A MAN hit by an insidious form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, will step into the limelight to raise awareness of the silent killer this month.
Mesothelioma sufferer John Towersey will address families affected by the disease at Barking Town Hall, Town Square on Wednesday, February 27.
Mr Towersey, diagnosed with the asbestos cancer more than four years ago, will share his experiences as the country swings into action to mark National Mesothelioma Day.
Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas will also join a panel of experts at the town hall at a time when statistics show Barking and Dagenham is one of the biggest asbestos hotspots in the country, with about 25 people dying from cancer linked to its exposure each year.
The high incidence of asbestos cancer is linked to emissions from the notorious Cape Asbestos Factory in Harts Lane, Barking, which closed in 1968.
The main forms of asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, can take decades to incubate and are marked by severe respiratory problems.
Mick Connelly, 66, of Barking and Dagenham Asbestos Victims Support Group, said: "I'm really looking forward to listening to Mr Towersey. It's a nasty disease - to get someone who can talk about it is really good.
"It will give encouragement to people who suffer from some of these issues.
"It's a very serious form of cancer. For people normally diagnosed, it used to be 12 months and that was it.
"This guy was diagnosed four and half years ago. It's an encouragement to people not to give up."
The support group will also use the awareness day to launch a database of people suffering from mesothelioma and asbestosis in Barking and Dagenham.
The news comes after the Recorder revealed a new memorial honouring the victims of asbestos cancer could be built near the defunct Cape factory site, possibly at the Barking Abbey ruins or a Quakers' burial ground in North Street, Barking.
Mr Connolly said: "There's been a bit of a delay, which was very disappointing. We're about to get it moving again and will be meeting again in a week's time and talk about this issue.
"There's been virtually no progress on that, to be perfectly honest. It's down to people changing jobs, essentially.
Mesothelioma sufferer John Towersey will address families affected by the disease at Barking Town Hall, Town Square on Wednesday, February 27.
Mr Towersey, diagnosed with the asbestos cancer more than four years ago, will share his experiences as the country swings into action to mark National Mesothelioma Day.
Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas will also join a panel of experts at the town hall at a time when statistics show Barking and Dagenham is one of the biggest asbestos hotspots in the country, with about 25 people dying from cancer linked to its exposure each year.
The high incidence of asbestos cancer is linked to emissions from the notorious Cape Asbestos Factory in Harts Lane, Barking, which closed in 1968.
The main forms of asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, can take decades to incubate and are marked by severe respiratory problems.
Mick Connelly, 66, of Barking and Dagenham Asbestos Victims Support Group, said: "I'm really looking forward to listening to Mr Towersey. It's a nasty disease - to get someone who can talk about it is really good.
"It will give encouragement to people who suffer from some of these issues.
"It's a very serious form of cancer. For people normally diagnosed, it used to be 12 months and that was it.
"This guy was diagnosed four and half years ago. It's an encouragement to people not to give up."
The support group will also use the awareness day to launch a database of people suffering from mesothelioma and asbestosis in Barking and Dagenham.
The news comes after the Recorder revealed a new memorial honouring the victims of asbestos cancer could be built near the defunct Cape factory site, possibly at the Barking Abbey ruins or a Quakers' burial ground in North Street, Barking.
Mr Connolly said: "There's been a bit of a delay, which was very disappointing. We're about to get it moving again and will be meeting again in a week's time and talk about this issue.
"There's been virtually no progress on that, to be perfectly honest. It's down to people changing jobs, essentially.
This article was originally published by JOHN PHILLIPS at bdrecorder
on February 14, 2008
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