9/11 rescue, cleanup workers reach health care settlement with City

12 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, Legal, News

workers at WTCA story published by the New York Times reports thousands of rescue and cleanup workers who were exposed to the toxic air at Ground Zero after the 9/11 tragedy at the World Trade Center have reached a settlement agreement with the city over damage to their health. According to the Times, the city has agreed to pay out up to $657.5 million to about 10,000 plaintiffs in the case.

The settlement agreement has been in the works for about two years, taking place among a great deal of confusion and disagreement about the city’s responsibility for injured workers. The city had claimed it was immune because injuries occurred during a national emergency or civil defense situation. However, injured workers and their families argued they were employed by the city and entitled to compensation as they would be for any injury incurred on the job.

According to the Times report, 95 percent of the plaintiffs in this case must accept the terms of the settlement for it to take effect. Each plaintiff’s case will then be examined individually to determine how much compensation that person will receive, which lawyers estimate could run anywhere from a few thousand dollars to as much as $1 million. Individual compensation will depend on the severity of illness and level of exposure to contaminants at the World Trade Center site.

A variety of health screening and tracking programs were established in the days and months following the September 11 tragedy. Workers and others who simply lived and worked near the disaster site began complaining of a variety of illnesses, especially respiratory problems. There is an official World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, as well as studies conducted by the New York Fire Department and other organizations.

Some health problems presented immediately following exposure to the site, such as respiratory distress, while others are only just showing up in those who worked at the site. It is now known that the Ground Zero site was contaminated with at levels at least two times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s “safe” level. Because of the long latency period between exposure to and the development of – an average of between 10 and 50 years – the true effect of asbestos exposure may not be known for years to come.

Some of the plaintiffs involved in the current settlement are not yet ill, but fear they will develop illnesses in the future as a result of their exposure to the toxins like . According to the Times, the settlement provides a $23.4 million insurance policy to cover possible future claims.


Mesothelioma claims the life of Merlin Olsen

11 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News, People

merlin olsenNot three months ago, on Dec. 31, it was announced that football and television star Merlin Olsen had been diagnosed with . Today I learned that he has passed away, a victim of this horrible disease that lies in wait to kill. He was only 69 years old.

Olsen was a star defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams football team, who went on to a television acting career. He played Jonathan Garvey on the series Little House on the Prairie and was the title character of Father Murphy. He also appeared on Fathers and Sons and Aaron’s Way, and filled the role of sportscaster at both CBS and NBC.

Online celebrity news magazine TMZ broke the news in December that Olsen and his family had filed a lawsuit against several companies, including NBC Studios, NBC Universal and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, claiming they were responsible for exposing him to , which causes . Also named in the suit are Sherwin Williams and Lennox Industries, whose products Olsen says he was exposed to during jobs in his youth.

Read his obituary in the Los Angeles Times.

On December 8, 2009, his alma mater, Utah State University, where he was selected twice as an NCAA All-American, among other honors, announced it would name its football field after him – Merlin Olsen Field. How truly sad that he will never see a team take the field that now bears his name. Watch the tribute video created by the university at the announcement:

What a sad loss of a man who truly seemed to care genuinely for others, for his family and his community. He will be genuinely missed.


Registration now open for Meso Symposium

11 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News, Organizations

MARF_logo squareThe Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) announced registration is now open for the 2010 International Symposium on Malignant . The event is set for June 10-12 in Washington, D.C. The annual event includes science presentations from leading experts, breakout sessions for patients, families/caregivers and bereaved, and many community and social activities.

A special part of the Symposium activities is Advocacy Day, during which meso patients and their families travel to Capitol Hill to meet with their Senators and Representatives to ask for increased funding for research and treatment, and for the complete ban of in the United States.

I had the pleasure of attending this event last year and it is truly an amazing experience. There are touching tributes to those who have lost the fight against , and inspiring stories from those who are winning this battle. You can also gain so much knowledge from the many physicians and researchers who present programs. Many of them are open and available to talk with attendees throughout the conference as well.

You can find more information, including a video and archives of last year’s Symposium presentations, at www.curemeso.org/symposium. You can also view the agenda and register at the web site.  Or, call the Meso Foundation toll free at 877-363-6376.


Variety columnist Archerd to be honored at ADAO conference

5 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under News

army archerd2Variety magazine, famous for entertainment reporting, announced this week that famed columnist Army Archerd will be honored posthumously by the Disease Awareness Organization (ADOA) at its Sixth Annual International Conference on April 10 in Chicago. Archerd will receive the organization’s inaugural Warren Zevon Keep Me in Your Heart memorial tribute.

The award was established in memory of singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, author of such hits as “Werewolves of London,” who died of in 2003. is a deadly form of cancer that is linked to asbestos exposure. It most often affects the lining of the chest and lungs, but may also affect the lining of the abdomen or, more rarely, the heart.

Warren Zevon’s son, Jordan Zevon, is involved with ADAO as its spokesman. Variety quotes him as saying, “My father would be enormously honored to have had the opportunity to pay tribute to Army Archerd.”

Archerd was a columnist for Variety for more than 50 years, penning his “Just for Variety” column until September 2005. Even after he retired the famous column, Archerd worked as a blogger for Variety. He was one of the most popular and well-respected writers in the entertainment industry, and broke many exclusive stories. He died of on Sept. 8, 2009. It is believed he was exposed to during his service in the Navy during World War II.

Variety quotes his widow, Selma, as saying, “The tragedy of disease is a story that unfortunately continues to be written for many families. I hope that Army’s legend of making a difference through his work can help give an even louder voice to the efforts to write its end.”

ADAO was founded by victims and their families in 2004. It seeks to give victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of exposure. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for -related disease.

For more information about ADAO or the annual Conference, visit ADAO online at www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.


ADAO praises senate for asbestos awareness resolution

5 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News, Organizations

adao logoThis week the Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) praised Senate leaders for a resolution that declares the first week of April 2010 as “National Awareness Week.” This is the sixth year in a row that the ADAO has been active in working with Senate leaders to secure a national resolution in recognition of the dangers of .

The resolution is sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). Co-sponsors and key supporters are Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

A news release from the ADAO quotes the organization’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Linda Reinstein as saying, “We are grateful to the U.S. Senate to have the opportunity to help raise the level of public awareness about the prolific dangers of and further unite doctors, scientists, and public health advocates during National Awareness Week for this important effort. During the past six years, ADAO has seen the progress and indeed, this confirms what Americans deserve and want. We know prevention and education will save lives and dollars.”

The ADAO was founded by victims and their families in 2004. It seeks to give victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for -related disease.

is a known human carcinogen and exposure can cause -related diseases, including , and . According to the ADAO news release, studies estimate that during the next decade 100,000 workers around the world will die of an -related disease. This equals 30 deaths per day.

The ADAO annually holds a conference in conjunction with National Awareness Week. The Sixth Annual International Conference is set for April 10, 2010, in Chicago, Ill.

For more information about ADAO or for conference registration, visit ADAO online at www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.


University theatre, library closed for asbestos removal

2 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News

elizabeth city logo1 University theatre, library closed for asbestos removalThe G. R. Little Theatre and the north and south wings of the G.R. Little Library on the campus of Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC, are closed until mid-April while crews remove from the facilities. According to a report by staff writer Kristin Pitts, which appears in the Daily Advance, the removal is part of a planned renovation that will make the existing facilities more energy efficient. The university is in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency () guidelines for safe removal.

According to the news report, university spokeswoman Kesha Williams says that other ECSU buildings could potentially contain , as the material was commonly used in construction prior to the 1970s. However, the material is generally not dangerous unless it is disturbed. The university was proactive in securing an abatement company to safely remove the existing during its remodeling of the library and theatre buildings.

During processes like remodeling and demolition, materials containing may release microscopic fibers that can be inhaled into the lungs. Inhaled fibers may cause , a severe scarring of the lungs, or , a deadly cancer that may affect the lining of the chest and lungs, the abdomen, or, more rarely, the heart.

The news report says Clean Air Environmental, Inc., a Winston-Salem based company, has been contracted to remove the from the library and theatre buildings. Project manager Omar Martinez told the paper that the company is currently completing the second phase of what it expects will be a three-part removal process. He told the reporter that the company is using “negative airs and amended water to capture any [] fibers” and workers double-bag hazardous materials and properly dispose of the hazardous waste to ensure the safety of workers, students and others on campus in the area of the project.

Energy-saving equipment planned for the library and theatre buildings include new lighting fixtures and an upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit.


Mesothelioma cases on the rise in South Korea

1 Mar 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News

south korea1 100x100 Mesothelioma cases on the rise in South KoreaHealth officials in South Korea are recording significant increases in -related diseases among the country’s population, including , and malignant . According to a report by TIME Magazine, the number of diagnoses increased from just 12 in 2001, to 55 new cases in 2007, the most recent year that data is available. It is, “in public health terms, a notable increase,” TIME quotes Paek Dom-yung, an occupational medicine professor at Seoul National University.

While South Korea enjoyed a boom in urban development from the 1960s through the 1980s, it is becoming evident the country’s lax rules on regulation may have exposed millions of people to health hazards. According to the TIME report, Seoul did not place a full ban on manufacturing, import and use until last year. It also had no regulations in place for the safe removal of existing during demolition and remodeling projects.

Now, trade and labor unions in South Korea are calling for the government to take responsibility for workers it knowingly exposed to deadly , and who are now suffering as a result.

Due to the long latency period between exposure and the development of or other diseases – which can be as long as 20-50 years – South Korean health officials are bracing for a future epidemic. It is predicted that the incidence of diagnoses in the region will not peak until around 2030.


Lung Leavin’ Day 2010!

16 Feb 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News, People

Heather with her plateI am super-late in posting this, but I wanted to share some photos from Heather Von St. James and family’s annual Lung Leavin’ Day celebration. Those of you who have followed Heather’s story here on myMeso know that this is the day that commemorates Heather’s decision to undergo an extrapleural pneumonectomy to remove her tumor.

Prior to the surgery, which removed Heather’s lung and part of her diaphragm, along with the cancer, her family gathered for the first Lung Leavin’ Day. They wrote their fears on plates and smashed them in the fire – a symbolic conquering! Today, Heather celebrates four years cancer free! The 4th Annual Lung Leavin’ Day Celebration was held Feb. 6, and Heather reports that more than 60 people joined her for the festivities. What a wonderful blessing to see Heather healthy and happy, surrounded by friends and loved ones!

Those of us who could not be there in person were there in spirit. Even our good friend Debbie Brewer celebrated “across the pond” in the U.K. I substituted a paper plate and the fireplace for china and a bonfire, but the sentiment was the same nonetheless. We love you Heather, and look forward to many more Lung Leavin’ Days in the future!

Pictured below is a photo of the fire, surrounded by broken plate shards.

fire with broken plate shards

Heather lit a candle in tribute to those who have lost their battle with , as well as in honor of those who are still fighting the battle. The names of the meso warriors were posted.

memorial candle


Australian doctor researching radiotherapy for treatment of pleural mesothelioma

9 Feb 2010 by Wendi Lewis under News, Research/Treatment

DrMalcolmFeigen 100x100 Australian doctor researching radiotherapy for treatment of pleural mesothelioma One of the many community members on Facebook posted a question today about a clinical trial being conducted at the Mesothelioma Center, located at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. MyMeso discussed this clinical trial in a July post. The clinical trial is a program of targeted radiation and chemotherapy protocol for pleural mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lung’s lining almost always caused by . In response to the Facebook thread, meso survivor and awareness advocate (read: warrior) Debbie Brewer, who many of you know from her story and updates here (thanks Debbie!), mentioned a similar study currently ongoing in Australia.

Debbie provided a link to a story published in November 2009 by ABC News that outlines the work of specialists at Austin Health Centre in Victoria. The treatment, spearheaded by Dr. Malcolm Feigen, a radiation oncologist at the Centre, uses high doses of radiotherapy, concentrated on specific areas of the lining of the lungs to target tumors.

According to the ABC report, 13 patients participated in a pilot program to test this new targeted radiotherapy treatment. Most had some surgery prior to the radiotherapy treatment, and some also had chemotherapy before or after the treatment, although Dr. Feigen believes the patients showed the most benefit primarily as a result of the radiotherapy regimen.

Participants in the U.S. clinical trial at the Center receive a multi-modality therapy that incorporates surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy in combination.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Feigen about the Australian research, which was broadcast on ABC’s AM morning current affairs program.


Meso Foundation announces 2009 Grant Awards

8 Feb 2010 by Wendi Lewis under News, Organizations, Research/Treatment

MARF_logo squareThe Applied Research Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2009 Research Grant Awards. Through the generous contributions of its supporters, the Foundation was able to fund eight promising research projects. Executive Director Christopher E. Hahn reports that this is 60 percent more than the organization funded in 2008, when the Foundation, along with many charitable endeavors were beset by budget cuts resulting from the tough economic climate. In an email to Meso Foundation supporters, Hahn said he is hopeful the organization will soon be able to return to its target goal of funding 10 research projects per year.

Projects funded by the 2009 Grant Awards include vaccine studies offering hope of targeted treatment without drastic side effects; a novel investigation of the role of hormones in mesothelioma treatment; developing pathway targets synergistic with current first-line therapy Alimta/Cisplatin; and a study specifically focusing on improved detection and treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the abdomen). Visit the Meso Foundation online for details of each study.

Each year, the Applied Research Foundation funds critically needed research to develop more effective treatments and ultimately, a cure. The Foundation has provided more than $6 million in grant funding, advancing science through promising studies around the world. The Meso Foundation’s funding objectives are to directly fund basic research and support clinical trials in worthy, peer-reviewed projects as well as to stimulate additional federal research funding opportunities.

The Applied Research Foundation is a nonprofit collaboration of patients and families, physicians, advocates, and researchers dedicated to eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of .

You can help! There are many ways to get involved with the Applied Research Foundation. These include signing up to receive and respond to Action Alerts, which are specific campaigns for particular aspects of advocacy efforts; visiting your government officials to lobby for funding and awareness; volunteering in the meso community both locally and nationally; education; sharing your meso story; and donating to research.

For more information or to make a donation, visit the How You Can Help page at www.curemeso.org. The Meso Foundation is the recipient of the Charity Navigator “Four Star Charity” award and is recognized as the 2009 Great Nonprofits winner in the category of Cancer Fighters.