Four years ago, Simon Christley started noticing what he described as strange symptoms, a few months later he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Now, battling an incurable cancer he wants to give a timely warning this Asbestos Awareness Month, that exposure to the deadly fibre is not a thing of the past.
The 67-year-old Wollongong man said he couldn’t lay on one side of the bed without losing his breath, and while on the bike at the gym he noticed his heart rate spiking to 220 bpm.
“At first, I thought there was something wrong with the bike. It was only shortly after Christmas, when I went to a doctor, and they ran tests. In February 2021 I was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
“I was shocked. When you get told that you’re confronted with your mortality. I knew about asbestos of course, but I hadn’t worked in an industrial setting. I asked how it could happen to me.
“Then I remembered when I was about 11 or 12, we lived in a house with an asbestos fibro roof, and we did an extension. Like many kids in my generation, we played with broken bits of fibro,” Mr Christley said.
This year’s Asbestos Awareness Month theme is ‘Think Twice About Asbestos’, warning those who are renovating that the deadly fibre is still something to be on the look out for.
According to the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency a staggering 1 in 3 homes in Australia built before 1990 contain the deadly asbestos fiber.
Loose fibres that are invisible to the naked eye can contaminate your hair, clothing and even surrounding surfaces and furniture. When products containing asbestos are disturbed (for example, cut, broken or drilled into), tiny fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are breathed in, they can become trapped in the lungs and may cause a number of very serious diseases.
Even low levels of exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma.
Despite the confronting diagnoses Mr Christley has said he feels lucky.
“I have an incredible support system around me; I try my best to do what I can and look ahead. I want others to know to not dismiss any symptoms. If you think you have any symptoms you feel are strange, see a doctor straight away.
“Even looking out the window now I can see a house with an old asbestos roof, it is not a thing of the past,” Mr Christley said.
Slater and Gordon Senior Legal Counsel in Dust Diseases, Raelene Lingam, said that regardless of your age or occupation, exposure can occur in many different situations and may have a major impact on your health.
“It’s unfortunately very common to see stories like Mr Christley’s. Sadly, those that made and distributed asbestos had knowledge at the time when Mr Christley’s family did not.
“In Australia, a home that was built before 1990 almost certainly has asbestos in it. There are many different areas that asbestos can be found inside and outside your home, including in roofing, flooring, fencing, putty/glues, plumbing, cement building materials, carpet underlay and insulation.
The devastating legacy of asbestos is far from over. However, by raising awareness we can protect children like Mr Christley who unknowingly played with and cleaned fibro sheets, from being exposed to asbestos, along with countless others.
Slater and Gordon are committed to raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos.
“If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, do not delay in seeking legal advice,” Ms Lingam said.
If you fear you have been exposed register your exposure here to help yourself and others: https://www.slatergordon.com.au/personal-injury/asbestos/register
Contact details:
Cassandra-Elli Yiannacou cassandra.yiannacou@slatergordon.com.au
0401 322 593
