SMR proteins in blood may reveal asbestos cancer risks

Mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, is one of the more aggressive forms of the disease, often leaving a sufferer with only a tragically brief period of life after the diagnosis. An earlier diagnosis would at least give a sufferer more time, and could allow doctors to try chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.

As these treatments carry risks of their own, and as not everyone who has been exposed to the potentially lethal substance develops this aggressive cancer, a test that could signify the early stages of this disease must be able to find an early sign, without giving 'false positives' - which is marking healthy individuals as having the industrial disease.

One Australian idea that may lead to a useful test for the disease involves checking the blood for levels of soluble mesothelioman related (SMR) protein in a person's blood. These proteins had previously been found in the blood of people with other forms of cancer.

An initial test in 1993 showed that 84% of the people who had mesothelioma also had raised SMR levels. More than half of those with raised SMR levels that were not suffering from mesothelioma went on to contract that disease, or a related cancer. Most tellingly, however, of those who had been exposed to the fibres and had normal SMR levels, none contracted this disease in the trial's time period.

As this was a small trial, it needs to be repeated on a larger group of people over another long time period before this can be responsibly relied upon as a test, but it is a positive sign for future sufferers.

Making a mesothelioma claim
If you have been exposed to dangerous substances as part of your job, and have developed an industrial disease as a result, YouClaim can help you claim for compensation to help make reparations.

You can discuss your situation with our knowledgeable advisors, who will not bombard you with high-pressure sales pitches or confusing jargon, but simply help you decide whether you have a good claim. If you decide to go ahead, we will find you the best no win, no fee lawyer to take your case to a successful conclusion, and guarantee that we will move as swiftly as possible to the best end for your case.

Whether you win or not, your case will be free to you, and your damages in a won case pass, in their entirety, to you. There will be no cut taken by YouClaim or your personal injury solicitor under our 100% compensation guarantee.

You can reach us for this help through our website's claim form or e-chat facilities; alternatively, you may prefer to call our free UK hotline, 0800 10 757 95. However you do so, we look forward to assisting in your asbestos compensation claim.