You may have read a recent news story of ours concerning Sue Stephens, the former teacher from Marlow, Buckinghamshire who was campaigning for the government to better manage asbestos in schools following her diagnosis with a lethal asbestos-related disease. Salvum can now confirm that Sue has sadly passed away.
A disease that poses a devastating threat
The retired teacher was diagnosed with mesothelioma in the autumn of 2014. The disease is a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs or stomach, depending on how the asbestos fibres make it into the body. What differentiates mesothelioma from other forms of cancer is that it can lie dormant and undetectable within the body for between 15 and 60 years.
This is what makes mesothelioma an especially devastating disease; by the time it is discovered, it is often too late to do anything other than maintain as high a quality of life for the sufferer as possible. Following this principle, Sue’s case is rather rare – often, sufferers pass away only a few weeks or months after diagnosis.
A shocking diagnosis for loving family
Sue’s daughter Lucie was shell-shocked by her mother’s diagnosis. “Mum’s diagnosis in autumn 2014 was a terrible shock because she’s always been so healthy. Initially, we were optimistic… she bravely got on with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but neither treatment helped. She also tried to get on to new drug trials, but sadly she wasn’t well enough to take part.”
Vow to continue with campaign against asbestos in schools
This difficult and tragic time spurred Lucie to start a petition to tackle the amount of asbestos remaining in Britain’s schools, a campaign that she said she would continue in her mother’s memory, with the aim of the removal of asbestos from schools forming “part of her legacy”.
Lucie continued: “It’s been touching and incredibly sad that many people who are signing the petition have also lost a relative from asbestos in schools. It has gone on for far too long and I hate the thought that other people will suffer like Mum, when this disease is completely preventable.”
It is stories such as this that further encourage our team here at Salvum to do our utmost to help eradicate any asbestos present in buildings today. Simply contact the Salvum team now to learn more about how we can manage asbestos and its risks for your own property or workplace.
