During the first week of April, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) will observe Asbestos Awareness Week while raising awareness of the deep damage inflicted by asbestos’ use and the overdue need for life-saving treatments and a cure for those who have already developed, or who will develop, mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. The latency period between asbestos exposure and development of mesothelioma ranges between 20 – 50 years, meaning that patients of today were exposed decades ago, but also that patients of tomorrow have likely already been exposed.
Medical experts consider mesothelioma as one of the most aggressive and deadly of all cancers. With a 5-year survival rate in the single digits, mesothelioma currently has no cure. Approximately 3,500 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year and an estimated one-third were exposed while serving in the Navy or working in shipyards.
Asbestos, a catch-all term to describe a group of naturally-occurring mineral fibers, was used in construction for decades. Workers in a number of industries and occupations were regularly exposed to high amounts of asbestos fibers. Although, the United States has placed heavy regulations on its use, asbestos has still not been completely banned and continues to be used.
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that asbestos is still present in tens of millions of homes, government buildings, schools, etc. Asbestos has also been found naturally-occurring in the soil in several locations in the United States, sometimes in very close proximity to inhabited areas. When disturbed, asbestos particles become airborne and are easily inhaled. Scientists have identified that no amount of exposure is safe.
“Unfortunately, asbestos’ prevalence has put all of us at risk,” said Mary Hesdorffer, nurse practitioner and executive director of the Meso Foundation.
“Given the extremely long latency period for developing mesothelioma, for thousands of Americans, the damage has already been done — the asbestos has been inhaled. Now it is our responsibility to invest in prevention research and to make sure that if they develop mesothelioma, life-saving treatments and a cure are waiting for them,” added Ms. Hesdorffer.
The Meso Foundation is the only non-government funder of peer-reviewed scientific research focused on prevention, early detection, development of effective treatments, and, ultimately, a cure for this extremely aggressive cancer. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $8.7 million to research. More information is available at https://www.curemeso.org.
