June 13th, 2007

A UK man suffering from mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is fighting for compensation of up to two hundred thousand pounds (around four hundred thousand dollars). The seventy-three year-old man has been diagnosed with the cancer, which can reduce the lifespan of the sufferer to a matter of months in some cases.

The man from Blackburn in the UK is claiming damages from RWE NPower. He worked for the company between 1965 and 1986 as a rigger and electrician's mate. It is here that he claims to have been exposed to the asbestos that has resulted in the deadly cancer.

Mr. Ford developed symptoms earlier in 2006 and was diagnosed with the cancer in September of the same year. According to reports he can only walk ten or fifteen meters as a result of his cancer. Many lawsuits have been filed in the UK over asbestos exposure over recent years.

Asbestos is a potentially deadly substance, and exposure to asbestos dust and fibers can result in a range of health problems including scarring of the lungs, respiratory problems, and the cancer known as mesothelioma, which can affect the heart, lungs, or abdominal region.