Mesothelioma Awareness

Mesothelioma may be a rare cancer, but thousands of people are diagnosed with it every year. That means that many more people, tens of thousands, are affected by it. Those who are diagnosed, and the people who love and care about them, are all affected by this terrible, aggressive disease. Awareness of mesothelioma is not as high as with other types of cancer that impact more people, but it is beginning to grow thanks to groups shedding light on asbestos and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma awareness is important — as is awareness of all rare or orphan diseases — because it increases funding for research, donations to charity groups, and perhaps most importantly, helps prevent illness.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos exposure is the leading risk factor for mesothelioma. This rare and aggressive cancer affects the mesothelium, a double layer of tissue that surrounds organs. The most common type of this cancer is pleural mesothelioma, affecting the tissue around the lungs. Asbestos is a natural mineral now restricted in use, but which for many years was heavily used in construction, ships, and other applications.

People who spent their careers inhaling asbestos fibers are now at the greatest risk for developing pleural mesothelioma, although not all who were exposed will get it. Asbestos fibers inhaled by workers lodge in tissues and cause damage. This can lead to illnesses like asbestosis or lung cancer, and, more rarely, mesothelioma.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma led to regulations on the use of the mineral. Since then awareness has grown and more people now know what this cancer is and about the dangers of asbestos. There is much more work to be done to raise awareness further, to raise funds for treatment research, and to prevent more people from being exposed to asbestos and developing this deadly cancer.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Assigning a day to a disease is one way to raise awareness. Groups and individuals around the country, and around the world, can use these days to educate the public about a particular disease, how it develops, how to prevent it, and to raise funds for research. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation founded Mesothelioma Awareness day in 2004 to achieve all of these goals.

The organization holds its awareness day on September 26 every year and assigned the color blue to help identify those supporting research and awareness for mesothelioma. Local groups can reach out to this national research foundation for ideas and help raising awareness. Events include community fundraisers, online awareness campaigns, and conferences on mesothelioma research. Mesothelioma Awareness Day has been officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and numerous local governments and municipalities.

Global Asbestos Awareness Week

The U.S. is not the only country affected by asbestos, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. Every first week of April, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) promotes Global Asbestos Awareness Week. In 2016 the theme of the week was “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.” The event focused on preventing asbestos exposure and related illnesses. The ADAO is based in the U.S., but strives to bring awareness of asbestos danger to the entire world.

In 2004 the ADAO used Global Asbestos Awareness Week to get twelve resolutions passed in the U.S. Senate, as well as four asbestos warnings announced by the U.S. Surgeon General. These moves helped to spread awareness about asbestos and its dangers. The group also uses the week to spearhead efforts to ban mining, manufacturing, and use of asbestos.

Miles for Meso

Another organization supports mesothelioma awareness with a fun run and walk each year. Miles for Meso events are held in Washington, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, and Florida, and organizers hope to spread the event to other locations in the future. A run like the Miles for Meso event is a popular way to both raise money and to raise awareness while also promoting health and being active. They are especially great for raising awareness at a local level and present a good opportunity for local groups and individuals to get involved in a cause they care about.

International Mesothelioma Interest Group

Organizations focused on mesothelioma awareness are not restricted to activists and individuals. Professionals and academics are also involved in these awareness groups and campaigns. The International Mesothelioma Interest Group consists of physicians, medical specialists, and scientists interested in furthering the understanding of this cancer, how it develops, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. The group meets every two years to discuss research and to raise awareness among medical professionals and researchers.

Ban Asbestos Canada

Some mesothelioma awareness groups focus on educating the public about asbestos and pushing policy makers to ban it. There are several Ban Asbestos groups, including Ban Asbestos Canada, which raises awareness about asbestos, where it is used, current regulations on asbestos, and how exposure to it can harm people. It uses awareness and educational campaigns to recruit people to help push policy toward a total asbestos ban.

All of these groups, and many more in the U.S. and in other countries, are increasing awareness of asbestos and the diseases it causes. Mesothelioma awareness helps prevent this cancer in people who are at risk. It also promotes early detection and makes people more aware if they may actually be at risk of developing mesothelioma. Awareness groups also help push policy toward more research funding and toward further bans of the use of asbestos. Awareness is powerful and can be cultivated by large international groups as well as local groups and individuals.