Since 2005, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) has promoted September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The day is meant to serve as both a day to honor and remember those who have suffered from this rare lung disease, as well as promote awareness so that future generations might see fewer instances of the illness. 

In an effort to bring further awareness, mesothelioma advocates have been pushing to have the day recognized by the U.S. government as a national day of awareness. A bill linked to this goal – H. Res. 771 – is scheduled to be added to the legislative calendar for the House of Representatives. If passed and signed by the president, it would serve as a major victory for raising awareness about the hazards of asbestos – the natural fiber that has been linked to mesothelioma formation when inhaled into the lungs. 

To help bring national awareness, MARF is urging people to get involved to help raise awareness for making Mesothelioma Awareness Day official in your city, state or country. Ways that individuals can help include: 

Regardless of national recognition, September 26 has come to be a special and important day for those personally affected by mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare lung disease that has no cure. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Americans die from the illness each year.

With Mesothelioma Awareness Day approaching fast, we wanted to do something a little different this year. On 9/17, we launched our "Lend Your Hand" campaign. The campaign is simple. We are asking people to literally lend their hands to the cause! It can be a message of support, a person’s name whom you wish to honor, or a simple message of hope for ALL cancer patients, not just mesothelioma. Submit it in one of TWO ways: Submit it through the campaign page OR via Twitter or Instagram by tagging @canceralliance and “#lendyourhand”. After you submit your photo, let your friends know about the campaign so they can participate & vote too. The photos with the most votes will receive an MCA gift bag! Please lend us your hand and help raise awareness of Mesothelioma. Photos can be submitted through Mesothelioma Awareness Day on 9/26. Join Heather Von St. James as she shares information about her personal battle with mesothelioma and her triumphant victory over the disease. Follow Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, Gary Cohn, as he writes a series of articles on the global health and policy issues that matter most in these changing times. Follow Doug as he reflects on his personal experiences in the U.S. Navy and issues confronting all veterans today. Follow Attorney Lucarelli as she discusses the latest trends in asbestos litigation and offers insights on mesothelima advocacy based on her work with over 1,000 mesothelioma victims around the country. Contact us if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and we will send you a comprehensive mesothelioma information packet free of charge within 24 hours. 

It’s Mesothelioma Awareness Day! Today, we wanted to bring you some facts about mesothelioma and asbestos. As awareness builds, so does hope for all mesothelioma patients. We hope you will help us to spread the word. Please visit our Facebook Page for more facts that you can share. Asbestos Facts: Asbestos has been declared a “known human carcinogen,” having been commonly associated with asbestos cancer.The peak of asbestos use occurred from the late 1930s through the end of the 1970s.Though anyone who was exposed to asbestos can develop asbestos-related diseases, US Navy veterans who served during World War II and the Korean Conflict have the highest incidence of these diseases.Some 30 million pounds of asbestos are still used each year in the United States.The number one cause of occupational cancer in the United States is asbestos, even more than 30 years after its use was essentially halted. Asbestos accounts for 54 percent of all occupational cancers, according to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.Since asbestos guidelines were issued in 1979, approximately 45,000 Americans have died of asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma.10,000 Americans will die this year of asbestos-related diseases (including lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer) and 200,000 are currently living with asbestosis.Asbestos is still mined in several countries throughout the world, including Canada, and is exported to many industrialized and developing countries.Asbestos can still be found in many homes, schools, and commercial or industrial buildings.Asbestos was once used in more than 3,000 consumer products, including common household items such as toasters and hair dryers, some of which may still be in use. Check out our page on Asbestos Facts for more info. Mesothelioma Facts: Mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease that attacks the cells of the tissue that lines the body cavity called the mesothelium. Its only known cause is exposure to asbestos fibers.The first diagnosis of mesothelioma that was conclusively linked to asbestos exposure was made in 1964.The number of mesothelioma cases is expected to peak worldwide around the year 2020.The symptoms of mesothelioma can sit dormant in the body from 20-50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.Among all mesothelioma cases, 75% occur within the lining of the lungs.New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in between 2,500 and 3,000 Americans each year.The first diagnosis of mesothelioma typically occurs in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 years.Mesothelioma is much more common in men than women, due mostly to occupational asbestos exposure being more common among men of industrial labor sites.Recent evidence suggests that mesothelioma incidence in women may rise in the coming years as secondary exposures to asbestos can manifest in the form of a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. Check out our page on Mesothelioma Cancer for more info. Join Heather Von St. James as she shares information about her personal battle with mesothelioma and her triumphant victory over the disease. Follow Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, Gary Cohn, as he writes a series of articles on the global health and policy issues that matter most in these changing times. Follow Doug as he reflects on his personal experiences in the U.S. Navy and issues confronting all veterans today. Follow Attorney Lucarelli as she discusses the latest trends in asbestos litigation and offers insights on mesothelima advocacy based on her work with over 1,000 mesothelioma victims around the country. Contact us if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and we will send you a comprehensive mesothelioma information packet free of charge within 24 hours.