Mesothelioma Widows Depicted in Solemn Tribute

Christopher Ireland understands the grief associated with losing a loved one to mesothelioma . His father died from the asbestos-related cancer when the Australian native was in his teens. Approximately 10 years after learning about the cancer, he embarked upon a journey to compile a collection of touching photographs featuring widows affected by malignant mesothelioma. Ireland stated he learned that mesothelioma has no cure, and that the lack of a cure is what makes this photographic collection “a significant project, a significant topic, a significant cancer.” He spent time getting to know each of the women who lost their husbands to mesothelioma. “I’ve formulated a picture of the husband through the anecdotes given through the wives and that’s important for the project, to be able to get a sense of who that man was and what that man meant in the woman’s life,” said Ireland. While the project may seem depressing, Ireland wants people to know that the purpose is to inform about the dangers of asbestos as well as focus on the strength of the women featured in the photographs. Asbestos diseases claim the lives of thousands every year. Ireland’s hope is that the project will allow the women who have gone through the pain of losing a loved one to mesothelioma to be heard, and that others may become aware and avoid the same process. The portraits of 14 women are featured in a collection named Breathe, and may be viewed at an upcoming show at the Latrobe Regional Gallery in Australia from September 5 through October 4. The portraits may also be viewed on his website . Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a cancer found most frequently in the tissues surrounding lungs, but also in the tissues around the abdomen and heart. Because of the latency period of approximately 30 years, it is often diagnosed in the late stages of the disease, but not always. Time is critical after receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma, and gathering information can be overwhelming. Our mesothelioma family advocates are available to answer your questions, so please contact us to learn more about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

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