Research reveals that the Unite Kingdom possesses one of the world’s highest rates of mesothelioma. In 2008, nearly 2,250 UK residents died from the cancer and from 2006 to 2008 (the last year figure were available) mesothelioma rates in the UK rose from 62.3 per million for men and 11.6 per million for women. As in most countries, the majority of residents diagnosed with the disease are over 65 years of age and are predominantly male. However, the annual deaths among women are increasing rapidly, with figures for women rising 68 percent in the last 10 years.
Why the UK?
The mesothelioma rate in the Unite Kingdom is due largely to the fact that the UK government permitted the use of asbestos long after other countries outlawed its use. The mineral was commonly used to insulate pipes in the decades after the Second World War, so shipbuilders are historically most affected by the disease. As the shipbuilding industry played a large role in the history of the United Kingdom around World War II, a large part of the generation is at risk.
Mesothelioma is also more common for those who served on military vessels in any capacity, as asbestos products were also used for insulation in the walls, floors and ceilings.
Those at Risk
As previously mentioned, anyone working in the UK shipbuilding industry prior to the 1980 or anyone who served aboard a ship containing asbestos is in the high-risk category. Construction workers are also high-risk, as asbestos was prevalent in our country’s oldest buildings and residences for so long. In fact, any structures erected or renovated prior to 2000 likely contain asbestos. Other occupations at risk for exposure and resulting illness include painters, pipe fitters, roofing contractors, carpenters, electricians, and joiners. Even teachers working in older schools can be affected.
Getting Treated
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s crucial to seek out the best treatment possible. Not every hospital in the UK offers treatment, but one of the best in the country is The Royal Marsden Hospital, the oldest dedicated cancer treatment hospital in the world. Other treatment centres in the UK include The Christie Hospital in Manchester, Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and Guy’s Hospital in London.
