State Representative Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) has announced that the Ohio House passed House Bill 285, which designates September as “Mesothelioma Month” and November as “Lung Cancer Awareness Month.” The purpose of House Bill 285 is to raise awareness about these diseases and promote prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.

“We can help in Ohio by raising awareness of this terrible disease, related to asbestos exposure and for lung cancer in general. Designating the month of September to mesothelioma awareness and November to lung cancer awareness will help do just that,” said Rep. Roegner, who sponsored the bill. “An increased awareness is critical to promote prevention, diagnosis and treatment.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and within every ethnic population, killing more Americans than breast, prostate, colon, liver and kidney cancers combined. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and kills between 2,000 and 3,000 Americans annually.

The National Institute of Health estimates that 11 million people were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1978. Because patients typically experience a latency period of 25 to 50 years after exposure before symptoms arise, mesothelioma is expected to peak in the year 2020.

House Bill 285 passed with unanimous support both in the House Health and Aging Committee and on the House floor. It will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.