What is Mesothelioma Awareness Day?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can affect the heart and abdomen, but it is most common in the chest and lungs. Mesothelioma originates in the lining of the organs after they have come into contact with airborne asbestos particles. The layer of tissue surrounding these organs is made up of mesothelial cells, hence the name of this cancer.
In the UK alone, an average of 2,700 cases are detected each year. It is more common in men than in women as certain professions with higher rates of exposure to asbestos (e.g. construction workers) are generally male-dominated.
Currently, mesothelioma is incurable and the expected survival timeframe is between 8 to 14 months.
Despite the aggressive nature of this cancer, asbestos is not only legal, but also frequently used in the UK. Thousands of public buildings, schools, workplaces, and even hospitals still contain asbestos, meaning that countless people are at risk of accidental exposure each year.
Hundreds of thousands of UK workplaces, public buildings, schools, hospitals, and homes still contain asbestos and despite improved legislation, there are still thousands of accidental asbestos exposures every year; mostly because people are unaware of the presence of asbestos or its danger.
The day raises awareness of the disease, the dangers of asbestos exposure, and safe handling protocols. Above all, the day calls for improved legislation on the use of asbestos to reduce the incidence of mesothelioma, stressing that while this cancer is incurable, it is preventable.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of flexible fibers. For decades, it was considered a ‘miraculous’ building material because it was resistant to heat, electricity, fire, and corrosion.
Asbestos was widely used in construction in everything from insulation, cement, paper, and cloth to make these materials stronger.
Asbestos was viewed as such an effective and multipurpose material that more and more uses for it were invented for it regularly. This is why asbestos is even found in domestic ovens and boilers, both of which people come into contact with on a daily basis.
However, lung-related illnesses began to increase rapidly in the years following the asbestos boom. It was discovered that when asbestos is disturbed, the fibres are ingested and can become permanently trapped in the body. This causes significant inflammation, scarring, as well as genetic damage.
Exposure to asbestos is responsible for a range of health conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, which means that it is now classified as a Category 1 carcinogen.
Is there more than one type of mesothelioma?
Yes, there are three types of mesothelioma. All of them are extremely aggressive forms of cancer, with the main difference being the point of origin in the body.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This is the most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for around 3,000 cases each year in the United States alone. This type of mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This is the second most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for approximately 250 of the reported cases each year. It affects the lining of the abdominal organ, known as the peritoneum.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
This is the least common form of the disease. It is believed to affect 5% of all newly reported cases of this cancer each year. It originates in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Although there are some shared symptoms between the different types of mesothelioma such as chest pain and weight loss, there are also some organ-specific differences.
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Sweating
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms
- Pain in abdomen
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- Night sweats
Pericardial Mesothelioma symptoms
- Heart murmurs
- Irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
How can you prevent it?
The most effective way of preventing this cancer is to avoid ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibres, although this is often dependent on actually knowing that you may be exposed.
There are steps that you can take to reduce your exposure to asbestos fibres:
- Avoid asbestos insulation products as they can release malignant dust if disturbed.
- Wear protective gear when working with products or in buildings that may contain asbestos.
- If a home or building was constructed before the 1980s, check for asbestos before considering purchasing, renovating, or demolishing it.
- Provide medical surveillance to workers at risk of asbestos exposure.
- Ask employers about any asbestos health risks in the workplace.
- Never bring home any clothes or shoes that have been contaminated with asbestos.
In addition, the UK National Asbestos Register is a new enterprise founded to help with the management of asbestos as well as the education of those at risk of exposure. The primary goal of the register is to prevent thousands from dying due to ignorance or the negligence of employers.
For more information, please visit: Home – UKNAR