Mesothelioma Still Prevalent in Canada Following Asbestos Ban

More than two years after implementing a much-celebrated ban of asbestos, Canadians have come to realize the real fight has only just begun. Malignant mesothelioma cancer isn’t going away any time soon. Asbestos exposure may be the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma, but the nationwide ban of the toxic mineral is not predicted to slow the rise in cases for decades. It is expected to change the face of those being diagnosed. “It’s going to be awhile before we see any major decline in numbers,” Dr. Paul Demers, director of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre at Ontario Health, told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Numbers are still rising for certain groups of people. The ban will be helpful, but this is no time to drop your guard.” Steady Rise of Mesothelioma Cases Demers led the latest study conducted by OCRC, expected to soon be released in full, examining the past 25 years of data with the Ontario Cancer Registry. The study looked at demographic patterns, tumor characteristics, diagnostic trends and survival rates. Demers also looked into the future with serious concerns about the ongoing prevalence of mesothelioma. The number of cases in Ontario, the most populous province in Canada, has risen steadily, from an annual rate of 75 cases in 1993 to almost 250 in 2017. The numbers are similar to the national average. Unfortunately, the study also found that the median overall survival rate improved very little over the past 25 years, reaching just 9...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news