| Thursday, 28 February 2008 | |
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MP takes action against mesothelioma Dartford MP, Howard Stoate, joined the British Lung Foundation and others at the House of Commons on Wednesday 27 February to raise awareness of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma and to support the BLF’s campaign to ensure everyone in the UK is ‘asbestos aware’. To mark Action Mesothelioma Day the British Lung Foundation is monitoring the progress of the Mesothelioma Framework, an NHS action plan for people with the disease. The charity carried out a survey of cancer networks in England and presented its findings to the National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards at Wednesday’s reception at Westminster. Dr Stoate signed an Early Day Motion 978 calling for greater efforts to be made to improve treatment and care for people with mesothelioma after the survey showed that time and resources were proving major barriers to the full implementation of the Mesothelioma Framework. Mesothelioma kills one person every five hours in the UK and there is as yet no cure. It takes between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos for the symptoms of mesothelioma to become apparent and the UK will face an epidemic of the cancer in 2011 - 2015 as people exposed to asbestos in the 1960s and 1970s are diagnosed with the disease. Recent cases show that tradespeople such as builders, plumbers, gas fitters and electricians are now most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Just 12% of tradespeople are aware that exposure to asbestos can be fatal and less than a third know it can cause cancer, according to a new survey published by the British Lung Foundation ahead of Action Mesothelioma Day. Worryingly, three quarters of tradespeople (74%) have never had any training in how to deal with asbestos even though the Health and Safety Exeucitve warns that any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos. The House of Commons event was attended by representatives from the British Lung Foundation, Mesothelioma UK and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund. Dr Stoate said: “I am delighted to be supporting the British Lung Foundation’s Action Mesothelioma Campaign, as it is helping to bring about real improvements for people with this cruel disease and continues to work for more research into the disease and more awareness about the dangers of asbestos. The British Lung Foundation’s survey shows that there is a dangerously low level of awareness about the dangers of asbestos amongst the very people who are most at risk of mesothelioma.” Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “We are very pleased that Dr Stoate MP is continuing to support the Action Mesothelioma Campaign. Much has been achieved in the past year but there is a long way to go. We need more research into this deadly cancer, better treatments to give sufferers more hope, and more awareness amongst tradespeople of the continuing dangers of contact with asbestos.” Anyone who wants more information about the British Lung Foundation, or Action Mesothelioma should visit www.lunguk.org or call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 50 20. Notes The number of mesothelioma deaths each year has increased from 153 in 1968 to 1,969 in 2004. Experts predict that we face an epidemic from 2011-2015 as the death toll rises over the next decade. The total number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain is expected to peak at around 1,950-2,450 deaths annually sometime between 2011 and 2015 Although it is banned now, asbestos can still be found in places like gutters and rainwater pipes, garage and shed roofs, insulation panels in some storage heaters, bath panels, central heating flues, textured ceilings and even ironing boards. As asbestos ages, it becomes crumbly so fibres are released more easily. There are three types of asbestos – blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white (chrysotile). All three forms can cause mesothelioma. Blue asbestos has not been imported into this country since around 1972 but was formerly used for insulation lagging and sprayed coatings. Brown asbestos was used in thermal insulation up to the late 1960s and in various sprayed forms and insulating boards until the late 1970s. The most common form of asbestos found in the home is white asbestos. In April 2005, of 2,265 cancer research projects being carried out by partners of the National Cancer Research Institute, only two of those related to mesothelioma research. The British Lung Foundation commissioned the YouGov online survey among 2,471 adults aged 18+ in England, Wales and Scotland between 6 – 8 February 2007. Results were weighted to be representative of the known population profiles from the 2001 Census. The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working to help people with all 43 lung diseases. It provides information and support to patients and their families, funds world class medical research to find solutions to lung disease and campaigns for improved treatments and services. The Action Mesothelioma campaign is a coalition campaign, led by the British Lung Foundation, which brings together patient groups, healthcare professionals and charities with an interest in Mesothelioma to speak with “one voice” about the disease. Action Mesothelioma Day is supported by an educational grant from the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund, Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, Corries Solicitors Ltd., Field Fisher Waterhouse, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, John Pickering & Partners, Leigh Day & Co., Lilly UK, Pannone & Partners and Thompsons Solicitors. |
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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