At the young age of 28, Betsy became an asbestos mesothelioma survivor who had no idea how she contracted the disease.

Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a rare form of mesothelioma that attacks the lining of the abdomen.

In most cases, it is benign, but Betsy’s was cancerous.

At the time of her diagnosis, Betsy and her husband had been trying to have a baby. When she went in for a checkup, she told the doctor of a sharp pain she had experienced the day before. An ultrasound showed her right ovary was the size of a grapefruit.

After removal of her several tumors, her right ovary, right fallopian tube and appendix, Betsy endured chemotherapy.

This brave asbestos mesothelioma survivor nearly celebrated a year of being cancer-free when it reappeared, leading to a full hysterectomy, pushing her into menopause at age 30.

In addition to the surgery, she opted for Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), a new treatment that involves soaking the abdominal cavity and organs with chemotherapy to kill any leftover cancer cells left behind post-surgery.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Survivor’s Environmental Awareness

Betsy says she understands the importance of being aware of her environment at all times, and is proactive in taking care of herself.

“The way I accomplish that is by taking it upon myself to learn and gather as much education and knowledge as I can. That knowledge includes the environments I am in and exposed to, and what I bring into my home and what I put into my body. Because asbestos is not banned (along with many other toxic substances we can come in contact with), I try to empower myself with the knowledge necessary to protect myself,” said the asbestos mesothelioma survivor in a recent interview with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Nearly 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Even though asbestos use in the U.S. has dropped since the 1980s, the number of people diagnosed with the rare cancer has remained steady.

This is because asbestos exposure can take from 20 to 50 years for symptoms to start appearing. It takes that long for the tiny fibers to do damage to the lungs, the heart or the abdomen.

When asbestos materials are disturbed, they release tiny fibers into the air. When people inhale or swallow the microscopic fibers, they become embedded inside our bodies.

It takes decades, but the trapped fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and genetic changes that can lead to cancer.

Because Betsy was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 28, chances are she would have been exposed as a child.

Asbestos in Schools

Almost half of U.S. schools were built between 1950 and 1969, when during construction, builders used asbestos in schools. Often used to sound-proof auditoriums and as an insulation, asbestos is not dangerous until it is disturbed.

The EPA has instituted several rules and regulations regarding asbestos removal from buildings, and from schools in particular.

In recent years, cases have come to light that prove not all schools have followed EPA regulations, leaving school children and teachers at risk of asbestos exposure through unsafe removal methods.

As an asbestos mesothelioma survivor, Betsy does not know how she was exposed to asbestos, but she realizes she would have been a school-aged child when exposed.

Asbestos in schools is dangerous because young people are particularly susceptible.

In 2013, the U.K.’s Committee on Carcinogenicity published research that showed a five-year-old child’s lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma is five times greater that that of a 30-year-old adult who has been exposed to asbestos.

As far back as the 1980s, the U.S. estimated approximately 1,000 early deaths related to asbestos exposure would happen over the next 30 years, and 90 percent would be people exposed to asbestos in schools when they were children.