Nurse Reminds Us of the Importance of Mesothelioma Awareness Day

• Lisa Hyde-Barrett
• Nurse's Corner

September 26th of each year is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The day has been made possible by the efforts of many volunteers over many years. Established as a national day through a  proclamation by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, this day has been set aside since 2010 to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. Currently, 12 states and 34 cities have also proclaimed September 26th Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

According to Disabled World, “An awareness date is defined as a national or international awareness day, week, or month, and is a date usually set by a major organization or government, to commemorate medical research, or ethical cause of importance, on a national or international level.”

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the non-profit for mesothelioma awareness and promotion of research for a cure for mesothelioma, has been instrumental in getting recognition of this day. The activities that are planned include wearing blue to raise awareness, fundraisers throughout the country, and supporters at Rockefeller Plaza in New York on the morning of the 26th for the broadcast of The Today Show.

The mesothelioma community needs to use this day as an opportunity to support the victims and their families of this dreadful disease. Research into any cancer is challenging, but into a rare cancer is even more so. By raising awareness, and educating the public and government officials about the importance of funding research, we can all bring hope to the victims of this rare cancer.

Wear blue, participate in a fundraiser, tell people about mesothelioma, do what you can on September 26th, and throughout the year, to help support mesothelioma patients and their families.