Terminal cancer victims not offered end of life care, survey reveals

Two-fifths (40%) of patients and their carers affected by the asbestos related lung cancer, mesothelioma say that they have not been offered vital end of life care despite the terminal nature of the disease, a British Lung Foundation survey reveals.

The survey which is published today to mark Action Mesothelioma Day also revealed that:

Almost half (46%) were not offered any psychological support by health professionals about their needs and hopes for the future
Almost three-fifths (57%) had not being offered any professional support about the needs of their dependents
Almost a fifth of patients (19 %) said that they were not kept well informed by health professionals when their condition was being diagnosed – a particularly frightening time.
Patients’ carers were even more confused during the diagnosis, with over half (52 %) saying that they did not feel informed.
Almost three-fifths (59%) were not offered the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial despite the lack of treatments options available

“Mesothelioma is a particularly cruel cancer which as yet has no cure so it is absolutely vital that those diagnosed with the disease and their loved ones are offered the support they need to cope with the reality of what lays ahead”, says Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation.

“Mesothelioma kills one person every five hours in the UK and the numbers are increasing every year so it essential that those affected are given the support they need at such a frightening and uncertain time”.

Mesothelioma develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Over 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the UK – more than five people every day and sadly most will die within a year of being diagnosed and only 1 in 10 (10%) will be alive 3 years later.

Every year the death rate increases which has led experts to believe that we are heading towards an epidemic of asbestos related illness. The rising number of deaths from the condition is linked to the use of asbestos in the building industry up until the mid 1980s.