The Mesothelioma Community Needs Advocacy Not Apathy

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma, Uncategorized

All too often when we hear of someone with a mesothelioma diagnosis, we give a standard response:  “Oh, that’s too bad. Let me know if you need anything.” Then, normal life is resumed.  You may pray for the person and their family, and that’s absolutely appreciated and important, but do you ever really follow up? Apathy and indifference seem to dominate society today on many levels. It’s time to give that up and let it give way to advocacy and action, especially when it comes to fighting mesothelioma.

Sometimes, we tend to feel bad for others, but think, “Well, it’s their problem, I don’t want to interfere.” It’s right, in a sense, not to want to get in their way sometimes, but you can take action on your own without the family even knowing.

Asbestos, the underlying cause of mesothelioma, is still legal in the United States. Contact your local representative and fight against it! Hold a fundraising dinner or bake sale to benefit the family you know. Although I do recommend getting the family’s blessing, medical treatments and travel get expensive, and I’m sure it would be appreciated.

Spread the word about the dangers of asbestos and the real consequences of being exposed to it. Contact the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation – they are happy to provide information and have wonderful ideas and concrete direction on how you can help fight this horrible disease. The person you know who is suffering from mesothelioma may not even know about the Meso Foundation. Give them some information; it could lead to an extended group of physicians and treatment options.

Working to find a cure for mesothelioma doesn’t just stop there. This research could lead to cures and treatments for other types of cancer as well. It’s amazing what a difference one person can make. Imagine what we could all do together!