Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog

The Meso Foundation -- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation -- recently announced it had added an additional $500,000 to put toward researching mesothelioma, bringing the total investment to about $7.6 million.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have reported recently about several efforts that are being made to increase the amount of funding and research done to try to not only find a cure for mesothelioma, but learn how to better detect it and stop it from developing.

Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. And while it is no longer actively used in insulation and other products, as it was throughout the 20th Century, it is still contained in many buildings throughout the country.

There is a constant wave of veterans and older adults who were exposed to asbestos when it was being used throughout the middle of the century. Vermiculite tainted with asbestos was being churned out of mines and shipped to manufacturing plants nationwide, causing many people to be exposed without knowledge of the effects.

As the years went on and people became ill with mesothelioma -- a form of cancer that is incurable -- researchers began looking at what was happening. They found that asbestos was the cause. Many businesses were warned, but did nothing. So, their employees were left to work in this environment without knowing the effects.

While asbestos has now been effectively banned from use in the United States and many other countries, there are still many older buildings, even some that have been renovated in recent years, that still contain asbestos.

This opens up different types of health hazards. For one, if a person lives or works in a building containing asbestos, it's possible that the mineral can flake off and get into the ventilation system and lead to exposure that way. If workers are called in to renovate a building or clear out known asbestos, done improperly, it could lead to workers and the public being exposed.

That's why there are specially trained workers who can remove asbestos from buildings to ensure it is done correctly. Even a small amount of asbestos exposure can lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma one day.

But the Meso Foundation wants to know more about this incurable form of cancer. After 46 applicants attempted to prove that they should get the money to find a cure or at least more treatment options, five were chosen.

All projects were reviewed and ranked by members of the foundation's board. Projects will look at the molecular characteristics of mesothelioma tumors to see how defective genes impact malignant cells. Another project will look at how the body's proteins respond to chemotherapy cell death.

It is everyone's hope that this research continues and researchers and scientists may one day be able to know more about the cancer so that it may be detected and cured in its earlier stages. This will prevent patients from having to hear the bad news of a diagnosis decades after exposure.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma Foundation Awards $500,000 to Research Cure For Mesothelioma" »

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are looking to figure out if there is a connection between the measles virus and mesothelioma in order to possibly find a cure.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have reported time and time again on our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog that researchers are picking up the pace in terms of looking at mesothelioma. While this is a rare form of cancer, it is one that is devastating because it has no cure.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. It is unique in that a person can be exposed to this natural mineral and not feel any symptoms of the cancer for 20 to 50 years later. Typically, this cancer isn't discovered until it is in its most advanced stages.

Symptoms include heavy coughing, fluid built-up in the lungs, chest pain and other signs that could point to a variety of ailments. That is another reason why this cancer is so dangerous -- it can be masked as something less serious.

But researchers are hopeful that recent work may be able to put a dent into the number of people who die from this form of cancer. Typically, people with mesothelioma are treated with chemotherapy because surgery often isn't a sound option. This is because the cancer tends to form near major organs, such as the heart, lungs and abdomen.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are reporting there has been an increase of mesothelioma cases in Minnesota, so the clinic there is doing extensive research to find a cure. This is attributed to taconite mining in the Iron Range region, which is a large economic booster, but has shown to have some unknown medical risks.

The latest version of the measles virus vector is an engineered version of the measles virus that is safe to the patient, but carries a toxic payload and is targetable. Doctors are able to conduct imaging studies to follow the virus in a treated patient. And they believe that they may be able to administer a more toxic version into a mesothelioma patient to destroy the cancerous tumor.

Researchers have found that mice with mesothelioma were given treatment that doubled the life span compared to mice that didn't receive any treatment. The potential treatment was found by lab workers testing drugs approved to treat other forms of cancer.

When applied to mesothelioma cells, it seemed to make a difference. But researchers warn that this isn't a cure for mesothelioma. Still, they hope that the treatment could improve for these patients.

One researcher said the hope is that within four years, after proper testing and trials, that treatment can be offered in the form of a pill that could outperform chemotherapy. That would allow patients to have a less turbulent time getting help for this cancer. They also predict that this treatment would increase the patient's lifespan by about six months.

Continue reading "Researchers Working to Determine if Measles Help In Treating Mesothelioma" »

The Department of Defense is dedicating $16 million to research certain types of cancers, including mesothelioma.

This is critically important because many of our military veterans are suffering from mesothelioma after years of dedicated service to our country. Our mesothelioma lawyers are aware that this form of cancer can date back decades and many service men and women were exposed to asbestos before it became unpopular due to health risks.

The United States military was one of the largest users of asbestos, especially in Naval ships and shipyards. This natural mineral, which has a resistance to fire, was used in ships and in buildings on military bases and bases throughout the world.

While many veterans may have been exposed to asbestos decades ago, they are just now feeling the effects. Common symptoms of mesothelioma are trouble breathing, chest pain and fluid build-up, which are similar symptoms to lung cancer.

This is part of the reason mesothelioma is so dangerous. Many people tend to ignore the symptoms, assuming they are related to a different, already known illness or just a sign of old age. By the time a person goes to a doctor, who usually refers them to other specialists -- all of which takes time -- it's typically too late; the median life expectancy after diagnosis is 12 months.

Mesothelioma is incurable and it is 100 percent fatal. Usually, the lungs are the target of the asbestos-forming cancer, but also the heart or lining of the abdomen can be affected. This is a serious form of cancer unlike others because the treatment options are very limited. Operations are rarely a good idea in an older patient near a vital organ. Once it's discovered, it's typically well-developed.

But the Department of Defense is dedicating $16 million to researching cancers other than breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer programs that are already in place. The funds are to be used to research:

• Mesothelioma


• Blood cancers


• Colorectal cancer


• Genetic cancer research


• Kidney cancer


• Listeria vaccine for cancer


• Melanoma and other skin cancer


• Pancreatic cancer


• Pediatric cancer


• Radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology

Researchers are required to meet certain requirements in order to get funding to do the research. Information is available through the Congressionally Directed Medication Research Programs website.

This is a great opportunity for mesothelioma to get more attention and hopefully for more research to be done in order to find a cure or better early detection. Our mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to keeping up with the latest research and most up-to-date information regarding this awful form of cancer.

The negligence of companies has caused the pain and suffering of many of our clients. We are dedicated to fighting on behalf of those whose lives have been cut short because of this preventable illness.

Continue reading "Department of Defense to Spend $16 Million to Research Mesothelioma, Other Cancers" »

CanBas Co., a Japanese-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company was recently granted orphan drug status by the United States Food and Drug Administration for a new drug that treats advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma, pharmabiz.com reports.

Treating mesothelioma is difficult because there is no known cure for this particularly aggressive form of cancer. While pharmacists, scientists and researchers attempt to find one, like they are doing for all forms of cancer, the best mesothelioma patients can get at this point are drugs that can soothe their pain.

Most research has shown that the illness can live in a person's body for up to 30 or 40 years before a person feels the symptoms and seeks a doctor's opinion on what is causing it. By the time a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they typically only live another 12 months, on average.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have seen the pain and frustration this form of cancer has caused families. For many, they are so scared to learn they have this disease and they don't know how to react to the news. For others, they are angry because they discover that working with asbestos decades ago, for a company that knew the ill effects of the product but never told employees, is the cause for their disease.

Asbestos was used in the United States for decades until the early 1990s. Researchers began studying this natural mineral -- used as insulation, in car parts products, hair dryers, crock pots, piping and other products to resist fire and heat -- decades ago because people who were around it were getting sick. It wasn't long before they realized asbestos is a direct link to mesothelioma.

But perhaps this new drug could help. According to pharmabiz, CBP501 is in a late development stage to treat people with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma who aren't eligible for surgery. This is the case with many mesothelioma patients. Because the cancer attacks major organs, such as the lungs, heart and stomach lining, it's typically difficult to operate.

According to the report, the company is testing 63 patients and hope to have the patients treated by the beginning of 2012. The FDA's orphan drug program allows for drugs to get special status to treat a rare disease or a condition that affects a small portion of the public. It provides tax breaks and marketing incentives to companies who are working on drugs that won't be mass-marketed, but only will treat a small number of patients.

According to the source, pleural mesothelioma makes up about 70 percent of all mesothelioma cases and 80 percent of all pleural mesothelioma cases involve a history of asbestos exposure. The latency period is 20 to 50 years and therefore the diagnosis usually comes in the advanced stages. Chemotherapy is typically the only treatment option for patients.

Our mesothelioma lawyers hope that this drug could provide hope for the thousands of mesothelioma patients in the United States who wonder what went wrong and why they have to suffer at the end of their lives. While this form of cancer doesn't get the exposure that others do, it is ruthless and more treatment options must be developed.

Continue reading "New Drug Granted Orphan Drug Status to Treat Malignant Mesothelioma" »

More than 1,000 people who claim they were injured after the World Trade Center Twin Towers collapsed following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York recently had to decide whether they wanted to pursue lawsuits or attempt to get money through a compensation fund, the Associated Press reports.

Our mesothelioma lawyers reported on our blog in September that a recent study showed that firefighters, medical personnel and others around the towers after the collapse were more likely to end up with exposure to asbestos compared to others who weren't near the aftermath that day.

As we have reported time and time again, asbestos exposure can lead to major medical problems, including mesothelioma. This is a rare and incurable form of cancer.

It is so devastating because patients don't realize they have mesothelioma until years and sometimes decades after they have first been exposed. Many men and women who were teenagers when they enlisted in the armed forces were exposed to asbestos before most realized it was dangerous and they are now suffering today. Others who worked in steel mills, in the oil and gas industry or in manufacturing may have worked on equipment or with products that contained asbestos.

On January 2, the deadline passed for people to decide whether they wanted to go forward with lawsuits claiming their health was ruined by dust and smoke from the collapsed towers or if they would rather drop the litigation and apply for benefits from the government.

Lawmakers set aside $2.76 billion in federal taxpayer dollars last winter, though that amount was lower than a previously proposed amount, that would pay for those who were diagnosed with illnesses that were a result of spending time in the disaster zone. As many recall, a haze of ash spread over the Ground Zero area for many months following the attacks.

Rescue crews scoured for live bodies, while recovery crews later worked to clean up the rubble from the giant towers. To be considered for part of the money, applicants had to dismiss any lawsuits and give up the right to sue ever again. Anyone who still had a lawsuit pending on Jan. 3 forfeited the right to apply for the compensation fund.

The program allows people to get money for their sickness without having to prove it was a result of the terrorist attacks. But it could take months or years before the applicants know how much money they could eventually get. They must endure the gamble of not knowing whether a trial would be quicker or more profitable. This program is as suspect as many other such government programs.

The other problem is that the fund was limited to some breathing ailments, such as asthma, scarred lungs and other respiratory problems. The list of illnesses doesn't include cancer, which scientists have yet to conclusively link to the toxins within the trade center. Some have dropped their lawsuits even if cancer is one day added to the list.

The article suggests that New Yorkers other than emergency crew workers could one day apply for the fund as well, spreading its money thin. If the list of illnesses is expanded, that could cut down on how much is available as well.

Continue reading "Tough Decision as Thousands Consider Whether to Pursue 9/11 Mesothelioma Lawsuits" »

A Canadian woman who has now lost both her mother and her father to mesothelioma is calling for the country to put an outright ban on production of the natural mineral.

As our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog has reported recently, a group of investors is planning to jump start Canada's asbestos exportation business, sending millions of tons of the mineral to third-world countries, where it will be used to build houses and buildings among unsuspecting people.

Our mesothelioma lawyers understand the dangerousness of asbestos and have seen many people whose health has been affected by exposure without their knowledge. Exposure to asbestos can cause many respiratory illnesses along with mesothelioma, a rare and incurable form of cancer.

While asbestos has never officially been banned in the United States, it is rarely used anymore. Though there have been examples of companies trying to use asbestos in road projects, those are typically halted once the samples are tested by environmental officials.

But many buildings still stand today in America that were built with asbestos. The natural mineral was highly popular in the early 20th century because of its resistance to fire and its ability to insulate a building. It was used heavily in construction, including coating pipes and in boiler rooms. It was also used in consumer products, including crock pots, hair dryers and other every day things.

Natural disasters, such as tornadoes and earthquakes have taken down many of these buildings and exposed many people to the asbestos inside. Researchers have found that first responders to the Sept. 11 attacks likely were exposed to heavy amounts of asbestos and other carcinogens.

And yet Canada has decided to continue its asbestos exportation business, despite the obvious health risks. Canada and Russia are among the biggest exporters of asbestos today, sending this dangerous product to counties where the people have little voice in the matter.

While Canadian officials say this new type of asbestos is tightly packed and won't flake off and cause exposure, there's no way to know for sure. And countries like India have lower standards for environmental protection and likely won't think twice about bringing it in.

One Ontario resident, who calls herself an "asbestos orphan" wants to try to convince the government to ban exportation and mining of asbestos, the Toronto Sun reports. The woman's mother told her just before death that no one should die the way she was dying -- after having been exposed to asbestos.

A mine in Quebec closed two years ago, but a group of investors -- padded by a Canadian-backed loan -- has vowed to continue the trade. Asbestos is already banned in 50 to 60 countries. In the United States, some asbestos-containing products are banned, but others are not. A 1991 court ruling out of New Orleans overturned an Environmental Protection Agency ban.

Despite Canada banning asbestos because of health concerns, its government is wiling to send the dangerous mineral to other countries, where their people can deal with the health effects years in the future.

Continue reading "Woman Who Lost Both Parents to Mesothelioma Calls For Asbestos Regulations" »

The World Health Organization recently reported that nearly 100,000 people died between 1994 to 2008 from mesothelioma, a large number considering how many cases may go undiagnosed.

While this form of cancer is still rare compared to other forms, such as lung, breast and prostate, the difficulty of diagnosing it makes keeping statistics challenging. Mesothelioma is rare and incurable, which makes it among the deadliest known forms of cancer.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have seen many families devastated to learn that their loved one has cancer solely because they worked in an old factory, in a shipyard or in construction decades ago in their youth. That's because mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, which was common in the United States for most of the 20th century.

Asbestos was used as a form of insulation; because it resists fire, so many buildings were constructed with it in roofs and walls throughout. Piping was coated with it and boiler room equipment also used it. Manufacturers found uses for asbestos in making car parts, such as brake pads and other commonly seen things such as ceiling tiles, peat moss, wallpaper, cement, hair dryers and cigarette filters.

All kinds of companies used it. Then, people began getting sick. And dying. By the 1970s, researchers were beginning to find that asbestos was dangerous, though more than 800,000 tons of the stuff was being used commercially in the United States by 1973.

In the following decades, production tailed off. But there are many old buildings and products that still contain asbestos. Road crews sometimes still use asbestos in a mixture to create roads.

Yet, in other countries, the asbestos industry is going strong, despite the well-documented health risks. As our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog reported in September, Canada is one of the world's biggest exporters of asbestos. New investors restarted the countries asbestos trade and ships large amounts of the mineral to India. Russia is also a big exporter. Brazil and other third-world countries are still using the mineral to build houses and buildings.

WHO reports that mesothelioma affects men more than women and the time it takes from exposure to diagnosis is usually longer than 30 years, meaning the disease can work and spread without someone knowing it for that long. Once diagnosed, the average survival time is only 9 to 12 months. Some estimates say 43,000 people each year die from the disease, but getting good numbers is tough.

There are many countries where the cause of death simply isn't recorded. Some places don't have the resources to conduct research about health facts like the United States and other rich countries can. So, really, it's difficult to know how many fathers, brothers, mothers and sisters are dying from this awful cancer.

Continue reading "WHO Estimates 92,000 People Died From Mesothelioma From 1994 to 2008" »

A recent article in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that there may be a breakthrough procedure to care for pleural mesothelioma.

As it stands, mesothelioma has no known cure. It is a rare form of cancer that takes years and sometimes decades to be diagnosed. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a once commonly used mineral that provided insulation and was used in floor and ceiling tiles, brake pads, pipe covering and other uses.

Asbestos is ingested and can attach to the lining of major organs, such as the lungs, heart and abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is when asbestos builds around the lungs and causes this form of cancer.

Our mesothelioma lawyers are constantly rooting for new information and cures to this fatal illness. Sadly, the median life span after diagnosis is only 12 months, so once a person finds out they have this form of cancer, there is little time left to enjoy life. We hope that new research and new discoveries help people fend off this fatal cancer.

Currently, there are limited treatment options for those with mesothelioma. People can opt for surgery, which sometimes is risky given the areas that are being discussed, chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy.

But according to the recent article, a technique called the positron emission tomography uses molecule flurodeoxyglucose to track metabolism as it happens. When combined with a CT scan, doctors can better track how the cancer is moving and can give them a better understanding of how to treat it.

Understanding the progression of the illness in one patient can lead to helping many others if researchers can find patterns that will help generations to come. But for those affected now, using this new technique may be able to stop the cancer from spreading.

The article looked at 44 patients between 2004 and 2008. The study tried different forms of treatment and tracked the disease in the patients through flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. The article's authors suggest that a full study could help people determine if this can be a useful technique to further study mesothelioma in the future.

Healthcare costs for everyone are skyrocketing. For people dealing with major medical issues such as mesothelioma, they can be extremely high, especially when new techniques are being used. For companies who employed workers in old factories, buildings, on shipyards, in car-parts companies or other places where asbestos was used, they may be liable for the illness and its effects.

Companies should remove asbestos so that it can't harm people and they should have done it decades ago when they first found out. Many did not and many workers got sick. Stand up for your rights and get help for your medical bills.

Continue reading "New Medicine Imaging Tactic Could Improve Diagnosis of Mesothelioma After Asbestos Exposure" »

The Mesothelioma Center recently reported that Australia has tightened its restrictions on using asbestos after research showed that asbestos mixed into concrete can be lethal. It also reported that West Virginia has emerged as a hotbed for asbestos-related lawsuits.

Our mesothelioma lawyers represent clients and families dealing with this deadly diagnosis as a result of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a natural mineral that was used for decades in construction for insulation purposes, but also to coat pipes and brake pads and other consumer products because of its resistance to fire.

But about 40 years ago, researchers began discovering that people who were exposed to asbestos were getting sick. Further research found that exposure for a short period of time can still cause mesothelioma some 30 or 40 years later.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that has been proven to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Sadly, it is fatal 100 percent of the time.

It can linger in a person's body for years or decades before a person is properly diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is because thought the asbestos forms tumors, typically on the lining of major organs such as the heart, lungs and abdomen, the symptoms are quite common. Older people who may have worked in a field 30 years ago where they were exposed to asbestos begin coughing, having trouble breathing or feel chest pain, which are common symptoms for a variety of medical problems.

Some victims ignore the symptoms or chalk them up to other things, which allows the cancer to spread. Because of where mesothelioma spreads, treatment options are limited.

But the more people can hear about this form of cancer, the better. It has gotten more attention in recent years and donors are spending money for researchers to study its effects and how to potentially discover it sooner or find a cure.

According to the article, officials have found that natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes can put people at risk for asbestos exposure. When buildings containing asbestos collapse, they can spread asbestos throughout the air.

This happened during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York. Studies have found that many firefighters, police officers and rescue workers were exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens in the aftermath. The threat of natural disasters has caused Australia officials to work to clear the country of asbestos by 2030.

Some bad news is that thalidomide, a drug used to treat people suffering from other forms of cancer, has been found by researchers to not be effective for mesothelioma patients. The Netherlands Cancer Research report came out recently.

The article also states that West Virginia has become an active state for lawsuits. A report found that asbestos claims statewide have been near the top of the list of examples of why medical and business professionals want tort reform in order to limit how much mesothelioma victims can get in jury verdicts.

That state has been known to have sympathetic juries, likely because there are many mines, steel mills, factories, oil refineries and other businesses where workers were exposed to asbestos.

Continue reading "There's Both Good and Bad News for Mesothelioma Patients This Week" »

With Veterans Day having passed in November, it is important that all of our military veterans be lauded for their efforts to keep us safe from harm -- which makes the freedoms we enjoy as Americans possible.

Sadly, however, many older veterans are struggling in the last years of their lives because after years of service, they were exposed to asbestos and now have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma lawyers have seen how service in the military has turned into a struggle to breath and we worry about the future for many of our veterans. Many ships and shipyards and other military installations used asbestos for decades.

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was used for insulation on buildings, coating for pipes, in brake pads, floor and ceiling tiles and other products. It was used extensively in the United States from the early 20th Century until around 1991, when studies conclusively showed that the effects of asbestos are life-threatening.

Asbestos exposure can lead to cancerous tumors forming on the walls and lining of major organs. After years of developing, they can spread throughout the body like other forms of cancer.

Mesothelioma has no cure. Researchers know that it is caused by exposure to asbestos, but they don't know how to cure people who have it. In fact, it's deadly 100 percent of the time. And given that a person can be exposed to a small amount of asbestos and live with the cancer for 30 years without knowing it, linking sickness to exposure can be challenging.

National Public Radio recently interviewed a veteran suffering from mesothelioma. Frank Currie, a Navy veteran who was stationed at Pearl Harbor, witnessed the attacks aboard the USS Tennessee.

He said he saw the USS Arizona get hit with a bomb and shoot 12 to 15 feet in the air. He said he wishes he could forget the death he witnessed that day, but he can't.

And along with suffering haunting memories of one of the darkest days in U.S. history, Currie suffers from mesothelioma. The article doesn't say whether his mesothelioma was a result of his service in the U.S. Navy, but many Navy veterans have made the link.

No segment of the population has been hit harder from mesothelioma than our veterans. The Navy was one of the largest consumers of asbestos, using its fire-resistant nature to ensure that large fires didn't break out in ships, causing them to sink.

But those who were around the flaky mineral may have survived their tour of duty only to realize decades later that nights working in boiler rooms or around other equipment inside a ship may have led to their death.

Our veterans should be honored all year, not just on one designated holiday. And they certainly deserve to be able to live healthy lives after serving, unlike many who have mesothelioma as a result of their service.

Continue reading "U.S. Veterans Should Be Applauded and Not Victimized by Mesothelioma" »

President Barack Obama recently signed an executive order that calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address a shortage of prescription drugs that are designed to treat diseases and forms of cancer, The Washington Post reports.

The Mesothelioma Center believes that the executive order could benefit mesothelioma patients who may be struggling to get the medication they need to delay the effects of the cancer.

Mesothelioma lawyers certainly believe that there should be an abundance of medications and treatment options for those suffering from mesothelioma. As we have reported time and time again on our blog, there is no known cure, but those who are suffering from this form of cancer should have full and unfettered access to the treatment options and medications that are available.

Mesothelioma patients tend to find out about their cancer decades after they were first exposed to asbestos. The exposure can be over a period of months or years or a very short-term contact with the natural mineral.

When asbestos gets inside a person's body, it can cause tumors, attaching to the lining of the heart, lungs and stomach, as well as other major organs. Tumors form and yet symptoms can be hidden for years. And even once they present themselves -- chest pain, coughing, fluid build-up -- they can be masked as symptoms of old age or years of smoking.

Obama's executive order, The Post reports, forces the FDA to begin looking into why there is an unknown shortage of at least 232 drugs through October. This is a record number and includes drugs used to care for cancer patients, heart attack victims, accident survivors and scores of other ill people. The shortage has caused a spike in cost of medications.

The order, in part, calls on an end to price gouging and consumer protection. Experts believe the main cause for the shortage is that there are few manufacturers, so if there is a shortage of material to make the drugs, government crackdowns or a break down in machinery, a drug shortage is born.

The Mesothelioma Center believes that the order could help those seeking help for mesothelioma as well. Where intravenous chemotherapy is used, the order will help those patients get the care they need.

The drug Cisplatin is on the FDA's drug shortage list and it is commonly used to treat mesothelioma patients. Alimta is not on the list, but is extremely expensive -- $1,700 per vial in some cases -- and the order may help lower the costs.

The shortage of Cisplatin comes because of an increased demand. With the order, the FDA will be able to more quickly review a drug application and streamline the process of providing information of price gouging to the Justice Department to ensure consumers are protected.

We certainly hope this order can not only provide the drugs and treatment that mesothelioma patients need and deserve, but ensure that they are more affordable. Mesothelioma patients who have been exposed to asbestos were usually impacted through no fault of their own and they deserve to have as peaceful a treatment period as possible.

Continue reading "Obama Executive Order Could Benefit Mesothelioma Patients" »

The Iron Range is a part of Minnesota in the northeast region of the state that borders on Canada and Lake Superior and is rich with bands of iron ore.

Yet, many people in this beautiful area of the country are being diagnosed with mesothelioma, at a far greater rate in 2011 compared to previous reports, the Duluth News Tribune reports.

Mesothelioma lawyers have helped victims throughout the country, from the west coast to the east coast, deal with the effects of mesothelioma and the asbestos exposure that leads to the deadly diagnosis.

Often diagnosis comes decades later when a victim is in retirement; some fail to ever make the link between illness and exposure at work. Median survival time after diagnosis is about one year.

Health officials in Minnesota have reported that 63 people died of mesothelioma last year and another 19 have died in 2011. Death records checked in other states by former Iron Range residents who have since moved away has increased the number of cases.

The mesothelioma rate, experts believe, is higher than it should be. Researchers have been working since 2008 to try to find the link between the region and the deadly cancer.

Some believed early on that the asbestos came from workers who dealt with commercial asbestos, such as insulation and piping, furnaces and boilers. But some speculate that the asbestos came from taconite rock that was released during processing.

Lawmakers in 2008 approved a $4.9 million study to look into the issue and try to determine why so many people from that region are dying of the incurable cancer. Some results show that about 1,700 of the 46,000 workers who worked in that industry developed a form of lung cancer. It's unclear what caused that cancer.

The five-part series includes an exposure assessment to determine where the asbestos came from, a mortality study to look at causes of death, a cancer study to see where cancer rates are higher, an environment study to look at what is in the air now and a respiratory health study of living taconite workers and their spouses.

Researchers will continue to figure out where the exposure came from and how to prevent future problems. But the number of mesothelioma cases is expected to soar as baby boomers hit the doors to retirement.

In many cases, military veterans are at high risk -- particularly those who worked in shipyards, boiler rooms and other areas below deck, where asbestos was used in abundance because of its insulating and heat-resistant qualities. In other cases, contractors and subcontractors may be at fault for exposing workers to asbestos. Some of the nation's largest mining and chemical corporations have lost million dollar court cases accusing them of hiding the risks of exposure faced by employees.

Mesothelioma can be particularly cruel because of the long wait and the fact that it often strikes a victim in retirement -- robbing them and their family of too many good years.

Continue reading "Minnesotans in the Iron Range Dying of Mesothelioma" »

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day was recognized on Sept. 26, but there are more than a few people hoping to ensure that mesothelioma care and prevention are year-around efforts.

One such group is the family of Lance Ruble, a former mesothelioma lawyers client who died in 2008, about a year after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. His family has made it their mission to spread the word about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos.

Ruble owned a construction company in South Florida and spent much of his time giving back to his community. But once he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, it only took a year for the incurable cancer to take his life.

What his family quickly discovered is that there is an enormous lack of funding for research, as many people haven't taken the time to look into this form of cancer. Mesothelioma just hasn't gotten the type of exposure as other forms of cancer, like those of the breast, lung, mouth or prostate.

The treatment options aren't very good and there are few skilled medical professionals who are quick to diagnose -- which is the best way to give those affected by this form of cancer a fighting chance at life.

The Ruble family created Mesothelioma Mission, a non-profit group designed to spread awareness of the cancer and raise money for medical research about it.

Mesothelioma, for those who are unaware, is a rare form of cancer that is developed by exposure to asbestos, a mineral that has never officially been banned by the United States, but one that is rarely used anymore. It was used for insulation, in brake pads, piping and other every day products until researchers discovered decades ago how toxic it could be.

Simple exposure to asbestos can lead to a fatal diagnosis decades later. After diagnosis, average survival is about 12 months.

As asbestos.com wrote, the Ruble family traveled to New York to wear bright orange "Cure Meso" t-shirts to wear on the set of NBC's Today Show in order to expose the world to mesothelioma's effects.

The family has held fund-raiser and awareness events in South Florida, got Fort Lauderdale to recognize the day locally, and funded research projects on mesothelioma nationwide. Their goal is to help others avoid the painful time Lance Ruble endured at the close of his life.

About 50 people showed up at the Today Show set early Sept. 26, hoping to catch the eye of a cameraman that day. Even a few shots on national television could reach millions of viewers, where curiosity could expose them to the truth about asbestos and mesothelioma.

Perhaps if only a few people recognized the painful experience of a mesothelioma patient from watching the show that day, it could lead to many more understanding the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Ideally, no one will have to suffer like Lance Ruble did. Or the many people diagnosed each year with this preventable form of deadly cancer.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma Requires More Than One Day of Awareness of the Effects of Asbestos" »

Until about 30 years ago, the general consensus was that only exposure to asbestos caused mesothelioma.

But when an area of Turkey began experiencing an increased number of mesothelioma cases, researchers found that another mineral, besides asbestos, could be at fault -- erionite. Because the mineral was abundant and easy to work with, natives began using it to build their homes.

As mesothelioma lawyers reported in July, researchers from Hawaii have traveled to parts of Turkey for years now to research erionite and determine how much of it is in the area and how it is linked to mesothelioma.

Some believe that erionite is actually more toxic than asbestos. But this isn't an issue Turkey only is dealing with. According to a U.S. Geological Survey, erionite has been found in every state in the western United States, including North and South Dakota. And the mineral has been used in road paving across the United States, MSNBC reports.

In some villages that have been studied for their high mesothelioma rates, 40 to 50 percent of all deaths were caused by mesothelioma. Studies in animals show erionite is 100 to 800 times more toxic than asbestos.

While U.S. researchers had a flicker of interest researching the mineral in the 1980s, they have mainly moved on to other things. That has left this toxic mineral used in many projects throughout the country and sprayed across the western coast without warning to citizens who could be at risk.

While erionite-related medical incidents haven't been widely reported, that doesn't mean we're all safe. Like asbestos-related mesothelioma, it takes sometimes 30 to 50 years to develop, so many people may have been exposed and are dealing with a potential disease without knowing it.

The MSNBC story reports that workers in North Dakota used the mineral in gravel to cover hundreds of miles of unpaved roads, parking lots and recreation sites, including areas that children frequent.

While erionite doesn't get quite the same media exposure that asbestos does, it is important that citizens pay attention to this potentially dangerous mineral and one that has been linked to mesothelioma.

If asbestos can cause people to die prematurely and suffer awfully painful deaths, and researchers believe erionite is 100 to 800 times as dangerous, we must heed the warnings. And while western states have been tested, it's possible that rural parts of the Eastern seaboard and Midwest have erionite present.

Like asbestos, this mineral can become very dangerous once it breaks up and becomes airborne. Government officials must not ignore this dangerous mineral. If for 30 years officials knew of the dangers and did nothing, residents shouldn't be punished by getting sick and having no recourse.

Federal policies must be established to ban the use of eriointe, a step that has never been taken for asbestos. There is no good reason that this dangerous mineral should be used in the United States. We should stop the talk now so we're not talking about how it killed us in the future.

Continue reading "Along with Asbestos, Erionite Considered Linked to Mesothelioma" »

President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act by and large will provide $25 billion to invest in school infrastructure to update facilities and provide better learning experiences for children in 35,000 schools across the country.

"Every child deserves a great school - and we can give it to them," the President said. "We can rebuild our schools for the 21st century, with faster internet, smarter labs and cutting-edge technology."

Mesothelioma lawyers at The Ferraro Law Firm are on-board with this plan because a major component of the plan is asbestos clean-up at our nation's schools. As the Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog has reported time and time again, exposure to asbestos in New York, Florida, or anywhere else in the United States is a precursor to the deadly cancer mesothelioma.

When most people hear that a school is outdated, they probably first think of technology, such as computers or internet connections, maybe even what type of books children are using or what lesson plans teachers are using.

But what about the structure of the building itself? Many older school buildings are extremely outdated and many contain asbestos. For years, schools were built with asbestos in the insulation, piping, boiler room equipment and other areas that school children (and their parents) don't normally see.

When older schools were built, it's likely the contractors didn't know the dangers of asbestos. It was used regularly for decades in the United States -- from as early as the 1910s throughout the 1970s, when production steadily declined until it ended in the 1990s. While asbestos has never been officially banned in the country, it is no longer used.

But that has left half a century or more of buildings that were made with asbestos, which is fire-resistant and can keep the cold or hot weather out. But as people -- including children -- began getting sick, officials realized the source was the asbestos.

Even today, schools across the country are having to dedicate millions of dollars to cleaning up asbestos that has been discovered in gymnasium floors, ceiling tiles and back rooms.

When asbestos breaks up and gets into the atmosphere, it gets into people's systems and forms tumors, typically along the lining of the heart, lungs or stomach. But this form of cancer is different than other forms. Instead of relatively quick movement, the cancer can develop over years or even decades.

Ultimately, the tumors cause fluid build-up, chest pain, heavy coughing and other symptoms. Victims visit doctor after doctor to figure out what's wrong, if they end up with a mesothelioma diagnosis, the end is near. The average lifespan after diagnosis is only 12 months.

So, it is critical that schools do the right thing -- despite financial hardships -- and clean up their facilities of asbestos. As the Obama plan states, asbestos cleanup, greening and energy efficiency upgrades and modernization of science and computer labs are all key components of the plan.

While schools are always looking for new teaching techniques, new books, new lesson plans, new products and other ways to enhance learning, officials must look at what else is important -- the health of our children. We can't teach them all the newest things while setting them up for health problems that will render that knowledge useless.

Continue reading "President's Plan Calls For Asbestos Removal From Schools in New York, Nationwide" »