Case study 1: 'My illness will only get worse'

Published on Tuesday 12 April 2011 18:19

George O'Donnell, 79, was diagnosed with pleural plaques two years ago. Since then he has developed incurable mesothelioma.

Despite being fit and active, a life-time of working in the building trade in Glasgow exposed him to asbestos for decades, but it was not until 2009 that he was diagnosed with the effects of it.

His daughter, Elaine Darling, 54, said: "He was never made aware of the dangers of asbestos. They didn't have health and safety the way we do now. A lot of his work was pulling down tenement buildings and working on the roofs, where there was asbestos you didn't know about.

"It's been hard seeing how the mesothelioma has affected my dad, seeing him lose weight and getting thinner about the face. It's frightening how quickly something that has been inside him for years can take effect."

Mr O'Donnell said: "I attended the Beatson (cancer centre] and went through chemotherapy but then they told me I had mesothelioma. They said there was nothing more they could do for me and that my condition would just get worse.

"That's very hard to take but you just have to accept it."