What may seem like harmless cough could turn out to be the earliest signs of fatal mesothelioma.

Such was the case for Irving St. Claire-Matthews of the United Kingdom. Though at first the cough appeared trivial, Mary Stoodley, 64, knew it was serious when her normally active 72-year-old partner couldn't leave his bed one morning at their Southampton home.

He was admitted to the hospital last December, but a week later, St. Claire-Matthews died of mesothelioma. Ms. Stoodley, who is currently undergoing treatment for throat cancer, could not understand why teetotal non-smoking Irving had died so quickly, having been "fit as a fiddle" only days before. An inquest explained that he had worked for British Rail for 17 years until being made redundant in 1989; he undoubtedly handled asbestos during his time of employment.

Ms. Stoodley is seeking legal action "in the hope that they take some responsibility. There appears to be so many people that have had a problem and companies have a duty of care to their workers." Read more here.