In December 1999, my economize and I were travel base from a line of lawn bowls when I became knowing of his shortness of breath. I was gobsmacked and troubled when he told me that he had tough this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to pectus a infection, I prefab a doctor’s somebody for him the succeeding day.

Furniture X-rays revealed fluid on the lungs, over two litres of which was tired, sharing Brian prompt reliever, but it was a nervy act for the pathology results. Finished the Internet I had transmute conscious of several conditions which may get been answerable for disposable on the lung; these included asbestos- concerned diseases. Brian had lived in Wittenoom as a minor and I was appalled of his diagnosing. Not wanting to cark him unnecessarily, I did not cite my fears to him. I prayed that he had empyema or pneumonia but the pathology results revealed that there were constellation cells represent.

When Brian finally received his designation, my trounce situation became actuality. He had pleural mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lung caused by the inhalation of asbestos detritus. We plant it unthinkable that the disease was the conclusion of Brian inhaling asbestos junk as a offspring and that it had lain hibernating for forty-five eld before become fatal.

We were plant reeling from the appall when, without preamble, the brute mountebank gave his forecast. His rigorous words were, “Three to digit months, I reckon”. That he could say this so unfeelingly astonied me. His summate lack of sympathy did not encourage symmetric the slim condition of tears. I mat as if Brian and I had been propulsion and from that moment on we were inactivity to cut.
Undoubtedly, were mortally injured. We suffered temblor, doubtfulness, experience, powerlessness and utter condition; in fact all the symptoms of grief one feels when a idolized one has actually died. Suddenly, we had no test over our lives, our traveling finished contact malady had begun.

Throughout the way of our wedded aliveness my colourful bed for Brian and my pick to reckon difficulties had seen us through galore trials. I institute it firm to conceive that naught could be done to keep his living and begun surfriding the Internet for information regarding mesothelioma, all the measure praying for a miracle, hoping against plan to find a dilute who had successfully operated on or well someone of it.

It was a sad realization to see that for Brian there were no miracles; withal, I learned a lot and it helped me to endure that he was end. With my acceptance came a fierce judgment to comfortableness his burthen. I continuing to assay assemblage regarding mesothelioma and the hurt and symptoms Brian would receive, due to the advancement of his disease. In this way, I came to believe the standing of somatesthesia direction and symptom manipulate and realized that tho’ I could not preclude Brian from eager – I could amend him to unrecorded.

My acquired noesis regarding somesthesia and symptom management enabled me to interact with Brian and to interpret the write of untune he was experiencing and the strength of that untune. I was then competent to touch cooperator in jack with his doctors, to change his symptom and symptoms under essay. As my efforts resulted in his built propertied of existence, I unrecoverable my faculty of powerlessness and gained strength.

Together, we achieved for Brian, a level of story few cerebration conceivable, considering the nature of his disease. Testament to this, despite his prospect of tierce to figure months, Brian survived for 2 age, remained dynamic and vigilant, chisel his car for eighteen months after identification and was not bed enclose until trinity mulct life antecedent to his ending.
Brian’s courageous engagement with mesothelioma came to an end on the 24th Dec 2001; he passed off at domestic surrounded by his cherished ones. He was 54 period old.

Asbestos, the wonder product of the fifties is now recognized as an enemy of the twentieth century. A ruthless enemy which will kill more people than the war.  Men, women and children will fall victim to its prey, innocents who have at some time in their lives inhaled asbestos dust.

Most of us have been in contact with products containing asbestos in our life times.  We sat in asbestos class rooms, stood beside our fathers as they cut asbestos fencing, pulled up old linoleum with asbestos clogged to the back of it.  Visited the local tip where broken sheets of it lay open to the wind.

Records show that there are a higher number of people afflicted with asbestosis and mesothelioma who have directly worked in asbestos mines, ship yards and companies making products from asbestos; however there are a large number of people afflicted, who have never worked in these industries.  Their contact with asbestos, due to the dust brought home on their husband’s clothes or from the asbestos tailings placed around mine houses and town perimeters.  But the tragedy does not end there, children innocently playing in their own back yards played amongst the asbestos tailings as children elsewhere play in the sand.  They had no way of knowing that their sand was asbestos blue.  A good bath at the end of the day may have removed the dust from the skin but the dust in the lungs remained and would lay dormant for many years before claiming its deadly legacy.

Without warning, a healthy individual suddenly becomes short of breath, x-rays reveal fluid on the lungs and the night mare begins.  Questions are asked and you answer, Yes, I was exposed to asbestos dust but I was only in the town for a few short months and that was over 40 years ago.  How can this be? This is the most perplexing thing about mesothelioma.  Why is there such a long period of time between inhalation of asbestos dust and onset of the disease?  What triggers a strong healthy body to suddenly succumb to it?  What can we do to prevent this from happening?

Blood tests are now available to determine whether mesothelioma is present in the body, before a person is aware of any symptoms.  This is an amazing breakthrough and perhaps the first step towards curing the disease before it becomes terminal.  Recently mesothelioma was cured in a mouse and attempts to give it back to the mouse were unsuccessful.  This too is exciting stuff and holds a glimmer of hope for us all.

I have witnessed first hand the devastation of mesothelioma. My husband was a strong and virile man who rarely had a sick day in his life.  Suddenly at the age of 52 he became short of breath and was subsequently diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.  He had lived in the asbestos mining town of Wittenoom in Western Australia for a few short months at the age of seven.  The asbestos dust he inhaled then, took forty five years to become lethal.  I still find this hard to believe.

Despite his prognosis of three to nine months, Brian survived for two years.  He was 54 years old when he died.

He was only a child when it begun
And he played as children do
In his yard with his toy cars and tip trucks
But his sand was asbestos blue…

In December 1999, my husband and I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and concerned when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I made a doctor’s appointment for him the next day.

Chest X-rays revealed fluid on the lungs, over two litres of which was drained, giving Brian immediate relief, but it was a tense wait for the pathology results. Through the Internet I had become aware of several conditions which may have been responsible for fluid on the lung; these included asbestos- related diseases. Brian had lived in Wittenoom as a child and I was afraid of his diagnosis. Not wanting to worry him unnecessarily, I did not mention my fears to him. I prayed that he had pleurisy or pneumonia but the pathology results revealed that there were cancer cells present.

When Brian finally received his diagnosis, my worst nightmare became reality. He had pleural mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lung caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust. We found it inconceivable that the disease was the result of Brian inhaling asbestos dust as a child and that it had lain dormant for forty-five years before become lethal.

We were still reeling from the shock when, without preamble, the young doctor gave his prognosis. His exact words were, “Three to nine months, I reckon”. That he could say this so unfeelingly amazed me. His total lack of compassion did not encourage even the small comfort of tears. I felt as if Brian and I had been shot and from that moment on we were waiting to drop.
Undoubtedly, were mortally wounded. We suffered shock, disbelief, anger, helplessness and utter despair; in fact all the symptoms of grief one feels when a loved one has actually died. Suddenly, we had no control over our lives, our journey through terminal illness had begun.

Throughout the course of our married life my deep love for Brian and my determination to resolve difficulties had seen us through many trials. I found it hard to believe that nothing could be done to save his life and begun surfing the Internet for information regarding mesothelioma, all the time praying for a miracle, hoping against hope to find a doctor who had successfully operated on or cured someone of it.

It was a sad realization to discover that for Brian there were no miracles; however, I learned a lot and it helped me to accept that he was dying. With my acceptance came a fierce determination to ease his burden. I continued to seek information regarding mesothelioma and the pain and symptoms Brian would experience, due to the progression of his disease. In this way, I came to understand the importance of pain management and symptom control and realized that although I could not stop Brian from dying – I could help him to live.

My acquired knowledge regarding pain and symptom management enabled me to communicate with Brian and to understand the type of pain he was experiencing and the intensity of that pain. I was then able to work hand in hand with his doctors, to bring his pain and symptoms under control. As my efforts resulted in his improved quality of life, I lost my sense of helplessness and gained strength.

Together, we achieved for Brian, a quality of life few thought possible, considering the nature of his disease. Testament to this, despite his prognosis of three to nine months, Brian survived for 2 years, remained active and alert, drove his car for eighteen months after diagnosis and was not bed bound until three short days prior to his death.
Brian’s courageous battle with mesothelioma came to an end on the 24th December 2001; he passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was 54 years old.

Cancer – Courage and Love By Lorraine Kember
Everyday we hear of people dealing with incredible sadness and loss and we wonder; how do they do it? Where do they find the courage the strength?  We may even ask ourselves how we would cope under the circumstances. Sadly, we only become aware of the answer, when tragedy visits us and our own lives are thrown into turmoil.
When some one we love is diagnosed with a terminal cancer, life as we knew it changes forever. Suddenly we enter a new world, a world filled with helplessness, despair and fear of the unknown.  We no longer walk aimlessly around shopping Malls; we walk the Hospital corridors and sit in chemotherapy waiting rooms and are shocked by the number of people afflicted by cancer.  We can not help but wonder if one day we too may be a patient and we fear for our own mortality.
Sitting in a Chemotherapy ward is an experience not to be forgotten.  Cancer has no respect for gender, age or wealth. There are people from every race, color and creed; rich, middle class and poor; and none of this makes the slightest difference.  They are all untited in their suffering, fellow human beings on the same sad journey.
One can not bear witness to the incredible courage of those who have cancer, without being deeply affected.  My husband’s courage in the face of his terminal mesothelioma cancer held me in awe and I decided to do everything within my power to help him.
I learned about the stages and symptoms of his disease; the pain he would experience and ways to bring it under control, so that I could work with his doctors, to achieve for him, the best possible quality of life for what ever time he was granted.  It was incredibly hard to wake each day with the knowledge that my husband was dying; my anticipatory grief often overwhelmed me but somehow I managed to carry on.  One day a lady said to me, “You are such a strong woman.”  and I wondered what had made her say that.  I didn’t feel strong, I felt like I was breaking.
Despite a prognosis of three to nine months, my husband survived for two years and was not bed bound until three short days prior to his death.  My journey beside him as he traveled to the end of his life, has taught me many things, above all the true meaning of love and the strength of the human spirit.
Deep within ourselves there is strength and courage to sustain us in times of personal tragedy.  I have come to realize that during my husband’s illness, I was indeed strong.  I may have staggered with the burden of my grief but I did manage to help my husband achieve a quality of life few thought possible considering the nature of his disease. And, thanks to the expertise and dedication of the Palliative Care Team, I was able to fulfill my promise to him that he would not die in hospital.  His death at home was as loving, sharing and peaceful as anyone could wish for.
I have witnessed courage; that of my husband as he battled his disease and of my own as I stood beside him, determined to improve the quality of his life.  The knowledge that I was successful in this has brought me much peace. My husband’s illness and death have wounded me deeply yet I have emerged far stronger than ever before and gone on to achieve things I never thought possible.
My experience has taught me not to take life for granted and to live each day with thanks for the wonderful gift that it is. I have witnessed death; my awareness of the fragility of life, despite the strongest of wills strengthens my determination to grasp everything life offers me, with both hands.