An English man has lost his wife of 60 years to an asbestos-related illness. Tony Boxall lost his wife Evelyn to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, earlier this year. It is believed she was exposed to asbestos while soldering valves on aircraft radios as a teenager.

Mesothelioma affects thousands of new patients each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemotherapy, there is no known cure. The cancer may lie dormant for many decades before the first symptoms emerge. Unfortunately, the majority of patients lose their battle with this form cancer less than two years following diagnosis.

"We knew exactly what it was. She was working when she was 16. We got married when she was 21. The trouble is it laid dormant for so long. The way it grows is much like fungi," Boxall told reporters. "From last August she started to get out of breath and we found out she had fluid on her lung."

It is unfortunately not uncommon for people to develop mesothelioma or other asbestos illnesses decades after their initial exposure to asbestos materials. Those who worked with asbestos long before the health risks associated with it were recognized, like Evelyn Boxall, probably handled the carcinogen without ever knowing that it may one day cause them to develop cancer.

Mr. Boxall tearfully recalled the last time she was at home. "I remember when the nurses came to the house to take her to the hospice and she knew it was the last time she would be at the house. She asked the nurses to take her to the conservatory. I said to her ‘why do you want to go out there, ducky?’ She said to me ‘because I want to say goodbye to my lovely garden’. It broke my heart seeing her like that. I loved her very much and I miss her tremendously."

Recent data released by the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive has revealed that mesothelioma deaths are on the rise all over the United Kingdom. In Pembrokeshire alone, for example, it has been revealed that the rare cancer killed fifty people during the period between 1981 and 2005, according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, as well as organs like the heart and lungs. The cancer may develop half a century after a person has been exposed to asbestos, a material once commonly used in insulation, fireproofing materials, and floor and ceiling tiles. While treatments like chemotherapy and surgical interventions can help some patients, the cancer remains incurable. Most mesothelioma patients are told they have less than 2 years to live when they are diagnosed.

The figures were released as part of the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Asbestos: The Hidden Killer’ campaign. According to new figures, 20 workers in the United Kingdom die each week from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Those numbers are expected to increase in the coming years.

“Asbestos is Britain’s biggest industrial killer,” Terry Rose, director of the Welsh branch of the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive, explained.

“Asbestos-related illnesses claim the lives of 4,000 people every year…If you are not 100% certain that there is no asbestos [in your workplace], don’t start work…Think of it as…protecting your family and loved ones from unnecessary heartache.”

In Galveston, Texas, Michael Enriquez and many other local residents are growing increasingly discouraged by the presence of many neglected and vacant properties. The rat problem alone in his neighborhood is getting out of hand. “I’ve killed six or seven in the past week,” Enriquez, age 54, said.

The area was badly devastated by Hurricane Ike, causing storm surges to badly damage local homes. One of the properties hit hardest was the 77-unit Bayou Shores apartment complex. “Our neighborhood got pretty battered; our house is no jewel, but this is disgusting,” Enriquez said.

In some cases, it costs the city as much as $250 to clean, mow and secure a privately owned yard or lot that has been abandoned. When the owner can be tracked down, they are made to pay for the work. For example, the Bayou Shores complex is owned by Shiraz US Galveston Inc. A court ruling ultimately forced the owners to clean up the 60-year-old complex. The company bought it in 2007, and failed to purchase storm/flood insurance. Now, it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up and remove asbestos from the site.

Finding the right contractor to remove asbestos has slowed progress, according to officials. Asbestos removal must be undertaken by a licensed professional. This is because asbestos removal must be done in accordance with federal regulations. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma in some cases. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can lie dormant for decades before symptoms emerge.

In 30 to 35 days, the complex will finally be demolished, according to local sources. “It’s very unfortunate and very frustrating to the community and neighborhoods,” one local said. “People should do this without the city having to remind them.”