Chicago Area Man Fights Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Chicago, Illinois area resident fighting pleural mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure

Chicago, Illinois - July 23, 2008

It was just over a year ago that Eugene, a former sheet metal worker and HVAC technician, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer caused by asbestos. 

A husband and avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Eugene enjoyed good health prior to his diagnosis, but after a series of chest pains he sought out medical care. Unfortunately, the doctors discovered a large amount of fluid in his lungs. After performing a tissue biopsy, Eugene’s physicians made a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Malignant mesothelioma is found in approximately 3,000 people each year. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, attacking the thin lining surrounding the lungs. Chemotherapy and surgery can be used as treatment options for mesothelioma, but there is no known mesothelioma cure.

Since his diagnosis, Eugene has experienced significant weight loss, a common mesothelioma symptom, and become relegated to the main floor of his split-level home. Recently his daughter invited him to a Cubs game, but Eugene could not attend. “There’s no way,” he says. “I can’t walk that far anymore.”

Like so many others, Eugene was unwittingly exposed to asbestos throughout his career.  Eugene came into contact with the poisonous mineral through multiple sources, most notably as a sheet metal fabricator and an HVAC technician installing boilers and furnaces.