Mesothelioma cancer affects about three thousand American families each year. Caused by exposure to toxic asbestos fibers, mesothelioma affects the respiratory system as malignant tumors grow and spread through protective organ lining. Most often found in lung lining and called pleural mesothelioma, the disease can also affect other abdominal cavity lining, in which case it is called peritoneal mesothelioma.

Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can begin a mutative process in otherwise healthy tissues. Characterized by a long latency period, typically ranging from twenty to fifty years, mesothelioma does not demonstrate symptoms until decades after original asbestos exposure. This makes early detection of mesothelioma very difficult, particularly as most mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to toxic asbestos in the first place. Malignant mesothelioma symptoms mimic those of pneumonia and bronchitis, often further postponing proper diagnosis.

Particularities of mesothelioma are not unknown to Mario De Simone, a Plymouth, Pennsylvania resident and native of Italy, whose story was covered by a recent Times Herald article.

Diagnosed in March with mesothelioma, De Simone is now home trying to rest and enjoy the time he has left with family and loved ones. De Simone is a husband, father, grandfather and sibling to three.

De Simone believes his asbestos exposure may have taken place during his employment at a steel company back in the 1970s. It wasn’t until the 1980s that asbestos regulations and workplace protection would become stringent and strictly enforced. Until then, asbestos was used heavily in manufacturing and industry in the US and other leading industrial nations. Due to mesothelioma’s latency period thousands of people suffered with the disease before the connection could be put together and steps taken to protect employees and the public.

Today, World Health Organization estimates at least twenty thousand people worldwide die of mesothelioma each year. Many cases go unrecognized and unrecorded, however, so this number is considered conservatively low. If asbestos use is not immediately halted or greatly curbed globally, ninety thousand people annually could be diagnosed with mesothelioma in the near future.

Although mesothelioma treatments exist, there is no known cure for the disease. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, often administered in combination to relieve pain and extend patient life expectancy.

The De Simone family is hosting a beef and beer fundraiser celebration in honor of Mario. Family, friends, and participating community organizations hope to make the occasion a special one for their suffering loved one.

This week Boston news articles are advertising a fundraiser and benefit for local, Kevin Morrison, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February of this year. Unlike standard mesothelioma demographics, which show almost all patients between the ages of fifty and seventy, Kevin is just twenty-one years old.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to toxic chemical asbestos. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled they can begin a mutative process in otherwise healthy cells, which leads to malignant tumor development. These tumors spread irregularly through surrounding areas without showing any external signs or symptoms for a characteristically long latency period. Mesothelioma latency periods typically last twenty to fifty years. Kevin is at the age that most patients are when they first come in contact with toxic asbestos, rather than the standard age of diagnosis, which usually follows decades later.

Asbestos was heavily mined, bought and sold around the world through the last century, particularly in countries with advancing industrial markets such as US, UK, Australia and Japan. Developing countries around the world continue to use asbestos without adequate safety precautions or protection. World Health Organization estimates global mesothelioma cases are on the rise and could quickly reach ninety thousand annually if asbestos use trends are not immediately and greatly curbed.

Preferred in manufacturing for its fire resistant and durable qualities, asbestos was used in shipbuilding, munitions and military equipment construction. Asbestos was also used as an additive in countless household items and residential construction components. Although the health hazards associated with asbestos began to be understood in the late 1900s, regulations came after decades of exposure. Thousands of individuals continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year following the characteristic latency period.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These are often administered in combination as palliative care, to focus on patient quality of life and to try to lengthen life expectancy. In standard mesothelioma cases, patient life expectancy averages just eighteen months following diagnosis.

According to local Boston news, Kevin’s health care providers have allegedly suggested alternative treatments for his case, which are not available in the Boston area. An avid athlete in high school, Kevin’s age and health may put him in a high success bracket for treatments. The specific type of mesothelioma he has been diagnosed with, peritoneal mesothelioma, has been more effectively treated in past cases than the more common plural mesothelioma, as it does not affect such primary organs like the heart and lungs.  Kevin’s family and friends are holding fundraisers to try to help his family with costs of travel, treatment and care.

The area of Swindon, UK has seen years of British Railway work in its history. Unfortunately included in the rail works was toxic chemical asbestos, which was used in components of railway engines and associated equipment. Asbestos was prevalent in Swindon area railway works and commonly handled by workers in the area.

Asbestos causes several severe respiratory illnesses, including rare cancer mesothelioma. So many cases of mesothelioma have been diagnosed in former Swindon workers that the rare cancer has gained the nickname “Swindon disease.” Sadly, current Swindon Mayor Rex Barnett is the most recent patient of “Swindon disease.”

Diagnosed earlier this year with mesothelioma, it is believed Mayor Barnett began developing the disease during his employment with British Railway in the 1950s and 1960s. Mayor Barnett worked on repairs at the time that exposed him to asbestos fibers.

Characteristically, Mayor Barnett has undergone a long latency period, during which time malignant mesothelioma tumors spread through protective organ lining in irregular web like fashion.

Mesothelioma affects a growing number of people worldwide, according to World Health Organization. Although asbestos regulations have become more and more stringent in many countries, including UK, US, Australia and Japan, dozens of developing countries continue to use the toxic material without enforced safety precautions. About twenty thousand cases are currently reported annually; health officials estimate this number will quickly rise to ninety thousand if asbestos use is not halted.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These are often administered in combination as palliative care to focus on patient quality of life and to lengthen life expectancy. Following diagnosis, mesothelioma patient life expectancy ranges from just six months to two years.

Mayor Barnett’s health care providers have recommended chemotherapy. Although he is just at the end of his term as Mayor he has decided to move ahead with treatments sooner rather than later According to the Swindon Advertiser, he says, “I don’t doubt I could delay the chemo, but I don’t want to because I want to fight this thing now. I think every day I fight it, the better off I will be – if I said I will do my final bit as mayor and the handover properly, I’m wasting my chances.”

Mayor Barnett and his wife are known and respected for the many charitable donations they made possible through fundraisers and events. Public sympathy and concern for their sad news continues to be expressed.

Inquests following three recent deaths raise concerns about safety and continued disease potential in the Bradford district, UK. Historically an industrial area, hundreds of asbestos related deaths have been reported as allegedly caused by workplace hazards in Bradford. Asbestos is known to cause rare and fatal mesothelioma cancer, as well as other severe respiratory illnesses.

Asbestos was introduced to developing industrial markets in the early nineteen hundreds. A naturally occurring substance that can be mined from the earth, asbestos was found to be durable and fire resistant. This made it a prime substance for use in insulations, construction components and any product facing consistent wear and tear. Asbestos was added to floor tiles, roofing sheets, paint, plumbing works and countless other items. Through the last century raw asbestos was mined, bought, sold and used in all major industrial markets. US, UK, Australia, Japan and other countries built their industrial empires on the back of this material. Asbestos containing materials made it into almost every structure, building, equipment and home built between the nineteen twenties and nineteen eighties.

As health threats associated with asbestos exposure began to surface, regulations for safe use were put in place in many working arenas. However, due to ignorance or negligence, many employers did not communicate asbestos health threats to their employees, or did not provide them with necessary protection. Malignant mesothelioma, characterized by a long latency period, began showing up decades after original asbestos exposure. Often, these cases were found in individuals long since retired from their work and twenty to fifty years past any asbestos contact.

Today, over six hundred thousand asbestos related lawsuits have been filed. Most of these are employees suing current or former employers for some form of negligence or intent to harm. With only one known cause of mesothelioma, it is not very difficult to find the asbestos culprit in someone’s work history.

Mesothelioma is most often found in protective lung lining, although it can affect other abdominal cavities as well. Mesothelioma is characterized by irregularly patterned tumors that grow through affected areas without showing signs or symptoms until decades after original asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.

The three deaths in connection with Bradford district were all found to be asbestos related. According to the Telegraph & Argus news, postmortems found asbestos-caused plaque in one victim; asbestos fibers in another; and the third had been advised by his doctors that he was experiencing mesothelioma symptoms.

Chairman of Bradford Asbestos Victim Support Group, Carol Deurden, said of recent findings, “We are getting more and more inquiries about mesothelioma. The national figure is rising every year and is expected to keep on rising.”