Mesothelioma Outreach Blog

"How many people actually get lung cancer?" "It’s only smokers who are at a real risk for lung cancer, right?" "I’ve had smokers cough for awhile – is that a sign of lung cancer?" With so many questions out there about lung cancer, it’s easy to see why so many people don’t know the real facts behind the disease. Below, Greg Stanley from Oncimmune clears up the truth behind a few of these common lung cancer myths, in hopes of raising awareness for the number one cancer killer.

#1 - Only current, heavy smokers get lung cancer.

According to recent statistics, over 50% of people who develop lung cancer are ex-smokers – this includes people who stopped smoking years prior. Additionally, ten percent of people overall, and 20% of women with lung cancer are lifelong non-smokers. Other risk factors, such as family history of lung cancer, exposure to factors such as secondhand smoke, asbestos, radon and arsenic, and diagnosis of certain lung diseases can also play a role.

One of the first things Jo Denham and Jan Egerton did when they found out about their mesothelioma diagnosis was search for information on the Internet. They wanted to find out as much information as possible about their mesothelioma prognosis, treatment options and about top doctors who treat mesothelioma.

With all the information on the Internet, how do we know which articles are reliable?

How do you know what you're reading is good information?

Asbestos was Commonly Found on Navy Ships

Are you friends with The Mesothelioma Center on Facebook? We have a community of over 5,000 members disusing the latest news about asbestos and mesothelioma.  Read and share articles easily with your friends and family easily.  Our contributors and outreach team Rachel, Nadia, and Ben have also recently joined Facebook.  You can friend and message them if you have any questions about The Mesothelioma Center, or asbestos.

We have summed up the most important news stories of the week in the asbestos and mesothelioma community for you to share with your friends and families.  Hope you had a great week!

Survivor Insight Series: Bob Oberstar Fights the Battle alongside His Wife

A few months ago, we told you about the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). The VCF compensates eligible first responders, volunteers and others who worked, lived or went to school at 9/11 crash sites.

Many of these heroes have developed serious illnesses from exposure to toxic dust at the sites, including tons of asbestos.

Heroes include Deborah Reeve, a 17-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York who worked as paramedic at the World Trade Center site. She was the first 9/11 responder to die from mesothelioma.

There is a shortage of drug cancer medications. That can’t be true, can it?

Oh, but it is. As of this week, 28 cancer drugs being taken by more than 550,000 patients across the country are in short supply. You read that right: 28.

In a survey conducted by National Analysts Worldwide in January 2012, 46 percent of oncologists reported that there were times in the past year when patients were unable to receive timely treatment because of product shortages, and 31 percent reported that this occurs each month.

Bob Oberstar already has his spring calendar so booked – a garden to plant, grass to cut, fish to catch, wild turkey to shoot – there isn't time to worry if he'll be around to see it through.

He's too busy for that.

Surviving mesothelioma has not been easy by any measure, but Oberstar has become an unassuming beacon of hope for anyone facing a cancer diagnosis that includes a quicker-than-anticipated end.

Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma.  It is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in many things before the 1980s, and it's still used some today.

Even after asbestos was deemed a health hazard, it was used in thousands of products, including home insulation, paint, cement, floor and ceiling tiles, roofing materials, automotive parts and household appliances.

There are a number of occupations in which workers faced higher risks of being exposed to asbestos, including the military, construction, mining, manufacturing, automotive, and firefighting industry.

Dealing with mesothelioma can create a lot of stress. You may feel pressures that you don’t think you can control.

Coping methods can help you deal with accumulating stress, but using them may take some practice before they are effective. Here are some tips you can use to cope with the stress of mesothelioma:

Whenever you’re feeling the effects of stress, take a moment and write down what is bothering you. For example, you may start asking yourself:

Larry Davis runs for Miles for Meso

Join The Mesothelioma Center in cheering on Larry Davis this weekend as he runs in the Miles for Meso Race this Sunday in South Florida!  All money raised will go towards the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.  Read the news story below for more details on the event.

Are you following us on Twitter?  We post the latest news stories, blog posts, and videos.  The Mesothelioma Center is on Twitter all day everyday doing live Q&A on anything lung cancer or asbestos related!  Follow us and let’s get chatting!

We have summed up the most important news stories of the week in the asbestos and mesothelioma community for you to share with your friends and families.  Hope you had a great week!