Mesothelioma Awareness Day is a day of recognition and remembrance that takes place annually on September 26th. The day was created by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation back in 2004. 

The Meso Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for this aggressive cancer. Since established, they have raised over $10 million for mesothelioma research and focus on:

• Providing financial assistance to patients and their families
• Funding research to find a cure 
• Advocating for federal research funds 

This year marks the 17th annual Mesothelioma Awareness Day, where people come together to fundraise and show support for those who are affected by this rare disease. Organizations not only use the 26th to raise awareness but plan events all month long.

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about this disease which is why it’s so important to educate the public. Many people have no idea what causes mesothelioma or who it even affects. 

We’ve put together a list of 10 common facts to help you and your loved ones get a better understanding of mesothelioma:

1. About ⅓ of all mesothelioma cases are military veterans
2. This cancer affects about 3,000 Americans each year 
3. Patients usually don’t see symptoms until 20-50 years after exposure to asbestos
4. A mesothelioma diagnosis under the age 45 is rare 
5. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women because of their occupations
6. The main types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma
7. Asbestos is the only proven cause of this cancer 
8. About 80%-85% of cases are pleural mesothelioma 
9. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, there are many treatment options.
10. Around 20%-30% of people do not receive any treatment for their illness

Whether you’re a patient, survivor, family member or caregiver, Mesothelioma Awareness Day is a day for everyone to unite. People are encouraged to wear blue and share pictures on your favorite social platform. Some may even wear blue ribbons or wristbands.

Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, fundraising for research is especially important. Many organizations host unique events throughout September to help raise funds so researchers can continue to find a cure.