Electrician, plumbers and carpenters in the building trade need to be vigilant to reduce their risk of developingMesothelioma – the type of cancer that has no cure.

This is the message from one of the country’s top experts, Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine Prof Mark Brittonof the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust and past Chairman of the British Lung Foundation.  Prof. Britton has made a lifelong study of the disease, which is usually traced back to exposure to asbestos.  He is an international authority on asbestos-related disease.

One of Dr Britton’s great concerns is that patients and their loved ones should have access to clear, factual information that helps to answer questions at a time which can be particularly stressful either before or following diagnosis. The first booklet on Mesothelioma to be published by the British Lung Foundation was compiled by Prof Britton’s and it has received recognition achieving “Highly Commended” in the BMA Medical Book Competition in the Patient Information Wards (Printed Material) category.  The booklet also gives advice on how to apply for compensation and benefits for the illness, which is categorised as an industrial disease.

Said Prof Britton: “Mesothelioma brings tremendous suffering. We know that the number of cases of mesothelioma will continue to rise until 2020. Many people do not know what it is – it is the type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. We are seeing it in younger and younger people. We are beginning to see people in trades such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians who are developing it more than ever before.”

Deaths are expected to reach approximately 2,500 a year and traditionally many of the victims will have been involved in jobs that bring them into contact with asbestos, in work involving cement manufacture; insulation; lagging, thermal insulation etc.

Recently high-risk groups seem to be:

·          building workers

·          plumbers

·          gas fitters

·          carpenters

·          electricians

Mesothelioma can be found principally in the chest but can occur in the abdomen.  The chest has two layers, the inner lining the lungs and the outer lining the chest wall with a small amount of fluid in the space between the two layers.  This fluid lubricates the two surfaces allowing the lung and chest wall to move and expand during breathing.  When a tumour grows within the chest lining initially excess fluid is produced in the plural cavity.  Later the tumour spreads into the spaces between the layers and the lining thickens.

Said Dr Britton:  “The public may have become complacent thinking that only people involved with blue   asbestoscrocidolyte years ago are the people affected, but this is not so.  It is true that women who assembled gas masks during the Second World War developed mesothelioma and people involved with building work before health and safety regulations were introduced became ill, but white asbestos crysotyle and another fibre called Tremolite may also be a cause. There is also a low incidence of mesothelioma occurring in people who have had no known direct contact with asbestos.  It may be that as children they played near an asbestos factory or have, as a wife, washed their husband’s overalls.

“There have been tremendous improvements in health and safety, but we still need to be vigilant.  With the increasing tendency for ordinary householders to carryout DIY it is imperative that they do not attempt to handle, drill into or break-up any asbestos material without first seeking advice and only then carry out then work using protective equipment.

“Mesothelioma is a very cruel disease and we need to look at ways and means of helping and treating these patients more effectively.  Clear, easy-to-understand information is particularly important in the days before and after diagnosis and I hope this booklet is helpful for the patient and their family not only at that point but throughout the illness.”

The competition judges found that Dr Britton’s booklet achieved the aim of disseminating and evaluating accessible, evidence-based well-designed patient information for people affected by mesothelioma.  Their comments state: “This is a clear and concise leaflet that explains what mesothelioma is.  Also, due to the probable cause of this disease, this leaflet goes further and offers information about compensation and benefits – not something that you would expect to find in any other leaflet!”

The British Lung Foundation is a charity that supports people affected by lung disease.  It aims to help people to understand their condition, providing comprehensive and clear information.  The charity also works for a positive change in lung health by campaigning, raising awareness and funding world-class research into lung disease.

Breathe Easy groups offer support and information for anyone with a lung condition.  There are 135 groups in the UK. The second Action Mesothelioma Day organised by the British Lung Foundation is on 27 February, 2007.

For more information about these organisations or the mesothelioma booklet contact:

·          British Lung Foundation: 08458 50 50 20 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or see: www.lunguk.org

·          Breathe Easy: 020 7688 5555 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or see: www.lunguk.org