The Importance of Mesothelioma Advocacy

Mesothelioma advocacy is an issue you don’t hear about on a regular basis. That’s despite the fact cancer advocacy is such a regular thing. But when it comes to mesothelioma it has a great amount of importance. It gains less publicity than breast cancer and lung cancer, despite having much higher mortality rates.

Time is Running Out

The fact is that time is running out when it comes to mesothelioma sufferers. The current survival rate for mesothelioma sufferers is 40% in the first year, which for the initial year after diagnosis is extremely low when compared to other cancers.

That indicates not enough research has been performed. The reason for that is practically always a lack of funding for mesothelioma research. Much has been made of asbestos, but there has been little research into the subsequent mesothelioma disease.

Thousands of people stand to lose their lives if research doesn’t continue and mesothelioma doesn’t remain within the public eye.

Advocacy Makes a Difference to Death Rates

Organizations like Survivingmesothelioma.com provide comprehensive information on treatment choices. They have also provided a platform for survivors of mesothelioma to tell their stories. The work of groups like this has made a big difference over the years.

From 1999 until 2015, the number of deaths from mesothelioma has decreased by 21.7%. It represents a huge change and it’s mainly because of advocacy from sufferers of mesothelioma.

So, it demonstrates that mesothelioma advocacy has a direct effect on death rates. One may argue that it’s due to better research, but advocacy and public support is the only way to receive those vital resources. Breast cancer treatments, for example, have grown especially strong due to huge public campaigns.

A New Wave of Cases on the Horizon

When mesothelioma first appeared, few knew what to do about it. Nobody knew that common materials like asbestos had a direct causation link with this type of cancer. Asbestos, which accounts for around 80% of mesothelioma cases, has long since been outlawed, but that doesn’t mean mesothelioma rates are going to drop.

It can take between 20 and 50 years for mesothelioma to begin showing any symptoms. It hasn’t been 50 years since asbestos fell out of use, so it’s expected that cases are going to keep appearing over the coming years. The previous widespread nature of asbestos implies that this will be a certainty.

Advocacy has, therefore, never had greater importance than it does now. Strong cancer advocacy could potentially save the lives of these patients going forward.

To Provide Hope

Anyone who has ever survived cancer is perfectly aware that one of the biggest differences that can be made is to receive hope. Optimism during treatment can lead to better survival rates and, naturally, it makes it easier to live with the diagnosis.

Advocacy is so important because it shows people that survival is possible. And some stories will even offer a roadmap for how to do it.

Take Paul Kraus as a prime example. Kraus became famous because he’s currently the longest surviving sufferer of mesothelioma. He was initially diagnosed in 1997 and has survived his cancer since then through major dietary and lifestyle changes.

It led to him becoming a major advocate for mesothelioma, and he’s not the only one. He has gone further than providing hope, he has offered tips and advice on what sufferers of mesothelioma should do if they’re diagnosed with the disease.

Last Word – Why is Advocacy So Important?

It may sound cruel, but with limited scientific resources, not every type of cancer can gain the same level of focus. Mesothelioma is one cancer that must be advocated for due to the low survival rates and the expected rise in the number of cases over the coming years.

Advocacy doesn’t have to be a huge public campaign. It could be as simple as sharing a post on mesothelioma awareness on Facebook. Everyone can play their part, no matter how large or how that small that might be.

Through advocacy from sufferers, survivors, and their families it’s possible to continue to discover treatments that don’t just give patients more time but actively cures them.

What do you think is the best way to advocate for a disease?

Authors Bio: Victoria Heckstall is a professional writer that has more than 6+ years of experience. She enjoys writing on topics that she feels needs more attention brought to them.