September 26, 2016, is an important day on which to raise awareness and money for mesothelioma victims.
Mesothelioma – the word strikes fear, desperation and sorrow into the heart of a patient receiving the diagnosis. But the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, called the Meso Foundation, is fighting back against the asbestos-caused cancer by pushing for higher awareness and more medical research.
To that end, since 2004 the foundation has sponsored Mesothelioma Awareness Day each year, promoting activities that raise both awareness and money for mesothelioma research grants.
This year, Mesothelioma Awareness Day is on September 26, 2016, on which the foundation says to paint the world blue for mesothelioma awareness. Here at Brayton Purcell LLP, we will be sporting our best blue outfits in honor of our many clients who are fighting the disease or who have already succumbed.
According to the Meso Foundation, any supportive and concerned person can join on or around September 26 in this effort by:
- Wearing blue
- Taking pictures and videos of you and your like-minded family, friends and colleagues in blue for submission the Meso Foundation
- Using #curemeso on your social media posts
- Hosting a fundraiser
- Attending the Today Show on Rockefeller Plaza in New York City that morning
- Writing an editorial for your local newspaper or contacting local media to cover your supportive activity
- And more
Kayaking 4 Meso in New York
For the third time, we are also supporting the annual Kayaking 4 Meso events on New York’s Hudson River, a push to raise awareness and to collect money for the Meso Foundation to support its important mission. Brayton Purcell LLP is a sponsor of this event, which was an eight-mile paddle on September 10, 2016.
Why Is Mesothelioma So Devastating?
A mesothelioma diagnosis means the victim’s life will be shortened. For pleural mesothelioma, the average time from diagnosis to death is 12 to 18 months. For peritoneal mesothelioma, the average is only slightly longer. The cancer usually manifests for the first time in advanced years, as it can take decades to develop.
The cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos, affects mesothelium, the lining that surrounds the chest, abdomen, heart, and testicles. Mesothelioma is a very painful and uncomfortable condition and can cause:
- Thickening of the lining, leading to tumors
- Creation of malignant fluid between organs and in cavities
- Weight loss
- Cough and shortness of breath
- Pain
- Respiratory infections
- Impacted organs fail to function normally
- Metastasis or spreading to other parts of the body
- And more
Many mesothelioma patients were unknowingly exposed to asbestos in the workplace as the mineral was used in industrial and building materials and equipment. The pain and suffering of our clients with mesothelioma and of their families and loved ones is unimaginable to most people. Our personal injury and wrongful death attorneys continue to fight in and out of the courtroom for our clients’ legal right to damages from those parties responsible for their wrongful asbestos exposure.
Look for our law firm’s Mesothelioma Awareness Day photos that we will submit to the Meso Foundation’s website.