- The United States has a global reputation of being strikingly advanced in technology and medical resources, but the media and medical professionals have only just recently recognized the fatal dangers of asbestos in causing a rare and aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma. The award-winning documentary Dealing with Mesothelioma has joined the best and most important films of the health documentary genre, addressing the uncommon but dangerous mesothelioma cancer that attacks the protective lining around the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Dealing with Mesothelioma features leading medical experts sharing their opinions about treatment protocol and awareness of asbestos related health concerns, providing a variety of options for those impacted by this cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency banned asbestos 30 years ago, after decades of usage (and more importantly, exposure to citizens) in virtually every building in America. Exposure to asbestos occurs through inhalation of fibers in the air of a working environment, ambient air in the vicinity of point sources such as factories handling asbestos shingles, or indoor air in residential houses or buildings containing friable (crumbly) asbestos materials. This innovative documentary begins by appropriately showing where mesothelioma can begin: in factories, shipyards, construction zones, and other common scenes in the modern world. Globally, there are approximately 125 million people who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, and the United States alone discovers 3000 new cases of mesothelioma annually. With asbestos being a problem that was hidden for decades, and taking up to 50 years to surface in the human body as the aggressive mesothelioma cancer, compassionate health films like Dealing with Mesothelioma are all too needed. This documentary helps the viewer to understand symptoms, comprehend a mesothelioma diagnosis, practical instruction on how to improve prognosis, the typical stages of mesothelioma, and how to care for yourself post-diagnosis.—Dan Brown
- Dealing with Mesothelioma is a compelling and compassionate production that tells its message articulately and truthfully. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that aggressively attacks the protective lining around the lungs, abdomen, and heart. It is often caused by asbestos, which is a building material that was used for years in most buildings and houses across the United States. This cancer can take years to be detected, which is why the average age of diagnosed patients is more advanced. The manner in which this documentary addresses the disease is both compassionate and truthful.
The documentary tells an important story that will enlighten viewers to the dangers of Mesothelioma. The footage of Steve McQueen and Ed Lauter is particularly powerful. McQueen was a Hollywood legend who starred in films like "The Great Escape" and Bullitt", but was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in the late 1970s. He has been thought to have been exposed to asbestos either during his time serving in the Marines, or on film sets during his acting career. Ed Lauter was a beloved actor who worked with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Liam Neeson, but was also exposed to asbestos on numerous film sets and was eventually diagnosed with the rare cancer. The storytelling within this film is exemplary, turning an informative piece about medical issues into a deeply moving production.
Dealing with Mesothelioma has won numerous accolades, specifically for its high-quality use of graphics. Other documentaries about health and medicine are necessary for the general public's well-being, but this particular film's professional and polished style sets it above all others. The quality of Dealing with Mesothelioma is on par with major feature films, easy to watch and easy to understand for the entire family.
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