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Mesothelioma and the United Kingdom

As with many countries around the world, the United Kingdom has experienced health hazards surrounding the toxic mineral asbestos. The widespread use of the substance throughout much of the twentieth century has led to thousands of patients being diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition. One illness almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure is pleural mesothelioma.

In 2006, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported 2,056 cases of mesothelioma. Experts within the HSE estimate the annual total number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain have either peaked or will peak by the year 2015. Those most at risk of developing pleural mesothelioma are men, largely because of working in the shipyards and disturbing asbestos-containing materials. Other occupations in the United Kingdom that have presented an increased risk of developing an asbestos-related disease include those in the construction industry, such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians and roofers.

Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment

While no definite cure for pleural mesothelioma exists, many patients elect to undergo treatment methods that help relieve symptoms and lengthen prognosis. Such treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. For most patients though, surgery is only an option when diagnosed during the earliest stages of pleural mesothelioma development.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of medication through an IV or in pill form. The purpose of using chemotherapy drugs is to kill or control the growth of cancerous cells. Physicians may use a variety of medications to treat mesothelioma, but Alimta (Pemetrexed) has shown the most promise for patients battling this fatal cancer. Clinical trials and studies are continually being performed in the United Kingdom with the hope that researchers may one day find a cure.

Asbestos Legislation

Policies regulating the use of asbestos in the United Kingdom have been in place since the mid-1980s. The branch of government responsible for monitoring asbestos and the overall health of the United Kingdom’s workforce is the HSE. This organization is in charge of enforcing all acts pertaining to asbestos safety and researching occupational risks such as the development of pleural mesothelioma. 

In an attempt to spread awareness about pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, the British Lung Foundation and other asbestos support groups in the United Kingdom have established Action Mesothelioma Day. Beginning in 2006, the campaign is not only designed to increase awareness, but to give support and improve treatment options for those who have been affected by the disease. Action Mesothelioma Day also provides an opportunity to raise money for organizations conducting research on mesothelioma.

Sources

1. http://www.lunguk.org/you-and-your-lungs/conditions-and-diseases/mesothelioma.htm
2. http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm