Mesothelioma in Canada
After climbing steadily over the past two decades, Canada's mesothelioma cancer rate is now one of the highest in the world. Few in the medical community are surprised: Canada's dedication to the mining of chrysotile asbestos and the Canadian government's track record for permitting its production and use in thousands of products laid the groundwork for exposing citizens to the toxic mineral. The most significant increases occurred in the shipbuilding areas around Vancouver, and in Quebec, home to many of Canada's early asbestos mines.
About 2.1 of 100,000 Canadians are diagnosed every year with the aggressive disease, according to experts. For context, consider that in 1984, 153 Canadian men were diagnosed with mesothelioma throughout all the country's provinces. By 2003, 344 cases were reported among men, and 78 among women. Deaths from mesothelioma totaled 404 in 2008.
Because of the disease's latency period of between 20 and 50 years, medical professional expect the death rate will not level off for several more years.
Free Mesothelioma Packet
Get a free mesothelioma guide tailored for patients and their families. Get Your Free Guide
Get mesothelioma treatment in the United States: If you or someone you love lives in Canada and has mesothelioma, you are eligible for a no-cost treatment program in the United States. Email us to learn more.
Canada's Love of Asbestos Mines
Canada's rate of mesothelioma corresponds with the country's long-held infatuation with asbestos, whose fibers cause all forms of the disease. The country's first asbestos mine opened in Quebec in 1879 – the first step towards a close relationship between the country and "Canada's Gold."
As the 19th century slid into the 20th century, an increasing number of asbestos mines opened, taking advantage of the large deposits of the mineral found in provinces that included Quebec, Newfoundland, British Columbia and the Yukon. Companies such as Johns-Manville arrived, taking advantage of the asbestos mines to manufacture a variety of asbestos-containing products that would be used in Canada and worldwide.
But while the asbestos industry boomed and mine owners and company executives made money, workers got sick, coughing up blood, suffering from breathing difficulties and dying. Canadian mortality rates among miners were studied as early as the 1920s, and evidence exists and asbestos company executives withheld negative reports from both their employees and the public.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company formed the Department of Industrial Hygiene at McGill University, and it suspected asbestos was sickening workers and causing some sort of "dust disease" of the lungs. A study conducted by the organization in the 1930s discovered that, of 200 men who participated, 42 developed asbestosis. However, the findings were never published and lawyers for asbestos manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. suggested to company executives that asbestosis receive "minimum publicity."
By 1966, Canada produced 40 percent of the world's chrysotile asbestos. By the 1970s, doctors had declared the asbestos mining towns in Canada to be among the most dangerous in the world, with rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases increasing.
It was hardly surprising: Canadian houses were constructed with asbestos-containing cement and other materials. At one point, the vast majority of homes in Canada contained any number of asbestos-laden products ranging from shingles and siding to insulation. Those involved in the construction industry were almost always exposed to the hazardous mineral, and, as a result, rates of asbestos-related diseases are now extremely high among construction workers. In addition, at least 4,000 household products used by Canadians during much of the 20th century contained asbestos in varying amounts.
Canadian Asbestos Mines Close
Asbestos opponents and those weary of seeing Canada's mesothelioma rate rise celebrated in 2011 when the country's asbestos industry ground to a standstill. Canada's last two remaining active mines, the Jeffrey Mine in Asbestos, Quebec, and the Lac d'amiante du Canada in the nearby town of Thetford Mines, Quebec, shut down because of financial, labor and development issues – the first time in 130 years that the Canadian asbestos production stalled.
One year later, in the face of broad criticism from public health officials, asbestos victims and cancer advocacy groups, the provincial government of Quebec threw a lifeline to Canada's beleaguered asbestos sector in the form of a $58 million guaranteed loan. The money was to cover more than two-thirds of the cost of renovating and reopening the Jeffrey Mine – the rest of the financing is private – and helping it to operate for another 20 years.
But before the government transferred money to the mine, the Quebec Liberal Party was defeated in a provincial election. The winning party – Parti Quibecois – cancelled the loan. Meanwhile, doctors – and others – quietly keep an eye out for the mine's 425 former employees and whether any of them develop mesothelioma.
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Our team of patient advocates are available to answer questions and can even help you find an experienced attorney.
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Professions Impacted by Mesothelioma
Those primary professions include:
Miners
Ship loaders
Truck Drivers
Anyone involved in those industries is at risk for exposure to asbestos and to the diseases caused by asbestos fibers.
In many cases, loose asbestos fibers are shipped to developing countries from Canada in large reinforced paper bags, where they are handled by undertrained and inadequately protected workers.
A secondary group of workers are also considered at-risk. These are people who work in trades that are one step removed from the process of removing asbestos from mines and transporting it to second- and third-world countries who continue to use asbestos products in construction.
These high-risk trades are similar to those in other places around the world:
Carpenters
Construction workers
Insulation installers
Plumbers
Roofers
Shipbuilders
Textile workers
In recent years, Canada's domestic production and consumption of asbestos declined, so fewer mining and manufacturing workers were exposed. However, because of the renovation and demolition of the country's aging buildings, especially in Quebec and British Columbia from the 1950s through the 1980s, the mesothelioma rate has been rising among construction and maintenance workers.
Health Canada Study
List Icon
In early 2008, it was revealed that Health Canada had quietly begun a study on the dangers of chrysotile asbestos. The organization said it started the research to "help further Canada's knowledge of chrysotile asbestos fibres in relation to human health" and to update the World Health Organization's last published assessment on the subject from 1998.
The two scientists on the project were supporters of the chrysotile asbestos industry, and the organization refused to announce when the results of the study would be released. In a written statement, Health Canada said that they found chrysotile asbestos to be "safe when used under controlled conditions," and safe use of the material would be regulated by Canada both domestically and abroad.
Mesothelioma Treatment
The large number of mesothelioma cases in Canada demands a medical system offering good treatment options for mesothelioma. Canada has a socialized medical insurance system, and it is generally believed that it is easier to get better care for rare diseases like mesothelioma in the United States than it is in Canada. In both countries, however, the treatment for the disease is the same.
Canadians generally explore one or a combination of three options for the treatment: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The choice of treatment options is based on factors such as the stage of the cancer, the size and location of the tumor, and the age of the patient. The goal of treatment can be "curative" to remove the cancerous tissue or "palliative" to ease the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment Centers and Doctors
Clinical Trials
Treatment Centers and Doctors
Canada has a number of cancer centers, hospital and specialists dedicated to the treatment of all types of cancer.
Cancer facilities in Canada that may offer treatment for mesothelioma patients include:
Center/Institute Location
Cross Cancer Institute at U of Alberty Edmonton, Alberta
Princess Margaret Hospital Surrey, British Columbia
Fraser Valley Cancer Centre Surrey, British Columbia
Vancouver Cancer Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Centre for Southern Interior Kelowna, British Columbia
Nova Scotia Cancer Centre Hamilton, Ontario
Margaret and Charles Juravinski CC Hamilton, Ontario
Toronto Western Hospital Toronto, Ontario
London Regional Cancer Centre London, Ontario
Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre Ottawa, Ontario
McGill University Health Centre Montreal, Quebec
L'Hopital Laval Quebec
Allan Blair Cancer Centre Regina, Saskatchewan
Some of the doctors or experts who are researching the disease or are performing clinical trials in Canada include:
Robert MacRae, MD
Jean Seely, MD
Christopher Lee, MD
Larry Ellison
Rufus Scrimger, MD
Marc dePerrot, MD
John Cho, MD
Demetris Patsios, MD
Brenda O'Sullivan, MD
Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute of Canada and the U.S. National Cancer Institute often collaborate in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of certain medications in the treatment of a number of diseases, including mesothelioma. A prime example is an ongoing Phase II trial for the drug sunitinib malate, currently being tested for its ability to stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes needed for tumor growth.
A good source to check for open clinical trials is clinicaltrials.gov, a website run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It is important to speak with a doctor, as some patients may not qualify for certain trials.
Next Option
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure
In Canada, mesothelioma is a compensable disease. This means patients can receive payment from provincial governments if documentation proves their asbestos exposure happened in the workplace. However, it is estimated that less than half of the affected workers actually apply for compensation. According to the Canadian Society for Asbestos Victims, some Canadians injured by asbestos do not seek compensation because they incorrectly believe that nobody knew of its dangers and thus nobody is at fault.
Asbestos Legal Issues
It has long been apparent that asbestos has resulted in the death of thousands of Canadians since use of the mineral began in the late 19th century. For almost as long, politicians have differed over the safety of the material and its mining and manufacturing. Many have long defended Canadas profitable chrysotile asbestos industry, which continues today, though only one of the original 13 mines is still in operation.
After climbing steadily over the past two decades, Canada's mesothelioma cancer rate is now one of the highest in the world. Few in the medical community are surprised: Canada's dedication to the mining of chrysotile asbestos and the Canadian government's track record for permitting its production and use in thousands of products laid the groundwork for exposing citizens to the toxic mineral. The most significant increases occurred in the shipbuilding areas around Vancouver, and in Quebec, home to many of Canada's early asbestos mines.
About 2.1 of 100,000 Canadians are diagnosed every year with the aggressive disease, according to experts. For context, consider that in 1984, 153 Canadian men were diagnosed with mesothelioma throughout all the country's provinces. By 2003, 344 cases were reported among men, and 78 among women. Deaths from mesothelioma totaled 404 in 2008.
Because of the disease's latency period of between 20 and 50 years, medical professional expect the death rate will not level off for several more years.
Free Mesothelioma Packet
Get a free mesothelioma guide tailored for patients and their families. Get Your Free Guide
Get mesothelioma treatment in the United States: If you or someone you love lives in Canada and has mesothelioma, you are eligible for a no-cost treatment program in the United States. Email us to learn more.
Canada's Love of Asbestos Mines
Canada's rate of mesothelioma corresponds with the country's long-held infatuation with asbestos, whose fibers cause all forms of the disease. The country's first asbestos mine opened in Quebec in 1879 – the first step towards a close relationship between the country and "Canada's Gold."
As the 19th century slid into the 20th century, an increasing number of asbestos mines opened, taking advantage of the large deposits of the mineral found in provinces that included Quebec, Newfoundland, British Columbia and the Yukon. Companies such as Johns-Manville arrived, taking advantage of the asbestos mines to manufacture a variety of asbestos-containing products that would be used in Canada and worldwide.
But while the asbestos industry boomed and mine owners and company executives made money, workers got sick, coughing up blood, suffering from breathing difficulties and dying. Canadian mortality rates among miners were studied as early as the 1920s, and evidence exists and asbestos company executives withheld negative reports from both their employees and the public.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company formed the Department of Industrial Hygiene at McGill University, and it suspected asbestos was sickening workers and causing some sort of "dust disease" of the lungs. A study conducted by the organization in the 1930s discovered that, of 200 men who participated, 42 developed asbestosis. However, the findings were never published and lawyers for asbestos manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. suggested to company executives that asbestosis receive "minimum publicity."
By 1966, Canada produced 40 percent of the world's chrysotile asbestos. By the 1970s, doctors had declared the asbestos mining towns in Canada to be among the most dangerous in the world, with rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases increasing.
It was hardly surprising: Canadian houses were constructed with asbestos-containing cement and other materials. At one point, the vast majority of homes in Canada contained any number of asbestos-laden products ranging from shingles and siding to insulation. Those involved in the construction industry were almost always exposed to the hazardous mineral, and, as a result, rates of asbestos-related diseases are now extremely high among construction workers. In addition, at least 4,000 household products used by Canadians during much of the 20th century contained asbestos in varying amounts.
Canadian Asbestos Mines Close
Asbestos opponents and those weary of seeing Canada's mesothelioma rate rise celebrated in 2011 when the country's asbestos industry ground to a standstill. Canada's last two remaining active mines, the Jeffrey Mine in Asbestos, Quebec, and the Lac d'amiante du Canada in the nearby town of Thetford Mines, Quebec, shut down because of financial, labor and development issues – the first time in 130 years that the Canadian asbestos production stalled.
One year later, in the face of broad criticism from public health officials, asbestos victims and cancer advocacy groups, the provincial government of Quebec threw a lifeline to Canada's beleaguered asbestos sector in the form of a $58 million guaranteed loan. The money was to cover more than two-thirds of the cost of renovating and reopening the Jeffrey Mine – the rest of the financing is private – and helping it to operate for another 20 years.
But before the government transferred money to the mine, the Quebec Liberal Party was defeated in a provincial election. The winning party – Parti Quibecois – cancelled the loan. Meanwhile, doctors – and others – quietly keep an eye out for the mine's 425 former employees and whether any of them develop mesothelioma.
Have a Question?
Our team of patient advocates are available to answer questions and can even help you find an experienced attorney.
Chat Now
Professions Impacted by Mesothelioma
Those primary professions include:
Miners
Ship loaders
Truck Drivers
Anyone involved in those industries is at risk for exposure to asbestos and to the diseases caused by asbestos fibers.
In many cases, loose asbestos fibers are shipped to developing countries from Canada in large reinforced paper bags, where they are handled by undertrained and inadequately protected workers.
A secondary group of workers are also considered at-risk. These are people who work in trades that are one step removed from the process of removing asbestos from mines and transporting it to second- and third-world countries who continue to use asbestos products in construction.
These high-risk trades are similar to those in other places around the world:
Carpenters
Construction workers
Insulation installers
Plumbers
Roofers
Shipbuilders
Textile workers
In recent years, Canada's domestic production and consumption of asbestos declined, so fewer mining and manufacturing workers were exposed. However, because of the renovation and demolition of the country's aging buildings, especially in Quebec and British Columbia from the 1950s through the 1980s, the mesothelioma rate has been rising among construction and maintenance workers.
Health Canada Study
List Icon
In early 2008, it was revealed that Health Canada had quietly begun a study on the dangers of chrysotile asbestos. The organization said it started the research to "help further Canada's knowledge of chrysotile asbestos fibres in relation to human health" and to update the World Health Organization's last published assessment on the subject from 1998.
The two scientists on the project were supporters of the chrysotile asbestos industry, and the organization refused to announce when the results of the study would be released. In a written statement, Health Canada said that they found chrysotile asbestos to be "safe when used under controlled conditions," and safe use of the material would be regulated by Canada both domestically and abroad.
Mesothelioma Treatment
The large number of mesothelioma cases in Canada demands a medical system offering good treatment options for mesothelioma. Canada has a socialized medical insurance system, and it is generally believed that it is easier to get better care for rare diseases like mesothelioma in the United States than it is in Canada. In both countries, however, the treatment for the disease is the same.
Canadians generally explore one or a combination of three options for the treatment: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The choice of treatment options is based on factors such as the stage of the cancer, the size and location of the tumor, and the age of the patient. The goal of treatment can be "curative" to remove the cancerous tissue or "palliative" to ease the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment Centers and Doctors
Clinical Trials
Treatment Centers and Doctors
Canada has a number of cancer centers, hospital and specialists dedicated to the treatment of all types of cancer.
Cancer facilities in Canada that may offer treatment for mesothelioma patients include:
Center/Institute Location
Cross Cancer Institute at U of Alberty Edmonton, Alberta
Princess Margaret Hospital Surrey, British Columbia
Fraser Valley Cancer Centre Surrey, British Columbia
Vancouver Cancer Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Centre for Southern Interior Kelowna, British Columbia
Nova Scotia Cancer Centre Hamilton, Ontario
Margaret and Charles Juravinski CC Hamilton, Ontario
Toronto Western Hospital Toronto, Ontario
London Regional Cancer Centre London, Ontario
Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre Ottawa, Ontario
McGill University Health Centre Montreal, Quebec
L'Hopital Laval Quebec
Allan Blair Cancer Centre Regina, Saskatchewan
Some of the doctors or experts who are researching the disease or are performing clinical trials in Canada include:
Robert MacRae, MD
Jean Seely, MD
Christopher Lee, MD
Larry Ellison
Rufus Scrimger, MD
Marc dePerrot, MD
John Cho, MD
Demetris Patsios, MD
Brenda O'Sullivan, MD
Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute of Canada and the U.S. National Cancer Institute often collaborate in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of certain medications in the treatment of a number of diseases, including mesothelioma. A prime example is an ongoing Phase II trial for the drug sunitinib malate, currently being tested for its ability to stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes needed for tumor growth.
A good source to check for open clinical trials is clinicaltrials.gov, a website run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It is important to speak with a doctor, as some patients may not qualify for certain trials.
Next Option
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure
In Canada, mesothelioma is a compensable disease. This means patients can receive payment from provincial governments if documentation proves their asbestos exposure happened in the workplace. However, it is estimated that less than half of the affected workers actually apply for compensation. According to the Canadian Society for Asbestos Victims, some Canadians injured by asbestos do not seek compensation because they incorrectly believe that nobody knew of its dangers and thus nobody is at fault.
Asbestos Legal Issues
It has long been apparent that asbestos has resulted in the death of thousands of Canadians since use of the mineral began in the late 19th century. For almost as long, politicians have differed over the safety of the material and its mining and manufacturing. Many have long defended Canadas profitable chrysotile asbestos industry, which continues today, though only one of the original 13 mines is still in operation.
