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A veteran of the tobacco wars, Fernand Turcotte is an occupational health expert and a retired professor of at Universit Laval in Quebec. Now he at the front of most of the country’s medical and scientific community against the asbestos industry and the politicians who support them.

The asbestos industry is awaiting the offer of a crucial loan to expand an asbestos mine in Asbestos, Quebec. The mine expansion could create nearly 500 jobs and secure the industry’s place in Canada for at least 30 years.

Turcotte has forwarded a petition signed by 50 of Canada’s top medical and scientific experts, demanding the government outlaw the mining, use or export of chrysotile asbestos. The World Health Organisation released a document last week calling for a halt to all asbestos use since, “all types of asbestos cause lung cancer, Mesothelioma, cancer of the larynx and asbestosis.

A W.H.O study estimates over 125 million people are unsafely exposed to asbestos in the workplace on a daily basis and over 100,000 people died in the last year from exposure to the fibre. Shocking death statistics, multi-million dollar lawsuits, spiralling costs to the health industry raise many questions, is it moral, political or even economic sense for Canada to continue supporting the asbestos industry.

Asbestos was used in the construction of Canada’s industry until the 1970s but now local production is largely exported to developing nations where activists fear checks on its safe use are lacking. When inhaled the fibres can scar lungs and cause disease, including cancer.

More than 100 of Canada’s leading medical experts and a selection of sympathetic politicians led an anti-asbestos rally on Parliament hill In Ottawa, however despite the mounting number of public declarations and petitions of scientific and medical institutions, Turcotte is losing faith in it’s effect on the government.

“People in third world countries will curse the name of Canada if this (mining) continues,” said mayor of Sarnia, Ontario, Mike Bradley. The industrial town at the southern tip of Lake Huron has suffered an astonishing number of asbestos-related cancers and deaths.

Asbestos was once a very commonly used building material. This was, of course, before doctors and scientists learned how dangerous it was. Many people were exposed and later developed severe and often fatal illnesses as a result. While it was a great building material, its detrimental effects on the human body negated any of its positive aspects.

Both cancerous and non-cancerous lung diseases have been linked to all commercially available forms of this substance. Tragically, it also usually takes about 20 years for most people to develop one of the associated illnesses. The most commonly developed are the ones involving the lungs. Careful safety precautions must be followed when removing asbestos from structures.

Asbestos fibers irritate the lungs and commonly cause the formation of scar tissue. Shortness of breath is a frequent symptom of asbestos related illnesses. Sufferers can find themselves unable to go up even one flight of stairs, without panting.

Coughing is another very frequent problem associated with it, since the fibers amass in the lungs. A cough is a natural reflex action. Our bodies use coughing to try to clear irritants out of the lungs. If you have been exposed to asbestos and have a regular cough, you should see a physician. You may have the fibers in your lungs.

Another symptom you need to watch out for is unexplained weight loss. It can be very dramatic in relation to asbestos related illnesses. There are many cases where it has meant these diseases have already spread to other parts of the persons body. If you have been exposed and are having a dramatic weight loss, it is imperative that you consult a doctor, immediately.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that has been found, in most cases, to be caused by asbestos. People with mesothelioma may experience all of the listed symptoms and more. Others can include chest pain and pleural effusion. This disease is usually confirmed via a biopsy.

It is sad to note that the prognosis for those diagnoses with Mesothelioma is usually not good. As of yet, there are no early screening tests for people that have been exposed. In some cases, it has taken as long as 50 years for them to develop symptoms.

Thankfully, due to increased awareness of the safety issues, asbestos related deaths have reached a plateau. People have learned how to remove it from existing structures in a much safer manner. This helps minimize the exposure and prevents the release of the fibers into the air. People are now specially trained to handle its removal. Buildings that contain it in dangerous amounts are usually made off-limits to the public, until they have been properly cleaned.

Another related illness is called Asbestiosis, this is a lung tissue scarring that occurs from inhalation of the fibers. The breathlessness associated with this condition often gets worse, with time. People who have been exposed to very high amounts of the fibers can develop it much faster and much more severely. Seeing a doctor for diagnosis and treatment is vital to their long-term prognosis.

Books contain invaluable information about mesothelioma. There is a good collection of books written by many advanced researchers and well-qualified physicians on the subjects and they shed light on various complicated aspects of the ailment. Some detail out the treatment procedures, signs as well as support sources while others provide leads on how to locate effective doctors while some others offer pieces of advice on how to rev up patient’s fighting spirit. The books written on the legal aspect of the mesothelioma cases carry another good resource and assists mesothelioma patients in filing legal cases against parties concerned in so far as asking for compensation as a result of affliction with mesothelioma.

Relevant publication which offer info about asbestos related mesothelioma cancer can provide patients great relief since understanding the causes of the disease and the symptoms of the current situation they are in, is a good aid to weather the pain.

If a mesothelioma patient would like to pursue a lawsuit against concerned parties, books published on the legal aspects of mesothelioma cases are invaluable reference materials. When a patient is on the threshold of lodging a case, a capable legal counsel can pass relevant books or guide the patient to reliable sources to get books enlightening him or her with the actual facts.

The publication ?Help me Live: 20 things people with cancer want to know? written by Lori Hope is one such book that help to get ample information on the subject. The author is a survivor from a cancer and provides people with good information about this fatal cancer and the details about lacking research studies to find an effective treatment for the disease.

One more book entitled ?Mesothelioma? has been edited by Bruce W. S. Robison and A Philippe Chahinian. It has been published based on the pieces of advice of well-known mesothelioma doctors who have great exposure in dealing with mesothelioma patients. The books also offer patients with info about conventional medications as well.