Rex Barnett, recent Mayor of Swindon, has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer.

Rex Barnett, recent Mayor of Swindon, has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer.

It's believed it's a result of his employment on the Great Western Railway.

Mr Barnett, who worked on the railways between 1953 and 1961, came into contact with asbestos when working in the carriage repair shops, where asbestos was sprayed as insulation.

Asbestos was used extensively in the railway industry, but workers weren't provided with suitable protective clothing or face masks.

It can take many years for an asbestos related illness to develop, sometimes as long as 50, although not everyone exposed will suffer from an asbestos related illness.

Mr Barnett was diagnosed with pleural plaques in 1994, which is scarring to the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Although pleural plaques aren't generally thought to cause symptoms, they are an indicator that someone has been exposed to asbestos.

At that time, Mr Barnett was advised that there was an 11% risk of him going on to develop mesothelioma, a risk which has sadly now been realised.

Mesothelioma is a terminal condition and can be caused by exposure to just one single asbestos fibre. Other asbestos related diseases include asbestosis, pleural thickening and lung cancer, all of which can be extremely debilitating.

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