On Monday, April 20, 2008, the Minnesota Senate unanimously approved a controversial study of Iron Range mine workers. The mine workers, families and near by residents have been suffering from a disproportionately high rate of mesothelioma.

Now that the senate has approved the bill, it will continue to the Minnesota House of Representatives, who are expected to act on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

The bill will fund four phases of research with up to $4.9 million, which will be taken out of a Department of Commerce fund for workers compensation.

The study will be conducted by the University of Minnesota and it is expected to be completed in 5 years.

Mesothelioma is a rare and fatal cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Mine workers, their families and near by residents are at serious risk for exposure.

Mesothelioma attorneys are working on cases that involve fatal illnesses cause by asbestos exposure.

W.R. Grace announced last week that it will continue to operate a medical program designed for the victims of asbestos exposure in Libby, despite their proposed $3 billion settlement.

The Vice President of Grace announced that they intend to continue the medical program as the company recovers from bankruptcy.

The program has been in effect since 2000 and has over 800 residents of Libby enrolled. Over $14 million has been spent in order to treat asbestos related illnesses in the area of Libby.

Despite continuing the program, complaints have arisen regarding its reliability. Patients have stated that they are consistently denied important services. Reports have been made that supplemental oxygen, to help patient’s breathe, is commonly denied by the program.

W.R. Grace was accused of purposefully exposing employees and near-by residents of a mine to asbestos.

Mesothelioma attorneys are working on cases that involve the serious illness that result from asbestos exposure.

          I recently read an article published in Medical News and Health News which I printed up for a friend of mine in Port Lavaca, Texas which pretty much explains to him why some people eventually develop lung cancer 25 years after being exposed to asbestos fibers and materials while working in a plant environment.

        My friend’s dad worked as a painter and sandblaster for many years prior to his retirement.  Radiological studies were performed on him which indicated low levels of exposure to asbestos fibers.  This past month the dad began exhibiting symptoms of back pain so he paid a visit to his general physician.  The physician recommended an MRI (magnetic resonance image) Test be performed, and the results were positive for lung cancer, severe scarring, thickening of the membrane that lines the chest wall, and the doctor scheduled him for chemotherapy the following Monday.  Unfortunately, the condition was so severe, he died a couple of days after being diagnosed of lung cancer.

           For this reason I feel it’s extremely important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to continue seeing their physician on a regular basis and request follow-up studies be performed to evaluate and diagnose any harmful changes occurring in your body, and hopefully it will save your life.