Silent Killer that waited for years

For most of their 29-year marriage, the cancer lay dormant mesothelioma
can be passive for 30 to 40 years.

But Reginald Day's teenage job of building poultry sheds using material
containing asbestos cost him his life, and his widow Eileen
lays the blame squarely at the feet of James Hardie.

``James Hardie knew the product they made was a dangerous thing and
they still continued to make it,'' Mrs Day, the mother of four,
said yesterday.

``He cut supersix (used in roofing) with a handsaw.''

It wasn't until October 1999 that Reginald first started to fear something
was wrong. He experienced a shortness of breath, his hands
were weak, he couldn't lift anything, Mrs Day said.

Initially Reginald was diagnosed with bronchitis. But later, when
admitted to Blacktown Hospital, 4.5 litres of fluid was drained from
his lungs and the asbestos-related disease was confirmed.

``He was given six weeks to two years to live,'' Mrs Day said.

Her husband made it for another 18 months, which included undergoing
chemotherapy. He died in 2001 when they were both 54.

Once active, mesothelioma grows rapidly and victims undergo a particularly
awful end, losing weight until they die. Reginald died of
a heart attack, which Eileen described as ``a blessing''.

Reginald won his compensation claim, but it's blood money, according
to his widow. ``Money's not everything. I would rather be poorer
and have my husband,'' Mrs Day said.

The special commission of inquiry into James Hardie's asbestos fund
has heard evidence that due to the time lag before the asbestos-related
cancer manifests itself, there could be thousands of as-yet
unknown victims -- a situation ACTU secretary Greg Combet described
as ``a national disgrace''.

``Over the next fifteen years as many as 18,000 Australians are likely
to have died from the deadly cancer caused by asbestos -- mesothelioma,''
Mr Combet said.

``The incidence of mesothelioma is not expected to peak until 2010.''

Mesothelioma sufferer Ella Sweeney said James Hardie had acted immorally,
and that her cancer, contracted more than 30 years ago when
she worked at a Sydney hospital, was getting worse.

``They were putting the roof back on the maternity ward,'' Ms Sweeney
said.

``I know as days and months go on, my breathing gets worse ... you're
puffing and panting like you weren't months ago.''

Copyright 2004 / The Australian