Mesothelioma UK

Mesothelioma UK is a national specialist resource centre, specifically for the asbestosrelated cancer, mesothelioma. The charity provides specialist mesothelioma information, support, and education, and is dedicated to improving care and treatment for all UK mesothelioma patients and their carers.

According to the HSE’s latest report*, there were 2,369 mesothelioma deaths in the UK in 2019. This is a distressing statistic; however, this figure is 7% lower than the annual average number of 2,540 deaths over the period 2012-18. Exposure to asbestos is responsible for up to 90% of all mesothelioma cases. There are thought to be other rare causes of the disease, but none are fully understood at this time.

Mesothelioma is also known as ‘diffuse’ or ‘malignant’ mesothelioma. It affects the mesothelium which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of: w The chest wall, where it is known as the pleura w The abdomen where it is known as the peritoneum w The testes

Mesothelioma is more common in men than in women and nearly half of the people diagnosed with the disease are over 75 years old. Furthermore, according to HSE’s latest report* annual deaths in this age group continue to increase while deaths below age 70 are now decreasing. Whilst most will have been exposed to asbestos whilst in their 20s and 30s, given the latency period between exposure and development of the disease, many will be over 75 at the time of diagnosis.

Nurses

Mesothelioma UK integrates into NHS front line services to ensure specialist mesothelioma nursing is available at the point of need. This is achieved through a network of 34 specialist mesothelioma nurses, regionally based in NHS hospitals but funded by Mesothelioma UK.

Within England, we aim to cover each Cancer Alliance, as well as provide more than one nurse within large alliances, or ones with a high patient volume.

In Scotland, we provide funding towards the Scottish Mesothelioma Network and are proud to work in partnership to fund clinical nurse specialists in Scotland.

In 2020 we launched Project Wales to establish a multi-disciplinary team and create a network of mesothelioma clinical nurse specialists.

Research

In addition to the support provided by our nurses, we acknowledge that our vision to improve patients’ experience and outcomes of treatment and care will only be realised through relevant research.

The Mesothelioma UK Audit and Research Strategy outlines the charity’s plan to offer a range of grant opportunities that will fund research and explore patients’ experiences of care, through to research on patient treatments and outcomes of care. As part of this, the charity funds Sheffield University to host a centre for research, called the Mesothelioma UK Research Centre.

Our vision is to use one-third of our income to fund new and existing audit research collaborations with academics, healthcare professionals and the charitable sector.

Funding

We are 100% reliant on fundraised income and the support of our corporate partners, legal partners, individual fundraisers, and grant providers has been instrumental in our success. We are extremely grateful for their support in helping us to meet our aims and objectives.

We have a range of ways that individuals and corporate partners can support us, from annual campaigns and fitness challenges to payroll giving and a charity of the year scheme.

Special Projects

Mesothelioma UK – Supporting our Armed Forces is a service we offer specifically to military personnel and veterans, for whom the support available, as well as the process for compensation, can differ from the general public.

We offer a clinical nurse specialist who specialises in the Armed Forces and a Benefits Advisor who is an expert in dealing with benefits and compensation for veterans.

To honour members of the Armed Forces affected by mesothelioma after asbestos exposure while serving, Mesothelioma UK is planning a memorial sculpture.

The ‘Mesothelioma UK – Supporting our Armed Forces’ memorial is a unique concept depicting the building blocks of life, engraved with vital awareness information about mesothelioma, asbestos and our Armed Forces.

We want the families and friends of those affected to be able to visit the memorial and pay their respects or celebrate a key milestone.

We’re looking for support through donations as this will help us to create and build the memorial, and one day bring together family, friends, and donors to remember our heroes.

The sculpture will be placed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. You can find out more at www.mesothelioma.uk.com/ armed-forces-memorial

mesothelioma.uk.com

*Health and Safety Executive latest report - Mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain, 2020