Hi Debra,
I saw that you haven’t posted much about asbestos and I wanted to share my experience with this dangerous mineral. Exposure to asbestos is a truly silent killer and something that everyone should be aware of.
Many people think asbestos is a problem of the past, as laws were passed in the 1970’s that limited its use. While asbestos production took a sharp turn and began to decline around the time these laws were passed, it is still NOT banned in the US and Canada. It can still be found in older homes and buildings, schools, naval yards, automobiles, and even consumer products- leaving everyone at risk for exposure. Until asbestos is totally banned and eradicated, the potential for asbestos exposure will remain.
Exposure to asbestos is something that changed the path of my life forever. I am a mesothelioma survivor and advocate. I was initially exposed to asbestos through wearing my father’s work jacket. I wore his jacket to do outside chores so I wouldn’t get my clothes dirty. Little did I know that asbestos fibers were embedded into that jacket and would lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma in 2005 when I was just 36 years old. My prognosis was not good; I was only given 15 months to live. Luckily, I was a candidate for a dangerous surgical procedure that involved the removal of my left lung. Recently, I am happy to say I celebrated my 10-year survival anniversary and I use my second lease on life to continue the exhausting fight for an international ban on asbestos.
Asbestos was originally thought of as a “miracle mineral”. It is extremely flame retardant, heat resistant and very cheap. Because of its cost-effectiveness and many benefits, it was produced in major quantities. However, people working with the product were found to have associated health problems as early as the 1900’s. The major health issue that asbestos causes is mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that doesn’t show symptoms until 20-40 years later. Mesothelioma is usually found in lining of the lungs, heart and stomach, and leaves those diagnosed with a prognosis of about 12-21 months to live.
For more information about this dangerous cancer caused by asbestos, head over to mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma.
