‘Alarming’ number of asbestos-related deaths in East Lancashire in past five years (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

‘Alarming’ number of asbestos-related deaths in East Lancashire in past five years

11:00am Monday 27th February 2012 in News By Sam Chadderton , Reporter

THERE have been 86 asbestos related deaths in East Lancashire in the last five years, according to new figures.

Statistics show that Blackburn with Darwen has a higher than average death rate from mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lung wall caused by exposure to asbestos.

The not for profit Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) obtained the number of deaths from 2006 to 2010 and have warned that the alarming figures will continue to rise.

Blackburn with Darwen had 23 deaths, the equivalent to three deaths in 100,000 people. The average for England and Wales during the same period was 2.5.

in the same time, there were 17 deaths in Chorley, 13 in Pendle, nine in Burnley, nine in Hyndburn, nine in the Ribble Valley, and six in Rossendale.

Several local asbestos-related deaths have been linked to working at the Garden Street gas mask factory during the war and the Huncoat Power Station.

APIL president David Bott said: “More people die of mesothelioma in Blackburn with Darwen per head of the population than in most other parts of the country.

“This is bad enough, but the number of men dying from this disease is expected to peak during the next five years and what many people don’t realise is that hundreds of sufferers across the UK cannot get the compensation they need to help them through the last days of their life.

“What is needed is for the Government to bring forward proposals for a fund of last resort which would act as a safety net for injured workers who are otherwise unable to pursue the justice they deserve.”

many workers who have developed mesothelioma are sometimes unable to pursue a claim for damages because they can no longer trace the employer who exposed them to asbestos, or the employer’s insurance company.

This is because the onset of symptoms often comes decades after a worker has inhaled asbestos fibres, during which time employers go out of business and insurance documents can be lost or destroyed.

“The Government proposed to set up a fund of last resort shortly before the general election, but 18 months has now passed and nothing has been heard about it since,” added Mr Bott.

“In the meantime, sick and dying workers who are prevented from bringing valid cases are left effectively subsidising insurance companies.

“This unacceptable situation simply cannot go on. something must be done before more dying victims of mesothelioma go uncompensated.

“A similar fund exists for victims injured by uninsured drivers. The Government must do the right thing and introduce one for injured workers.”

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Asbestos killed Blackwood woman – coroner (From Campaign Series)

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin

Asbestos killed Blackwood woman – coroner

12:50pm Friday 10th February 2012 in

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A FORMER school cleaner and caretaker died as a result of exposure to asbestos throughout her career, a court heard yesterday.

Brenda Ann Butcher, 65, of Blackwood, was diagnosed with the cancer mesothelioma on March 7 last year after doctors discovered a tumour on her lung. She died on April 26.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of death from industrial disease.

the Newport hearing heard how between 1978 and 1988 Mrs Butcher was employed by Caerphilly council initially as a lollipop lady but went on to work as a cleaner and caretaker at Pengam Primary School.

In a statement written before she died which was read to the court, Mrs Butcher described how she was responsible for cleaning the heating system, including a boiler and pipes, which were lagged with asbestos. She told how when she cleaned, dust would fill the air and she would breathe it in.

the non-smoker said she was never told the dangers the potentially deadly substance posed, nor was she given any protective equipment such as a face mask when working with it.

the court heard Mrs Butcher worked in a number of places where asbestos was present throughout her career, including factories in Newport and the Gossard underwear factory in Pontllanfraith, before she gave up work to care for husband in 1988.

A post mortem examination found her death was as a result of mesothelioma. However, tests carried out by Dr Alan Gibbs concluded the level of asbestos in Mrs Butcher’s lungs was not elevated beyond background level.

In his opinion, there was not enough evidence to suggest it was asbestos related.

But mr Bowen said he was satisfied that on a balance of probabilities Mrs Butcher’s exposure to the substance in the work place was the cause.

he added it was not the purpose of the inquest to find out which workplace contributed.

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Lung Cancer Treatments – All That You Need To Know

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin

Lung cancer is a chronic disease. Lung cancer occurs because of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in our body. In United States, this cancer is held responsible for the number of deaths. both men and women get affected by this chronic disease and the percentage is increasing day by day. Smoking is the main cause behind this form of cancer.

Speaking about treatments, numerous are accessible but all are not up to the mark. Curing this disease is really very hard but cure is possible. The treatment depends upon the type of cancer, the stage and most importantly the condition of that person suffering from cancer. These three things matter a lot for a doctor before he starts treating the patient.

Most probably, oncologists go for surgery that involves removal of tumor and can be only applied when the malignant growth is localized. Treating the patient suffering from stage I lung cancer is easy compared to that of a person suffering from stage 4. Recognizing the disease at the first stage can provide some relief.

Four types of surgery are basically applied by the doctors- resection, sleeve resection, lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Resection is a procedure that involves the removal of a small part of lung, sleeve resection involves the removal of some parts of bronchus, lobectomy involves the removal of an entire lobe while pneumonectomy involves the removal of entire lung.

Chemotherapy is the next treatment accessible to talk about. It is a procedure where drugs are used to destroy the cells. Patients surviving from stage 3 cancer are prescribed with chemotherapy. This is a very powerful way of treating cancer and most of the patients can’t tolerate the treatment resulting in different types of problems or side effects.

Radiation therapy is another way of treating cancer. It involves the procedure in which high-powered energy rays are employed to kill those cells. This procedure is applied or is administered from outside the body. This procedure is also known as external beam radiation.

Have you heard of laser and photo-dynamic therapy? Laser therapy is a unique procedure of treating cancer that involves killing of cancer cells by laser beams. Photo-dynamic therapy is also a way of killing cancerous cells in the body. The procedure is little bit long but works effectively compared to the other treatments.

These are some lung cancer treatments accessible and medical science is trying its best to find out some more treatments to cure this disease.

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Gran, 63, died from asbestos exposure (From The Bolton News)

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin

Gran, 63, died from asbestos exposure

9:17am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in

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a GRANDMOTHER died more than 40 years after being exposed to asbestos while working in bakeries, a Bolton inquest was told.

Jean Holden, aged 63, died at her home in Wingates Lane, Westhoughton, on November 30, months after being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a cancerous tumour in her oesophagus.

Deputy Bolton Coroner Alan Walsh ruled that mrs Holden died from an industrial disease.

The inquest heard that mrs Holden, a widow, was diagnosed with the illness after suffering breathlessness.

Ann Butler, a friend of mrs Holden for 30 years, said: “She worked for Hampsons, Greenhalgh’s and Price’s in Church Street, Westhoughton.

“She was 16 when she qualified and worked there until she married William Holden.

she worked there for about five years.

she used to work with the ovens.

“She used to put bread in the ovens and take it out. she made the bread.

“Years ago they lined ovens with asbestos because they would be hotter for longer.”

mrs Holden was said to have left work to care for her son and two daughters. she was the company director of the family’s conveyor belt business and secretary of a caravan storage firm.

The tumour was found in June, 2011, and her condition deteriorated, the inquest was told.

mr Walsh said: “She appears to have worked with ovens in a bakery. The ovens would have been lined with asbestos. there would have been regular and probably heavy exposure to the asbestos.”

he added: “The great shock is something happened 30 or 40 years ago, then flares up.

“She was obviously a woman with very close family who have now suffered the sadness of her death.

“It is not unusual for people to be shocked by the rapidity of the development of the illness.

it is a horrible disease.”

mr Walsh said mrs Holden died from pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in a lung artery, due to mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma an Aggressive Cancer

Posted on February 11, 2012 by admin

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer type with no cure yet. The leading cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos, which is a naturally occurring silicate. no amount of asbestos exposure is safe although this disease develops after chronic exposure. Between the exposure itself and the mesothelioma cancer detection usually there is a 20 to 40 (even 50 years) years elapse. in the development of the mesothelioma cancer the long exposure time is of decisive importance, just as the type of asbestos and the fiber size. Asbestos today is banned from construction and all of the other industries, which a few decades ago frequently used it.

Mesothelioma is often mistaken to lung cancer because it mostly affects the pleura (thoracic cavity) among other thin membranes, which cover the organs in our body.

Other membranes where mesothelioma develops are: the peritoneum (in the abdominal cavity) the pericardium (fibroserous sac which encloses the heart), and the tunica vaginalis (serous membrane, which covers the front and sides of the testis and epididymis).

The general mesothelioma symptoms are: cough, husky voice, shortness of breath or difficulty to breathe, difficulty while swallowing, chest pain or abdominal swelling and pain, fatigue, anemia, the loss of appetite, weight loss, cachexia, fluid in the chest or abdomen, inability to sleep.

It is very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma and to connect the symptoms with the cancer because many of the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other more common, not life threatening diseases like heart disease, flu, pneumonia or bronchitis.

As mentioned above there are three main types of mesothelioma cancers: malignant pleural mesothelioma, malignant pericardial mesothelioma and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Other occurring mesothelioma types (not very common): testicular, epithelial, biphasic, cystic, liver, brain, papillary, adenocarcinoma, sarcomatoid and desmoplastic mesothelioma.

There are three main options for treating mesothelioma cancer: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These three treatment options are often combined for an effective treatment. during surgery, the cancer cells are removed and post-surgery mesothelioma doctors usually use radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Treating mesothelioma cancer with these methods will give the patients a possible extension of five years to their lives. Additional treatments used by mesothelioma doctors are anti-angiogenesis drugs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and intraoperative photodynamic therapy.

In order to treat efficiently a mesothelioma cancer patient a unified and effective cooperation of general practitioners, epidemiologists, pathologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation therapists, oncologists, rehabilitation specialists and psychotherapists is required.

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Keep Asbestos Mines Closed, New York Mesothelioma Attorney Urges

Posted on February 9, 2012 by admin

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 24, 2012

Workers have stopped digging deadly asbestos fibers from Canadian mines for the first time in 130 years, and a descendant of the man who started the country’s first asbestos mine recently called for a permanent end to the country’s involvement in the trade, according to the Montreal Gazette. New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck agrees.

“Too many lives in America and around the world have already been lost due to asbestos exposure,” said Belluck, a partner in the New York City personal injury firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP. “To protect people from more asbestos-related diseases, the asbestos that remains in the Canadian mines should be left in the ground.”

At one point in the 20th century, Canadian mines were the source of 85 percent of the world’s supply of asbestos — a carcinogenic product that has caused countless deaths from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers and diseases.

As of 2010, Canada was responsible for about 5 percent of worldwide asbestos production, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. that supply was cut off when the last two asbestos mines in the Canadian province of Quebec stopped operations in 2010.

While this marked the first time in since the 1880s that no asbestos was mined in Canada, it might not be a permanent halt. in a Canadian Press article, the president of one of the mining companies insisted that his mine is not closed. It is merely awaiting a loan guarantee from the Quebec government so it can access new deposits that could turn out asbestos for another 50 years, he said.

However, many in Canada are urging the government to bar the asbestos mines from resuming operations, including Susan Henry, whose family founded Canada’s first asbestos mine in 1878. Henry told the Montreal Gazette last week that she is participating in a letter-writing campaign that calls on the government to end the country’s exportation of asbestos.

Belluck, the New York mesothelioma lawyer, supported the activists’ calls for keeping the Canadian asbestos mines shuttered.

“I have seen the tragic consequences that asbestos has had for countless people in this country who were exposed to the cancer-causing fibers. It is simply inconceivable that our neighbor would still allow companies to mine and export asbestos when its tragic consequences are so clear,” Belluck said.

His firm represents victims of asbestos exposure who have developed diseases related to the substance. one type of cancer caused by asbestos is mesothelioma, a disease that often lies latent for decades after exposure before aggressively attacking victims’ ability to breathe. There is no known cure for mesothelioma, and most patients die less than two years after diagnosis.

Because asbestos-related diseases usually cause rapid deterioration after symptoms appear, Belluck said it is important for patients to seek prompt medical help from specialists. they should also contact a qualified mesothelioma attorney for aggressive legal representation to ensure that they and their families secure all of the compensation they are entitled to receive.

About Belluck & Fox, LLP Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $400 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $12 million.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $32 million and more than $19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.

For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/ny-mesothelioma-lawyer/asbestos-mining/prweb9132537.htm

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Baron and Budd, P.C. Launches New Firm Website

Posted on February 7, 2012 by admin

DALLAS–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–The national law firm of Baron and Budd has launched a new firm website at baronandbudd.com. the new website offers a user-friendly interface that provides visitors easier access to key information. the website also offers deeper resources and information about the firm’s practice areas including longstanding work fighting mesothelioma and water contamination and newer work fighting deceptive advertising, consumer scams, misleading bank overdraft fees and other areas. Most importantly, the new site continues the firm’s mission to educate consumers about their legal rights.

“Baron and Budd has been increasingly involved over the past few years in litigation designed to protect consumers from deceptive practices and the firm’s website needed to reflect that”

“Baron and Budd has been increasingly involved over the past few years in litigation designed to protect consumers from deceptive practices and the firm’s website needed to reflect that,” said Russell Budd, president and managing shareholder of Baron and Budd. “The new website mirrors who we are today and how we stand ready to help people who have been harmed. We feel that there is a significant need for more information online about the civil justice system and its importance to the consumer. We hope that people find this new website informative.”

Baron and Budd was founded in the 1970s to take on asbestos companies for knowingly exposing people to products that caused asbestos cancers, such as mesothelioma. nearly 40 years later, Baron and Budd has grown into one of the largest and most recognized plaintiffs’ law firms in the nation and fights to “Protect What’s Right” for both individuals and entities, such as municipalities. aside from mesothelioma lawsuits and water contamination, the firm has expanded its practice into other significant areas such whistleblower/qui tam lawsuits, the Gulf oil spill, bank overdraft fees and other areas that protect consumers.

To learn more about Baron and Budd, visit the firm’s website at baronandbudd.com.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

the law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Austin, Los Angeles and Miami, is a nationally recognized law firm with a 30-year history of “Protecting What’s Right” for people, communities and businesses harmed by negligence. Baron & Budd’s size and resources enable the firm to take on large and complex cases. the firm represents individuals, governmental and business entities in areas as diverse as water contamination, Gulf oil spill, Qui Tam, California Proposition 65 violations, dangerous medications and medical devices, Chinese drywall, insurance claims, commercial litigation, consumer fraud, securities fraud and asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma. Learn more about the mesothelioma attorneys at Baron & Budd.

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Treatment Options to Consider

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

The first commonly used method for Peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer treatment is through surgery. This involves removal cancer tumors and the surrounding infected tissues. This will help to eradicate the cancer, suppress its growth or just relieve the symptoms. Surgery is always done with combination of other treatment methods e.g. radiation and chemotherapy. it is however important to note that surgery comes with other related risks like death, infection to other organs among others. The success of surgery depends on several factors among them age of the patient, level of spread of the cancer among other factors.

Chemotherapy is another treatment option for periodontal mesothelioma. it involves use of different chemotherapy drugs which are administered either as pills or injections. Chemotherapy helps to stop the growth and spread of tumors and also to relieve cancer symptoms. Chemotherapy has several side effects for example nausea, vomiting, loss of weight and loss of hair. however these side effects clear very fast after finishing the medication.

Another method used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma is radiation. A beam of high energy for example X-ray is directed to the infected cells. The radiation kills cancerous cell or helps to suppress their growth and also reducing the symptoms of the cancer. several factors are considered before choosing radiation as the treatment option for example organs close to the tumor may dictate whether to use radiation or not. Radiation is rarely used alone but rather it’s used in combination with other treatment options e.g. chemotherapy and surgery. Radiation may cause the patient to feel nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue.

Another treatment option for peritoneal mesothelioma is paracentesis. This procedure is carried out to aid in reliving cancer symptoms and not for treatment or cure purposes. Thin needles are inserted into the tumors and they are used to suck cancer fluids. This helps to reduce pain for several days before other treatment methods can be carried out.

There is also another common option in modern times called immunotherapy treatment. This procedure is commonly used together with chemotherapy. it involves introducing new agents into the blood stream that helps to boost the immune system making it able to fight the growth and spread of cancer cancerous tumors. it has fewer side effects and therefore it’s more desirable than the older option for example radiation that might hurt other organs.

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Charity ball raises funds for Airedale Hospital and Mesothelioma UK (From Craven Herald)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

Charity ball raises funds for Airedale Hospital and Mesothelioma UK

9:30am Saturday 28th January 2012 in

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a charity ball in memory of a South Craven man who died of an asbestos-related cancer raised £5,800 for two good causes.

The event, which featured a meal, a prize draw and a charity auction, commemorated Billy Greene, who lived in Cross Hills for 30 years.

he later moved to Sutton and was diagnosed with cancer in may 2010. he died in may last year, aged 75.

Mr Greene was originally from Northern Ireland and moved to England in 1970. he served in the Army for six years and also worked as a building labourer, a machinist and a garage forecourt cleaner.

The ball was held at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton, and was organised by Mr Greene’s youngest daughter Shevaun Joy and her niece Sally-Ann Greene.

following the event, a cheque for £1,854 was handed over to Airedale Hospital’s ward seven, where Mr Greene spent his last days. The cash was accompanied by 50 £25 marks & Spencer vouchers for the ward’s staff and a mobility scooter, donated by Huddersfield-based Homelife Stairlifts, which also supported the ball.

Shevaun said the remaining proceeds from the ball, £2,700, were being given to Mesothelioma UK. The charity provides support and treatment for people who contract the same type of cancer which claimed the life of her father.

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The Lasting Effects the Military Can Have on Our Troops

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

The Media has painted a vivid picture about the horrors of War and the emotional, mental, and physical toll it takes on our troops. our troops have suffered fatal injuries, they have lost limbs and their lives, ever those who make it out without a scratch may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Unfortunately the War for our soldiers doesn’t always end when they are finished serving their time.

The possibility of being killed, seriously injured, or mentally scarred is no secret to those who are looking to join one of America’s Military branches. However, there was a hidden killer that unknowingly lurked in the shadows of soldiers, especially those in the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s. That killer was Mesothelioma, an incurable cancer caused by Asbestos.

Anyone who had served in the Navy during the 1930s through the 1970s may have most likely been exposed to asbestos. to get a greater idea about how rampart asbestos was used in the Military, those who worked and lived on ships may have been exposed to asbestos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Asbestos had been used in the boiler, engine, navigation, and fire rooms of ships, along with products containing asbestos such as boilers, insulations, valves, generators, and turbines. Generally the argument for the high use of asbestos on Navy ships was due to the heat resistance and fireproofing ability of asbestos. Asbestos was also used on U.S. Air Force military aircraft.

The side-effects of such rampart asbestos usage has lead to former military members accounting for up to 30 percent of malignant mesothelioma cases in the United States. one very important thing to remember, those who may have been exposed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to asbestos, may still fall inside the typical 30-40 year latency period of mesothelioma and have no symptoms of the disease, but still might develop the incurable cancer.

Fortunately for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma can seek out benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which can help assist veterans who can provide proof that they developed mesothelioma as a direct result of asbestos exposure while in the military. in the event that someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important to contact a lawyer who can help assist you with any legal issues that may arise when providing proof that military asbestos exposure was the direct result of their mesothelioma.

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