Wendi found this collection of 1950’s era asbestos industry promotional films. They tout the “amazing” properties of this “miracle mineral”. It’s strong, tough, fireproof, water-resistant, doesn’t rot or decay.

However, what they fail to mention is that there is no safe level of asbestos. It merely takes one microscopic fiber to embed itself in your lungs to create serious and lasting health risks. The incredible health risks associated with asbestos exposure were widely known at the time these films were made.

The 1934 Aetna Insurance’s Attorney’s Textbook of Medicine devotes a full chapter to asbestos exposure, noting that asbestosis was ‘incurable’ and usually results in disability followed by death.

Also, here is a 1949 internal Exxon memo marked ‘Company Confidential’ which documents lung cancer caused by asbestos.

Probably one of the most discouraging things about Mesothelioma is the fact that it is hard to diagnose and hard to treat. The diagnosis for most meso patients is bleak. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, it’s often advanced. Most patients only live for a year, maybe two, after being diagnosed.

This is a cancer that has a really long incubation period, with the time between first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma ranging from 20 and 50 years. Even scarier, the American Cancer Society (ACS ) says that the risk of mesothelioma DOES NOT DROP with time after exposure to asbestos. The risk appears to be lifelong and undiminished.

As a result, most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are older. The ACS says about three-fourths of people diagnosed are over 65 years old. They may already be weak from symptoms of the disease, or unable to tolerate aggressive therapies.

Of course, it’s now known that exposure to asbestos is the main reason for the development of mesothelioma, and also asbestosis (formation of scar tissue in the lungs) and adenocarcinoma, another form of the asbestos-related cancer. The highest risk group seems to be people who were exposed to asbestos through their work. The ACS estimates that up to 8 million Americans may already have been exposed to asbestos.

As awareness of mesothelioma grows, it is hoped that more people who know they were exposed to asbestos will seek diagnosis early. It has been shown that a chest x-ray often isn’t very effective in diagnosing mesothelioma, so there has been interest in a blood test that measures the levels of certain proteins that is higher in people who have lung damage due to asbestos.

But even with early diagnosis, traditional cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, are not very effective against mesothelioma. One problem is that it does not grow as a single mass. Instead it tends to spread along surfaces, nerves, and blood vessels. This makes it hard for one or more types of treatment to get rid of all of the disease. Cancer treatments may ease symptoms, like shortness of breath, pain, bleeding or trouble swallowing, but they are unlikely to provide a longterm cure.

So how do people continue to hope? What keeps them fighting? I’d really like to know. Please share your story with me.

Also, a GREAT site to check out is the Lung Cancer Support Community. Their link is in the blogroll, or type in www.lchelp.org. They have message boards, chats, information and even a place to start your own blog.