Mesothelioma

Do you know any women who had mesothelioma?

And if so, do you know how they were exposed to asbestos or if anybody else in their family had mesothelioma too? My mom died a few years ago from this disease and we don't know how she was exposed, so just trying to get information. She was actually a surgical nurse for 30 years. The hospital she worked at was always being renovated as it was very old, but we don't know if that is how she was exposed or not. I am just hoping that it is not some random genetic thing that is completely un-related to asbestos.

Public Comments

1. was your mum always a housewife, or did she work? Industrial exposure is by far the commonest these days. Another thing that needs to be excluded is secondary exposure. A significant number of women contracted asbestosis and mesothelioma secondary to dealing with their partner's work clothes.
2. I am so sorry for your loss. Is it possible that her Mother or father was exposed to asbestos? She may have picked it up from her father (even before birth) or mother. All patients I have nursed with a mesothelioma were men and men that had worked in some kind of dock lands work or painting/building work. Working with certain paints in the 1940'sand working in the docks can expose to asbestos. It is interesting that you mention about the hospital renovations as many old building s did contain asbestos. The hospital i worked at as a student had many old buildings containing asbestos. we only knew about it when they were sectioned off with no exit signs on them.