Tony’s story: pulmonary fibrosis isn’t always idiopathic

Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating condition that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

Thousands of Australians are diagnosed each year, yet very few look for answers once their condition is labelled idiopathic, meaning the cause is classified as unknown.

Pulmonary fibrosis is an irreversible lung disease that causes scarring and thickening of tissue in the lungs. The scarring makes the lungs stiff, leading to difficulty breathing, fatigue, and a reduced ability to absorb oxygen efficiently.

The diagnosis can come as quite a shock, especially when the cause isn’t all that obvious. Workers in industries like construction, firefighting, or shipyards may suspect their lung disease is linked to their work, but for others, that connection is far less apparent.

This Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, our client Tony is sharing his story to encourage others to ask the right questions, consider whether their past exposure to dust or fumes could be the hidden cause of their pulmonary fibrosis, and seek the support they deserve.

Diagnosing the invisible risk

Tony McCarthy never imagined his career as an architect would one day lead to a life-altering disease.

Aside from bushwalking, architecture was his passion. He loved the creativity and freedom it offered, and he was good at it. Designing gave him a sense of purpose that defined his career.

But in 2021, Tony started noticing signs that something wasn’t right: a persistent cough that wouldn’t go away, unexplained fatigue, and shortness of breath on even minor inclines during his bushwalks.

Concerned, he turned to his GP for advice, who referred him to a lung specialist.

“The lung specialist ordered a series of tests. The tests revealed scarring on my lungs, which turned out to be pulmonary fibrosis,” says Tony, recalling the moment he finally understood what had been affecting his health.

Initially, Tony’s condition was labelled as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. But after a thorough review of his work history, his lung specialist determined the real cause: years of asbestos exposure during his time on construction sites as an architect. It was at this time that his condition was labelled as asbestosis.

“I was unaware that asbestos exposure could have caused my problem,” says Tony.

Sometimes, it’s microscopic fibres in the air and because we can’t see them, because they don’t leave a mark right away, we don’t think to question it.   

“In architecture, you see the physical risks like, ‘Am I going to fall down that hole? Fall out that window at a multistorey building?’ But I never considered that there was a chemical danger for me,” says Tony.

Legal support when you need it most

Tony turned to Maurice Blackburn for support. Because of our experience with asbestos-related disease claims, we understood what it took to help Tony in his most vulnerable state.

Many Australians like Tony have worked in industries where asbestos exposure was common, but the dangers weren’t known to them at the time.

Dust-related lung diseases can take anywhere from 15 to 50 years to develop from the date of exposure. Symptoms often don’t appear until sufferers are retired and are easily mistaken for the normal effects of aging.

If you’ve been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and have a history of exposure to asbestos, welding fumes or inorganic dust, it's essential to get legal advice to help you understand your rights and options. Our experienced asbestos-related disease lawyers can assess your situation and guide you through the process to secure the compensation you may be entitled to.

“You should contact Maurice Blackburn to discuss your potential entitlements,” urges Tony.

We offer free initial consultations where we can advise you on your potential rights and entitlements to compensation. There’s no obligation to go ahead after this consultation, but if you decide you want to pursue a claim, we'll represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis.

Don’t ignore the signs. Contact us today.