The diagnosis of mesothelioma causes heartache for thousands of families every year.
Here we explore key mesothelioma facts and figures to understand more about the disease and give a clearer picture of the extent of the issue in the UK.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a fatal and devastating form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. This means the disease has particularly affected those working in industries where asbestos was widely used, such as construction, plumbing, joinery, and carpentry. However, mesothelioma is not limited to these workers and can affect anyone who has come into contact with asbestos fibres, including teachers, local authority workers and family members who wash the clothing of workers who have been exposed.
Although the import of blue and brown asbestos was banned in 1985 and the use of asbestos was banned in 1999, it is still present in many public and private buildings built before this time and exposure is still occurring throughout the UK, even today.
