Congress passes bill recognizing National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

In November 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 771 [PDF]) declaring September 26th as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The House resolution is the counterpart to the Senate’s National Mesothelioma Awareness Day resolution (S. Res. 288 [PDF]), which was passed in 2009.

The House resolution calls on the President to “issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States, Federal departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Introduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:“In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.”The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseasesIntroduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:

In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.

The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases.

Former MLB player passes away after fighting mesothelioma

Former Major League Baseball player Charlie Metro has just died after battling with rare cancer mesothelioma. Metro was 91 years old. Although asbestos is known to be the cause of mesothelioma, as well as lung cancers and asbestosis, not much is known about how or when Metro was exposed to the toxic chemical.

In an interview in 2007 Metro reminisced of working summers in the Western Pennsylvania coalmines along side his father, a full time miner. Metro survived a blast that killed seven other workers, to which he said, “And I said ‘To heck with it’ after that.” Perhaps it was these times in the coalmines that provided Metro with eventually fatal asbestos exposure.

The mining industry is well known for asbestos exposures. Workers are often exposed to raw asbestos in situations of limited air supply and ventilation, raising the chance for inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos dust and fibers can also be trapped on clothing, shoes and in hair, and brought home to family members and loved ones.

Having given up on a career in mining, Metro began his baseball career in 1940. He played for the Detroit Tigers before moving into management. Metro worked as a manager, and scout for decades. Always connected with the baseball world, Metro continued to work as a consultant after his retirement.

Mesothelioma affects about three thousand Americans each year. It is grimly characterized by a short life expectancy following diagnosis. Proper diagnosis is difficult to reach for several reasons. Mesothelioma develops over decades, often taking twenty to fifty years to show symptoms. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos so they are unaware that they could possibly be developing mesothelioma. Also, mesothelioma symptoms mimic those of bronchitis and pneumonia, creating opportunities for false diagnoses and further postponing appropriate treatments.

There are two types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma which affects lining of other abdominal cavities such as the heart. Pleural mesothelioma is the more common of the two. Both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are characterized by a system of irregularly patterned malignant tumors.

Mesothelioma treatments are available. Today, health care providers are using a combination of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat mesothelioma. However, there is no known mesothelioma cure. Many patients are choosing a regime of palliative care that focuses on better breathing, pain management and quality of life without fighting the cancer directly.