Mesothelioma Awareness Day will always hold a special significance for Mary Elo. On August 15, 2009, her father passed away as a result of mesothelioma. That alone would mark the day for her, but even more significant, her Dad, George Elo, was just short of his 77th birthday – which is Sept. 26, the same day designated as Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Her father first started getting sick a couple of years ago, Mary recalls. He had a constant cough, and began losing weight and experiencing shortness of breath. He went to see his primary care physician, and was diagnosed with pneumonia. This happened several times, and always the story was the same. He even had fluid on his lungs, and he would have a short hospital stay, and even though the fluid was tested, there was no diagnosis and he would return home, Mary says.

“We had not heard of mesothelioma before he got his diagnosis,” Mary says. “The doctors didn’t seem to have any sense of urgency to find out what was going on. I began looking on the internet, and he had seven of the nine symptoms for mesothelioma.”

At that point, Mary insisted her father receive a biopsy to find out what was going on with the recurring fluid in his lungs. On June 2, 2009, they received the diagnosis – epithelioid pleural mesothelioma. By the time he was diagnosed, he was already in stage 4. Despite trying chemotherapy, he passed away by August 15.

“The system failed my father,” Mary says. “There was just no sense of urgency.”

A Navy veteran, her Dad was being treated at the VA medical center for an atrial fibrillation, and had been on coumadin for a few years. When he began having his bouts of pneumonia, the doctors at the VA called for an MRI / PET scan, and his May 12 test records indicated a suspicion for mesothelioma. But her parents couldn’t read the paperwork, and the primary care physicians somehow missed the notation, Mary says. He had several thoracenteses, yet never had a diagnosis for mesothelioma until Mary insisted on a biopsy nearly a month later after reading about meso online.

“I was the internet MD at this point,” she says. “It drove my father crazy,” she recalls. By the time he was diagnosed, her Dad, who was 6’1”, weighed only 132 pounds.

Despite the advanced state of his mesothelioma and the toll it had already taken on his body, Mary says her dad immediately began talking to the doctors about treatment options. “He went through this whole process wanting to fight it,” she says. “He did not give up until the very end, and was willing to do anything necessary. He was definitely a warrior.”

Even while his illness sapped his strength and breath, and his chemotherapy caused him physical pain, he barely let it show, Mary says. He was still the rock of the family, looking after his wife of 55 years, Betty, along with his five kids, Mary and her sisters Lisa, Linda and Midge, and their brother Billy; as well as 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom live in Texas, spread out in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas.

“He put a strong face on it, even though he was struggling to breathe every day,” Mary says.

Now, the family is working to raise awareness, hoping to help other families make the diagnosis earlier, and to prevent exposure to asbestos in the first place.

“It seems like after we found out about my Dad’s diagnosis, we heard more about mesothelioma. I was watching the news after my father’s diagnosis and they were talking about Libby, Montana. Speaking to two of my friends, I found that their fathers had died from meso, and one girl’s grandmother died of mesothelioma. A contractor right here in our building, his mother is living with meso and his father passed away as a result of meso. It seems like it’s all around me.”

Mary and her family are working on awareness efforts in their cities. Mary got Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell to sign a petition declaring Mesothelioma Awareness Day in the city, and she is working with Texas State Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., whose father also died of mesothelioma, to create a proclamation in her father’s honor. Her goal is to get a permanent designation for Mesothelioma Awareness Day in the state of Texas.

Additionally, Mary is working with her local running clubs to establish a “Miles for Meso” event similar to the one that is taking place in Alton, Illinois, on Sept. 26 this year. She hopes to have that established and hold the inaugural race in time to celebrate Meso Awareness Day – and her Dad’s birthday – in 2010.

Early last year, we asked folks reading this site to rally around lung cancer survivor John Atkinson, who had entered a contest sponsored by Golf Digest to play in a celebrity foursome at the US Open Golf Tournament. John won that contest, and last June he joined celebrities Matt Lauer of The Today Show, entertainer Justin Timberlake, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on the links. We are sad to announce today that yesteray Atkinson lost his battle with lung cancer, and passed away at age 40.

John’s story touched a lot of people, and did so much to help raise awareness about lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer. His strength and determination to fight this disease, and his evident love for his family, his friends, and life itself, touched so many people.

While mesothelioma is not usually considered traditional “lung cancer,” as it most often affects the lining of the lungs but can also affect the lining of the stomach or, more rarely, the heart, we still rally around the lung cancer community in its call for more research, more funding and more awareness. Today, we join the Lung Cancer Alliance in remembering this remarkable man who, as he fought his own personal battle, also dedicated himself to fighting the stigma of lung cancer, and fighting for a cure.

This morning Matt Lauer presented a tribute to John Atkinson on The Today Show. Take a moment to watch this short video tribute to a remarkable man. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

I hope everyone had the chance to watch John Atkinson play the U.S. Open golf course at Torrey Pines, California, as part of a celebrity foursome with NBC Today Show anchor Matt Lauer, Dallas Cowboy player Tony Romo and entertainer Justin Timberlake. The event was broadcast on NBC Sports on Sunday, Father’s Day.

I’ve posted about John several times on this site. He was selected by the readers of Golf Digest magazine to participate in this first-ever celebrity foursome event. Diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, John used the event as a chance to raise awareness about lung cancer and to inspire those with the diagnosis to keep meeting the challenges of everyday life, and taking advantage of life’s unique opportunities.

This morning, Matt Lauer interviewed John and his brother, Kevin, who caddied for his big brother on the last hole in an emotional show of support. Watch the video at MSNBC.com.

In addition to this video, the Lung Cancer Alliance has the first part of what will be a multi-part documentary about John’s battle against Lung Cancer up on its site. John is a spokesperson for the organization. Watch the first episode at the LCA web site.

John has made it his mission to raise awareness about lung cancer, with the hopes of increasing funding for research and treatment. His campaign gives hope to everyone who battles lung cancer in its many forms, including those fighting mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Thank you, John, for your willingness to go that extra mile!

Just a quick update on John Atkinson. I’ve posted many times this week about the lung cancer survivor, who will play in a celebrity foursome on the U.S. Open Torrey Pines course in California with entertainer Justin Timberlake, NBC Today Show anchor Matt Lauer, and Dallas Cowboys star Tony Romo. John’s round of golf will be televised on NBC Sports at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 15. But I need to clarify that John is actually playing his round TODAY, Friday, June 6.

He arrived in California yesterday for a practice round, and will tee off with the celebrities in front of 250 spectators, along with camera crews and journalists, tomorrow. His final round and his score will be televised on June 15 as part of the lead-in to the U.S. Open coverage. The special will feature clips from the 18 holes of golf. John vows to break 100 on the tough course, with a goal of shooting an 89.

You can still sign up to sponsor John as part of his U.S. Open adventure, with funds going to lung cancer research and awareness. He is encouraging people to agree to double their pledge if he makes his goal of breaking 100. Find a sponsor form at the Lung Cancer Alliance web site. GO JOHN!

Lung cancer survivor John Atkinson, who I mentioned yesterday, continues to be in the news. Selected by Golf Digest magazine to play as part of a celebrity foursome on the U.S. Open course on Father’s Day, June 15, he is using this opportunity to speak out about lung cancer awareness and research. Of course, mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer caused by asbestos, and affects the lining of the lungs.

Today there was a great article in the Detroit Free Press about Atkinson. The article states that Atkinson considers his “Achilles heel” in the competition to be the fact that he’s never played the tough Torrey Pines U.S. Open course, not that he has lung cancer. The avid golfer was on the links shortly after his diagnosis (he shot a 78) and walked the course after completing four rounds of chemotherapy. His goal for the celebrity tournament is to break 100.

You can also keep an eye out for Atkinson on NBC Nightly News tomorrow, June 5. He is scheduled to appear, barring any unexpected national events that bump him from the slot.

Atkinson will be teamed with celebrities Justin Timberlake, NBC Today Show anchor Matt Lauer, and Dallas Cowboy star Tony Romo in the tournment, which will be aired on NBC Sports at 2 p.m. ET June 15.

How wonderful that Atkinson has this chance in the spotlight to talk about lung cancer, and to promote efforts to increase funding for research and to raise awareness. He also is an official spokesman for the Lung Cancer Alliance.

A few weeks ago, I talked about lung cancer survivor John Atkinson, who was selected by Golf Digest magazine to play the U.S. Open golf course on Father’s Day, June 15, as part of a celebrity foursome with Today Show host Matt Lauer, pop star and entertainer Justin Timberlake, and Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo. Friday morning, he was on an ESPN2 radio program, “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” where he discussed his thoughts on the upcoming event.

John Atkinson talks about U.S. Open plans with ESPN2.

Atkinson will play the tough Torrey Pines course in San Diego. While on the radio program, John shares the story of his diagnosis and battle with lung cancer, and his plans to break 100 in the tournament.

John is a spokesperson for the Lung Cancer Alliance. Visit their web site to download a sponsor form, and consider hosting a party on the day of the celebrity tournament. John is encouraging donors to vow to double their pledge if he breaks 100.

Let’s get behind this remarkable man, who has a unique opportunity to share the message of the importance of lung cancer research and funding. NBC Sports will broadcast the celebrity event from 2-3 p.m. ET.

Golf Digest magazine announced John Atkinson, a stage IV lung cancer survivor, has been selected to play as part of a celebrity foursome at Torrey Pines, the same course played by the pros at this year’s U.S. Open. Atkinson will play with NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and recording artist Justin Timberlake. The event will be broadcast on NBC Sports on Sunday, June 15, from 2-3 p.m. (ET), in the hour leading into NBC’s broadcast of the final round.

Atkinson was selected from more than 56,000 entries, voted on by the magazine’s readers. Never a smoker, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a little more than a year ago at age 38. He hopes to use the golf event as an opportunity to raise awareness for lung cancer funding and research.

In a press release from the Lung Cancer Alliance, which urged its members and supporters to vote for Atkinson, he is quoted as saying, “The game of golf to me is living. I am going out there to enjoy the golf course, to play a great round and to give hope to those who are faced with life threatening illnesses. If I can beat America’s deadliest cancer, then I can definitely break 100 [at Torrey Pines]. It’s going to be a great day, an emotional day, and I can’t wait.”

Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cancer killer, taking more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined.

To enter the contest, Atkinson submitted a 100-word essay describing why he could break 100 at Torrey Pines. Once being chosen as a finalist, he received more than 48,000 of the 117,000 votes cast in the first U.S. Open Contest, conducted by Golf Digest, the United States Golf Association, and NBC Sports. You can watch a video interview with Atkinson and read other features about the foursome at Golf Digest online.

Mesothelioma Victim Wins $20 Million Verdict in Asbestos Lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO –(BusinessWire)—A Dallas, Texas-based law firm today announced a $20 million civil verdict in an asbestos lawsuit on behalf of Joan Mahoney, 69-year-old victim of mesothelioma, a painful and debilitating form of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, and Daniel Mahoney, her husband of 42 years. The jury attributed 30 percent of the $20 million liability to defendant Georgia Pacific Corp.

Attorneys represented Joan and Daniel Mahoney before Judge Thomas Mellon in San Francisco County Superior Court.

Mrs. Mahoney, a San Francisco native, spent much of her career in real estate and show business. Her singing career spanned 30 years and took her around the world seven times on USO tours. But it was her work in the part-time family construction business that exposed Mrs. Mahoney to Georgia Pacific’s asbestos-containing joint compound, the suit established. Together, Mrs. Mahoney and her husband, who was also a math teacher, built and remodeled over 200 houses in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

The evidence at trial showed that Georgia Pacific knew from the moment it entered the asbestos business that asbestos exposure causes disease. Years before the Mahoneys first used Georgia Pacific’s asbestos-containing joint compound, Georgia Pacific knew that its product posed a substantial risk to workers.

Not until the government banned certain uses of asbestos in 1977, after the Consumer Product Safety Commission said that exposure to asbestos-containing joint compound for as little as six hours a day, four times per year could result in thousands of people developing cancer, did Georgia Pacific stop selling asbestos containing joint compound.

The damage caused by asbestos exposure can take decades to surface. Mrs. Mahoney was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006—35 years after her first exposure to Georgia Pacific’s product. She continues to fight the painful disease that experts say will cause great suffering and eventually kill her.

Published March 12, 2008 in BusinessWire.

• Mesothelioma – General Information
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• NEW Developments in Diagnosis
• Risk Factors
• Other Asbestos Related Cancer

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