Action Mesothelioma Day – 6 July 2018

Action Mesothelioma Day is held every year in the UK to increase awareness of asbestos-related illnesses and the dangers of asbestos exposure and pay tribute to all those people suffering with the mesothelioma cancer.

The UK has the world’s highest incidence with more than 2,700 people diagnosed with mesothelioma each year and this number is increasing. The rising number of patients is directly linked to the UK’s continued import and use of asbestos into the late 1990s.

More than 2,500 people die each year from mesothelioma in England and Wales alone.

The Health and Safety Executive predicts that there will continue to be around 2,500 mesothelioma deaths each year until the end of the decade with many thousands more deaths in the future .

Further information about events around the country supporting Action Mesothelioma Day can be found at

http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/events/meso-uk-action-mesothelioma-day/

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a particular form of tumour almost always associated with exposure to asbestos. It has been recognised by the medical profession since the 1960s.

Even relatively low exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma. You do not have to first suffer from asbestosis in order to get mesothelioma. It also has no connection with cigarette smoking.

Causes

It is caused when fine asbestos fibres become lodged in the tissues of the body after they have been inhaled (or ingested). They then cause inflammation as the body tries to break down the almost indestructible fibres. The body’s defence mechanisms try to break down the fibres but sometimes the “mesothelial cells” in the body become abnormal and develop into tumours.

Tumours can occur on the lining of the lung which is known as the “pleura” (a thin, transparent membrane that covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest walls).

Alternatively, tumours sometimes appear on a similar lining between your bowel and the abdominal and pelvic cavities that is known as the “peritoneum”.

Any exposure to asbestos carries a lifetime risk of mesothelioma. There is no cure for mesothelioma. Research continues to be funded by charities such as Mesothelioma UK and the British Lung Foundation.

Pleural Mesothelioma – Symptoms

Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pains, lower back pains, persistent coughing, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite or difficulty in swallowing. At first a person with mesothelioma may be breathless only during heavy exertion, but as lung function drops, sufferers can become short of breath even while resting. The mesothelioma may also be accompanied by pleural thickening and/or pleural effusion.

As the disease progresses the tumour spreads by direct invasion of surrounding tissue. Inward growth of the tumour can compress the lungs. As the tumour spreads outward it can invade the chest wall and ribs, and this can be extremely painful.

For more information and for a free consultation, please contact us on 0191 5656308 or 08007313982

Or visit our website for more information:

https://www.thompsonandco-solicitors.co.uk/asbestos-claims-mesothelioma/mesothelioma-compensation-claims/

Support Groups

Support groups provide a vital opportunity not only for those suffering this disease to share experiences but also for their families and carers so that they can gain an understanding of the illness, treatment options and likely future needs.

Local support groups can address the needs of patients, provide them with help when needed, offer companionship and organise social activities.

Asbestos Disease Support Groups in the North East of England

 

Both groups below are social and informal for all whose lives have been affected by mesothelioma while providing information and support to sufferers and their families.

North Tyneside

 

Name		North Tyneside Support Group
Telephone		0191 257 5448 – Linda Scott
Frequency		Last Friday of each month (excluding August and December) 11am – 1pm
Venue		Walkerville Community Centre, Pinewood Close, Walkerville, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 4SZ

South Tyneside

 

Name		South Tyneside Support Group
Telephone		0191 415 1460 – Ray Turnbull
Frequency		First Thursday of each month 10.30am – 12.30pm
Venue		Woodbridge Gardens, Oxclose Road, Washington, NE38 7NZ

Darlington & Morpeth

 

Name		Paul Readhead Asbestos Support and Awareness Group (PRASAG)
Telephone		Samantha – 07929 391 529
Email		enquiries@prasag.co.uk
Website		www.prasag.co.uk
Services		Support groups for people with mesothelioma/asbestos related disease and their carers, set up with regional Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist An opportunity to share information on issues relating to mesothelioma including symptoms, treatments and practical advice. Sessions are free of charge and refreshments are provided. Home visits also available.
Venues		Blackwell Grange, Darlington, DL3 8QH, Held the first Tuesday of each month from 11am – 1pm Morpeth Golf Club, Morpeth, NE61 2BT, Held the second Tuesday of each 11am – 1pm