Larry Davis CO Founder of Extreme Eyewear – Has Meso –
Malignant mesothelioma (meso) is the story of Americans who worked hard to build and defend this country. For 50 years, America's industrial and building trades workers, Navy personnel and many others were exposed to asbestos. The so-called "miracle mineral" was common in the workplace and on Navy ships and in shipyards. When workers brought the asbestos fibers home each night in their clothes and hair, their families were also exposed. Each year, according to mesothelioma facts and statistics, approximately three thousand or more Americans develop this malignant tumor that — after a latency period of ten to fifty years -- aggressively invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles.
Millions more Americans are being put at risk today, because of all of the asbestos that remains present in occupational settings; in buildings such as homes, offices and schools; and in a wide variety of products. The incidence of mesothelioma still has not peaked in the U.S., and is growing to epidemic proportions in other parts the world. The tragedy of 9/11 demonstrates the continued, long-term threat of mesothelioma. Estimates of the amount of asbestos released around Manhattan range as high as 1,000 tons.
The impact pulverized this asbestos into tiny, microscopic fibers to which the firefighters, rescue workers and other heroes of 9/11 were exposed. In the weeks and months following workers, residents and school children in the area continued to be exposed. After meso's long latency period, the risk of cancer among those most heavily exposed could reach as high as one in ten. Thus, even if asbestos were banned today, and it absolutely should be, the meso epidemic would continue for decades and cry out urgently for development of better treatments.
Disease History
Meso was identified in the medical literature by the late 1940's. However, for decades the need for research to develop effective treatments for meso patients was ignored, obscured by the legal, economic and political aspects of asbestos. For the most recent years for which there are figures, 2004 through 2007, the National Cancer Institute's annual investment in clinical meso research was less than $6 million. This is only approximately one tenth of one percent of the NCI's annual budget; while the NCI is investing as much as 9 times more, per death, on other cancers.
Cancer
Annual NCI
Research Funding
Annual Mortality
Research Funding Factor
(per Mortality) Relative to
Mesothelioma
Breast
$572,400,000
40,910
5.84
Prostate
$296,100,000
27,050
4.57
Melanoma
$97,700,000
8,110
5.03
Cervical
$82,400,000
3,670
9.37
Hodgkin disease
$16,500,000
1,070
6.43
Mesothelioma
$6,366,000
2,657
1.00
The Meso Foundation is active in Washington, D.C., calling on the federal government to partner with the Foundation in funding the research necessary to develop effective treatments. This should include NCI funding of mesothelioma research at levels proportionate to other cancers.
Extreme Eyewear is supporting The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. We will make a $10.00 Tax deductible Donation in your name to M.A.R.F .
