More Advice for Asbestos Sufferers

SUFFERERS of asbestos-related illnesses are now being offered personalised welfare advice. Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team has employed an advisor to visit patients and their families to help them claim the financial support to which they are entitled. The project has been funded for three years by a £150,000 grant from Macmillan Cancer Support. With this money, the team has been able to expand and welfare adviser Natalie Woodward will be visiting sufferers in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Burton, as well as Derbyshire.Steve Gillingham, of Allenton, who was diagnosed with the fatal asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma in July, said: "I remember after my diagnosis coming home with my wife Sue and just sitting in silence. "We were shell-shocked and certainly not in the right frame of mind to have to seek the right benefits to make sure we'd be financially OK. "The 51-year-old, of Grosvenor Street, added: "I just didn't know where to start. It was all so overwhelming – my brain wasn't processing anything. And that's where Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team came in. "They were truly amazing. If it wasn't for them we would be lost. They knew exactly what to say and exactly what to do."Derbyshire is considered a hotspot for cases of mesothelioma because of its history of heavy engineering. At least 300 people in the county have died from it in the past 30 years.Yesterday, an event held to mark Derbyshire Support Team's expansion was attended by cancer specialists, solicitors, union representatives and mesothelioma sufferers. Speaking at the launch, held in Nottingham, Joanne Carlin, co-ordinator of the team, said compensation and financial support can make victims' lives easier.She said: "Natalie will be able to offer a full range of benefits advice to these people and their families. The advice we were offering before was far more limited. "Although the compensation in no way makes up for life being cut short, people are grateful for the support. Many of the people we've helped have spent the money on holidays with their family or it has made sure their loved ones are financially secure."Richard Morgan, a Derby representative of GMB union, said the Government should be investing more money into raising awareness about asbestos.He said: "We need to get the message out there. Asbestos still occurs and ignorance is rife."Sarah Avery, lung cancer specialist nurse at advice group Mesothelioma UK, called the disease "a devastating diagnosis". She said that it was the 16th most common cause of death from cancer. For advice and support, call the support team on 01623 748161.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Minute

Asbestos is a heat-resistant mineral common in manufacturing that’s been linked to cases of mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the protective linings of the lungs and heart.

Fort Worth, TX (WiredPRNews.com)—Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that is highly resistant to friction, acid and heat and is almost indestructible.

Light and durable, the fire-resistant mineral has been commonly used for residential home insulation, brake pad linings, paints, adhesives, roofing materials and other products.

According to a September 16, 2008 article that appeared on the website Transworldnews.com, asbestos is invisible to the unaided eye but appears as long, sliver-shaped fibers when placed under microscopic magnification. However, when asbestos is released into the air and it’s inhaled or ingested, malignant mesothelioma can result decades later.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the protective lining organs in the chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease, attacks the lungs. Often times patients complain of a constant chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal lining and is much less common. The rarest form of the cancerous disease is pericardial mesothelioma, which afflicts the lining of the heart.

Most cases are diagnosed in patients who have worked in industries where asbestos is commonly used and it usually stays latent in the body for 15 to 20 years, according to the Transworldnews.com article.

According to the article, an English physician made the first diagnosis of mesothelioma in 1906. Today, up to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and up to 4,000 people die annually because of mesothelioma-related cancers, according to the transworld.com article.

National Meso Awareness Day is September 26.

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Asbestos mesothelioma awareness

Hurricane Ike has torn away peoples homes and ripped open many sensitive parts of buildings and houses that are laden with asbestos resulting in toxic pollution especially in buildings and homes constructed before 1980s. The places that are likely to have asbestos are roof tiles, dry walls, attic insulations, floor tiles etc. Residents returning to their homes should be extra cautious about not being interactive with asbestos as it and its particles can damage their health and lead to mesothelioma cancer.

During cleaning and repair work, chances are that home owners might inhale asbestos dust and particles that might have gotten airborne. The asbestos dust and particles can effect the lungs and lining of heart and cause mesothelioma cancer, the deadliest and rarest form of cancer that is practically incurable. Care should also be taken by the returning residents as to not to clean or drink stagnant water as asbestos dust might also have settled in the water as well.

For the protection of the health of returning residents, the Environmental Protection Agency has set certain guidelines that should be followed in order to safeguard ones health.

1. This is not a ‘do it yourself mission’. It is dangerous as people can risk their lives and the lives on their loved ones while not practicing caution around asbestos polluted environment. Professionals help should be called for and once the area is clean from asbestos contamination repairing work should be done.

2. If residents decide to work out the way through asbestos themselves, they should wear protective masks that cover their nose and mouth so as not to inhale airborne asbestos dust and particles.

3. Do not get rid of asbestos by throwing away waste cartons or material. Extra care should be taken as asbestos containing material could contaminate the surroundings. Hiring a certified professional for removal of damaged asbestos items is advised. If anyone violates the guidelines set for removal and disposal of asbestos he / she might face huge penalties or imprisonment.

4. Any asbestos contamination must be reported to the authorities immediately.
Mesothelioma or asbestos cancer is a life taking disease. Working with and around asbestos can be dangerous to ones health. Contacting a mesothelioma cancer lawyer is essential for anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer and seek guidance for claiming compensation for the injury inflicted unwillingly to ones health.


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=> Very helpful!

7-Year Mesothelioma Survivor Publishes Book

Rhio O’Conner, a 7-year survivor of mesothelioma cancer, has written a book entitled “They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor’s Story.” The book is published by Cancer Monthly.

O’Conner was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2001, and was given less than one year to live. Discouraged by his doctor’s advice to take a final vacation with his wife and then prepare to live his last months at home with Hospice care, O’Conner instead came up with his own aggressive treatment plan, which included taking over 100 supplements each day and meditating.

O’Conners unique message is that there are “other” ways to overcome cancer than just relying on the traditional treatment methods, such as chemotherapy or surgery.

“They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor’s Story” can be purchased on Amazon.com.Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.


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=> It is very beautiful to see sick people inspiring other sick people. Try to get a copy of his book.
- Jan MD