Sophie Ellis, the youngest ever British mesothelioma victim, has died at age 18. Ellis was just 13 years old when she received a mesothelioma diagnosis and is believed to be the only British teen to develop the disease within the last 30 years. Only nine people under age 19 have died of mesothelioma since 1968.

After she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, Ellis became a spokeswoman for asbestos victims, using her story as a way to increase awareness of the terrible cost that asbestos has exacted on the lives of thousands worldwide.

“I hope more can be done to understand this disease,” Ellis stated in an interview with the Daily Mirror. “We need more research into mesothelioma and to raise awareness of it.”

Ellis’ case is extremely unusual because of the duration of time that usually exists between exposure to the asbestos that causes mesothelioma and diagnosis of the disease. In most cases, 15 to 50 years can elapse after asbestos exposure before the victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma. Doctors are unsure of how Ellis was exposed to asbestos fibers.

During the five years since she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, Ellis underwent eight months of chemotherapy and two months of radiotherapy in an effort to slow the progress of the cancer. In spite of these and other treatments, Ellis continued to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, performing with an amateur drama group and studying performing arts at Suffolk College until the symptoms of her disease made these activities too difficult.

Sophie Ellis’ brave fight against mesothelioma is a reminder that people from all walks of life can be affected by diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Although mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are often thought of as problems effecting only industrial workers and other laborers, thousands of individual in the U.S. have been sickened without ever working directly with asbestos-containing products.

These individuals include the family members who are exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on the clothes and skin of asbestos workers; residents of towns like Libby, Montana, where asbestos mining caused widespread contamination and individuals like Sophie Ellis, where the details regarding exposure are unknown.