The British Lung Foundation held an event at the House of Commons recently to raise awareness of the asbestos-related lung cancer, Mesothelioma, and Mark was there to add his support for the campaign for better standards of care and treatment for people affected by the disease.

Mark showed his support by signing Early Day Motion 879, which appeals for more patients to be given guidance in relation to end of life care and patients to be given more opportunities to take part in medical trials. These calls follow the results of a survey of Mesothelioma patients and their carers conducted by the British Lung Foundation.

The survey found that two-fifths (40 %) of patients and carers had not received support in relation to the end of life, and almost three-fifths (59 %) were not offered the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial, despite the lack of treatments options available.

Mark said: ‘The British Lung Foundation’s survey gives us many reasons to be pleased, revealing many people receiving high quality care and information; however we need to work to continue to further improve support offered to patients and their families particularly in relation to end of life care, and to give them the chance to try new treatments for this cruel cancer.’

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “We are very pleased that Mark is continuing to support the Action Mesothelioma Campaign.  Much has been achieved in the past year but there is a long way to go. We need more research into this deadly cancer and improved standards of treatment and care to give those affected more hope.”

Mesothelioma is a chest cancer which develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Over 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the UK – more than five people every day and sadly most will die within a year of being diagnosed and only 1 in 10 (10%) will be alive 3 years later.

Every year the death rate increases. This has led experts to believe that we are heading towards an epidemic of asbestos-related illness. The rising number of deaths from the condition is linked to the use of asbestos in the building industry up until the mid 1980s.