The NFL is choosing not just to continue its National Breast Cancer Awareness campaign (all through the month of October), but has made the decision to expand the campaign to other Cancers as well. At the SBPS, we'll be chipping in by offering a free contest to the Top 100 Cancer organizations who have contributed meaningfully to cancer research or fundraising. Each approved organization will get a square with the winner getting the donation. To nominate a foundation for the Free Play, email us at [email protected]. For the rules and prize winning information, please check the Free page where the contest will be listed when official rules are finalized.
In the meantime, we thought we could do a public service by documenting a handful of buzz words around a particular disease that you might have heard a lot about recently (and perhaps have called a doctor over) however might be more overblown than one might imagine.
Mesothelioma
Despite only having fewer than 20,000 cases a year, Mesothelioma has skyrocketed in references in media and culture recently, mostly because of the liability and potential payday the disease entails. First let's backup.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is essentially tumor that lines the lungs, stomach, heart and other organs that sadly has no treatment and only a 12 month life expectancy after diagnoses. There are two types of the cancer that are linked to where the actual cancer occurs. In order not to be accused of frivolity over a subject matter that is very serious for a great deal of people, we will say the signs and symptoms but do not the rarity as referenced above.
Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
- Chest pain
- Painful coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
- Unexplained weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in tissue in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea
- Unexplained weight loss
Part of what is important to note here is that those symptoms could apply to a great deal of OTHER, more common, illnesses and diseases. However the cause of the disease is greatly linked to the reason the disease gets so much attention.
What causes Mesothelioma?
This is where things take form as the cost to advertise for search terms related to Mesothelioma has exploded (mostly purchased by law firms) in the recent years. The disease is caused by inhaled asbestos from fibers and forms within the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.
Why now?
A March, 2019 ruling by the Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ruled to protect former Navy Veterans who may have been exposed to the asbestos after they were assigned to a ship and who "were not warned about the danger of asbestos insulation added by a third party to pumps, turbines and blowers aboard three different ships." The two Navy veterans, Kenneth McAfee and John DeVries, both died from the disease leaving a tremendous opportunity for the families of those who were wronged to reclaim damages.
In Closing
It's completely understandable (and we're grateful) that former veterans, and their families, are now able to collect the damages they rightly deserve. Though they are not nearly enough to compensate for their loss, we do hope it provides them some semblance of justice.
However with all of that said, the opportunity for law firms (who spend quite a bit on advertising) to push their ads on the general public. This could create a bit of panic among the public and cause quite a bit of a psychological toll because the symptoms are so common and the predicted outcome is so morbid. However don't get too discouraged: the disease is very rare. If you feel really bad about it, call your doctor. Otherwise?
Turn on the TV: Football is back!!
Oh and remember to nominate your favorite Cancer related charity or fundraiser for October Free Play for a donation by emailing us at [email protected].
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