The American College of Physicians put out new guidelines for palliative care last week. The suggestions include regular assessment for pain and dyspnea for patients with a serious illness late in life, management of pain through accepted norms, and use of proven therapies to control dyspnea. More on this.
New guidelines on palliative care Read More »
Via the National Health Information Center, we see October is both National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Healthy Lung Month. There is no week or month for mesothelioma because it is too rare, but the combination of a cancer and a lung month in October seem like some sort of sign.
Mesothelioma Month? Read More »
No details, but a report out of Britain about two “first degree” relatives being diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma at more or less the same time. Sad, but a too-often occurance. Asbestos is either in the home or is brought home by someone from the workplace.
Two family members with mesothelioma Read More »
The Washington Post reports (via the Los Angeles Times) the passing of Les Skramstad, one of the early leaders notifying the world about the dangers from the Libby Montana vermiculite mine. Skramstad worked there from 1959 to 1962 and was diagnosed with asbestosis in 1996. He subsequently got mesothelioma, which is what he died from.
Key figure in Libby situation dies of mesothelioma Read More »
The blogger Cheerful Oncologist proposed “four freedoms of cancer patients”, modeled after Franklin Roosevelt’s four freedoms. Roosevelt articulated his four freedoms during World War II (although before the United States entered the war). If we adopt the war metaphor – The War on Cancer – the freedoms have all the more resonance. Cheerful Oncologist’s freedoms
Four freedoms of cancer patients Read More »
A judge had appointed a mediator to try to resolve the dispute between W.R. Grace and victims of asbestos hazards created by that corporation. Today in the news there is a story about the breakdown of that negotiation. Too bad, because this might mean more litigation that W.R. Grace cannot possibly win. Grace tried to
W.R. Grace, victims don’t settle Read More »
In February the US Senate considered, and rejected, a bill to create a trust fund and limit mesothelioma lawsuits. Now Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector is trying to resurrect the bill to resolve what he calls a “crisis” in an opinion piece in The Hill. Spector wants to prevent mesothelioma victims from suing for full compensation.
Senator Spector calls for asbestos legislation Read More »
A woman in York, England got mesothelioma, and the way she was exposed to asbestos was from her husband’s work clothing. “Marjorie Fox, 61, is believed to have contracted fatal cancer after almost 20 years of shaking the dust from her husband Kenneth’s overalls which he wore while working as a carpenter before putting them
Woman contracts mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos in husband’s clothing Read More »
We generally call them “caregivers” in the US, while they apparently use the term “carer” in Britain. This is National Carers Week with a focus on “In sickness and in health”, promoting issues relating to carers’ health and wellbeing. Taking care of oneself is a challenge for many caregivers.
UK’s National Carers Week Read More »
Paul Gleason was a character actor, most well known today for his part in the cult firm The Breakfast Club. He died of mesothelioma on Saturday. He joins Steve McQueen as actors who have died of this disease. Gleason played minor league baseball before becoming an actor. He was 67.
Actor Paul Gleason dies of mesothelioma Read More »