July has
been chosen by the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance as the month of awareness of
the danger represented by mesotelioma, a rare cancer primarily caused by
exposure to asbestos.
US armed forces veterans are particularly at risk because
asbestos was once highly regarded for its heat resistance and fire-proofing
capabilities, leading to its extremely widespread employment in buildings,
combat vehicles, aircraft, ships and electric wiring insulation. Asbestos is
most dangerous when it becomes worn and damaged, flaking off and becoming
airborne: breathing asbestos is a serious health hazard. Symptoms might not
manifest until several decades after the original exposure to asbestos, and
even then mesothelioma can result complex to diagnose due to symptoms easily
mistaken for those of other, less serious respiratory conditions. When
discovered, Mesothelioma is often at an advanced stage, leaving as little as 10
months to live to many of the close to 3000 people diagnosed with the illness every
year.
It is
important that the people faced with the struggle of illness are not left
alone. Heather Von St. James, an eight year mesothelioma cancer survivor, is
now a blogger and a campaigner for the banning of asbestos in the US, where law
has still not acted, albeit thankfully its use has been curtailed from the mid-'70s
when concern for its health implications was publicly discussed. Heather and
the team of Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance are working to make their site the
best resource for patients, families, and individuals wanting to learn more
about the disease. With this post, I want
to aid their campaign, and raise awareness of the Mesothelioma danger.
You can
find more information at www.mesothelioma.com.
I hope that my voice, added to that of many others, can provide help for those
in need. Add your voice as well.
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