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Monthly Archives: May 2018

Memorial Day 2018

Eleanor Ericson Mesothelioma NurseThis past weekend the nation stopped to honor all that have died in service to our country. Memorial Day is an American holiday, by Federal law it is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Focusing on the reasons for this holiday and the men and women that it honors, it is important to remember how Memorial Day evolved and the history behind it. Originally it was a tradition started to honor the soldiers killed while fighting in the Civil War. It was called Decoration Day because people would decorate the graves of fallen servicemen as way of remembering and honoring their sacrifice for our country. Memorial Day became an official Federal holiday in 1971. This is a day of remembrance and giving thanks for those who have fought for our freedom. Parades are held and for many it is the unofficial start of summer.

War and the experiences in war can leave unseen scars that claim lives years later. Malignant mesothelioma is diagnosed every year in over 3,000 people each year in the United States. Of that amount approximately 1,000 are Veterans of the military, having served our country. Another way servicemen are affected after their service is over is by untreated mental health issues leading to suicide.

The longest foreign war this country has ever fought is still ongoing. In 2001 the war in Afghanistan started, it is now in its 18th year, with many military experts saying there is no end in sight. Many American soldiers have paid the ultimate price in this war. Many other servicemen have paid the ultimate price after leaving the war, dealing with the effects of war on their mental health.

This past week I attended a conference in which a Veteran gave a talk on his experience post military, in his search for mental health help. He is a service connected disabled Veteran who is advocating for fellow Veterans. He is a Veteran of 14 years of service. During his years in the military he had served 2 tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, had multiple commendations for bravery and service. He is a service connected disabled Veteran with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome. His wounds are not evident to look at him but are connected to his service. He has taken his experience with the Veterans Administration and become an advocate for his fellow servicemen. He has dedicated himself to helping other returning veterans so that their path back to health will be smoother than his. As he shared his story he related that in the past few years 15 of his fellow servicemen that he had served with had committed suicide. The suicides were all related to the long-term effects of their service. Some had received help, but most had not. He was advocating for improvements to the Veterans Administration access and availability for the returning service-member.

Some private organizations have recognized the need for ongoing emotional support for the Veteran and their families. One such organization that is dedicated to healing the invisible scars of war in Boston is called Home Base, started by the Boston Red Sox Foundation. Home Base is dedicated to ongoing counseling and support of Veterans and their families, regardless of their discharge status.

As we remember those who have given their lives for our country this Memorial Day 2018, remember the Veterans who are struggling with the invisible demons of their service.

Thank-You for your service.

It’s Okay to Talk About Dying from Mesothelioma

Lisa Hyde-Barrett, RN Mesothelioma NurseThe process of dying can be awkward, unpredictable and messy. We all like to have some control of our lives but this last final phase keeps us all on our toes. For many people this phase of life, is approached reluctantly with fear. To face dying, makes us face our own mortality and we begin to question ourselves, ideas and the world around us. For most of our lives we plan, we have goals, we take steps to reach those goals. For many this is an orderly process, and we take pride in accomplishing our goals. Dying is uncharted territory. We might have an idealized goal of a peaceful death surrounded by family at home, but the path to that goal is not one we have experience with.

As we prepare to care for people in the final stages of life we need to help them have peace with their decision. A personal choice of this magnitude cannot be dictated. Many people who come to terms with their disease often opt for comfort measures, in hopes that they will no longer be plagued by symptoms of the disease, multiple doctor’s appointments, medications and the side effects. This individual choice is what is right for that person on their own schedule.

The good news about coming to terms with ending aggressive treatment is that there is some rest and the energy that was spent on treatment, can now be focused on what the patient would want. Possibly it is just being home with loved ones, resting, have conversations at ease, and being with familiar surroundings. Patients don’t often come to a decision about ending treatment abruptly these are usually well thought out. When the body will not cooperate with your mind often this is the time that a mindset change.

Many time patients feel they are quitting, giving up, or their loved ones want them to pursue treatment for a little while longer. Whatever the reasons in the end patient and families want to know they did everything they possibly could. People do not want to be left behind thinking that there was one more thing they could have done that would have changed the results. It is hard not to think about ourselves, but the focus should remain on the patient offering peace and dignity, respecting their choice.

As we know there are no cure for Mesothelioma, but we continue to try every day. We are aware that 3000 patients are diagnosed a year and 2500 dies from asbestos related disease each year. Each of those people are unique with their own life experiences, influencing their decisions on treatments and dying. As the years progress we continue with more treatment options and are learning to treat symptoms of the disease better. In the end it reminds us of what asbestos can do and still continues to do. For the people who continue to bravely fight this disease, get involved with clinical trials, have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and all the other procedures you endure thank you. Without you the treatments would not be as advanced, and we know so much more today than we did 2 years ago. Someday this disease will hopefully have a cure and people will no longer suffer, and all deaths will be where the person wanted, and the way they wanted.

You Are Not A Number

Lisa Hyde-Barrett, RN Mesothelioma NurseAs people progress through their journey of Mesothelioma often they believe that they just become another patient or a number. From the beginning of their journey all they hear are numbers. There are 3000 cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed a year. Your odds of survival are x percent. There are so many numbers thrown around that no doubt people wonder how they even count as a person.

Well I disagree. As we visit Mesothelioma patients, we began to know them as individuals and develop relationships with them. These patients become part of our daily thought process. We worry for them, we worry about their mental health, their own thoughts and families. Over the last few weeks this has reminded me how much we and other medical professionals are emotionally invested.

As I sat today and spoke with a doctor how various patients, outlooks, patient families, and upcoming worries it reminded me of the continual thought process that is poured into each of these individuals. We used to hear from a physician who would say you may feel like you are sitting and waiting for something to happen, but please know that things are happening despite what you see or don’t see.

When you lay awake at night and cannot fall asleep know that someone is thinking of you as well. When one patient starts their medical journey, the emotional investment begins. The mental and physical investment begins as well, but so much is poured into each and every case.
To be honest with you we speak about patients and families as if they are our own families or loved ones. This is a long journey and we see you at the most vulnerable state and try to build upon that. I don’t know of any other disease that commands such an investment that the mesothelioma team gives to each patient. It really does not seem like it is just the nurse, but it encompasses everyone from the social worker, to the chaplain, to the oncologist, surgeon etc. to the staff who can run the hospitality house.

Mesothelioma can make you feel alone, isolated and fearful. Please know you are not just a number, you are a person who someone cares for, a medical team who is working diligently to improve your life, and above all you are a fighter. You were diagnosed with this disease, which was completely baffling to you and your loved ones but there are medical centers out there who care and want you to be better. Yes, we all know there is no cure but there are treatments, that can help provide relief from symptoms and extend your life. Know that you are not a number, you are a person who is important to many.

Talc, Abestos and Finding Answers

Eleanor Ericson Mesothelioma NurseWhen talking with patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, there are a certain percentage of people that never know how they acquired the disease. There is no known asbestos exposure in their past that they can identify. For some it is a mystery that remained a mystery.

Recently we saw a pleural mesothelioma patient who has had a complicated post-op course. She is currently in rehab and looks fabulous! She is recovering and regaining her strength. She has not been able to link any risk factors to mesothelioma. Her job has not been in one of the known occupations that increase the risk of mesothelioma. She has been a long-term user of talc and powders that contain talc. Could this have been her exposure that led to her developing malignant mesothelioma?

Recent attention in the news has now linked the use of talc to the development of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral, it is known as the softest mineral. One of the reasons for this is that it can absorb moisture and be crushed to a powder that is used in “talcum powder.” Another form of talc is soapstone. Soapstone is used to make sculptures, bowls, countertops and many other objects. These are the two forms that most people think of when they think of talc usage. Talc usage is in many products and used as a filter in many. The most common use of talc in the United States is in the manufacturing of plastics, accounting for around 26% of total talc use. Approximately 17% of talc consumption is used as a filler in ceramic products such as bathroom fixtures. Talc is used in a variety of products including paint, paper, cosmetics, antiperspirants. It is also used in roofing materials to improve the resistance to the weather. It is also used as a carrier for insecticides and fungicides it can be blown through a nozzle and sticks to the leaves and stems of plants.

Talc is also commonly found in baby powder and in cosmetics. Talc is also used in rice and chewing gum and in some tablets. It is used to absorb moisture, prevent caking, or to improve the feel of a product.

Cosmetic products and the ingredients that are in them, do not have to undergo FDA approval before they go on the market. The cosmetic company is responsible for the safety and labeling of their products and for the ingredients in them. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act the companies are not required to share their safety information with the FDA.

What is talc? Talc is a naturally occurring mineral. The ingredients that make up talc are magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. Talc is mined in the United States from an open pit. Most of the talc deposits in the United States are in metamorphic rocks on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains or in Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, and New Mexico and Texas. China leads the world in production of talc.

Asbestos is also a naturally occurring mineral. Talc and asbestos occur naturally and are often intertwined in the ground. Since asbestos is a known carcinogen, and since asbestos is known to be present in talc deposition, this issue of asbestos and talc has been studied for many decades. However, it is only recently that the issue of asbestos and talc has received media attention through a number of legal cases. There have also been recent legal cases involving talc and ovarian cancer that have given attention to this issue as well.

This connection of the use of talc and the development of mesothelioma can possibly be the answer for some patients who have already been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. For those who have had no answer to the development of their disease, the issues that have come out about asbestos in talc could help in answering these lingering questions.

Why You Should Use Corn Starch and Not Talc

talc asbestosThe link between asbestos in talcum powder (talc) and mesothelioma has taken center-stage recently with several large jury verdicts leveled against the leading manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson). The company has been sued in thousands of claims alleging that its baby powder causes ovarian cancer. But cases involving mesothelioma are based on the presence of asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower talc products, which is breathed in by those using or exposed to the products. It is important that consumers understand that the corn-starch version of Johnson’s Baby Powder is 100% asbestos-free, whereas the talc-based classic Johnson’s baby powder formulation has been found to contain asbestos.

The Connection Between Talc and Asbestos

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral known for its moisture absorbing properties. Talc is found in close proximity to asbestos when growing in its natural state. Exposure to asbestos is the only well-established cause of mesothelioma in the United States. Consumer companies must refine talc before use, but studies reveal that many products, including baby powder, still contain small percentages by weight of asbestos. Cornstarch, however, can be safely used as an alternative to talc. Cornstarch is made of large particles located in the corn kernel and is completely free of asbestos. Many consumer product companies have acknowledged the benefits of using cornstarch and have increasingly used cornstarch in place of talc. Johnson & Johnson, however, continues to market two versions of baby powder: one with corn-starch and the classic, more-recognizable version with talc. Clearly, talc should not be used in any baby powder or body powder because of the findings of asbestos in talc, and because a 100% asbestos-free alternative exists in the form of corn starch. Studies also demonstrate an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who use talcum powder regularly below the waist.

Historic Verdict Links Mesothelioma to Talc in Baby Powder Products

In a major victory for mesothelioma patients in April, 2018, a court in New Jersey concluded that the talc found in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder was contaminated with asbestos in the mining process. Plaintiff Stephen Lanzo, represented by two MesoLawyersCare law firms, maintained that he developed mesothelioma as a result of using baby powder for decades. Internal Johnson & Johnson documents revealed that the company was aware that the talc in its baby powder contained asbestos yet failed to provide warnings on its packaging alerting consumers about the dangers. This knowledge dates back prior to the 1970’s according to company documents. The jurors awarded $30 million to Lanzo and $7 million to his wife and an additional $80 million in punitive damages to be paid by Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Talc America, Inc, a talc supplier.

Mesothelioma Litigation Against Talc-Based Product Manufacturers

Unlike asbestos lawsuits that often arise from occupationally-related asbestos exposures, the plaintiff in the Lanzo case was exposed to asbestos that contained in talcum powder. Evidence that asbestos was present in talc came from historical documents and testing, as well as modern-day testing of vintage products. Asbestos was found in the majority of Johnson’s baby powder products tested by the expert for the plaintiffs in the Lanzo case. Johnson & Johnson vigorously objected to the admission of this testing in the Lanzo case, but the trial court overruled its objections. Johnson & Johnson still claims, despite all this testing, that its talcum powder products never contained any asbestos. Johnson & Johnson also claims that any asbestos minerals in its talc-based powder do not meet certain geological definitions for “asbestos fibers”. However, the jury in Lanzo rejected these arguments and concluded that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder was a defective product because it contained asbestos, that the product was unreasonably dangerous and that cornstarch is a safer feasible alternative.

The outcome of the case is significant because it is the first time Johnson & Johnson has been held liable in a mesothelioma case in connection with the presence of asbestos in its baby powder. Despite the company’s continued claims that their baby powder poses no health hazards, the verdict is further evidence why consumers should use corn starch instead of talc.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact MesoLawyersCare to learn how we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. We have recovered some of the largest and most notable verdicts in mesothelioma cases in the country. Call us at 1-888-568-1177 or complete the form on this page to speak to our attorneys about your case.

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