The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) marks today, September 26, as National Meso Awareness Day. As you may very well know meso is short for mesothelioma, which is a generally lethal form of cancer in which membrane cells lining the chest or abdomen become malignant (cancerous). The resulting tumor thickens and hardens, crushing the lungs and suffocating the patient, invading the chest wall so that even breathing becomes painful, or invading the heart, aorta or other vital organs and causing catastrophic failure. Average prognosis for mesothelioma is only four to fourteen months.

Estimates put out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), show that 20 million Americans are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Furthermore, the horrific events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina have exposed countless more, especially the heroic rescue workers and first-responders. During the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers, at least 400 tons of asbestos were released into the air in lower Manhattan, putting many more at risk.

The MARF is the nonprofit collaboration of patients, families, physicians, advocates, and researchers dedicated to eradicating the vicious and usually incurable effects of mesothelioma. The Foundation supports research to develop more effective treatments for mesothelioma and ultimately a cure. They have given over $4 million in grants to promising studies around the world.

To find out how you can help, check out the source of this article at: http://www.marf.org/

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