The family of Japanese electrician, Kenji Fujiwara passed away from Malignant Mesothelioma in 2006, after being diagnosed with the illness in 2006, was just awarded 30 million yen for his passing.

The story is that the Chubu Electric Power Company failed to tell workers about safety precautions due to asbestos. Kenji worked at the power company from 1958 to 1999.

Fire Captain David Chesser from Nebraska underwent surgery to remove most of his Mesothelioma cancer.

In order to remove the majority of the cancer tumor, the doctors had to remove part of pancreas, spleen and appendix.

The fire department in Nebraska is using this case to raise awareness for others – especially for the hazards of fire fighters being exposed to asbestos and in turn being diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer.

72-year-old Thomas Firth, of South Carolina, suffered from Mesothelioma cancer since he was diagnosed in November 2006. Sadly, Thomas passed away a year later on July 13, 2007.

Thomas was exposed to asbestos fibers at the Bethlehem Steel Company where we worked for under a year as a mechanic’s assistant.

A jury awarded Thomas’ family $700,000 to help for the loss of their family member. The Bethlehem Steel Company was expected to pay the family because of their negligence and failure to warn Thomas about the dangers of asbestos products and asbestos poisoning.

A recent study was done and reported on by the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. The report stated that when Mesothelioma cells are under immense stress from heat they respond by increasing production of heat-shock proteins that save them from death. Researchers have now discovered that suppressing the release of these heat-shock proteins in the Mesothelioma cancer cells can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatments.

While there is no cure for Mesothelioma at the current time, this treatment option seems more and more like it will be a success in the coming years.

There is a list of around 200 war veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq have joined together to file a lawsuit against the company KBR.

KRB contractors overseas created burn pits which led to the veterans receiving many diseases. The burn pits are open air pits that are used to incinerate human body parts, plastics, gas cans, rubble, lithium batteries and more.

While the veterans have developed numerous diseases, it is unsure whether or not they may come down with more illnesses in the future, including Mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. This would be due to the fact that the rubble burned in the burn pits would have been from buildings insulated with asbestos fibers.

So far the veterans have received illnesses including skin conditions, chronic bronchitis, kidney disease and heart disease as well as neurological problems.

At 61-years-old, plumber Alan Ward, has been awarded nearly $290,000 in compensation for his Mesothelioma diagnosis.

Alan was diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer in April 2007, after spending several years plumbing in hospitals in England that had asbestos fibers in them. His job was to remove asbestos from pipes and boilers and he was never warned of the dangers of asbestos exposure – he was also not given any protection from asbestos fibers while he did his job for the hospitals.

Alan was given 18 months to live, however he has defied the odds and has lived for two years already with Mesothelioma cancer.

Alan is planning to use the money he has been compensated to make his last few months more comfortable and to compensate his suffering.

69-year-old James Rhio O’Connor passed away this month from Mesothelioma cancer. Surprisingly James was diagnosed in 2001 and his doctor told him that both surgery and chemo therapy were not options as he was too far along and they would do more harm than good.

James took the doctors advice and decided to take his wife, Arlene, on a cruise and then return home and go into hospice care. However, James didn’t need the care, rather he lived another seven years enjoying himself every day until the end.

Cancer Monthly published James’ book “They Said Months. I Chose Years! A Mesothelioma Survivor’s Story.” In the book James acknowledged that there is no right or wrong treatment for anyone when it comes to Mesothelioma. He talked about how patients should listen to their bodies and not second guess themselves.

He writes, “How important is self-sufficiency in surviving mesothelioma or any other cancer? I think it is vital. You have to possess the faith and confidence to make the right treatment decisions. Many patients spend hours, days or weeks second-guessing themselves about what they would have or could have or should have done. This is very unproductive… I believe that discipline has helped me survive my diagnosis. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be here without it. Discipline or self-discipline provides the stamina to persevere. It bestows the ability to withstand hardships and difficulties, whether physical, emotional or mental. It grants the ability to reject immediate satisfaction for something better. Turning away from conventional therapies and embarking on my own path to treat my disease took discipline and courage. I don’t want to give the wrong impression. Of course I had doubts and second thoughts. But once I made my decision as to my treatment course of choice, I challenged myself to maintain focus and discipline in order to see it through.”

James spent his last years mentoring other individuals with Mesothelioma – touching the lives of many with hope, corage and inspiration.

Gerald Gray was a Commander Master Chief for the Atlantic Fleet in the Navy from 1951 until retiring in 1971 and becoming a school teacher. 37 years later Gray was diagnosed with the Asbestos related cancer, Mesothelioma.

Gray’s family members received $1.2 million from John Crane, Inc for Gray’s death. The jury had planned on awarding the family $4 million, but four out of the five defendant companies chose to settle outside of the courtroom, lowering the amount that the court could reward the family publicly.

During his time in the Navy, Gray was exposed to asbestos, and the John Crane company was held partially responsible for Gray’s Mesothelioma diagnosis. John Crane manufacturers asbestos-containing gaskets and other materials for ships.

A businessman in England has recently passed away from Mesothelioma. David Dobson was the co-founder of Davern Workwear and was 68-years-old.

David is suspected to have been exposed to asbestos during the time that his factory produced protective equipment and clothing for people who worked with asbestos since during this time he came in contact with many workers in the asbestos industry.

He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in September 2008 and had numerous surgeries to remove the linings of his organs, including his heart sack and lungs. He also had other cancer treatments that were made available to him, but sadly these treatments did not cure the cancer.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer and get yourself on the path you need to be on to get yourself the compensation you deserve and the money that will help you pay for treatments.

Joe Hoffer, a teacher in Michigan, has passed away after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer. Joe was 61-years-old and was a former board president for the Holland Public Schools and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.

Joe blamed his Mesothelioma on being exposed to asbestos during a summer job in a furnace factory while he was in college.

The Holland school’s Superintendent, Karan McPhee remembers Joe: “Joe always demonstrated a special place in his heart for students who struggled and students who needed some alternatives to how they were going to find success. Joe was one of the good guys who cared deeply about people, personally and professionally. His soft spot was for students who, for whatever reason, needed non-traditional ways to earn a diploma, which he believed were so important.”

While school board member Kevin Clark says of Joe: “On the board, he was kind of a story teller, and it was a great style,” Clark said. “He was a good leader. He cared deeply for the school district and kids. It doesn’t get any better than that. His fingerprints are still all over Holland Public Schools.”

Memorial donations can be made to International Mesothelioma Program, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02115.