Mesothelioma: Why Spreading Awareness Is Important
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
is only two short weeks away, on September 26. In the run-up to that
day, the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance is reaching out to a number of
partners – including patients, survivors, doctors, researchers,
advocates, and others – to get their thoughts about the issues
surrounding mesothelioma and what we can do about it.
The first question we asked was what is one thing people should know about mesothelioma? For today’s question, we reached out to some experts to find out something new:
Why is spreading awareness about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos so important?
Linda Reinstein
President & CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
Our
family and countless other families have learned about asbestos-caused
diseases the painful way, and without education, more and more families
will be faced with the same tragic lesson. While promising research
continues, preventing asbestos exposure remains the only cure for
mesothelioma.
Dr. Arthur Frank
Professor
of Public Health and Chair Emeritus of the Dept. of Environmental and
Occupational Health at Drexel University School of Public Health
It
is important that people know about the hazards of asbestos and its
ability to cause mesothelioma so that actions can be taken to minimize
exposure to this toxic and dangerous material.
Dr. Raja Flores
Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Spreading
awareness is very important because everyone needs to know the
potential harms that are surrounding them. In addition, they need to
know how to avoid exposing themselves to these harms. If there has
already been exposure and cancer is detected early, there is a better
chance for longer survival and less extensive surgery.
How You Can Spread Awareness
Throughout
the month of September, you can spread awareness about mesothelioma and
the dangers of asbestos exposure by sharing information on social
media, blogs, web forums, and by word of mouth!
To learn more about what you can do to help spread mesothelioma awareness, see our Mesothelioma Awareness Day page. There you will find:
- Facts and figures about mesothelioma and asbestos to share with your family, friends, co-workers, and other acquaintances
- An easy way to share information via social media
- An opportunity to read the story of Heather Von St. James, a 10-year+ mesothelioma survivor who has inspired and advocated for countless others during their own diagnosis and treatment
- Links to partner organizations that are working to bring more funding, research, and legislation to reduce and remove the dangers of asbestos exposure.
