Mesothelioma victim John Pearson works to spread awareness about the fatal cancer and its cause, asbestos. Pearson, 57, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in the midst of an active and healthy life. Now, he wants to tell others how this disease can be avoided.
In a July 5th article in The Star, Pearson says, “Action Mesothelioma Day is very important for raising awareness of asbestos-related diseases. I want to make as many people as possible aware of the dangers of asbestos and the impact it can have on people’s lives.
“After years of living with no effects, the illness can come on very quickly – it’s been a frightening and life-changing experience.”
Action Mesothelioma Day is set aside annually in Britain to celebrate and remember the lives lost to mesothelioma and to raise awareness about the disease for the public.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring chemical classified as a Type 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Pearson was allegedly exposed to asbestos during his employment at a South Yorkshire steelworks plant between the 1970s and 1980s.
Pearson says in The Star article, “It’s been over 30 years since I was exposed to asbestos, and since then I have continued to work hard and live life to the full with my wife. I loved cycling and walking – not only was it enjoyable but it also kept me fit. Thanks to my condition I struggle to do any of those things any more.”
Pearson experienced a characteristic mesothelioma latency period. Often, mesothelioma patients have no idea they are developing cancer during a twenty to fifty year stretch between original asbestos exposure and symptom demonstration. This latency period, and symptoms that mimic those of bronchitis or pneumonia, make mesothelioma a challenge to diagnose.
The last century saw asbestos nicknamed the “backbone of industry” and industrial growth spread the toxic material through residential, commercial, military and consumer arenas worldwide. Now, decades later those components have begun to break down, releasing asbestos fibers in the most unexpected places. Not only are victims coming out of industrial backgrounds, like Pearson, but also teachers, shopkeepers and homemakers have added to the list of mesothelioma patients.
Irwin Mitchell law firm’s Adrian Budgen commented on these global changes in the recent article in The Star. He said, “Asbestos has long been associated with heavy industry but sadly we are seeing an increasing number of people from other sectors – such as health and education – falling victim to diseases like mesothelioma.
“Over the years, as asbestos-containing materials began to deteriorate and crumble, many UK workers were inhaling the lethal fibres as they went about their daily tasks, completely unaware of the dangers they were facing, putting them at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
“The rising numbers of white- collar workers who are going on to suffer from mesothelioma highlights the need for a proper record of which public buildings – whether they are council offices, hospitals or schools – contain asbestos to prevent future, needless tragedies.”