North Dorset woman raising awareness of Mesothelioma
The cancer is usually associated with exposure to asbestos
A North Dorset woman is raising awareness of Mesothelioma, and sharing her experiences.
The cancer is usually associated with exposure to asbestos, with more than 2,700 people diagnosed in the UK each year.
Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over, with men affected more commonly than women.
For Mesothelioma Awareness Day, Toddy Westropp from Okeford Fitzpaine, who is living with the condition, has turned her socials blue to raise awareness of Mesothelioma and Asbestos.
There are two types of Mesothelioma - peritoneal which effects the lining of the tummy and pleural mesothelioma, which effects the lining of the lungs.
Toddy who has peritoneal Mesothelioma said:
"There is an operation for peritoneal but there isn't for Pleural, a 10 hour operation, really brutal but it can give you five, maybe even ten years life. So I went in on November the 14th and had the operation and I should get about five years in which time I'm going to tell everyone about Mesothelioma as I'd never heard of it before, never even knew it was a thing."
She added that she want's to see every public building checked for asbestos:
"The Government need to be held to account and one of the first things they need to do is make sure our children's schools, our hospitals, make sure all these building are safe for the backbone of the country."