CANCER CARERS SUPPORT

Mesothelioma – The largest Man Made Epidemic   

Article written by Lorraine Kember

Author of Lean on Me-Cancer through a Carer's Eyes A true Mesothelioma story 

It is documented that Australia had the highest per capita use of asbestos in the world from the 1950’s until the 1970’s.  As a tragic consequence, Australia now has the highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma in the world.  With more than 500 Australians contracting mesothelioma per year, it is estimated that up to 18,000 Australians will die from this asbestos related cancer by the year 2020.

Despite the growing awareness of the dangers of asbestos, there are many people who have not heard of Mesothelioma.  This asbestos related cancer is defined as: a malignant spreading tumor of the mesothelium of the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum, arising form the inhalation of asbestos fibers. 

One of the most baffling and frightening known facts concerning Mesothelioma is that many years may pass, between inhalation of asbestos dust and its deadly legacy of disease;  it is not uncommon for four decades or more to pass before symptoms due to asbestos dust inhalation become apparent.

In November 2004, I was an invited speaker at the Global Asbestos Congress 2004, held in Tokyo Japan.  Over 800 participants from 40 countries around the world were in attendance. To be a part of such a large gathering of fellow humans, united in a quest to rid the poison of asbestos from our environments was an intensely moving experience.  Having lost my husband to mesothelioma I know first hand the suffering this cruel disease places on its innocent victims. 

There were many speakers and each told a tale, of pain, death and heartache.  We listened, we understood and we ached for the past, present and future victims of the killer asbestos and its legacy of mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.  We listened and we were shocked and angered to learn that despite the growing awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the increasing incidence of asbestos related disease, there remains some countries who are mining asbestos with little or no regard for their workers or people who will come into contact with asbestos products.

 Asbestos disease Association member’s world wide are working tirelessly and fighting almost insurmountable odds to ban asbestos from all countries of the world.  It is a sobering and frightening fact, that even if we were successful in this quest, the legacy of asbestos related diseases will continue for five decades.

Mesothelioma - A Time Bomb in Waiting

Tragically the word mesothelioma is becoming more and more well known.  The mere mention of it striking fear into all of us, for we know that it is associated with death.  Asbestos is the reaper, mesothelioma its hand maiden. 

Asbestos, the wonder product of the fifties is now recognized as an enemy of the twentieth century, a ruthless enemy which will kill more people than a war.  Men, women and children will fall victim to its prey, innocents who have at some time in their lives inhaled asbestos dust. 

Most of us have been in contact with products containing asbestos in our life times.  We sat in asbestos class rooms, stood beside our fathers as they cut asbestos fencing, pulled up old linoleum with asbestos clogged to the back of it.  Visited the local tip where broken sheets of it lay open to the wind.

Records show that there is higher incidence of asbestosis and mesothelioma, amongst those who have directly worked in asbestos mines, ship yards and companies making products from asbestos; however there are a large number of people afflicted, who have never worked in these industries. Many women have succumbed to the disease simply because they shook the dust off their husband’s clothes before putting them in the wash.  Children innocently playing in their own back yards inhaled the deadly dust; they had no way of knowing that their sand was deadly asbestos blue. A good bath at the end of the day may have removed the dust from the skin but the dust in the lungs remained and would lay dormant for many years before claiming its deadly legacy.

Natural disasters such as 911 will also impact heavily on the number of those who will suffer from asbestos related disease at some time in the future.  When buildings containing asbestos crumble, asbestos fibers rise with the dust into our environment and are inhaled into the lungs of many. There is no way of knowing when asbestosis or mesothelioma will strike.  It is a living time bomb.

Without warning, a healthy individual suddenly becomes short of breath, x-rays reveal fluid on the lungs and the night mare begins.  Questions are asked and increasingly the answer is Yes, I was exposed to asbestos dust but only for a short time, over 40 years ago.  How can this be? This is the most perplexing thing about mesothelioma.  Why is there such a long period of time between inhalation of asbestos dust and onset of the disease?  What triggers a strong healthy body to suddenly succumb to it?  What can we do to prevent this from happening?

Blood tests are now available to determine whether mesothelioma is present in the body, before a person is aware of any symptoms.  This is an amazing breakthrough and perhaps the first step towards curing the disease before it becomes terminal.  Recently mesothelioma was cured in a mouse and attempts to give it back to the mouse were unsuccessful.  This too is exciting news and holds a glimmer of hope for us all. 

Article written by Lorraine Kember; Author of “Lean on Me” Cancer through a Carer’s eyes - A true account of her husband's courageous battle with mesothelioma and of her emotional journey as she cares for him and improves the quality of his life.