Mesothelioma Doctors Receive Donation at University of Hawai’i Cancer Center

The University of Hawai’i Cancer Center has received $3.58 million from an anonymous donor to aid its important mesothelioma research work under its director, Dr. Michele Carbone, and her colleagues.

“Mesothelioma is a serious public health problem,” said Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, Chancellor of UH Mānoa. “We’re proud that Dr. Carbone’s team is leading the world in this area of discovery. This gift validates their efforts and will help them remain at the forefront of thoracic oncology research.”

The $3.58 million gift is the second largest one ever given to the UH Cancer Center. Among the work that has recently been completed by Dr. Carbone and researchers at the center were recently released findings relating to the presence of erionite – a material that causes mesothelioma – in rock materials that are used to pave roads in North Dakota.

The center has also conducted studies in Capadoccia, Turkey – a region where nearly 50 percent of the residents die of mesothelioma – and there are currently plans for Dr. Carbone and collaborators to conduct a clinical trial co-sponsored by the Early Detection Research Network of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Turkish Ministry of Health. The trial will seek to validate serum biomarkers that were discovered during previous research that may help improve early detection of mesothelioma.

For those receiving mesothelioma treatment who have previously worked in a profession where you were regularly exposed to high amounts of asbestos, there may be reason to speak with a Hawaii mesothelioma attorney regarding a possible lawsuit. Contact us for a free consultation to see if a Hawaii mesothelioma law firm can help to get you a monetary asbestos settlement from a former employer who may be at fault for an asbestos-related illness.

Report Reconfirms That Asbestos Causes Cancer, New York Mesothelioma Attorney Says

Asbestos causes cancer. That was again the official word from a congressionally mandated study of cancer-causing substances released this month, New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said today.

The 12th edition of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Report on Carcinogens found “asbestos and all commercial forms of asbestos are known to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans.”

“Asbestos has been listed as cancer-causing in every Report on Carcinogens since the first report was released in 1980,” said Belluck, the New York asbestos lawsuits attorney. “Although it’s been clear for more than 30 years that asbestos causes mesothelioma and other cancers, many victims are just now finding out that they have asbestos-related cancer because the disease can hide for decades.”

The 12th Report on Carcinogens said that studies have found that asbestos causes both pleural (lung) and peritoneal (abdomen) mesothelioma, as well as cancer in the respiratory tract and other tissues. Exposure to asbestos can also increase the risk of lung cancer, studies show.

“These findings have been repeatedly peer-reviewed by medical scientists since the first Report on Carcinogens was issued three decades ago, and they have consistently reaffirmed that asbestos causes cancer,” said Belluck, a partner in the New York asbestos exposure law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP.

Some of the people most susceptible to asbestos exposure include those who work or worked in construction, shipyards, building demolition and automotive brake repair. Second-hand exposure is also a problem for the families of workers who could bring asbestos fibers home on their clothes and bodies. Veterans are another category of concern because the U.S. military used asbestos heavily from the 1940s until the 1970s.

Symptoms of mesothelioma — also called “asbestos cancer” — include:

• A persistent cough, which could be dry or could include mucous or blood
• Shortness of breath
• Problems swallowing
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Profuse sweating
• Painful breathing or pain the chest or ribs.

Belluck urged people to seek medical treatment promptly if they believe they have signs of mesothelioma. He also stressed that symptoms usually do not appear for 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

“It’s also important for victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma to know that they have legal rights and can pursue an asbestos exposure lawsuit against the company or agency that exposed them to this toxic substance,” Belluck said.

He advised victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases to seek out a qualified asbestos exposure lawyer who has experience handling asbestos claims.

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, medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, exposure to lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won nearly $350 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in New York Magazine's Best Lawyers in the New York Area and in Super Lawyers. 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.

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.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/349206#ixzz1QhDrjwmW

UH Cancer Center receives 2nd biggest donation ever

Michele Carbone

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer in the lining of the lung and abdomen.

asbestos

Asbestos was often used at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

KAKAAKO (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some of the world's leading research on mesothelioma cancer is happening right here at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The center recently received the second largest donation ever - specifically dedicated to finding ways to prevent and treat the disease.

UH researchers have made a series of scientific breakthroughs in mesothelioma, and now, they're getting a bigger shot in the arm - a gift of three and a half million dollars from an anonymous, mainland donor. The center is becoming one of the leading facilities for mesothelioma studies.

"Hawaii is in the center of the world because it's the bridge between Asia and the United States, so it's the perfect place if you want to run a big research team that involves research from different parts of the world," says Dr. Michele Carbone, the cancer center's director.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer in the lining of the lung and abdomen. Most of the time, it's caused by asbestos - a mineral fiber - that we inhale. Dr. Carbone says Hawaii has some of the higher rates of asbestos in the country, in large part because of materials once used at the Pearl Harbor shipyard. The disease develops after prolonged exposure and inhalation, but it's a longshot.

"Among people who are very heavily exposed, like asbestos miners, 4.6% of those who work in an asbestos mine for many years will develop mesothelioma," explains Carbone.

Because it takes decades to develop, doctors usually discover the disease in older patients between ages 60 and 80. The median survival time after diagnosis is 12 months.

Some in Hawaii who've developed the disease have sued. We've all seen those TV commercials saying, "If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to financial compensation. It's become a big moneymaker, according to Carbone. "Billions of dollars exchange hands every year around mesothelioma litigation."

Researchers hope continued discoveries - and generous donors - can help prevent and treat the disease before the cases ever have to head to court.

Copyright 2011 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Michigan Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma Doctors

Michigan Mesothelioma Medical Resources: The diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers and conditions is complicated; therefore, it is gradually becoming a subspecialty in the field of medicine. However, as of the present time, there is no medical degree that is specific to asbestos-related practice. Most doctors focusing on asbestos disease today are trained in oncology, thoracic surgery, respiratory or occupational medicine, or some related field.

It’s important for patients suffering from asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other diseases and conditions caused by asbestos exposure to be treated by doctors with the proper level of expertise. An established Michigan doctor who specializes in mesothelioma treatment is Dr. Gregory P. Kalemkerian, the Co-Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.

Those interested in filing a Michigan mesothelioma lawsuit, or a lawsuit for any asbestos cancer or asbestos-related injury, are advised to contact a Michigan mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis.

Michigan Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma Treatment Centers

Today, between 25%- 30% of all Americans will get some form of cancer during their lifetimes. There are many reasons for this, including the modern lifestyle and the poisons that have been put into the environment – of which asbestos is a prime example.

The numbers of clinics and hospitals that specialize in oncology have increased in response to the growing number of patients. Cancer treatment centers located in Michigan include: Ann Arbor Hematology Oncology Associates, Ypsilanti; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit; St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor.