Today is World Cancer Day, sponsored by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and supported by the American Cancer Society. Cancer is the leading cause of death around the world, and lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in both men and women. Some types of lung cancer could be completely avoided if toxins were not introduced to the body. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is one of those types of lung cancer that could have been avoided, as it is primarily linked with asbestos, a naturally occurring yet carcinogenic mineral.
Sadly, about 3000 people a year in the United States alone are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of internal organs that has no cure. What even more sad is that mesothelioma could have been completely prevented if the companies that manufactured, sold and distributed ( in others words made a lot of money off of) asbestos had revealed what they knew or at least warned employees and put warnings on products made with asbestos. Evidence from as early as the 1930’s showed that exposure to asbestos caused serious illnesses, including fatal forms of cancer. Yet companies did nothing to adequately inform, protect or prevent harmful exposure to millions across the globe.
Asbestos use was regulated in the United States in the early 1980’s, yet exposure still continues. One, there are still thousands of asbestos containing products in buildings, ships, cars that were made before the restrictions. Two, Canada is still exporting a form of asbestos called chrysotile. And, three, many developing countries are still using asbestos, without giving warnings or taking precautions to prevent dangerous exposure.
So…what does this have to do with World Cancer Day??? There are many ways that one can support ending cancer worldwide, including mesothelioma, through the ACS and UICC. Today, at sunset, the Empire State Building in New York will be illuminated in orange and blue lights to mark World Cancer Day and show tribute to the millions whose lives are affected by cancer and other non-communicable diseases. You can join people all over the world who are committed to lower the cancer burden in any number of ways by checking out the resource or event section of the UCIC website: http://www.worldcancerday.org/wcd-resources.
On September 19 and 20, the United Nations Summit will meet to discuss and come up with ways to respond to threats that continue to cause cancer and other disease, especially preventable threats. One way to get involved is through making your voice heard and stories known and asking the UN to add chrysotile asbestos to the United Nations Watch List (read our recent article Asbestos Kills Yet Key Stakeholders Block from Global Blacklist)
Join global efforts to end cancer, and especially mesothelioma – a cancer so preventable if enough voices protested the continued use of asbestos and if the people at risk of being exposed who were warned and protected. We ask that you do something, anything. We see our clients suffer from this disease every day, and although we are dedicated to successfully fighting mesothelioma lawsuits to help them get financial help for treatment and for their families, our greatest hope is that measures be taken so no one else is ever exposed.
This entry was posted on Friday, February 4th, 2011 at 6:02 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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