for a smoker are 10:1. If you are exposed to a large dose of asbestos then the risk of generally 5:1. Having these two toxins in your body means that the risks multiply each other rather than add to each other. This means a person with asbestos exposure who smokes has a far higher risk than most others.

For a claim for lung cancer we need to show that the exposure to asbestos more than doubled the risk of the cancer developing. This is not easy. It means we have to carefully assess your working life and exposure to asbestos. Experts might be needed to help us.

Corries have many years experience in making successful claims for Asbestos lung cancer. We have dedicated Solicitors to deal with such claims.

For more information, call us today on 0800 083 7839 for free, confidential and friendly advice.

Mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the membranes around the lung and rib cage. It is a fatal condition. It requires skilled advice from your medical team and Solicitor.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that normally affects the lining of the lung, abdomen or the pericardium.

Asbestos is the largest known cause of Mesothelioma. There is no cure for Mesothelioma. Developments in radio and chemotherapy have extended life expectancy. Progress with immunotherapy is continuing and may provide exciting future prospects for mesothelioma victims.

Mesothelioma typically develops at least 10 years after and up to 50 to 70 years after exposure.

Your claim for Mesothelioma needs to be handled by a specialist Solicitor with experience in dealing with claims for the conditions. They must be familiar with the Court system to try and secure compensation as quickly as possible.

Many Mesothelioma victims wish to resolve matters during their lifetime. We always do our best to ensure that the victims wishes are honoured. All Mesothelioma victims will be home visited and we will do all we can to fast-track your claim to settlement as quickly as possible.

Where possible we will ask for monies to be paid to cover expenses during your lifetime.

For more information, call us today on 0800 083 7839 for free, confidential and friendly advice.

If you require further technical information on mesothelioma then please click here.