Mesothelioma – unfortunately – will be
among us for decades still.
A lengthy latency period – it can take from
20 to 50 years for this cancer to develop – means an uncertain future for
anyone previously exposed for a substantial period of time.
The Canadian Cancer Society has estimated that 500 Canadians annually are
diagnosed with mesothelioma, a trend that is unlikely to drop anytime soon. And
while progress is being made in better diagnostics and advanced, personalized
therapies, there still is no cure.
The decline of the asbestos industry has
been welcomed by medical professionals, who understand the toll it has taken. An
exposure to asbestos can cause a number of serious respiratory illnesses,
including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
There were more than 25,000 lung cancer
cases reported among Canadians in 2012, but it’s unknown how many were prompted
by asbestos exposure. The World Health Organization estimates that more than
100,000 people die each year from an asbestos-related illness.
Although the use of asbestos within Canada has
dropped dramatically in the past two decades, the mining and the exportation of
it remained strong through 2010 when 150,000 tons still were produced. An
estimated 90 percent was exported to still-developing countries, many of which
did not have the necessary regulations in place to handle it safely.
Asbestos, which once was hailed worldwide
as a wonderful resource, still is used in developing countries to strengthen,
insulate and resist heat in any type of construction. It is used as a binder in
cement and to fireproof walls and roofs. It also has a long history of being
toxic when the fibers are ingested or inhaled.
And while more than 50 countries had banned
all asbestos use, Canada internationally was criticized for its continued
production and its resistance to include the substance among those deemed
hazardous by the Rotterdam Convention.
In 2012, though, the Canadian government did
cancel its promise of a $58 million loan guarantee that would have kept the
asbestos mining industry alive. And it joined much of the international
community in labeling asbestos as hazardous.
But like everyone else worldwide, Canada
still must deal with mesothelioma, which attacks the thin lining around the
lung and abdomen. It often is not detected until it has metastasized, leaving patients
with a prognosis of six to 18 months to live.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that
mesothelioma patients have only a 7 percent chance of surviving five years. While the mines have closed, the threat of
mesothelioma remains. Buildings constructed before the mid-80s likely still are
filled with asbestos. And as they age, they become more dangerous, particularly
during renovations when the asbestos is disturbed.
Tim Povtak is a senior content writer from The Mesothelioma Center. He
previously worked for AOL and the Orlando Sentinel.
