Asbestos clinic gets surprise donation from Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation

A nationally recognized medical clinic in the small town of Libby, Montana, recently received a nice reminder that they’re not the only ones who think the work they do for patients with asbestos-related diseases is important.

The Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation recently donated $10,000 to the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases.

The Center for Asbestos Related Diseases is one of a few medical facilities in the nation solely dedicated to treating people with diseases, like mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure. Most people would expect to find the treatment options CARD doctors provide in the bigger cities like New York or at a top university like the University of Pennsylvania. But in this case, the clinic went to the people. Literally.

The 10,000 people who live in Libby are 30 percent more likely to develop an asbestos-related disease, like mesothelioma or lung cancer, because a vermiculite mine operated from the 1960s to the early 1990s just outside of town. This form of vermiculite, a shiny rock similar to mica, contained amphibole asbestos. The mining process broke down the asbestos, creating a fine dust, which covered, not only miners, but the entire town. I have read news stories about how it would blanket the town. Miners would come home covered in it, children would play in it, and the wives would clean it, because, back then, no one really understood its dangers. Except the mining company.

W.R. Grace Co., who owned the mine, knowingly poisoned the entire town. Studies estimate that since 1960, 88 miners have died from asbestos-related diseases and that 1 in 40 of residents in Libby and the surrounding area have died or suffered from asbestos-related diseases. Because of this, the town was designated a National Public Health Emergency by the Environmental Protection Agency, the first ever such declaration made by the agency.

Asbestos exposure, even though it might have happened decades ago, is killing people now. No one understands this better than Libby, Montana and the doctors at CARD. The Simmons firm is proud to know that it’s multi-million pledge to the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation is going to help the people who need it most, such as those treated at CARD.

The Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation didn’t mail a check, as this news article in the town’s newspaper, The Western News, reports. Foundation Chairman John Simmons hand-delivered it while he was on vacation.

Stand Up 2 Cancer broadcast provides opportunity to increase awareness about mesothelioma

On Sept. 10, all the major television networks and several other broadcasters will once again air the 3-hour marathon Stand Up 2 Cancer. When SU2C aired in 2008, the program helped raise more than $100 million for cancer research spearheaded by The American Association for Cancer Research.  This year the program, interspersed with celebrity performances, will show viewers how five “Dream Teams” comprised of 13 scientists from across several disciplines are utilizing those dollars to extend cancer patients’ lives and to come closer to finding a cure.

The easy thing to do on this night would be to change the channel. I encourage you not to. Instead, I encourage you to listen because chances are you know someone whose life has been impacted by cancer. Chances are you’ve read news articles detailing how a person battled not only the physical, but the emotion and spiritual pain caused by a cancer diagnosis and won. Chances are you’ve told your kids not to smoke because you want to spare them that pain. Chances are you know where to find the next Relay for Life race in your community.

You know all of this. Everyone has heard of the super star cancers like breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, but what about those others with names so long you can’t remember how to pronounce? No one really knows about these orphan cancers like mesothelioma. Sometimes, not even your doctor.

Stand Up 2 Cancer provides an opportunity to have that conversation.

Every day I hear stories about people whose doctors didn’t know about mesothelioma. The diagnosis comes back and the patient’s doctor tells them to get their affairs in order because they only have six months to live.

If doctors don’t even know, how are you supposed to know that 3,000 new people are diagnosed with meso every year?  How are you supposed to know that asbestos, which causes meso, is still legal in the United States?  That the United States and Canada are the only two Western countries who have not taken significant efforts to ban asbestos? How are you supposed to know the research being done for other cancers helps meso and vice versa?

How are you supposed to know there’s hope for a cure and not just the superstar cancers like breast cancer, but for the orphan cancers like meso as well? Stand Up 2 Cancer, and other shows like it, is how you can know because it spotlights the work being done for all cancers so that someday there won’t be a need for us to know.  

Simmons Firm Employees “Get the Lead Out” in Support of a Mesothelioma Cure

It was cold on the morning of March 27, 2010, but that didn’t stop Gregg Kirkland and attorney Melissa Schopfer from the Simmons law firm from taking the street to fight for a cure for mesothelioma.

As participants in the 2010 “Get the Lead Out” 5K/10K run and 1 mile walk, Gregg and Melissa joined 600 others in raising more than $15,000 for mesothelioma research. The fundraiser was organized by The Norm Kulig 2Young2Go Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing the awareness of environmental related causes of cancer and furthering the scientific research of such cancers.

At the Simmons firm, we share these goals, which is why the firm served as a sponsor for the event. Like our own event, Miles for Meso, the Get the Lead Out 5K/10K not only raises much needed funding for mesothelioma research; it also attracts public attention to the serious problem of asbestos contamination and the danger it poses.

We’re extremely pleased Simmons employees were able to participate. Congratulations to the Foundation on a race well done!

Senate Resolution Declares a New "National Asbestos Awareness Week"

Senate Resolution Declares a New “National Asbestos Awareness Week”

At the beginning of March, I was excited to pass along the news that the U.S. Senate planned to introduce a resolution to declare the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week.” Now, less than a month later, I’m pleased to say that this resolution has passed, providing all those who fight for the rights of mesothelioma patients a new opportunity to raise awareness about this devastating disease.

In addition to designating National Asbestos Awareness Week, Senate Resolution 427  issues a call to the Surgeon General about the importance of educating the public about the dangers of asbestos. The resolution outlines these dangers, noting that thousands of Americans die from asbestos-related diseases every year.

The resolution also highlights the fact that, despite this high toll in human life, asbestos-exposure continues to be a threat to workers and our families. As the resolution notes, although the United States has reduced its use of asbestos, our industries have continued to consume 2,000 tons of the mineral in certain products. By outlining these dangers to the highest levels of government, the resolution will undoubtedly put a spotlight on this threat to the health of U.S. workers.

I’d like to thank the senators who helped bring this resolution to the floor, including Max Baucus (D-MT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Jon Tester (D-MT). Praise also goes to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which has fought tirelessly for the ban of asbestos. ADAO will hold its Sixth Annual International Asbestos Conference  on April 10, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

ADAO Praises Senate for Introduction of Sixth Annual Resolution that Establishes "National Asbestos Awareness Week"

Asbestos Awareness Week is back thanks to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. In a press release issued this week, ADAO announced a resolution declaring the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week.” Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced the resolution, along with a group of co-sponsors and key supporters, including: Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT).

Read the full press release below: 

ADAO Praises Senate for Introduction of Sixth Annual Resolution that Establishes “National Asbestos Awareness Week”

March 03, 2010

WASHINGTON–The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the leading organization serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today applauds Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and cosponsors for introducing a resolution that declares the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” and seeks to “raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure.”

Additional cosponsors and key supporters include: Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT).

“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 asbestos and further unite doctors, scientists, and public health advocates during National Asbestos 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 asbestos prevention and education will save lives and dollars,” said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and exposure can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Studies estimate that during the next decade, 100,000 workers around the world will die of an asbestos related disease – equaling 30 deaths per day.

ADAO will hold its Sixth Annual International Asbestos Conference on April 10, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

ADAO to Address OSHA on the Need to Ban Asbestos Tomorrow Morning, Available Via Live Webcast

Our friends at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization continue to work hard on behalf of victims of asbestos-related diseases. Linda Reinstein, Executive Director, will address OSHA tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EST about the need to support a comprehensive ban on asbestos. We hope you're able to watch.

 From the ADAO Web site:

On behalf of the thousands of victims and families affected by asbestos, Linda Reinstein, ADAO Co-Founder will present on Thursday, March 4th at 9:00 am (Eastern) at “OSHA Listens” about the urgency and importance of a complete ban of asbestos at this is truly a unique opportunity. Since we cannot all be in DC, I hope you’ll take advantage of the live webcast that OSHA will broadcast. It will be streamed live all day on March 4th: http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/osha-listens.html.

 

Artist’s Legacy Cut Short by Asbestos Exposure

Working as I do with mesothelioma patients and their families and seeing the suffering cause by this deadly, preventable disease, it’s easy to be frustrated by the lack of knowledge about asbestos exposure. Thankfully, we’ve been seeing more and more coverage about this serious issue in the mainstream media as the news spreads about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Recently, I came across a story that appeared on the Milwaukee news program, Today’s TMJ4 News. In it, investigative reporter Aaron Diamant tells the story of Richard Herr, a sculptor and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, native.

Richard’s story is a tragic one of a life cut painfully short by mesothelioma. It’s not a typical story—Richard didn’t work in construction or industry. He was a gifted sculptor and teacher who used asbestos in his studio to make the molds for his works of art. After decades of this exposure, he developed this deadly cancer caused by asbestos and died in 2009.

As Richard’s illness and death shows, mesothelioma is not going away. In fact, in Wisconsin, some reports indicate this deadly disease is on the rise. Even though asbestos was officially outlawed in the ‘70s, people are still being exposed every day. And since asbestos still lingers in our environment, anyone can be exposed—regardless of whether or not they work in industries that in the past have been associated with this painful form of cancer.

Because of the lack of education about asbestos, Richard’s legacy as an artist was cut short. Richard’s death was a horrible a loss, and one of the most tragic things about it is that it could have been avoided. As he says about the asbestos he used in his studio, “If I’d known of any hazards, I wouldn’t have used it.” Let’s hope that as the word spreads about Richard and victims like him, this kind of deadly exposure can be avoided. That would be Richard’s greatest legacy.