Posts by Asbestos Support
The role of our genes in mesothelioma
People often wonder they have got mesothelioma. Sometimes this happens after a very small exposure to asbestos. Our genes are one of the things which play a part. For instance, one gene, BAP1 or BRCA1 associated protein-1, mutates in some people. This seems to make them more vulnerable to mesothelioma. Chemoresistance The same gene also…
Read MoreMissing out! Messed about! What it’s like with asbestosis or pleural thickening in a covid pandemic
Missing out and messed about. All too often this is what it feels like if you have asbestosis or pleural thickening and you are waiting for your claim to benefits and compensation to be decided. And who’s messing them about and making them miss out? You guessed it! The government. Disabled people have been waiting…
Read MoreA mesothelioma patient explains why he’s glad he sought legal advice
It was the 11th August 2020 and I was leaving my local hospital with a diagnosis of Mesothelioma! The following few days were very challenging really as my wife and I had to begin to come to terms with what the diagnosis meant. We had to inform family and friends, and discuss treatment options, as well…
Read MoreHow much did the boss know?
People are sometimes appalled to discover that they were exposed to asbestos during their working life. But equally often, they will say, ‘We worked with asbestos all the time. No one knew any better in those days. We thought it was a safe material to use.’ Their manager, or the owner of the firm, may…
Read MoreIs this daylight robbery or a hidden tax on disabled people?
The Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum has today accused the government of robbing people disabled by asbestos related diseases. They say, “Despite requests to the Department of Work and Pensions for action, victims of asbestosis and pleural thickening are being robbed of their full compensation under the Workers’ Compensation Act 1979 . We ask for…
Read MoreHave you been a seafarer?
When we talk to them about their work history, one of the more colourful questions we ask people is, ‘Have you been a seafarer?’ It usually brings a smile to people’s faces, as most of them have been determined landlubbers. The nearest they might have got to seafaring is a river cruise down the Rhine…
Read MoreBe careful where you go for on-line information
People who have asbestos related diseases need to be careful when they search on-line for information, guidance and support. This is often the natural thing to do when you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with one of these diseases. Look carefully at who is providing the information you find on-line Our advice…
Read MoreAre there hidden dangers lurking in your make-up?
Talcum is a mineral which is often found alongside deposits of asbestos. When the talcum, or talc, is mined asbestos can be collected inadvertently at the same time. Any asbestos is supposed to be removed when the talc is refined into a powder. Where is talc used in cosmetics? Talc is commonly used as a…
Read MoreJanuary’s Mesothelioma Matters Webinar on Mesothelioma Surgery
Mesotheiloma UK is inviting anyone with mesothelioma, their carers and people who support them in various ways, to its next Mesothelioma Matters Webinar. It will take place on 25th January at 4pm. Mesothelioma Surgery John Edwards, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Sheffield Hospital, will talk about mesothelioma surgery in the UK. His talk will include an…
Read MoreDon’t feel you have to delay asking for help during the Covid-19 winter crisis
The charity Mesothelioma UK is advising patients not to delay asking for help if they need it during the Covid-19 winter crisis. News broadcasts on TV, and articles in the press, are telling us that hospitals are exceptionally busy. This is true, but if you have an asbestos related disease and need to ask for…
Read More