A friend from my early survivorship days -- another physician and lymphoma survivor -- is dealing with a new problem: mesothelioma. Mesotheli-what?
Mesothelioma is relatively rare, occuring in only 2,500-3,000 Americans per year, according to the leading resource for online information about asbestos and mesothelioma, Asbestos.com. But because the incidence is expected to rise and is incurable if diagnosed late (as is usually the case), I am blogging about this disease with hope of raising awareness that could:
- lead readers to avoid exposure to asbestos or other modifiable risk factors.
- help readers get timely attention for symptoms (in them or their loved ones) that might signal mesothelioma, and thus increase the chance of the disease being diagnosed at an earlier, more treatable stage.
The Asbestos.com website features up-to-date information on asbestos, mesothelioma, and other cancers that are caused by or linked to asbestos exposure (lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.). This valuable resource explains in simple language:
- diagnosis and evaluation
- risk factors
- treatment options, including alternative treatments
- available support for military veterans who were exposed to asbestos while on duty
- legal issues regarding mesothelioma
- information on lawyers who specialize in asbestos-related disease
I'm blogging about this specific site because I'm impressed with its balanced presentation of alternative therapies and because it has HON approval.
"What's that?" you ask. Stay tuned!
A good friend's father worked in asbestos removal before there was good protection and died from that. Her brothers followed him in the same line of work because the pay was good. They are OK but she worries about them.
Posted by: Ronni Gordon | July 30, 2010 at 11:17 AM