Silicosis: Care, prevention and hope with Associate Professor Ryan Hoy

Behind every silicosis diagnosis is a person facing difficult questions about their health, work and family.In this episode of Dust Disease Diaries, respiratory and sleep physician Associate Professor Ryan Hoy sits down with James O’Loghlin to talk about the human impact of this preventable disease – what it actually means for someone who is diagnosed and the impact it has on every facet of their lives. Ryan reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of the past decade, as silicosis re-emerged as a major health issue and the respiratory and occupational health community came together to raise awareness and push it onto the agenda. He shares what it is like to see young men in their late 20s and early 30s arrive at the clinic with their partners and young children, and then have to deliver a life-changing diagnosis. He explains why early psychological support, personalised medical advice and a pathway to safe, meaningful work are so important. And while we all need to learn from the experiences of the stone benchtop industry – and there is still much work to do to strengthen prevention and raise awareness across other high-risk industries - there is also reason for hope. Stronger prevention measures, specialist care and new Australian research are helping to build a better way forward.A silicosis diagnosis can understandably feel very overwhelming, but as Ryan explains - no one has to face it alone. An experienced respiratory specialist can help each person understand what silicosis means for them, plan the safest way forward and provide ongoing care, support and reassurance.In this episode:

· Why early silicosis can be symptom-free, and what workers should know about exposure and screening

· How a diagnosis can bring uncertainty about health, income, identity and the ability to support a family

· Why care must be individual, culturally appropriate and attentive to psychological wellbeing

· The importance of helping people remain in, return to or retrain for safe and meaningful work

· Ongoing barriers to screening

· Where hope lies: better prevention, long-term support and outcomes, and research into future treatments

A/Professor Ryan Hoy is a Respiratory and Sleep Physician. He is a Research Fellow at the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and a Visiting Medical Officer at the Department of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Respiratory Medicine at The Alfred Hospital. His research interest lie in the area of occupational and environmental causes of respiratory disease.

Specialist area – Occupational Lung Disease (OLD), in particular silicosis. You can find out more about Prof Ryan Hoy here.

For information and support visit the Silicosis Support Hub silicosis.org.au

To find out more about ADDRI, visit: www.addri.org.au

Thank you to our podcast interviewer and host, James O’Loghlin, and producer Rod Morri from Sydney Podcast Studios.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@addri.org.au