Department of Defense Increases Funding for Mesothelioma Research

It’s well known that veterans are at higher risk of asbestos-related diseases because of the wide use of the dangerous mineral fiber in thousands of buildings and Navy ships from World War II until the 1970s.

Now, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced plans to increase spending on research into new ways to combat the fatal disease linked to asbestos exposure.

The Department of Defense’s effort includes funding of several million dollars for three mesothelioma research projects. The funds will support research into early detection of the disease and the development of new treatments, including clinical trials on a vaccine that could improve the prognosis for patients with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The microscopic fibers become lodged in the lungs and can lead to development of respiratory diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis decades later.

Joseph Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox, LLP, a New York law firm that specializes in representing victims of asbestos related diseases, said the increase in research funding must be only the start of an effort to find a cure for asbestos-related disease that has killed thousands of veterans.

“Veterans who were willing to fight for their country now must have their country fight for them,” Belluck said.

The shipbuilding acitivities from before World War II until the 1980s exposed thousands of Navy veterans to asbestos exposure on a daily basis.

During World War II, several million people employed in U.S. shipyards and U.S. Navy veterans were exposed to chrysotile asbestos products as well as other forms of asbestos that were used extensively in military ship construction, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Asbestos was widely used in shipbuilding to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes.

Veterans involved in mining, milling, shipyard work, insulation, demolition of old buildings, carpentry and construction, manufacture of brake linings and clutch facings and manufacture of pipes. Veterans may be eligible for health care and disability compensation if the VA determines the asbestos exposure was related to military service.

Learn more about VA health care and disability compensation at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits.asp.

Also, know more about mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.

Wake Forest Study Shows Treatment to Reduce Fluid Buildup in Patients with Peritoneal Mesothelioma

A new study from cancer researchers at North Carolina’s Wake Forest University reports that undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can improve the lives of those suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma by controlling the buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

CRS/HIPEC Offers A More Permanent Solution To Fluid Build Up

The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs) can cause those with mesothelioma a great deal of discomfort. However, according to a recent article in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, undergoing CRS/HIPEC can offer a more permanent solution to fluid build up.

Left untreated, the building up of fluid can cause not only discomfort, but also bloating, disfiguration and shortness of breath as it interferes with diaphragm movement. Although peritoneal mesothelioma sufferers can have fluid drained, it generally accumulates again in time. So, how can treatment help?

Cancer researchers at Wake Forest University studied 299 patients, 15% of whom had peritoneal mesothelioma and the rest of whom had various types of primary cancers that had spread to the peritoneum.

All patients underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) to remove as much of the cancer as possible, followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The procedure involves bathing the abdominal cavity in heated chemotherapy drugs to destroy residual cancer cells. According to the study, 93% of participants had a complete resolution of their ascites after a three-month period. This included some cases in which the cancer itself could not be completely removed.

Authors of the study, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, wrote that, “Although complete cytoreduction (the removal of cancerous cells) remains the goal of this procedure, HIPEC can provide palliative value in selected patients with malignant ascites.” This can improve the quality of life for mesothelioma patients, even in cases where it may not necessarily be able to improve survival rates.

Exposure To Asbestos Primary Cause Of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Peritoneal

mesothelioma accounts for 10 to 20 percent of the nearly 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The primary cause of peritoneal mesothelioma tumor is exposure to asbestos. Symptoms may include:

abdominal pain
anemia
blood clotting abnormalities
bowel obstruction
swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
weight loss.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, it’s important to see your healthcare professional immediately to determine whether you may have developed mesothelioma. Many mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos fibers and dust particles decades ago and far too many aren’t diagnosed until the cancer is in its later stages.

While life expectancy rates for untreated peritoneal mesothelioma are grim, early detection and effective treatment, such as CRS/HIPEC are available to combat symptoms and may improve prognosis.

“Ring of Theory”

When a friend or family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, knowing what to say to them is critical. Jennifer Gelsick, whose father is fighting the disease, offered some suggestions about saying the right thing like ensuring what you say “comes from the heart.” Now, a clinical psychologist offers the “Ring of Theory” as a guideline when communicating to mesothelioma patients and others who are facing a debilitating disease or other serious medical condition.

In an April Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times, Susan Silk proposes using a series of concentric circles as a “simple technique” to help people avoid the mistake of saying the wrong thing. The theory being that the patient has the right to say anything he or she would like. As Silk explains, the patient “can kvetch and complain and whine and moan and curse the heavens.” But, anyone else talking to the patient or close family member needs to consider “if what you are about to say is likely to provide comfort and support.”

Mesothelioma is a scary disease, and dealing with the treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, are challenging. During this time, patients and caregivers are under a lot of stress and the more help you can provide the better. Sometimes listening is better than saying the wrong thing.

To build the ring, write the patient’s name in the center of a piece of paper and draw a circle around it. Next, write the name of the person closest to the patient outside that circle, such as the spouse or child, and draw another circle. Continue adding names and circles until you have a “kvetching order,” as Silk calls it, with those closest to the patient in the smaller, inner rings, and friends and colleagues in the larger, outer rings.

Saying things like, “I don’t know if I can handle this,” to the spouse of someone who may have a terminal diagnosis, is not helpful, and is inappropriate, according to Silk. The spouse needs someone to offer comfort, and does not want to offer comfort to someone else. Although you may be upset, discuss your feelings with someone in the outer circles and farther removed from the trauma.

“Remember, you can say whatever you want if you just wait until you’re talking to someone in a larger ring than yours,” said Silk.

Considering the Workers Facing the Risk of Mesothelioma On Labor Day

Mesothelioma is one of many cancers that is still considered to be incurable, and the tragedy is that mesothelioma is an entirely preventable disease. Associated with exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest or abdomen that is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

Most at-risk for developing mesothelioma are trade workers such as insulators, plumbers and pipefitters, electricians, sheet metal workers, auto mechanics, refinery and factory workers, construction workers and shipyard workers linked to asbestos exposure in workplaces.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers in the United States potentially are being exposed to asbestos.

The World Health Organization estimates that asbestos causes approximately half of all deaths from occupational cancer, and 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos in the workplace due to lack of knowledge about the risks.

Today, as Americans celebrate the Labor Day holiday, a federal holiday designated as a day to celebrate the economic and social contributions of workers, remember that many workers continue to endure unnecessary health risks from asbestos exposure.

Most often mesothelioma patients had been exposed to asbestos over a period of years. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period and strikes 15 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseasesaw.

Vasiliki Kampas - Scholarship Essay Contest

Belluck & Fox, LLP Announces $10,000 College Scholarship Contest

The New York City law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP and Mesothelioma Help are once again offering the chance for U.S. college students to win up to $5,000 in an essay contest about mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

With a goal to help the educational efforts of students while also raising awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos, Belluck & Fox, LLP will award 10 prizes with a total of $10,000 in scholarship money for students 18-years-old or older enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities as of October 1, 2013. Belluck & Fox, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related claims.

Scholarship Prizes

$5,000 – First Prize
$2,500 – Second Prize
$1,250 – Third Prize
$500 – Fourth Prize
$250 – Fifth Prize
$100 – Honorable Mention (there are five Honorable Mention awards)

Students are asked to write an original 750- to 1,000-word essay that addresses a mesothelioma sufferer’s personal story, the history of asbestos use in American industry / manufacturing or the latest developments in medical treatments for mesothelioma. Submissions will be accepted September 1 – October 14.

This year’s essays will be judged by Jan Egerton, a mesothelioma survivor, and Lisa Hyde-Barrett, a thoracic surgery nurse. Judges will look for clear, original essays that are logically organized and well-supported.

Nearly 60 entries were received last year. The first prize winner was Betsy Warren of Attleboro, MA. Ms. Warren was a returning student pursuing a degree in nursing at Rhode Island College. Her story, “The Ugly Elephant,” was about her father’s battle with mesothelioma.

MesotheliomaHelp is one of the Web’s primary resources for information on malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The website provides in-depth coverage of the disease, as well as detailed information about the available diagnostic procedures and treatment options for mesothelioma sufferers.

Belluck & Fox, LLP is featured on the list of America’s best law firms, which is published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine.

Author: Nancy Meredith