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.
Report
from Action Mesothelioma Day in Derby
Dave Fisher from
Rowley Ashworth Solicitors chaired the Third Action Mesothelioma Day
meeting on
Wednesday, 27th 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 in Leicester
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
Mesothelioma Action
Day Chesterfield
2007
Public meeting at Winding
Wheel in Chesterfield
Balloon Release in
Leciester
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 28th 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 were 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
