The mesothelioma attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are always trying to keep our clients up-to-date on the most recent news out of the mesothelioma community. We recently came across two unrelated articles that we think could prove beneficial to mesothelioma patients and asbestos exposure victims throughout the country. The first centers on the medical benefits of yoga in cancer fighters, and the second on the legal permissibilitly of second-hand asbestos exposure and its harmful effects.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center recently led a study to determine the physical benefits of yoga in patients with cancer. Patients fighting cancer have higher rates of fatigue, inflammation, and disability than the general population, which is often attributed to lack of physical activity during and after cancer treatment.
Ohio State researchers enrolled about 200 recent breast cancer survivors, all of whom finished their last cancer treatments at least two month before the study began. The women were randomly split into two groups: the first participated in two 90-minute yoga sessions per week for 12 weeks, and the second was told to avoid yoga altogether.
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At the beginning and end of the 12 weeks, the women’s blood was tested for symptoms of inflammation and they were given surveys to measure their fatigue, mood, and overall vitality. By the end of the study period, the women who participated in yoga had higher scores of vitality, however there was no marked difference in rates on inflammation, mood or fatigue.
Then, another three months later, the women were tested again. These tests indicated that the women who participated in the 12 week yoga regimen were substantially less fatigued and had higher vitality scores than the group of women who did not partake in yoga. There was no difference in mood between the two groups.
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Researchers noted that the women who practiced yoga were less tired and had between 13 and 20% less inflammation in their blood samples. They also stated that cancer fighters should choose low-to-moderate intensity yoga classes to avoid overexertion. Their findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Jury Awards Over $27 Million to Victims of ‘Second-Hand’ Asbestos Exposure
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Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma and asbestosis, however, only recently has scientific and medical researchers acknowledged the possibility that second-hand exposure can also cause these ailments. Second-hand exposure to asbestos occurs when someone who frequently works around asbestos, say, a shipbuilder or construction worker, tracts the substance home on their work clothing, and contaminates the home.
In the case of John and Jane Panza, John’s father was responsible for the take-home asbestos exposure. The elder Panza worked at a brake manufacturing company, Eaton Airflex, for over three decades, and was the president of their union. Over those 30 years, Panza routinely tracked home asbestos dust on his work clothing, and eventually died of lung cancer.
His son, John Panza, was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma at just 40 years old. Mesothelioma typically takes between 20 and 50 years to develop in the body, so his exposure undoubtedly occurred when he was a young child. Panza has undergone several surgeries to treat his mesothelioma cancer, ultimately removing his right lung completely.
Panza and his wife Jane sued Eaton and the company that manufactured the asbestos-containing brake pads his father worked with every day. After an 11-day trial, the jury decided that that company, Kelsey-Hayes Co., manufactured a defective product, and failed to warn workers on the dangers of asbestos and how to avoid its risks.
They agreed that the brake pads were responsible for Panza’s mesothelioma, awarding him and his family a total of $27.5 million in damages. They assigned 60% liability to Kelsey-Hayes, which was formerly known as National Friction Prodcuts Corp., and 40% to Eaton Airflex.
Our team of asbestos exposure attorneys reminds mesothelioma patients that this devastating cancer can only be caused by exposure to asbestos, whether that be first- or second-hand. If you have any questions related to asbestos exposure or mesothelioma, contact our firm today. We provide free case reviews and legal advice to anyone wondering about their legal options after diagnosis.
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