Celebrities Gather for Mesothelioma Benefit

More than 350 guests gathered for a benefit in Los Angeles on February 10th to hear Grammy award winning trumpeter Chris Bottie and Jordan Zevon (Warren Zevon’s son), see Barbara McQueen as she promoted her latest book "Steve McQueen: The Last Mile", and listen to 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis make a plea to raise awareness for the devastating disease. The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute raised $250,000 for asbestos cancer research.

The Institute feels that this fundraiser proved to be an enormous breakthrough for the cancer research they feel it does not receive the attention or funding that other types of cancer receive.

Dr. Robert Cameron, chief of thoracic surgery at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and one of PHLBI's Scientific Advisors unveiled the latest research currently underway at the Institute. He said, "This event shows what can happen when people pull together for mesothelioma research. We have promising projects underway that may lead to more effective management of this disease for this and future generations."

Some donors included the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Union, the estate of David “Punch” Worthington, PHLBI Directors John Markovich and Roger Worthington, and asbestos manufacturer Owens-Illinois, among many others. Proceeds from the benefit’s auction also brought in an additional $9,000.

PHLBI will also be conducting a clinical study over the next few months on union workers who were former heavy smokers and also exposed to asbestos for a free clinical trial using Celebrex. Testing is to determine whether or not Celebrex is effective as a preventive treatment for lung cancer for those who might be at risk.

For more information on asbestos-related mesothelioma, or to get in touch with a lawyer, please visit LPK Law.

New Study Brings Hope to Mesothelioma Patients

In a recent NYU study, doctors may now be able to better monitor patients with mesothelioma. The MESOMARK test by Fujirebio Diagnostics effectively measures proteins in the blood that indicate changes in the disease. The MESOMARK Assay is the first – and only – in vitro test for mesothelioma.

The disease, commonly contracted by exposure to asbestos, causes fluid to accumulate around the sac lining of the chest as well as the abdominal area. The test detects soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP) which were previously elusive in laboratory tests.

Per Dr. Harvey Pass at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU School of Medicine, “we might finally be on our way towards improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients diagnosed with this aggressive and often fatal disease.”

Mesothelioma can often be difficult to diagnose as its symptoms can be related to many other causes. It can sometimes as long as seventy five years to develop, but once it does it’s aggressive and usually has about a 10 percent survival rate for patients three years after diagnosis. More than 100 million people worldwide have been exposed to asbestos in varying professions over many years. Most are completely unaware of the potential danger at the time of exposure or are unaware that they have been exposed. An estimated 10,000 new cases are diagnosed each year worldwide.

If you have asbestos-related mesothelioma, please visit LPK Law.

Man names 91 major corporations in asbestos suit

For 61 years, Rolland Bowan worked in a variety of jobs from a laborer and a mechanic, to a pest exterminator and factory worker. Bowan claims that he contracted mesothelioma as a result of inhaling, ingesting, or otherwise absorbing asbestos fibers emanating from certain products he was working with and around.

Bowan filed an asbestos suit in Madison County Circuit Court on January 25th claiming the disease was wrongfully caused. He names 91 corporations as part of the suit including the likes of Discount Auto Parts, Dow Chemical, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, John Crane, Owens-Illinois, Sears and U.S. Steel.

The suit states that "The plaintiff's exposure and inhalation, ingestion or absorption of the asbestos fibers was completely foreseeable and could or should have been anticipated by the defendants."

Bowan was diagnosed with the aggressive cancer in October, 2005. He maintains that the defendants knew or should have known that their asbestos-containing products would have a negative effect on people’s health. Bowen also alleges that the defendants used asbestos in their products when they could have eliminated using them in exchange for asbestos-free products.

Bowan seeks damages to cover the cost of his treatment. The suit seeks $250,000 in damages for negligence, willful and wanton acts, conspiracy, and negligent spoliation of evidence among other allegations.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the linings of the body’s internal organs. Survival rates from time of diagnosis to death are from 4 to 18 months. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma although some unrelated cases also exist. Victims of mesothelioma can take legal action for compensation.