The End
I never did get to see my Dad before he died three short weeks later at the ripe old age of almost 63. He could barely breathe as his right lung was at only 16% capacity surrounded by this "orange peel," his diaphragm was paralyzed and the cancer had spread into his entire respiratory system. His final words to me were inaudible as his wife held the phone to his mouth, crying in the background, "Say hi to Tana, John. Tell her you love her." Maybe it was the tubes. Maybe it was the morphine. But whatever, I must now reach deep into my own inherited sense of optimism and turn those moans into something beautiful.
The Beginning
The asbestos industry has known about its ill effects since the beginning. Similar to the tobacco industry, they staged a cover up in order to reap the cash rewards. And reap they did. Now, most of the companies who manufactured asbestos are out of business or have been swallowed up by other corporate giants. Our pro business administration couldn't care less about helping these victims and their families, nor do they care about funding research even though they've known about asbestos related cancer for at least 40 years. In fact, they still allow the use of asbestos in hundreds of consumer products including oven mitts. Wasn't asbestos was banned in the 70's?
They classify Mesothelioma as a rare cancer. Strangely, almost everyone I've spoken to about this uncommon disease is just a degree or two separated from a victim. The only things that seem rare to me are the recognition that Mesothelioma exists because of asbestos, a feeling of duty to cure it and a mission to raise the public's awareness to help these victims maintain some quality of life with early diagnosis until that cure arrives.
The Middle
Warren Zevon smoked. It probably didn't help his case. But by filing him under Lung Cancer, we disregard his truth, his suffering and the lives of every other person affected by Mesothelioma who we've never heard about. Worst of all, we propagate the silence.
My Dad was no rock star. I'm sure you've never heard of him. But you can be sure you'll be hearing a lot more about Mesothelioma. Scream with us. Shout it from the rooftops. Show some respect for these lives by acknowledging this disease, the injustice and the issue. Do it for my Dad. Do it for Warren Zevon. Do it for the next life it touches. Hopefully it won't be yours.
If you want more information on Mesothelioma, its causes, its treatment and how you can help, visit:
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