The fight for justice for mesothelioma survivors is an integral part of TREATING CANCER. Besides providing high-quality care, we pursue better research on prevention and possible cures.
A ‘toxic’ case of Mesothelioma: cancer and mining.
There is a known link between this disease and asbestos, a common mining material.
A large number of miners are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma every year.
Despite South Africa reporting approximately 200 cases of mesothelioma per year, it’s also known to be vastly under reported, with many dying without it even being diagnosed.
If that’s not scary enough, mesothelioma cases in South Africa have increased 400% over the last 20 years.
Asbestos mining causes many diseases in South Africa. Are we aware of these diseases?
Asbestos is a mineral in the form of thin and fibrous crystals containing microscopic fibers that can easily break off and be inhaled. Once inhaled, the lungs are scarred due to inflammation caused by asbestos fibres; and since our lungs need to be soft and pliable for us to breathe efficiently, scarring makes breathing more difficult. The fibrous nature of asbestos also causes minerals to lodge in the mesothelium- a thin layer of tissue covering the lungs, causing damage over time and tumours.
This “Blue” Asbestos, one of the most hazardous forms of asbestos, was mined from South Africa, Bolivia, and Australia.
Asbestos exposure is associated with lung cancer, asbestosis (a non-cancerous, chronic lung disease), and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is the most deadly of all asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos use will continue to have devastating repercussions felt for generations to come. It takes decades after exposure before diseases develop, and for many years, people worked without any protection, unaware of the hazards. The disease can manifest anywhere between 10 to 70 years after asbestos exposure.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay is a specialist Radiation Oncology in Gauteng. She is practising in Johannesburg, offering radiation cancer treatments, Comprehensive palliative care and psycho-social support. She offers a variety of treatments including Breast Cancer Treatment, Gynaecological, Gastrointestinal, Lung Cancer Treatment, Paediatric, Head and Neck, Prostate Cancer Treatment, Brain Cancer Treatment, Dermatological and Musculoskeletal Cancer Treatment
This month we draw attention to Lung Cancers and urge you to read more HERE.
