For most of the country, mesothelioma is a disease that they see commercials about on television. But mesothelioma’s risks are about to be portrayed in a particularly affecting way, as a new Apple TV film tells the story of a U.S. Navy pilot whose father is dying of pleural mesothelioma. As is true for so many in real life, the story explains that he was diagnosed after decades working in the San Diego shipyards, where he was exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma and the Military
The mesothelioma story told in Mayday is fictional, but the background is all too real. Throughout much of the 20th century, asbestos was a component of thousands of commercial and industrial products, and generations of workers breathed in the mineral’s deadly fibers long before the risks were widely understood. The asbestos-related illnesses that resulted are still being diagnosed today.
Mesothelioma is the deadliest of the risks that asbestos posed to service members, and every branch of the armed forces was affected. The mineral was used in military vehicles, aircraft, buildings, and equipment, and it was encountered while using, maintaining, repairing, or replacing those products, all with no idea about what they were handling or the danger they were in.
Mesothelioma Risk and the Navy
Today, veterans account for roughly one-third of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Though exposure occurred throughout the military, the risk was greatest for those who served in the U.S. Navy. Asbestos was found throughout ships and shipyards, in insulation, pipe coverings, gaskets, and valves. Sailors frequently worked in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces such as engine rooms, boiler rooms, and submarines, where loose fibers could linger in the air.
Unfortunately, many of those who suffered asbestos exposure in the military are unaware of the risk or feel that it has passed, but mesothelioma is notorious for its long latency period. The disease can develop 20 to 50 years or more after asbestos exposure, meaning a veteran diagnosed today may have encountered the mineral during service that ended decades ago.
Mesothelioma is largely a mystery to the public, which is why a film like Mayday matters. By including the disease in its story, it raises awareness of the health threat affecting countless real people whose military service or civilian jobs put them in harm’s way.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.