Worker Diagnosed With Asbestos Related Cancer In Search For Ex-Colleagues
Asbestos Related Cancer
15/08/2008
Retired Irlam steelworker, Gordon Norton, who has been diagnosed with the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer, is appealing to past colleagues to come forward and help him in his battle for compensation.
Gordon, who is 75 and lives in Cadishead, Manchester, came into contact with asbestos whilst working at the British Steel works on Cooper Road in Irlam in the 1950s and 1960s. He believes that this is the reason he has developed mesothelioma.
At the age of 17, Gordon worked as an 'improver' at the steelworks and then when he turned 21, moved into the furnaces, and can remember asbestos lagging on the pipework.
Gordon has been told by doctors that there is a long delay between breathing in asbestos dust and developing lung disease – the gap can be as long as 50 years in some cases.
Gordon, who has also suffered with lymphoma, lost his wife Winifred eight years ago, and is now being treated at Christie's and Hope Hospital and is being looked after by his grown up children.
Geraldine Coombs, from the Manchester office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, is representing Mr Norton in his legal battle. She said: "We would like to hear from anyone who worked at the steelworks on Cooper Road and remembers asbestos there.
"Gordon thought he had beaten cancer once. Now he has been diagnosed with another type of cancer. It is a lot to bear. We believe that Gordon breathed in asbestos dust at the steelworks and we think that this is what caused his mesothelioma. Pipework within the steelworks was insulated with asbestos lagging.
She added: "Gordon is very ill and is not sure how much time he has left. So we are appealing to anyone with information about asbestos at the steelworks to please come forward to help."
2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelium which surrounds much of the bodies vital organs including the lungs, each year. It is an invariably fatal cancer and does not respond well to treatment. Over 90% of cases of mesothelioma are caused by known asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma deaths continue to rise each year. The number of deaths is expected to peak at up to 2,500 deaths per year over the next 10 years.
If you can help with information about the steelworks on Cooper Road, please contact Geraldine Coombs at Irwin Mitchell on 0161 838 3059 or email Geraldine.coombs@irwinmitchell.com.