Author: Lisa Hyde-Barrett
Atlanta Paramedic Wins Second Place in Mesothelioma Scholarship Contest
MesotheliomaHelp.org is proud to award a nursing student from Albany State University in Georgia with the $1,250 second-place prize as part of the organization’s annual Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship contest. Kelley Ann McGill, of Atlanta, was one of four students from across the nation to earn a scholarship in this year’s essay contest.
In her essay, Kelley shared the story of her grandfather, a former electrical engineer who had always prided himself on working hard to stay healthy. Unfortunately, her grandfather’s work environment was not always a healthy one, and over the course of his career, he was exposed to the deadly mineral asbestos. In November 2017, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 small-cell lung cancer.
Kelley became her grandfather’s caregiver during the day, helping with medication, food and all his other needs. She has seen firsthand the toll that asbestos diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma can take on a person and a family. And she knows how difficult it can be to keep fighting.
“Do not take your good days for granted,” she advises in her essay. “I celebrate every good day that I have with my grandfather, the days that he is fussing at me for not getting enough sleep, or the days that he is spirited enough to give my stepdad, uncle, or mom a hard time. Cherish every smile, every laugh, every hug, every kiss, and every soft spoken ‘I love you too.’”
Since her grandfather’s diagnosis, Kelley has worked hard to educate herself and others about asbestos and its effects on the body. Already a paramedic, she has decided to further her education and earn a degree in nursing so she can do more for patients like her grandfather. She plans to use the scholarship money toward this goal.
About the Scholarship Contest
The Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students in universities and colleges throughout the United States. The scholarships are named after two respected mesothelioma warriors who put up a brave fight against the devastating asbestos cancer.
In total, $5,000 in scholarships was awarded this year to four deserving students. Out of dozens of outstanding entries, the winners were selected based on the well-researched and heartfelt essays they submitted.
The MesotheliomaHelp.org scholarships are generously funded by the nationally mesothelioma lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP.
“We are proud to support these deserving college students in their mission to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and its long-term health effects,” Belluck & Fox managing partner Joseph Belluck explained. “As a law firm focused on fighting for those harmed by asbestos, we know how important it is to warn people about exposure, and we appreciate these students for sharing their personal stories and insights.”
Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that has been shown to cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. For many decades, asbestos was commonly used in thousands of industrial, building and household products. Even today, despite being a known carcinogen, asbestos is not banned in the United States.
People were typically exposed to asbestos at work or during their time in the military. Some were exposed to asbestos in their homes.
Mesothelioma and lung cancer develop when microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled and lodge in the lining of the chest wall and lungs or in the lungs themselves. Cancer can develop decades after a person was exposed to asbestos, and it is typically diagnosed in the later stages.
About MesotheliomaHelp.org
MesotheliomaHelp.org is a comprehensive resource for individuals and families who are coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis. The site connects patients and caregivers with knowledgeable medical providers, respected legal professionals and the most up-to-date information on treatment developments. Visit MesotheliomaHelp.org now to learn more about the disease.
Wyoming Hospice Nurse Takes Top Prize in Mesothelioma Scholarship Contest
Mesothelioma Help Cancer Organization is proud to award Wyoming hospice nurse Sally Whelan with the first-place prize in the cancer organization’s annual Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship contest. Sally was awarded $2,500 to pay for tuition as she pursues her goal of becoming a paramedic and continuing to help people in need.
In her prize-winning essay, “My Father, A Hero,” Sally shared the story of her father, a World War II veteran and a captain in the Merchant Marines, who died from pleural mesothelioma when she was 17. A strong and brave man, her father struggled to keep the disease a secret from Sally and her sisters, but his suffering was all too clear.
Watching her father try to cope with the pain of the asbestos cancer ultimately led to Sally’s career as a hospice nurse. In her job, Sally is able to help alleviate her patients’ pain and provide support for their families. Now, she hopes to build on her abilities to help people by becoming a paramedic and serving in Haiti.
Sally recently treated her second mesothelioma patient, a man who reminded her of her father, and she had some heartfelt words for anyone coping with the same tragedy her own family faced:
“For those who have loved ones battling this disease, I say you are in one of the toughest battles of your life. Continue to educate yourselves, love each other deeply, forgive freely and remember that each day together is a gift from God.”
About the Scholarship Contest
The Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students in colleges and universities across the country. The scholarships are named after two respected mesothelioma warriors who put up a brave fight against the devastating asbestos disease.
In total, $5,000 in scholarships was awarded this year to four outstanding students. Out of dozens of great entries, the winners were selected based on the well-researched and deeply personal essays they submitted.
The MesotheliomaHelp.org scholarships are generously funded by the nationally recognized asbestos law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP.
“We are proud to support these deserving college students in their mission to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and its long-term health effects,” Belluck & Fox managing partner Joseph Belluck explained. “As a law firm focused on fighting for those harmed by asbestos, we know how important it is to warn people about exposure, and we appreciate these students for sharing their personal stories and insights.”
Mesothelioma and Asbestos
About 3,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with malignant mesothelioma, a deadly cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos. For decades, asbestos was commonly used in many industrial, building, and household products. Still today, despite its known health effects, asbestos has not been banned in the United States.
People were typically exposed to asbestos in the workplace or during military service. Some were exposed to the deadly carcinogen in their homes.
Mesothelioma develops when microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled and lodge in the lining of the chest wall and lungs. The cancer can develop 15 to 60 years after a person was exposed to asbestos. It is typically diagnosed in the later stages, and there is no cure.
About MesotheliomaHelp.org
MesotheliomaHelp.org is a comprehensive resource for individuals and families who are coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis. The site connects patients and caregivers with knowledgeable medical providers, respected legal professionals and the most up-to-date information on treatment developments. Visit Mesothelioma Help Cancer Organization now to learn more about the asbestos diseases and leave us a review if you’ve found the information helpful.
MesotheliomaHelp.org Awards 4 Students with $5,000 Total in Scholarships
As one of the top resources for mesothelioma patients across the United States, MesotheliomaHelp.org is proud to support ambitious college students in their efforts to raise awareness of this asbestos mesothelioma cancer.
Recently, the cancer organization awarded four scholarships worth a total of $5,000 to bright young people who shared their stories as part of the organization’s annual essay contest.
The Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students in colleges and universities across the United States. The scholarship contest is named after two much-admired mesothelioma warriors who put up a brave fight against the deadly asbestos cancer.
Out of dozens of heartfelt and well-researched essay entries, these four students took home the top prizes:
1st Place ─ $2,500
Winner: Sally Whelan, Creighton University or Laramie County Community College, Wyoming
2nd Place ─ $1,250
Winner: Kelley Ann McGill, Albany State University, Georgia
3rd Place ─ $750
Winner: Devin Marsh, Northland Pioneer College, Arizona
4th Place ─ $500
Winner: Sheri Sanford, Normandale Community College, Minnesota
Each student’s prize money will go toward college tuition, with the scholarships generously funded by the nationally respected mesothelioma law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP.
“We are proud to support these deserving college students in their mission to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and its long-term health effects,” Belluck & Fox managing partner Joseph Belluck explained. “As a law firm focused on fighting for those harmed by asbestos, we know how important it is to warn people about exposure, and we appreciate these students for sharing their personal stories and insights.”
About 3,000 people are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma each year in the United States. The only known cause of this devastating cancer is exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in countless industrial, building, and household products until the 1980s. Despite its known health effects, asbestos has still not been banned in the United States.
Exposure to asbestos often occurred on the job or during military service. Some people were also exposed to the deadly mineral in their homes. Mesothelioma can develop decades after a person was initially exposed to asbestos.
About Mesothelioma Help Cancer Organization
Mesothelioma Help Cancer Organization is a comprehensive resource for individuals and families who are coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis. The site connects patients and caregivers with specialized medical providers, recognized legal professionals and the most up-to-date information on treatment developments.
Get directions to Mesothelioma Help now to learn more about the mesothelioma cancer and leave a 5 star review if you’ve found the information helpful.
Blood Test in Study for Predicting Lung Cancer Recurrence Could Also Help Guide Mesothelioma Treatment
In January, MesotheliomaHelp reported on the use of a Biocept, Inc. blood test as a possible early detection tool for mesothelioma. Now, the company reports it is testing the same tool to determine if it can help predict disease recurrence in lung cancer patients.
According to a July 23 press release from Biocept, Inc., the company is partnering with UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center with two clinical studies – one to predict cancer recurrence and another to predict treatment response. The studies will use Biocept’s Target Selector liquid biopsy assays to detect circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA. To determine accuracy of the tests, the results will be compared with findings from CT or PET scans.
Even though there have been advances in the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation, the two organizations note the risk for “post-resection [after surgery] disease recurrence” in stage II or stage III cancers remains “unacceptably high.” The teams collaborating on the clinical studies are looking at lung, breast and colon cancer patients with Stage II or III recurrent cancer. They hope to find a way to predict disease recurrence in high risk patients via a blood sample, using biomarkers as a guide.
“The current standard of care to assess disease recurrence is CT imaging, which may only detect recurrence after significant organ damage has occurred,” said Razelle Kurzrock, M.D., Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Clinical Trials Office director, Moores Cancer at UC San Diego Health. “Detecting disease recurrence in these patients with a blood sample may enable more rapid and comprehensive treatment options.”
When surgeons operate on cancer patients, it is with a goal to remove as much of the malignancy as possible, and to achieve a macroscopically-complete resection, which refers to the removal of all visible tumor cells. However, it is the microscopic cells that may be left behind that can thrive and spread, leading to recurrence.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer caused by the dangerous asbestos. Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, often has a complex growth pattern making complete surgical removal a very difficult task. Use of a simple blood test that could predict a mesothelioma patient’s potential for recurrence and response to treatments could mean extended survival.
“We believe that clinical results from our patented technologies can provide physicians with important information to better predict a patient’s response to therapy and monitor their disease progress and recurrence, which can lead to better patient outcomes,” said Biocept’s President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nall.
Although mesothelioma and lung cancer are distinct cancers, the treatment protocol is similar. The mesothelioma community closely follows lung cancer research in the hopes that the results translate to pleural mesothelioma care. The results of these studies will be followed closely. Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with the terminal cancer.
Summer Camps for Mesothelioma Patients?
Being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma can be an isolating experience. Due to the rarity of the disease it can be difficult to cope with having a deadly disease and to remain positive. Coping for many can be difficult, despite support groups, counselors, and family support. Although they all have the best intentions, sometimes just talking with someone who is also on a mesothelioma journey can be helpful.
Summer is a special time of year. Routines are broken and life can slow down a bit. Memories that last a lifetime can be made. For many people summer is the time for camps. Many adults have fond memories of attending camps when they were children. Relationships are formed there, and some last a lifetime.
Camps for kids with cancer are available to help support them through this difficult time. The goals of the camps are to help them feel accepted and as “normal” as possible. There are many different camps nationwide to help children cope with cancer. And now, adults with cancer can turn to camp to learn how to cope with the disease. The camp experience can give a person and their family a chance to form lasting relationships with others who might be on the same journey.
When you Google “adult summer camps for adults with cancer” many options come up. There are a wide variety of camps with different focuses. Camps for women only who are at any point in their cancer journey, whether recently diagnosed or long term survivors. There are camps that conduct retreats and include recreational programs for adults with cancer. Camps for families and caregivers of patients with cancer. Camps to improve the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Some of the benefits of camps for adults include the ability to form relationships, finding new support groups or individuals, or strengthening the relationship that the patient might already have. Another benefit cited is fighting loneliness.
Families and patients with malignant mesothelioma might find that going to summer camp is just what the doctor ordered! Consider trying one out to see if you find a fun way to cope and to make memories that are truly priceless!
Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
Download Now