Mesothelioma Law Blog

Recently, the residents of Asbestos, a town in Quebec, Canada, chose a new identity. Rather than allowing their town to continue being named after the hazardous mineral formerly mined there, they have chosen a free name from such negative connotations. Beginning in December, their town will be known as Val-des-Sources, which means ‘valley of the springs’ in French.

Asbestos was once home to the Jeffrey Mine, which had been the largest chrysotile asbestos mine in the world. According to a report published by National Public Radio, the town developed around the mine in the late 1800s. It was given its name by the Royal Mail, which began simply referring to it as the mineral mined there.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That's the saying, but what can you do when it's too late to take most preventative measures?

That's frequently the question mesothelioma victims must face. Every year, doctors diagnose roughly 3,000 Americans with mesothelioma. However, because mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to diagnose, those diagnoses often come too late for the most aggressive and effective treatments. And that's why the findings of a recent study may offer new hope for those most at risk.

At the beginning of October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug combination to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma that cannot be otherwise removed by surgery. This approval is the first the FDA has made for a mesothelioma drug treatment regimen in 16 years. It is also the second-ever systemic therapy for mesothelioma approved by the FDA.

The newly approved drug combination includes nivolumab and ipilimumab. These drugs are both immunotherapy drugs developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Studies have shown that when used together, they can enhance T-cell function, which can lead to a decrease in tumor growth.

A man from West Virginia was recently convicted and sentenced for dumping asbestos-containing materials in a national forest. His penalties reportedly include over $14,000 restitution for cleanup costs, $100 fine and court costs. He also received a six-month jail sentence, which was suspended.

According to media reports, the West Virginia Natural Resources Police discovered a dumpsite in the Monongahela National Forest in early April. The items dumped at the site contained siding and shingles that were made with asbestos.