Hello everyone! My publicist, Sebastian Starcevic, has agreed to guest post this for me, as I didn’t have any time to do so myself since it required research. Even so, I did promise to have this post for Cameron Von St. James, so here it is! Although it is no longer Mesothelioma Awareness Day, it is still important to spread word about this aggressive form of cancer. The woman depicted below is a survivor of it.
Mesothelioma. It’s difficult enough to say out loud, but what about treating the disease? It’s not easy. In fact, there isn’t even a reliable cure. Surgery and chemotherapy or radiation therapy might improve the prognosis, but with only about 2500 – 3000 people diagnosed in the United States every year, it’s extremely hard to find evidence-based statistics.
What is it?
An aggressive cancer affecting the lungs, mesothelioma is the most deadly out of all the asbestos-related diseases. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, and is mostly documented in working class men, though women and children are still affected, and could be in danger of secondary exposure – e.g. asbestos sticking to clothes.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may include chest pain, chronic cough, and coughing up blood. A body imaging scan, such as MRI, CT or PET, is necessary to diagnose the disease.
Want to help?
September 26 was Mesothelioma Awareness Day, but you can still spread awareness about the crippling disease by sharing this post, telling friends and requesting an info pack at: www.mesothelioma.com.
We were asked by a caregiver and staunch supporter to be a voice for victims of mesothelioma. Our hearts go out to people affected by this disease.
–Sebastian Starcevic
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