The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma is scheduled for June 23-25, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The three-day conference is for the entire mesothelioma community, including patients, their families, caregivers and advocates. The conference offers an opportunity for attendees to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill [...]
With today’s press release from the International Agency for Research on Cancer-commonly known as IARC-the cell phone controversy is certain to heat up once again. Unfortunately, drawing broad and sweeping conclusions based on a press release and a news conference leaves many of us wondering just what the evidence shows that led to the [...]
Although to many Americans Memorial Day is a fun-filled weekend signifying the start of summer, Memorial Day is a significant day dedicated to American military men and women who have died in service to the U.S. With so many soldiers fighting overseas now, Americans should make a special effort today to remember those in U.S history [...]
by Nancy MeredithAccording to the National Cancer Institute only 5% of cancers are caused by genetics. The remaining 95% of the cancer diagnoses are dependent on choices we make every day, such as food selection, smoking decisions, sun exposure and exercise habits. Medical experts report that by making lifestyle changes Americans can improve their quality [...]
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has announced the launch of their completely redesigned website. The site highlights new features to promote global networking, awareness, and advocacy on behalf of the rare disease patient community. Mesothelioma patients will benefit from these changes as they will be able to find research pertinent to their rare [...]
Here comes the sun… Summertime means–for many of us–more time outdoors in the sun, whether it be a vacation at the beach, walking along a country road, or working on our lawns and gardens. It also means thinking about skin cancer prevention-which is much more than using gobs of sunscreen to protect yourself from [...]
A comedy show’s spoof of a Canadian mine’s push to expand its asbestos production has shed some much needed light on a serious issue, New York City personal injury attorney Joseph W. Belluck said this week. Belluck, one the country’s leading advocates for the rights of mesothelioma victims, said he hopes The Daily Show’s recent [...]
An article in the current edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine highlights one of the fundamental shifts currently underway in medical care, namely the rapidly burgeoning use of patient navigators to improve health outcomes, particularly for people in need. As I reflect on this topic, I am amazed how quickly this concept has [...]
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) has just begun recruiting mesothelioma patients for a study to learn about how mesothelioma affects patients’ emotional and physical well-being. In addition, the researchers are hoping to learn more about what patients need and how they deal with the deadly illness. According to a 2007 landmark study conducted by the [...]
Sometimes you just have to connect the dots to understand the world around us. And sometimes the picture those dots paint isn’t one that is particularly nice. I am beyond amazed that otherwise normal, clear thinking people can turn a blind eye to the harms of tobacco when it is their turn to make [...]