Local woman remembered
THE 10-year anniversary of the death of a local woman has been poignantly marked with the charity founded in her memory funding two treatment rooms at the Palliative Care East centre.
Since its launch in 2000 the Louise Hamilton Cancer Help Centre Trust has been working with the James Paget with the combined goal of improving care and treatment of patients, their carers and families whose lives are affected by incurable diseases.
Yesterday, marked the 10th anniversary of Louise’s death and Roberta Lovick, Louise’s mother and trust founder, said it felt “poignant” that the trust was announcing it would fund two treatment rooms named after Louise in the Palliative Care East centre, which will be built in the ground of the James Paget University Hospital.
She said: “As a trust we are pleased that patients and carers will receive much needed help sooner than anticipated.
“Through personal involve-ment and voluntary work both locally and nationally with Macmillan Cancer Support I realise the urgent need for such a centre, a facility which in my view cannot come soon enough.”
Some time later after the trust was launched, Mrs Lovick met Dr Patrick Blossfeldt, lead consultant in palliative care at the James Paget, and was able to explain the trust’s goals.
She said: “I asked that if at some point in the future the hospital should have a similar idea that we could work together for the good of patients, carers and their families.”
Then in 2006, the hospital’s £1.5m Palliative Care East public appeal was launched. So far more than £500,000 has been raised with pledges and donations.
Mrs Lovick said: “I was delighted when plans for Palliative Care East were divulged because it gave us the chance to be involved from the very beginning.
“Our aims are to give patients the best possible care and it seems fitting that we should work together towards this goal.”
Louise died of breast cancer in 1998 at the age of 28.
Mrs Lovick added her thanks to the devoted trustees and supporters of the trust which will continue to fundraise to offer a bursary award scheme to cancer patients.
The bursaries are aimed at patients on low incomes to allow them to receive complementary treatments.
Anyone wishing to apply for a bursary or donate to the Louise Hamilton Cancer Help Centre Trust should call 01692 670076.
Scientology Cruise Ship Locked Down Due to Blue Asbestos Contamination
The Scientology cult’s 440-foot long luxury cruise ship, MV Freewinds, has been locked down by public health officials on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, after local contractors doing repair work noticed widespread blue asbestos contamination. One Curaçao paper pointed out that Scientology officials had known about the contamination since at least 2001, yet had done nothing.
Blue asbestos is the most dangerous kind of asbestos, and people exposed to it are at much higher risk of mesothelioma (an especially deadly lung cancer). According to reports from several Caribbean newspapers as well as the shipping news journal Lloyd’s List, the Freewinds was sealed on April 26. One Curaçao paper, La Prensa Cur, pointed out that Scientology officials had known about the contamination since at least 2001, yet had done nothing.
Until the 1960s, when the Freewinds was built, blue asbestos was often used in shipbuilding (it was not known at the time to be so carcinogenic). Former Scientologist Lawrence Woodcraft, a licensed architect by profession, supervised interior remodeling work on the ship in 1987 when the cult first purchased it. According to a legal affidavit made after Woodcraft left the cult in 2001, Woodcraft had notified Scientology officials immediately about the widespread blue asbestos and the dangers it posed. The response he received was that he should carry on with the work, and leave the asbestos where it was. Since Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had never mentioned that asbestos was dangerous, they were not going to worry about it. Scientologists believe that disease is caused not by microbes or toxic substances, but by the presence of “suppressive persons” (SPs), or people who disagree with Scientology and its goals.
The ship is used by Scientology for advanced training in “Operating Thetan” levels, for members who have paid fees of between USD$100,000 and $400,000, as well as for tax-deductible Caribbean cruises for its members and their families. Curaçao has been the ship’s homeport since it was purchased by Scientology, as it is not permitted to dock in any US port.
Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw responded to “Radar Online” about the asbestos reports, in an email published in an article in Radar on May 1. “The Freewinds regularly inspects the air quality on board and always meets or exceeds US standards,” said Pouw. She stated that two inspections performed in April “confirmed that the air quality is safe,” and claimed that the inspections revealed the Freewinds satisfies standards set by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Clean Air Act. Pouw told Radar that “The Freewinds will be completing its refit on schedule.” The Church of Scientology-affiliated organization Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) had been planning a cruise aboard the Freewinds scheduled for May 8. As of May 18, the ship was still locked down.
In a May 15 statement to the United Kingdom daily newspaper Metro, a representative for Scientology said that “There is not now and never has been a situation of asbestos exposure on the Freewinds.”
“I stand by everything I wrote in my 2001 affidavit,” said Lawrence Woodcraft in a statement given to “Wikinews.” Woodcraft went on to state: “I would also comment that if the Church of Scientology claims to have removed the blue asbestos, I just don’t see how, it’s everywhere. You would first have to remove all the pipes, plumbing, a/c ducts, electrical wiring etc. etc. just a maze of stuff. Also panelling as well, basically strip the ship back to a steel hull. Also blue asbestos is sprayed onto the outer walls and then covered in paint. It’s in every nook and cranny.”
Many Scientologist celebrities have spent time aboard the Freewinds, including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Chick Corea, Lisa Marie Presley, Catherine Bell, Kate Ceberano, and Juliette Lewis. “Now” magazine reported that Tom Cruise has been urged to seek medical attention regarding potential asbestos exposure, however a representative for Cruise stated he has “absolutely no knowledge” of the recent asbestos controversy. Cruise, Holmes, Travolta and Preston have celebrated birthdays and other events on the Freewinds.
Raw blue asbestos is the most hazardous form of asbestos, and has been banned in the United Kingdom since 1970. Blue asbestos fibers are very narrow and thus easily inhaled, and are a major cause of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which can develop in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium sac surrounding the heart. The cancer is incurable, and can manifest over 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos.
“This is the most dangerous type of asbestos because the fibres are smaller than the white asbestos and can penetrate the lung more easily,” said toxicologist Dr. Chris Coggins in a statement published in “OK! Magazine.” Dr. Coggins went on to note that “Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, the victim has six months to a year to live. It gradually reduces lung function until the victim is no longer able to breathe and dies.”
The Scientology cult was founded in 1950 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Its primary goal is to “clear the planet” by “obliterating psychiatry.” Scientology’s many front groups include the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), Criminon, Narconon, and Applied Scholastics. Scientology claims to be the “world’s fastest growing religion,” with some 8 million members, but mainstream demographic surveys have shown that the number of members is closer to 55,000 worldwide, and declining. Scientology is currently under investigation in several countries for a variety of human rights abuses, including child abuse, violation of child labor laws, kidnapping and running secret internal prison camps, as well as for a number of financial crimes.
Familial Breast Cancer Risk Continues Throughout a Woman’s Life
Women who have a sister diagnosed with breast cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease throughout their lives. The increased risk is most pronounced in younger women, regardless of the age at which the first sister was diagnosed.Women who have a first degree relative affected by breast cancer are at increased risk for the disease, but it is unclear how a woman’s risk varies with her current age and the age at which her relative was diagnosed.
To find out, Marie Reilly, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm analyzed a national family database that is linked to the national cancer register. They compared the breast cancer incidence between 1958 and 2001 in 23,654 sisters of breast cancer patients and in 1,732,775 women who did not have a sister with breast cancer.
The familial risk was highest for young women, aged 20 to 39, with a 6.6-fold increase in the risk of breast cancer diagnosis, compared with similarly aged women who did not have a sister with breast cancer. The excess risk declined to approximately two-fold for women aged 50 and older. For the sisters of a breast cancer patient, the risk of diagnosis was similar regardless of whether she was approaching the age at which her sister had been diagnosed or had already passed it.
“Sisters of women diagnosed with breast cancer still have an increased risk of breast cancer 20 years after diagnosis of the sister, suggesting that women live with the burden of familial breast cancer for their lifetime,” the authors write.
Adapted from materials provided by Journal of the National Cancer Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Tom Cruise Put on Cancer Alert !
Tom Cruise and other Hollywood stars have been asked to get urgent medical checks after an asbestos scare on board a Church of Scientology cruise ship.
Freewinds, the 2 million dollars ship, was said to be “under seal” on the Caribbean island of Curacao after cancer-causing particles were found on the 40-year-old vessel.
According to reports, deadly blue asbestos dust was released during refurbishment of the ship, used by the church as a floating “education centre” and for VIP parties.
Besides Tom Cruise, 45, who is a senior Scientologist, other celebs known to have spent time on board include singer Lisa Marie Presley, Natural Born Killers actress Juliette Lewis, jazz great Chick Corea and JAG and Army Wives TV star Catherine Bell.
Experts warn that the guests could be at risk from the killer disease mesothelioma.
It can lay dormant for decades after exposure to blue asbestos, before causing cancer of the peritoneum - the lining of the lung.
“Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to asbestos should consult a doctor immediately,” The Daily Star quoted a medic, as saying.
Patrick Swayze transfers millions to wife
Dirty Dancing legend Patrick Swayze has reportedly readied his will, transferring his property worth millions to his wife of 32 years, Lisa Niemi.According to a friend, the move is a part of his final farewell to his wife as the end draws closer. “Patrick told Lisa, ‘I will always love you and can’t imagine how my life would have been without you’. It was very touching, and it’s part of his final farewell to his wife as the end draws closer,” The Sun quoted the pal, as saying. The actor had to have an emergency surgery after the cancer spread and part of his stomach was removed.
“Patrick told his family he’s not giving up, but he wanted to make sure everything like the will was in place in the event that his health began to fail quickly and he didn’t have time to take care of things,” the friend added. The Ghost star no longer looks like his former self especially with the months of treatment he has been going through for his cancer, but he tries to live his life as normally as possible.
Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer, was spotted shopping near his ranch on the outskirts of LA, and his gaunt appearance could be seen even beneath a pair of sunglasses.
Mammography is best breast cancer detector
A recent letter writer encouraged women of all ages to honor their mothers and themselves by practicing breast self- exams. I echo that life-saving message, and add that May is Mammography Month.
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition encourages all women over the age of 40, and those who have been recommended by their health care providers, to get mammograms.
Mammography is still the best method available to detect early stages of breast cancer. And Delaware leads the nation in providing free and low-cost mammograms to all qualified residents who are uninsured or underinsured.
Screening for Life is a program of the state Department of Public Health. Delaware women who do not have health insurance and meet income eligibility guidelines are able to receive clinical breast exams and mammograms free of charge.
If breast cancer is found, the program provides free medical treatment throughout the course of the disease.
Even if a woman does not meet the eligibility guidelines for the Screening for Life program, there are services at local hospitals and federally qualified health centers that offer free or low-cost care and assistance. Women can find these programs by calling the Delaware Cancer Help Line at (800) 464-HELP.
Electrician’s death due to lethal fibres
A FORMER electrician from York died after being exposed to lethal asbestos dust while working at the city’s carriageworks, an inquest heard.
On leaving school in the mid-1950s at the age of 15, Graham Sidebottom, 67, of Teddar Road, in Acomb, York, followed in the footsteps of his father and worked as an apprentice electrician at the British Rail carriageworks, in Holgate Road.
Mr Sidebottom, who worked there until 1992, died in May last year. The inquest was told his death was caused by malignant mesothelioma.
advertisement
In a statement signed by Mr Sidebottom in January last year, he said: “My doctors feel I do have mesothelioma, particularly because of my exposure to asbestos dust and fibres during the course of my employment with British Rail.”
In the statement, Mr Sidebottom, who had been smoking up until a few weeks before his death, said he had recollections as a young man of screwing up the asbestos into balls and throwing it “just for fun”.
He said that while he was never told to wear a mask to do his job, no one knew how dangerous asbestos was.
He said he worked like this until about 1967, but from about 1971 exposure to asbestos dust had reduced.
York coroner Donald Coverdale said: “The statement Mr Sidebottom gave to his solicitor contains all the information I require and of course that does confirm exposure to asbestos while working at British Rail carriageworks for a considerable number of years. It’s apparent from his statement he didn’t have any protection in the form of a face mask.”
Mr Coverdale said he had no doubt asbestos would have been thoroughly ingrained in Mr Sidebottom’s clothes.
Mr Coverdale said: “There’s only one verdict - that’s that he has died from the industrial disease of mesothelioma.” Speaking after the inquest, Mr Sidebottom’s widow, Joyce Sidebottom, 62, said: “It’s an awful way to die.”
Mr Sidebottom died on May 2, 2007, at St Leonard’s Hospice, in Tadcaster Road, York.
Kim Daniells, chairwoman of the York Asbestos Support Group, said: “The only known cause of malignant mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. The number of deaths from this condition continues to rise as a result of the working practises that were in place in the latter half of the 20th century.
“This further tragic death is just one in a long line of those that we’re seeing of former employees at the carriageworks and from industry across the UK generally.”
She said if anybody was worried about previous exposure to asbestos, or would like advice about asbestos diseases, or wanted support, they could contact the support group on 07787 120317.
Mesothelioma Victims Should Call Americas Watchdog’s Mesothelioma Victims Center
If you are a victim of Mesothelioma or a family member friend of a victim Americas Watchdog is there for you. Americas Watchdog has created the Mesothelioma Victims Center as a free service to victims or family members of victims, of a rare form of cancer called Mesothelioma. Americas Watchdog has initiated this very complete free service because there was literally nothing close to this type of service in the United States and because this type of service is sorely needed by Mesothelioma victims and their families. The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist victims & their families in every way possible
Americas Watchdog has created the most wonderful service for victims or family members of victims of Mesothelioma. Until a family member was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, Americas Watchdog had never heard of this disease or knew much about it. Mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. The group never realized that there was no safety net for victims, to get help from the government. They did not know how difficult it might be to get veterans benefits or social security benefits. Americas Watchdog also discovered that it is critical for victims of this lethal disease to get proper legal representation. They have designed the Mesothelioma Victims Center to be the national advocacy center for the victims and family members of Mesothelioma.Their service is free. The web site is located at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.
Their services include:
- Assisting the victims obtain Social Security permanent disability payments
- If the victim is a veteran and was exposed to asbestos during military duty, we will work with the victim and his/her family in obtaining veterans disability and health care benefits.
- We will assist the family in getting the best possible health care options
- We will assist the victim in getting legal representation.
- We will assist the victim and their family in getting counseling on a wide variety of topics that arise from this disease.
A victim of Mesothelioma or their family can call the group any time at 866-714-6466. Who Can Get Mesothelioma? Individuals exposed to asbestos. As Follows
- Individuals who served in the US Navy. Especially Navy personnel who served in or around naval ship engine rooms.
- Members of the US Army, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.
- Naval ship yard workers
- Ship yard workers
- Automotive repair specialists
- Construction workers
- Plumbers
- Demolition contractors
Because no other group is providing this full range of services and because victims and their families need assistance in these areas, Americas Watchdog is doing this at no charge because its the right thing to do. Americas Watchdog’s Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com . Any one wishing more information can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466. Americas Watchdog and its Mesothelioma Victims Center are all about taking care of precious souls in need and corporate responsibility.
GET PAINTING FOR CHARITY WALK T-SHIRTS
Budding young artists are being encouraged to get their drawing books out and design T-shirts for a summer charity event.
The fourth annual SunWalk in July will see thousands of men, women and children marching through Bristol in decorated bras to raise money for breast cancer charities.
Fundraisers can choose from a 5km, 10km or half marathon power-walk starting from Ashton Court.
The event is organised by Walk the Walk, a charity set up to raise funds for breast cancer care and research, including the Pill-based Penny Brohn Cancer Care, formerly the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.
The SunWalk was launched in Bristol in 2004 as a daylight alternative to the popular MoonWalk event which started in London.
Youngsters who take part in the event wear an official SunWalk T-shirt. The competition is now on design a image for these T-shirts.
Creative youngsters are being encouraged to come up with designs inspired by the title Walking on Sunshine and send them to the charity.
Last year, Ellie Holley of Bradley Stoke designed the sunny image that appeared on T-shirts worn by hundreds of walkers.
Judges for the competition include artist and presenter Rolf Harris and singer and presenter Cheryl Baker and presenter of CBBC’s Best of Friends, Rani Price.
As well as seeing their design on the official SunWalk T-shirt, the winner will receive a £100 voucher for www.365tickets.com, which provides tickets to theme parks and family attractions across the UK, and an invitation to visit the VIP tent at the SunWalk event. Two runners up will receive luxury art sets.
Entries should be submitted on A3 or A4 paper, with the child’s name, age and contact details for a parent, to SunWalk Kids T-Shirt Competition, Walk the Walk, Brook House, 88-100 Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 5BJ, by June 6.
Nina Barough, founder of The SunWalk said: “The SunWalk is all about getting fit, having fun and raising money. The winning T-shirt design should be as colourful and bright as possible, just like the SunWalk itself!”
For more information about the competition, or to take part in the event on July 6 visit www.walkthewalk.org .
Green Tea Ingredient Significantly Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth
Green tea is high in the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-3- gallate) which helps prevent the body’s cells from becoming damaged and prematurely aged. Studies have suggested that the combination of green tea and EGCG may also be beneficial by providing protection against certain types of cancers, including breast cancer. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi researchers now finds that consuming EGCG significantly inhibits breast tumor growth in female mice.
- // Click here to see the rest of this story //-