A Times Herald article reports of an upcoming beef and beer fundraiser to honor Plymouth Pennsylvania local, Mario De Simone. An Italy native, De Simone is a long time resident of Plymouth. Diagnosed in March with rare cancer mesothelioma, De Simone is a husband, father grandfather and sibling of four.
Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to toxic asbestos fibers, closely associated to industries and manufacturing lines prevalent in the mid-1900s. De Simone believes he may have been exposed to asbestos during his employment at a steel company in the 1970s.
Asbestos was mined, bought and sold around the world through the last century as nations building their industrial markets realized the innate qualities of the material. Asbestos is fire resistant, extremely durable and provides stabilizing qualities when added to other materials. In the US, asbestos earned the nickname, “backbone of American industry,” for its heavy use.
Mesothelioma is characterized by a latency period of twenty to fifty years. This not only makes mesothelioma difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose early, but it separates demonstrating symptoms from the cause by decades. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to disease causing asbestos. Even when health hazards of asbestos began to be understood, it was decades too late for thousand of victims.
Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These are often administered in combination as palliative care, focusing on patient quality of life and extending life expectancy. Following diagnosis, mesothelioma patient life expectancy ranges from just six months to two years.
Today, in many countries, strict regulations are in place for handling and working with asbestos. However, much of the developing world continues to use asbestos products with limited or no safety precautions.
Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can begin a mutative process in otherwise healthy lungs. As the body reacts to the invasion of these toxic fibers, pod-like tumors are formed, beginning development of cancerous masses that grow through surrounding areas. Mesothelioma is most often found in protective lung lining and is called pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and specific to protective linings of other abdominal cavities. Both types are considered fatal.
De Simone is home now from hospitalization and major treatments. With the help of a medical aid he is keeping up his medication while trying to enjoy time with friends and family.