Asbestos Action Mesothelioma

Action Mesothelioma Day 2009 took place at the Quad and in the Market Place at Derby on February 27th.

Speakers included Trade Union representatives, whose members have been diagnosed with the devastating disease as well as Michael Lees, whose wife Gina was a teacher who died of Mesothelioma.

Since her death Michael has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and has called upon the Government to ‘Remove all asbestos when schools are refurbished under the Building Schools for the Future initiative and the Primary Capital Programme’

Click here for more details on Asbestos in Schools

Also speaking at the meeting were Valerie Pepper whose husband died from Mesothelioma. David Fisher from Rowley Ashworth, Adrian Axtell from UNITE, Roger McKenzie from the TUC and Sandra Hummerston, a Lung Cancer Nurse from Nottingham City Hospital.

Throughtout the morning, Theatre Company - Babbling Vagabonds performed a short production to raise awareness about the dangers of Asbestos.

We were really pleased to see well over one hundred people turn out to raise awareness about Mesothelioma on Action Mesothelioma Day. We were able to attract media attention which is vitally important in raising the profile of mesothelioma and trying to prevent future exposure to asbestos. Derby Telegraph, Derby Trader, Radio Derby and ITV East Midlands attended and reported on the awareness campaign.

We were also able to raise a staggering £4656 for research into mesothelioma, which has been split between the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund. The money was raised from balloon sponsorship. The balloons were designed for loved ones who have died as a result of mesothelioma and for those who have been made ill by exposure to asbestos.

Dave Fisher from Rowley Ashworth Solicitors chaired the Third Action Mesothelioma Day meeting on Wednesday, 27^th February 2008 prior to releasing 1000 black balloons into the air as a tribute to all those who have died from the asbestos-related cancer, Mesothelioma, or who have been made ill by this disease.
I was the first speaker of the day, welcoming the National Institute and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decision on Alimta, but criticised the body following the comments by Cancer Research UK which said it often acted as a brake on the use of new and innovative treatments in cancer care.
I also welcomed the new campaign by the Health and Safety Executive which is raising awareness amongst maintenance workers about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. However, the campaign does not go far enough. The Asbestos Support Groups Forum would like to see a National TV advert campaign. We need to get the message into people’s homes so that they can help protect loved ones from the dangers of exposure.

Rob Miguel, Health and Safety Advisor from UNITE spoke next. Rob comes from the construction engineering section where he was a heating engineer when he was an apprentice. For a period of 8 years he was exposed to an incredible amount of asbestos dust. He said like others, he was exposed to asbestos and lives with the fear of getting the disease later on. He talked about campaigns and education and about educating representatives to be aware of this substance.

Sally Rowe from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary spoke about the role of the Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist.

The lung cancer nurse specialist is a point of contact for patients. The role is to ensure a constant link between patients and care plan team members throughout the journey for patients and carers. Sally said that communication is one of the key elements in carrying out the job successfully and caring for patients and carers.

Those present at the meeting raised a number of issues, more still needs to be done to speed up the diagnosis process and the time waiting for biopsy results.

The issue was also raised that Alimta is only prescribed for first line chemotherapy. Those who could not wait for the NICE decision, (after all it has taken 3 years), and had to opt for other chemotherapy, cannot get Alimta now that it is available. This is extremely unfair. Rob Miguel from UNITE, stated he would raise this at the next Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Asbestos. Anyone affected by this should also write to their local MP. If you need any help please contact DAST.

Tony Tinley from UNITE spoke about the Union’s campaign to support people diagnosed with Mesothelioma. UNITE have established a database of people who have been exposed to asbestos. This helps to provide witness support for others diagnosed with asbestos related diseases.

Mr Warham gave a very emotional and brave report about how his family was affected when his Dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma.

On closing of the meeting we moved outside, where Roger McKenzie, Midlands TUC Secretary gave a very powerful speech, calling on the Government to take action and attend Action Mesothelioma Day.

Roger McKenzie then read out the balloon sponsorship tribute and a minute’s silence was called for, before Mrs Kath Spencer released the balloons. Bill Spencer, Kath’s husband died in December from Mesothelioma.

Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February in Leicester 2008

Mrs Thornton once again did a great job in organising Action Mesothelioma Day in Leicester. 200 black balloons were released from Leicester Town Hall Square. The event was well attended and speeches were heard from the Lord Mayor and Reverend M Sharpe. The Reverend gave out black and white stones, symbolising dark days (black stone) and good days (white stone). Local press also attended the event.

Two very successful events were held simultaneously in Chesterfield and Leicester for Action Mesothelioma Day. Action Mesothelioma Day was
established by the British Lung Foundation last year on 28^th February. The day was to raise awareness about the issues affecting those diagnosed with Mesothelioma, as well as making the general public aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Despite the fact that DAST is advising a significant number of people who have developed the disease, very few people are aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, as the British Lung Foundation discovered in their research of people in the East Midlands. More that a third (36%) of people in the East Midlands who took part in a survey by YouGov for the British Lung Foundation was unaware that contact with asbestos can cause cancer. Nearly a third (31%) are unaware that a corrugated roof could contain asbestos; 3% thought of looking for it in their sofa; and less than a quarter (24%) thought that homes built between 1960 and 1975 might be at risk when in fact, these were the peak years for asbestos use and if homes were built or renovated then, they could contain quantities of the material.

In Chesterfield we released 250 black balloons to represent all those made ill by exposure to asbestos. The balloon release followed a very successful meeting at the Winding Wheel Chesterfield. Speakers included DAST; panel Solicitors, AMICUS, Mr Bedenko who had sadly lost his father to Mesothelioma and Anne Clegg, Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist from Northern General Hospital.

Those attending the meeting spoke about many of the issues raised in the British Lung Foundation Mesothelioma Charter regarding lack of awareness amongst the medical profession and the difficulties of getting diagnosis and the lack of treatment options available. Anne informed the meeting that the Department of Health’s Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Advisory Group, chaired by the National Cancer Director, has advised that a Mesothelioma Framework should be developed by the NHS with advice on how best to organise services for patients with Mesothelioma and their families. Anne has been representing the Lung Cancer Nurses across North Trent in developing the framework. Anne also stated that if anyone does not have access to a specialist nurse they should complain in writing to their Hospital Manager.

In conjunction with the British Lung Foundation, asbestos victim support groups throughout the UK held a series of events to raise awareness about Mesothelioma on Action Mesothelioma Day which took place on 27th February 2006.

The Action Mesothelioma Charter was taken 10 Downing Street to petition for better care and treatment for Mesothelioma sufferers; better protection for employees to prevent future needless exposure to asbestos; and more funding for Mesothelioma cancer research from the Government.

The Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) is encouraging as many people as possible to sign the petition. The Action Mesothelioma Charter can be signed on line at the British Lung Foundation website. Charter

DAST held events in Chesterfield and Leicester; balloons were released in memory of all those who have been made ill by exposure to asbestos. The number of balloons represented the number of people DAST has helped this year.

DAST have also produced a 'memory booklet' of people's personal feelings and experience of being diagnosed with Mesothelioma or having a close family member diagnosed with Mesothelioma. The booklet will be used to lobby MPs for changes to benefit anyone diagnosed with Mesothelioma, family, carers and those at risk from exposure to asbestos.

To read extract's from the booklet click here

				HELP FOR VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASES THROUGHTOUT THE EAST MIDLANDS
HOME ASBESTOS DISEASES BENEFITS & COMPENSATION LATEST NEWS ABOUT DAST MACMILLAN SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS LINKS ASBESTOS FORUM VICTIMS STORIES EVENTS CONTACT US				Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February 2009 Action Mesothelioma Day 2009 took place at the Quad and in the Market Place at Derby on February 27th. Speakers included Trade Union representatives, whose members have been diagnosed with the devastating disease as well as Michael Lees, whose wife Gina was a teacher who died of Mesothelioma. Since her death Michael has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and has called upon the Government to ‘Remove all asbestos when schools are refurbished under the Building Schools for the Future initiative and the Primary Capital Programme’ Click here for more details on Asbestos in Schools Also speaking at the meeting were Valerie Pepper whose husband died from Mesothelioma. David Fisher from Rowley Ashworth, Adrian Axtell from UNITE, Roger McKenzie from the TUC and Sandra Hummerston, a Lung Cancer Nurse from Nottingham City Hospital. Throughtout the morning, Theatre Company - Babbling Vagabonds performed a short production to raise awareness about the dangers of Asbestos. Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February 2008 We were really pleased to see well over one hundred people turn out to raise awareness about Mesothelioma on Action Mesothelioma Day. We were able to attract media attention which is vitally important in raising the profile of mesothelioma and trying to prevent future exposure to asbestos. Derby Telegraph, Derby Trader, Radio Derby and ITV East Midlands attended and reported on the awareness campaign. We were also able to raise a staggering £4656 for research into mesothelioma, which has been split between the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund. The money was raised from balloon sponsorship. The balloons were designed for loved ones who have died as a result of mesothelioma and for those who have been made ill by exposure to asbestos. Dave Fisher from Rowley Ashworth Solicitors chaired the Third Action Mesothelioma Day meeting on Wednesday, 27^th February 2008 prior to releasing 1000 black balloons into the air as a tribute to all those who have died from the asbestos-related cancer, Mesothelioma, or who have been made ill by this disease. I was the first speaker of the day, welcoming the National Institute and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decision on Alimta, but criticised the body following the comments by Cancer Research UK which said it often acted as a brake on the use of new and innovative treatments in cancer care. I also welcomed the new campaign by the Health and Safety Executive which is raising awareness amongst maintenance workers about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. However, the campaign does not go far enough. The Asbestos Support Groups Forum would like to see a National TV advert campaign. We need to get the message into people’s homes so that they can help protect loved ones from the dangers of exposure. Rob Miguel, Health and Safety Advisor from UNITE spoke next. Rob comes from the construction engineering section where he was a heating engineer when he was an apprentice. For a period of 8 years he was exposed to an incredible amount of asbestos dust. He said like others, he was exposed to asbestos and lives with the fear of getting the disease later on. He talked about campaigns and education and about educating representatives to be aware of this substance. Sally Rowe from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary spoke about the role of the Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist. The lung cancer nurse specialist is a point of contact for patients. The role is to ensure a constant link between patients and care plan team members throughout the journey for patients and carers. Sally said that communication is one of the key elements in carrying out the job successfully and caring for patients and carers. Those present at the meeting raised a number of issues, more still needs to be done to speed up the diagnosis process and the time waiting for biopsy results. The issue was also raised that Alimta is only prescribed for first line chemotherapy. Those who could not wait for the NICE decision, (after all it has taken 3 years), and had to opt for other chemotherapy, cannot get Alimta now that it is available. This is extremely unfair. Rob Miguel from UNITE, stated he would raise this at the next Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Asbestos. Anyone affected by this should also write to their local MP. If you need any help please contact DAST. Tony Tinley from UNITE spoke about the Union’s campaign to support people diagnosed with Mesothelioma. UNITE have established a database of people who have been exposed to asbestos. This helps to provide witness support for others diagnosed with asbestos related diseases. Mr Warham gave a very emotional and brave report about how his family was affected when his Dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. On closing of the meeting we moved outside, where Roger McKenzie, Midlands TUC Secretary gave a very powerful speech, calling on the Government to take action and attend Action Mesothelioma Day. Roger McKenzie then read out the balloon sponsorship tribute and a minute’s silence was called for, before Mrs Kath Spencer released the balloons. Bill Spencer, Kath’s husband died in December from Mesothelioma. Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February in Leicester 2008 Mrs Thornton once again did a great job in organising Action Mesothelioma Day in Leicester. 200 black balloons were released from Leicester Town Hall Square. The event was well attended and speeches were heard from the Lord Mayor and Reverend M Sharpe. The Reverend gave out black and white stones, symbolising dark days (black stone) and good days (white stone). Local press also attended the event. Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February 2007 Two very successful events were held simultaneously in Chesterfield and Leicester for Action Mesothelioma Day. Action Mesothelioma Day was established by the British Lung Foundation last year on 28^th February. The day was to raise awareness about the issues affecting those diagnosed with Mesothelioma, as well as making the general public aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Despite the fact that DAST is advising a significant number of people who have developed the disease, very few people are aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, as the British Lung Foundation discovered in their research of people in the East Midlands. More that a third (36%) of people in the East Midlands who took part in a survey by YouGov for the British Lung Foundation was unaware that contact with asbestos can cause cancer. Nearly a third (31%) are unaware that a corrugated roof could contain asbestos; 3% thought of looking for it in their sofa; and less than a quarter (24%) thought that homes built between 1960 and 1975 might be at risk when in fact, these were the peak years for asbestos use and if homes were built or renovated then, they could contain quantities of the material. In Chesterfield we released 250 black balloons to represent all those made ill by exposure to asbestos. The balloon release followed a very successful meeting at the Winding Wheel Chesterfield. Speakers included DAST; panel Solicitors, AMICUS, Mr Bedenko who had sadly lost his father to Mesothelioma and Anne Clegg, Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist from Northern General Hospital. Those attending the meeting spoke about many of the issues raised in the British Lung Foundation Mesothelioma Charter regarding lack of awareness amongst the medical profession and the difficulties of getting diagnosis and the lack of treatment options available. Anne informed the meeting that the Department of Health’s Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Advisory Group, chaired by the National Cancer Director, has advised that a Mesothelioma Framework should be developed by the NHS with advice on how best to organise services for patients with Mesothelioma and their families. Anne has been representing the Lung Cancer Nurses across North Trent in developing the framework. Anne also stated that if anyone does not have access to a specialist nurse they should complain in writing to their Hospital Manager. Mrs Lynda Thornton, organised an event in the Town Hall Square, Leicester. 150 black balloons were released following speeches by Reverend Sharpe and the Lord Mayor. Red roses were also laid to commemorate all those who have been affected by Mesothelioma Action Mesothelioma Day 27th February 2006 In conjunction with the British Lung Foundation, asbestos victim support groups throughout the UK held a series of events to raise awareness about Mesothelioma on *Action Mesothelioma Day* which took place on 27th February 2006. The *Action Mesothelioma Charter* was taken 10 Downing Street to petition for better care and treatment for Mesothelioma sufferers; better protection for employees to prevent future needless exposure to asbestos; and more funding for Mesothelioma cancer research from the Government. The Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) is encouraging as many people as possible to sign the petition. The Action Mesothelioma Charter can be signed on line at the British Lung Foundation website. Charter DAST held events in Chesterfield and Leicester; balloons were released in memory of all those who have been made ill by exposure to asbestos. The number of balloons represented the number of people DAST has helped this year. DAST have also produced a 'memory booklet' of people's personal feelings and experience of being diagnosed with Mesothelioma or having a close family member diagnosed with Mesothelioma. The booklet will be used to lobby MPs for changes to benefit anyone diagnosed with Mesothelioma, family, carers and those at risk from exposure to asbestos. To read extract's from the booklet click here © David Martin 2004-2009 Charity Registration No. 1119684