As early as 1971, insulators were concerned about growing evidence of the serious health risks posed by asbestos. Members of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers led a wildcat strike over its presence at the Pacific Centre construction site in downtown Vancouver.
Today, the BCICA holds an annual golf tournament, spearheaded by C&G Insulation owners Andre and Judy Pachon, that raises funds for BC’s mesothelioma screening and research program—one of only two in the country. Doctors Stephen Lam and Renelle Meyers, working out of BC Cancer Foundation, have screened more than 100 people since the screening program’s inception.
“People exposed to asbestos have a higher chance of developing lung cancer,” says Dr. Lam. “That is why detecting mesothelioma and lung cancer early is very important.”
This year’s golf tournament raised $35,000 for the program, bringing the total funds raised to $500,000 since 2007.
One hundred fifty-eight individuals came out on one of the few days in May when the weather held and enjoyed great golf, a delicious dinner, and several prizes, including a $1,600 50/50 pot.
“Everything was excellent,” says Andre Pachon. “It is important to us to do our part in raising awareness around mesothelioma because so many of us in our industry have been affected. If it wasn’t for the great work of Dr. Lam, there would be even more tragedy. So, we truly thank him and his team for their dedication to this cause.”
BC Cancer also operates a provincial lung screening program for high-risk smokers—the only one in Canada—as smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer with asbestos exposure, while asbestos exposure alone increases the chance of getting mesothelioma.
“The funding from the BCICA contributes to supporting our research staff to do the risk assessment questionnaire, collect blood samples for future study, and to pay for the screening CT scans for exposed people in the lung screening program,” Dr. Lam says. “Every contribution has helped us to develop the infrastructure to get to where we are in the provincial screening program.” ▪
