On January 26, 2015, the IAS is 15 years old. A conference will pay attention to this event. Various speakers from their policy and scientific background will shed their expert light on the expected epidemiological, medical, legal and political developments in relation to asbestos and compensation in the council chamber of the SER. The congress will be concluded with the awarding of the Mr. Job de Ruiter prize to a person who has made a great contribution in recent years to reducing the agony of the asbestos victims. In 2005, former minister De Ruiter himself was the first to receive this prize, named after him, as the spiritual father of the IAS,
In anticipation of the congress, it can be concluded that the current asbestos victims in our country is still broad and powerful and that this reality will also occur in the coming years. In the past 15 years, IAS received more than 7,000 applications, of which approximately 6300 people had mesothelioma. Over the next 5 years, the incidence of this group of victims is unlikely to fall drastically, possibly even slightly, as a result of the growth within the victim group over 65. This prediction also relies on the development in fairly similar countries as England and Australia with not too many deviating definitions and relatively reliable registration methods. An important indicator of this trend can also be found in the longer latency period observed in the current research. In a recent study in patient groups in Italy and Australia from Reid (2014), the risk of mesothelioma increases to 45 years after the first exposure. 44% of people with lung cancer and 54% of people with peritoneal cancer were diagnosed with mesothelioma only after 40 years.
As in Cape Town, during the congress of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, 'all over the world' scientists were actively studying the causes of mesothelioma and improving treatment methods. New drugs, such as tremelimumab, are being developed. Different biomarkers are examined for their effect, as are the effects of photodynamic light therapy (PDT). Several genetic patterns involved in the development of mesothelioma are being studied. In recent years, however, most progress has been made in the treatment of mesothelioma using immunotherapy. But also in this area no breakthrough can be expected in the short term, which makes mesothelioma a less deadly and more chronic disease.
In the Netherlands in the year 2105, we have not yet settled with the past when unprotected asbestos was used and the risks of asbestos exposure were ignored. However, almost daily we are also confronted with reports about the asbestos situation from now on when buildings are being renovated, demolished or burned down. Our country is still full of asbestos and it will take a long time before this situation is put to an end. A careful, well-coordinated and widely supported plan is necessary to prevent much more exposure. The regularly occurring asbestos panic shows that such an approach is desperately needed. It is possible Flanders is a good example. In 2040 this part of Belgium wants to be asbestos-free (see further this newsletter).
For the IAS, this means that the doors can not be closed for a long time yet. Too many applications can still be expected in the coming years. It is important that, when dealing with this, the IAS services to this group of victims, which are so badly affected, remain at least at the same level and, where possible, will be improved. During the IAS congress on 26 January, all good suggestions for realizing these improvements are more than welcome.
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