Woman Loses Two Husbands to Asbestos

Article Added April 24th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Those who have to watch the passing of a spouse affected by mesothelioma know the trauma that asbestos can cause. A Kent, England woman, though, has lost two husbands to the asbestos-related cancer.

Avril G.’s husband was a local electrician from Kent. A good husband, a friendly member of the community, Chris had a silent, deadly killer. While working with insulation due to his job, he had come in contact with asbestos over and over. The repeated exposure to the harmful material resulted in Chris contracting, and later dying, of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a lung cancer that is directly related to asbestos exposure, and can take decades to manifest. By the time symptoms are beginning to show, it is often too late for the victim to respond to treatment and live.

Avril tried to move on, and began anew with Les Alford, a mechanic in the Kent area. Almost five years after losing her husband, Avril lost Les to mesothelioma as well. Being a mechanic and lorry driver, Les was often exposed to asbestos in brakes and other parts in the early 1970s and 1980s. The silent lung cancer had struck again. Though she feels jinxed, Avril has vowed to raise funds and awareness for the disease. She hopes that, having lived through this trauma twice, she may be able to help others.

Article Added April 24th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story