While the
incidence of malignant mesothelioma is beginning to decline in the US,
the deadly asbestos cancer is still on the rise in the UK. Rochdale
Online is reporting a 55 percent increase in mesothelioma cases in the
Greater Manchester area in the last 5 years. A total of 138 people were
diagnosed with the rare cancer in the Manchester area alone in 2012. The UK has the highest per capita rate of mesothelioma in the world.
Mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer that spreads across the thin membranes that surround the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs. Caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is most common in people who have worked with or lived around the mineral for an extended period of time. Although the damaging effects of asbestos in the body can begin as soon as it is inhaled or ingested, the symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to develop.
This long latency period may be part of the reason for the recent rise in mesothelioma cases in Manchester. Rochdale was home to the Turner and Newell factory, one of the UK's largest asbestos producers. The factory is now closed and a housing development is being considered for the site, but many mesothelioma victims in the Rochdale area are former Turner & Newell workers.
"This shocking increase in mesothelioma diagnosis in Greater Manchester is testimony to the long history of asbestos use in our area and the terrible consequences of that history," mesothelioma support group coordinator Graham Dring told the online news source. "It is a truly awful increase in this fatal cancer."
According to Rochdale Online, more people die of mesothelioma in the UK every year (2,347 in 2010) than in motor vehicle accidents (1,754 in 2012). When all asbestos-related illnesses are considered, the death toll is twice that of road accidents. The area recently observed Action Mesothelioma Day, an annual awareness day during which residents "remember the dead but fight for the living".
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. This article was written by a third party and its content reflects the views of the third party and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions or of Surviving Mesothelioma or Cancer Monthly.
Mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer that spreads across the thin membranes that surround the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs. Caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is most common in people who have worked with or lived around the mineral for an extended period of time. Although the damaging effects of asbestos in the body can begin as soon as it is inhaled or ingested, the symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to develop.
This long latency period may be part of the reason for the recent rise in mesothelioma cases in Manchester. Rochdale was home to the Turner and Newell factory, one of the UK's largest asbestos producers. The factory is now closed and a housing development is being considered for the site, but many mesothelioma victims in the Rochdale area are former Turner & Newell workers.
"This shocking increase in mesothelioma diagnosis in Greater Manchester is testimony to the long history of asbestos use in our area and the terrible consequences of that history," mesothelioma support group coordinator Graham Dring told the online news source. "It is a truly awful increase in this fatal cancer."
According to Rochdale Online, more people die of mesothelioma in the UK every year (2,347 in 2010) than in motor vehicle accidents (1,754 in 2012). When all asbestos-related illnesses are considered, the death toll is twice that of road accidents. The area recently observed Action Mesothelioma Day, an annual awareness day during which residents "remember the dead but fight for the living".
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. This article was written by a third party and its content reflects the views of the third party and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions or of Surviving Mesothelioma or Cancer Monthly.
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