mesothelioma respond to chemo

Mesothelioma Treatment: A Guide to Chemotherapy & Your Legal Rights

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In our previous article in this series, we covered the basics about chemotherapy for mesothelioma. Now it’s time to get down to what mesothelioma patients can expect from their chemotherapy experience: specifically, from systemic IV chemotherapy. This is the most common type of chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients, and refers to what most people think of when they think of “chemo”: chemotherapy drugs delivered into the bloodstream over multiple sessions, spanning several weeks or months. Mesothelioma patients may also receive other types of chemotherapy, which you can read about here.

As is often the case when it comes to mesothelioma treatment, your mileage may vary: mesothelioma patients experience chemotherapy in different ways, depending factors like overall health, mesothelioma type and staging, and treatment goals. However, there are a number of common experiences that mesothelioma patients often find helpful when starting their chemotherapy journeys.

How do I prepare for chemotherapy?

There are a number of things you can do in advance to prepare for your chemotherapy. You can continue to utilize these tips throughout your chemotherapy process.

  • Arrange caregiving assistance. During chemotherapy, you may need assistance with activities of daily living. Try to make arrangements for assistance in advance by asking friends or family members to help with specific tasks or care needs. You can always adjust your requests as your needs become clearer.
  • Get a dental checkup. Before you start chemotherapy, try to schedule an appointment with a chemotherapy-experienced dentist. They may be able to identify and address infections or other issues, reducing the risk of oral and dental side effects.
  • Take care of your body and mind. Prioritize reducing physical and mental stress in the days before and after your chemotherapy sessions. Focus on eating nutritious meals, drinking plenty of water, and getting a full night’s sleep.
  • Chemo-proof your home. Chemotherapy side effects often put mesothelioma patients at increased risk of injuring themselves. It may help to go through your house and eliminate physical risks (e.g., covering or blunting sharp corners and removing slipping hazards).
  • Plan for side effects and take advantage of palliative care: While you won’t know your side effects for sure until you experience them, it’s often helpful to plan for the most common effects in advance, just in case. For example, you may want to preemptively cut your hair or purchase wigs if your chemotherapy drug causes hair loss. Once you have a better sense of how chemotherapy affects you, you can and should seek palliative care to address those effects.
  • Prepare or arrange for meals in advance. During chemotherapy, mesothelioma patients often lack the energy to prepare meals for themselves. Many find it helpful to prepare or arrange for meal delivery in advance to make eating as easy as possible.
  • Stay away from people who are sick or may be sick. Remember that you will be very immunocompromised during chemo, and should therefore avoid interaction with anyone who is sick or may be sick. You may want to cancel plans that involve large crowds, especially during COVID-19 surges and cold/flu season. 

What are the main steps of the chemotherapy process?

  1. Consultation. The chemotherapy process starts with a meeting with your mesothelioma care team to discuss your chemotherapy regimen and how it fits in with your treatment goals. This is your time to address any questions and concerns; many patients find it helpful to make a list beforehand and bring it with them. It may also be helpful to bring a trusted companion to help you advocate for yourself and record important information.

During your consultation, your care team may also conduct preliminary testing or imaging. They may also install a catheter (a tube inserted into a major artery that remains in place for the duration of your chemotherapy), or a port (a round metal or plastic disk inserted under the skin). Catheters and ports make repeated chemotherapy sessions quicker, easier, and less painful to administer.

  • Infusions: Your chemotherapy will likely consist of several infusions, in which chemotherapy drugs are delivered into your body through an IV (or through your catheter or port). Chemotherapy infusions are generally given in hospitals, cancer centers, or other outpatient treatment centers, and do not require inpatient care. Infusions range in length, but most take several hours.

You may want to bring a companion with you to your first chemotherapy session. In addition to emotional support, they can also make sure you get home safe.

When you first come for your infusion, you may have a brief wait, as chemotherapy drugs are generally prepared to order for each patient. When your infusion is ready, a nurse will help you get settled and place all necessary lines. They may give you fluids or other premedication to help with side effects.

During infusions, you will usually be seated in a comfortable chair, attached to an IV bag of medicine which will be delivered into your body over several hours. You may want to bring your computer, phone, tablet, books, or craft projects with you to pass the time, as well as pillows and blankets in case you’d like to nap.

  • Post-Infusion: Once the infusion is complete, you may be kept briefly to monitor for serious adverse reactions. After treatment, make sure to get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, avoid people who may be sick, and eat nutritious meals if possible. Side effects may occur immediately or in the following weeks or months. It is often helpful to write down your side effects as they occur.

How often will I have to go to chemotherapy?

Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles of 3 to 6 weeks, each consisting of several infusions, with rest periods in between. On pemetrexed and cisplatin, the most common chemotherapy combination for mesothelioma patients, infusions are given every 21 days.

After around two cycles, your mesothelioma care team will evaluate how the drug is working. If it is working, they may continue your regimen; if it isn’t working, or if there are intolerable side effects, they may adjust dosages, or switch to another drug.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy, and what can I do about them?

Chemotherapy has a large range of side effects which vary from patient to patient. Chemo works against mesothelioma by targeting rapidly multiplying cells, as are found in mesothelioma tumors. However, in the process, they may also damage healthy cells that multiply rapidly, especially in bone marrow, hair follicles, skin, and the linings of the mouth and intestines, among other areas. This is largely what causes chemotherapy side effects.

Common side effects include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, and G.I. upset (constipation, diarrhea)
  • Tips: Anti-nausea and GI medications can be administered before, during, and after treatment. You may also try complementary therapies like meditation and somatic exercises.
  • Mouth and throat sores (mucositis)
  • Tips: Brush your teeth several times a day with fluoride toothpaste, using a soft toothbrush or a sponge on a stick. Gargle with baking soda rinse (½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of baking soda in a glass of water). Choose foods that are soft, lukewarm, and non-acidic.
  • Lack of appetite, taste changes, and weight loss:
  • Tips: Focus on high-calorie, high-protein foods, and eat 4-6 small meals a day. Experiment to find food that’s appetizing. Utilize nutrition shakes.
  • Fatigue, cognitive effects, and “chemo brain”: Chemotherapy often causes fatigue (abnormal exhaustion not resolved with rest), as well as “chemo brain”, cognitive changes including impaired thinking, memory, and attention, mental fogginess, and difficulty speaking clearly or finding the right words.
  • Tips: Consult with your care team about potential medication adjustments and check for vitamin deficiencies. Get as much healthy sleep, socialization, and exercise as possible. Stick to a daily routine, utilize memory supports (i.e., writing things down or having others remind you), and do cognitive exercises (i.e., challenging games like crossword puzzles and Wordle).
  • Hair loss: Some chemotherapy drugs may cause hair loss, usually starting within weeks of your first treatment, and continuing for several weeks after your last treatment. Some patients experience scalp irritation or itchiness during hair loss.
  • Tips: Some patients use a scalp cooling cap during infusions, which may reduce follicle damage and hair loss. Consider shaving your head early in the process to reduce itching as hair falls out.
  • Headaches, muscle aches, and soreness:
  • Tips: Pursue palliative care with your mesothelioma team. They may adjust your chemo regimen, address other underlying medical issues, or prescribe medication, nerve blocks, PT, or other pain-relief therapies.
  • Skin issues (e.g., dryness, itchiness, redness, discoloration, rashes, peeling, and photosensitivity):
  • Tips: Use sunscreen and gentle moisturizer to protect your skin. Avoid direct exposure to the sun. Use cool washcloths or colloidal oatmeal baths in lukewarm water. Ask about corticosteroids or antibiotics in severe cases,

Some side effects of chemotherapy are somewhat rarer, but can be much more serious and can cause longer-lasting and potentially permenant issues. You should always consult your mesothelioma care team about these symptoms. They include:

  • Peripheral neuropathy: Some chemotherapy drugs can cause nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) that may lead to hearing loss, loss of balance, and problems seeing, hearing, or walking normally, as well as pain, burning, tingling, numbness, hot-and-cold sensitivity, and weakness in the hands and feet. For some patients, symptoms only last for a short time after treatment; for others, symptoms can last much longer and may potentially become permenant. Symptoms can also worsen over time, and chemotherapy drugs must often be adjusted to avoid doing additional nerve damage. Always inform your mesothelioma care team of you experience any of these symptoms.
  • Blood disorders: Chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, which is the tissue inside bones that makes new blood cells. As such, during chemotherapy, mesothelioma patients generally don’t produce enough blood cells. This can cause conditions requiring medical attention. These include:
  • Anemia, caused by too few red blood cells, with symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath
  • Leukopenia, or increased chance of infection, caused by too few white blood cells.
  • Thrombocytopenia, caused by too few blood platelets, which can cause easy bruising or bleeding.

Your doctor will continually check your blood cell counts using tests called the complete blood count (CBC) and the platelet count. Blood cell counts usually return to normal after chemotherapy, but must be addressed if they do not do so.

  • Heart Problems: Some chemotherapy medications may damage the heart, causing associated cardiac problems. Older mesothelioma patients (those aged 60+) are more vulnerable to chemo-related heart issues. Your doctor should test your heart before, during, and after treatment to monitor your cardiac health.

Your doctor and your mesothelioma care team will be available to you throughout your chemotherapy journey. If you are confused or concerned about your symptoms, the course of your treatment, and the chemotherapy process in general, reach out to your care team.

Why You Should Hire Satterley & Kelley, PLLC for Your Cancer Case

If you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured. This includes physical and mental pain and suffering, financial costs, medical bills, and how the disease impacts your relationships.

You need a law firm with experience representing victims taking legal action against the asbestos industry. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have helped asbestos victims for more than 20 years.

We have relationships with the best experts in the world to help us prove that asbestos caused your injury and the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial harm you suffered.

Take Legal Action Now — Contact Our Firm

If you have mesothelioma or another type of asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, and pain suffering. Let us be your boots on the ground seeking maximum compensation for you and your family.

To schedule a free initial consultation, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online.

Cameras Never Blink. That’s a Good Thing for Personal Injury Cases

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All personal injury cases are based on facts. The simpler the facts, the better for the plaintiff (the injured party filing the lawsuit). It was said long ago that a photo is worth a thousand words. When a photo or a video provides strong evidence in a case, we let them do the talking.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC represents people severely injured in accidents and the families of those killed in them. We have over 30 years of experience helping clients seek compensation they deserve. If you’re injured in an accident or a loved one was killed in one, learn about your legal rights in a free consultation you can schedule by calling us at 855-385-9532.

A case starts with a client’s version of events. If we’re retained to represent an accident victim, an investigation is the next step. We look for and sometimes find videos of accidents from one type of camera or another. They can be critical in helping us piece together what happened, how, why, and who is responsible. Since cameras don’t have an “axe to grind,” they are rightly viewed as unbiased and credible sources of evidence.

Slips and Falls

Depending on your location, cameras may surround you. If you’re in any commercial establishment where the public is welcome, a smart business owner will have every inch of the area surveilled. They should probably have areas where only employees are allowed, covered too, in case an accident or crime occurs.

If you’re injured while at a business, you probably slipped and or fell, or someone (an employee or another customer) bumped into you accidentally or intentionally hurt you. If there’s video of the incident, this is no longer a “he said–she said” situation where the circumstances are contested. Ideally, it’ll all be there on the video.

Parking Lots

A smart parking lot owner will have security cameras and post signs warning of them to scare away criminals looking for cars to break into. Whether you slip and fall in the parking lot, are involved in a vehicle accident there, or on an adjacent street, video of what happened could be a big help to your case.

Vehicle Accidents at Intersections

Intersections are dangerous places, and some are worse than others. Most of the bad driver behavior that can occur will happen if the intersection is large and busy enough.

  • Intoxicated drivers won’t control their vehicles
  • Speeders will run red lights or stop signs and collide into another vehicle
  • Distracted drivers will side-swipe or rear-end someone
  • Pedestrians and cyclists will be ignored and struck by a driver who won’t give them the right of way

Busy intersections commonly have surveillance cameras. They may also be part of automated systems that result in drivers being mailed tickets for violating red lights. If there’s more than one camera, they may capture what led up to an accident from multiple angles.

Vehicles and Motorcycles

Some vehicle owners and motorcyclists have installed cameras to capture what’s happening in front of them. Automated and assisted driving systems rely on cameras, lidar (a device using lasers to measure distances), or both. Some vehicles, and more in the future, have complete video coverage all around them. Increasingly, at least one vehicle involved in an accident will have recorded video of the accident.

Privately and Publicly Owned Cameras

Thanks to smaller and cheaper cameras, more private homes have surveillance cameras. If an accident happens on a residential street, there’s a chance a “doorbell” camera may have recorded it. Publicly owned cameras can be found in many places, including highways and public buildings.

Videos Aren’t Always Helpful

Cameras aren’t everywhere yet, and sometimes the video only shows part of what happened. If a video we find contradicts what a client claims and reveals that the case isn’t what we expected, we won’t go along with a false claim and risk our hard-earned reputation as honest and ethical attorneys.

Speak To a Louisville Accident Attorney Near You

No matter how you are injured, as long as another party is at least partially to blame, you may have a right to compensation for what you’ve been through. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers have decades of experience helping families after accidents disrupt their lives.

To schedule a free initial consultation, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online.

Health Risks Associated with Asbestos

Brown & Williamson and the Business of Death on a Mass Scale

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Tobacco powerhouse Brown & Williamson is no more. But the cancers that its asbestos-filled Kentucky workplace caused live on in those who used to work there. The company was a major player in the tobacco industry, one that not only caused cancer in its customers due to tobacco smoke, but also poisoned its workforce with asbestos.

The company’s headquarters were in Louisville from the 1920s until the late 1990s. Its manufacturing facility at Hill and 16th Street operated until 1982. It employed thousands of Kentuckians over the decades. Brown & Williamson (B&W) was exposed for hiding the deadly dangers of tobacco use and was later folded into a massive corporate restructuring with other companies more than twenty years ago.

Asbestos Exposure at Brown & Williamson

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that is strong and resistant to heat, fire, chemicals, and electricity. Asbestos fibers are also incredibly light, so if they come off a product when it’s installed, removed, or replaced, they can stay in the air for a long time, making it easier for those in the area to inhale or swallow them.

Because the fibers are so durable, the human body can’t destroy or remove them. Over the years or decades, the fibers cause scar tissue, inflammation, and various types of cancer.

B&W’s manufacturing facility was built in the 1920s and shut down in 1982. The plant had extensive asbestos materials throughout to ensure it kept operating. Asbestos was on steam pipes, boilers, electrical systems, and chemical tanks.

Workers in the plant were exposed to asbestos during:

  • Construction and installation of equipment
  • Maintenance and repair work
  • Routine production, especially when deteriorated insulation released fibers into the air

Those in Brown & Williamson’s corporate offices, built in the 1980s, were also at risk. While the use of asbestos was declining, some building materials containing it, like drywall joint compound and electrical wiring components, still contained asbestos. Those involved in the construction and who later worked there could’ve been exposed.

Who Was at Risk?

Several types of employees faced asbestos exposure:

  • Construction workers: Pipefitters, electricians, bricklayers, insulators, and boiler makers who installed or renovated asbestos-containing materials.
  • Maintenance staff: Mechanics worked on or around insulated piping and machinery
  • Production workers: Those not directly handling asbestos often encountered it because it deteriorated over time, and asbestos was in the air
  • Anyone in the facility: Once asbestos dust is in the air, on floors, or on equipment, anyone walking through the area could be exposed

Someone could inhale or swallow enough asbestos at the B&W facility, whether they worked with asbestos products or regularly walked through the area.

Diagnosed with Mesothelioma After Working at Brown & Williamson?

If you or a family member worked at B&W and are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you should act quickly. Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer, but treatment options are improving. The sad reality is you may not have as much time to make decisions as you’d like.

  • You have a one-year statute of limitations in Kentucky to file a legal claim and seek compensation for what you’ve endured. That may sound like a long time, but it passes quickly, especially when dealing with important health and financial decisions
  • Consult with an experienced attorney. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC has a comprehensive knowledge of B&W’s operations and asbestos use, so we don’t “learn while we do”

Filing a claim earlier rather than later may not only help you and your family secure potential compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and family support, but also give us a better chance to fully document your case. This includes what you did at work,  your asbestos exposure, your diagnosis, and treatment history.

Each asbestos claim is someone’s story. We want you to tell yours. First-hand testimony is incredibly valuable. While coworkers can help corroborate details, only you can fully tell your story. Waiting too long could mean losing the opportunity to provide a detailed deposition or participate in your case due to the progression of your illness.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

If you or a loved one worked at B&W and is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, discuss your situation and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help by calling our Louisville office at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.

Did Your Pelvis Break in an Accident? Compensation May Be Available

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Your pelvis is critical to your body. Breaking it could leave you unable to perform your usual tasks for weeks or months. If you’re older, the consequences of a broken pelvis can include a shortened lifespan. If you suffer a broken pelvis in a vehicle or motorcycle accident or due to a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’re going through.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC have helped accident victims, including those suffering a broken pelvis, for more than 30 years. If you want to learn more about how a party responsible for your injury may be held liable for their actions under Kentucky law, schedule a free consultation by calling us at 855-385-9532 today.

What is a Pelvis?

Your pelvis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is the seat of your axial skeleton (the skeletal system’s central core). It holds up the trunk of your body and connects it to your legs. You can think of it as a basin at the base of your spine, that opens in the middle.

What Does Your Pelvis Do?

Your pelvic bones carry your upper body’s weight with your pelvic floor’s muscles. The pelvic cavity, the area between your pelvis and abdomen, holds urinary and reproductive organs. In women, the pelvis’ opening serves as the birth canal.

Your pelvis protects important organs, nerves, and blood vessels, including internal reproductive organs, your bladder, and lower digestive tract. It also anchors your leg muscles.

What is a Pelvic Fracture?

The Cleveland Clinic reports that a pelvic fracture is a break in one or more pelvic bones. They can range from mild to severe.

The pelvic bones include:

  • The sacrum (a large triangle-shaped bone at your spine’s base).
  • The coccyx (or tailbone).
  • The hip bones, which are the ilium, ischium, and pubis

These bones make up your pelvic ring.

What Types of Fractures are There?

Your pelvis has multiple bones, so there can be many types of pelvic fractures, which can also vary on the break’s pattern, including:

  • Closed or open (compound) fracture: A closed fracture is contained within your body. An open or compound fracture pierces your skin
  • Complete fracture: Your pelvis breaks into two pieces
  • Displaced fracture: There’s a gap between the fractured pelvis
  • Partial fracture: The break doesn’t go through the pelvis
  • Stress fracture: Your pelvis cracks but doesn’t break completely through it

A pelvic fracture is also stable or unstable:

  • Stable: There’s one break, and the broken parts of the pelvis aren’t displaced. These can occur from low-impact accidents, like a fall
  • Unstable: There are two or more breaks, and the ends of the broken parts of the bones are displaced. These fractures are often caused by high-impact accidents like vehicle or motorcycle crashes

Less common are avulsion fractures, which occur when a ligament or tendon tears away from the pelvis, taking a small bone piece with it.

How Common are Pelvic Fractures?

About 3% of adult bone fractures are pelvic fractures. Most occur due to high-impact events, such as vehicle accidents or falls from a significant height.

What are Pelvic Fracture Symptoms?

They depend on the break’s severity and can include:

  • Pain in the groin, lower back, hip, or abdomen
  • Pain when moving your legs or walking
  • Tingling or numbness in your legs or groin
  • Difficulty urinating, walking, or standing

If you’ve had a serious fall or are in a vehicle accident, get medical attention as soon as possible, especially if you have these symptoms.

How is a Fractured Pelvis Treated?

That depends on several factors, including:

  • The fracture’s severity
  • The fracture’s pattern and type
  • Which bones are displaced and how much
  • If you have other injuries and your overall health

Mild and stable fractures where bones aren’t displaced can include rest, walking aids, and medications. More severe or unstable pelvic fractures usually require at least one surgery. Different surgery types include:

  • External fixation: Metal screws or pins are inserted into your pelvic bones through small incisions. They stick out of your body and are attached to bars which create a stabilizing frame that hold broken bones in proper positions while they heal
  • Skeletal traction: This is a pulley system outside your body that realigns the broken bone(s). Metal pins are implanted in your thighbone or shinbone. They  go through your skin and help position your leg. Weights attached to the pins pull on your leg to keep broken pelvic bone fragments in a normal position
  • Open reduction and internal fixation: Displaced pelvic bone parts are repositioned into their normal positions, then held together with screws or metal plates attached to the bone’s outer surface

If you have a severe pelvic fracture due to a motorcycle or vehicle accident, you may have other internal injuries caused by the pelvic fracture. Successful fracture treatment often depends on treating related injuries. It usually takes 8 to 12 weeks for a fractured pelvis to heal, with more severe fractures or those with complications taking longer.

What is the Outlook for Someone with a Pelvic Fracture?

It depends on the type and severity of the injury. Mild, stable fractures normally heal well with treatment without chronic complications. Unstable, severe pelvic fractures caused by high-impact accidents could cause complications like severe bleeding, organ and/or nerve damage. If they are treated successfully, the fracture usually heals well.

However, a pelvic fracture could also result in chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, impaired mobility, and a type of dangerous blood clot (deep vein thrombosis).

When Can a Pelvic Fracture be Life-Threatening?

Unstable, complex pelvic fractures caused by high-impact forces, such as during a vehicle accident or a significant fall, can damage surrounding organs, blood vessels, and nerves in the pelvic region. This can cause life-threatening infections, bleeding, and organ failures.

Speak To A Satterley & Kelley, PLLC Accident Injury Attorney Today

If you’re injured in an accident and suffer a broken pelvis, Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorneys can protect your rights to compensation for your injuries and losses. To reach our Louisville office, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.

American Standard Equipped Bathrooms and Killed Its Workers

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American Standard, Inc. operated a massive enamel plant in Louisville, Kentucky, for more than a hundred years. It employed many workers over the decades who were regularly exposed to asbestos fibers. These naturally occurring mineral fibers have many useful qualities, but they also cause cancer.

Located on South Seventh Street, the facility first opened in the 1890s and was acquired by American Standard in the 1920s. The plant was a major employer for decades until it shut down in 1992. Like many industrial facilities dating back many years, the plant contained asbestos products that helped the plant function, but also poisoned countless employees.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is an extremely light and strong naturally occurring mineral fiber that’s resistant to fire, heat, electricity, and chemicals. It’s been used in products because of those qualities for centuries.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. If they’re in the air, they can easily be inhaled or swallowed by anyone in the area. The human immune system can’t break down or eliminate asbestos fibers after they enter the body.

Over decades, fibers cause scar tissue, inflammation, cell mutations, and various cancers. Asbestos causes mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the linings of the lungs, heart, abdominal organs, and abdominal and chest cavities.

Who Was Exposed at American Standard?

Asbestos was throughout the facility. It was on steam pipes, boilers, and ductwork. It was in the floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and insulation. Furnaces, ovens, and kilns used to create plumbing fixtures were built with asbestos-containing materials, including fire brick and refractory coatings, to withstand the intense heat used in the manufacturing process.

Asbestos fibers would be liberated from products when they were installed, repaired, or removed. Those involved in construction, renovation, or maintenance, including millwrights, boilermakers, electricians, insulators, and general laborers were exposed. Outside contractors and company employees passing through the plant could also inhale or swallow asbestos fibers in the workplace.

Family members of those working in the plant were also exposed when fibers came off dirty clothes that were worn home.

Did the Exposure Ever Stop?

As long as asbestos and people were present in the facility, exposure continued. Equipment would need maintenance and repairs over time. Overhauls would be especially dangerous because asbestos products had to be pulled off machinery for it to be repaired or replaced, sending fibers into the air. After the work was done, new asbestos products were installed, putting more fibers into the workplace.

Fibers could drift through the air and settle on equipment or the floor. People walking by or performing work could send the fibers back into the air, where workers could swallow or inhale them.

What Should Asbestos Victims Do?

Mesothelioma is physically and emotionally devastating. But for many former American Standard workers and their families, understanding who caused the disease and holding them accountable can provide a measure of justice and support. Compensation can help you cover medical costs, lost income, and the burdens faced by your loved ones.

The average person diagnosed with mesothelioma will probably pass away somewhere between six and 18 months from their diagnosis. It’s essential to act quickly if you or a loved one are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Kentucky’s statute of limitations for filing a compensation claim is only one year from the date of diagnosis. While your medical treatment should be your top priority, pursuing legal rights must also be done promptly.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have experience handling asbestos cases filed by those who worked at American Standard. With more than two decades of experience in asbestos litigation and a detailed understanding of this site and its history, you can trust us to represent you and your family.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

If you or a family member has an asbestos-related disease and worked at American Standard or elsewhere, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, is here to help you through this difficult time.

To discuss your situation and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.

Accidents on the Water Can Be Just as Deadly as Those on Roads

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Negligent acts can injure or kill, no matter the form of transportation involved in an accident, and they can be the basis of an insurance claim or lawsuit seeking compensation for the harm done. The Fleck Firm can represent you and your family if negligent boating causes severe injuries or death.

A weekend or vacation may have started with the best intentions, but end in a hospital emergency department. Regardless of where the boating accident occurred, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can investigate the incident and seek the maximum compensation possible. If you have questions or concerns about a boating accident and the injuries it caused, call us at 855-385-9532 today.

Marshall County Boating Accident Leaves One Dead and One Injured

Thomas and Mary Reese of Illinois were boating near the Jonathan Creek area of Kentucky Lake on July 2 when they were struck by another boat, according to the Western Kentucky Star. The county coroner stated they slowed down while another boat approached them so quickly that they couldn’t avoid the collision.

The married couple was thrown from the boat and later taken to a local hospital. Seventy-two-year-old Mary Reese died of her injuries. At the time the article was written, Thomas Reese was still in the hospital.

Violating Safety Rules and Practices Could be the Basis of an Insurance Claim or Lawsuit

Insurance policies cover potential liabilities that the insured may incur if they commit negligence and harm someone in some way. Generally, negligence is not acting reasonably in a given situation, given a person or company’s obligation to others that they may put in harm’s way. This could mean failing to do something when it should have been done, or doing something insufficiently in some way.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes a summary of regulations and best practices covering fishing and boating. If a boater violates an applicable regulation and harm results, they could be a defendant in a lawsuit seeking compensation filed by someone they injured.

The following actions would be reckless operation of a watercraft and violate Kentucky law:

  • Weaving through boat traffic
  • Following another watercraft towing someone on water skis, a surfboard, or any water sport device too closely
  • Jumping another watercraft’s wake in a way that endangers life, physical safety, or property
  • Cutting between a boat and the person towed by it
  • Crossing another boat’s path if visibility is obstructed
  • Steering toward an object or person in the water, then turning sharply nearby

Boaters should reduce their speed in busy areas and allow sufficient room to avoid other boats. Creating an excessive wake, even in areas where it’s not expressly prohibited, can be dangerous. Operators of larger craft should be aware of the wake they’re creating and how it could impact others in the area.

It’s against Kentucky law to operate a boat or vessel, including personal watercraft (jet ski), or use water skis, surfboards, or similar devices while intoxicated or under the influence of a substance impairing one’s ability to act safely. Someone doing so, if caught by a game warden, faces possible fines and jail time.

Streets and highways have painted lines to mark where vehicles must go. That’s not the case in the water. To provide an orderly flow of boat and watercraft traffic, there are “rules of the road” that boaters should follow.

They will encounter three situations: meeting another watercraft, crossing their path, and overtaking one. Who has the right of way and who must give way varies depending on the situation. If there’s an emergency situation, all vessels must give way to prevent a collision.

Sailboats under sail have the right of way unless they overtake another vessel. Rowboats and paddle-powered boats have the right of way over motorboats. Recreational craft should give up the right of way to a large commercial craft like a towboat or barge because of their large blind spots.

Federal and state laws require that everyone onboard a vessel must have a personal flotation device (PFD) or its equivalent. If a boat is 16 feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks), it must also have a throwable PFD. Personal watercraft operators and passengers must wear a PFD. Kids younger than 12 must wear a PFD if they’re in an open part of a boat that’s underway.

Are You or a Loved One Injured in a Boating Accident?

If so, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Abatement Situation in PA So Questionable the Feds Got Involved

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The average age of the School District of Philadelphia’s buildings is more than 70 years old, and asbestos has been an ongoing problem for the district. It took another turn in late May when the district announced that they and the federal Department of Justice might reach an agreement concerning their investigation into the handling of asbestos in some of the city’s schools.

“The Board of Education will consider a proposed agreement between The School District of Philadelphia and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) with respect to an ongoing investigation of the District’s asbestos management practices,” according to the school’s board agenda for a May 29 meeting, reports WCAU.

The board didn’t take action on the issue as the DOJ was reportedly not prepared to proceed. The agenda item was added soon before the meeting, which took place hours earlier than initially scheduled.

The details of a proposed agreement are not public. Seven Philadelphia school buildings were closed from 2022 to 2023 because of asbestos.

Why Federal Intervention Matters for Our Children’s Safety

DOJ involvement in Philadelphia’s school asbestos crisis signals a breakdown in the district’s safety protocols. This federal intervention suggests the district failed to protect students and staff from a known health hazard that threatens our children’s futures.

Children at Greatest Risk

Asbestos exposure poses unique dangers to children whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to long-term health consequences. Diseases like mesothelioma can remain dormant for decades, meaning today’s brief exposure could devastate their adult lives. Parents trust schools to provide safe learning environments—this situation violates that fundamental expectation.

Restoring Trust Through Transparency

Last-minute meetings and withheld information have shattered community confidence. Families deserve clear, honest communication about risks to their children’s health. Moving forward requires unwavering transparency and immediate action to ensure every student and staff member is truly protected.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation or for more information.

Woman Awarded $2.7 Million in Secondary Asbestos Exposure Case

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A Fort Lauderdale, Florida, jury decided asbestos in brake dust caused the female plaintiff’s peritoneal mesothelioma after a trial in March. They found the maker of a brake grinder used by her father liable for $2.7 million of the total $18 million verdict.

The only defendant in the trial, Hennessy Industries, was found to be 15% responsible for the plaintiff’s mesothelioma. Denise Cook, 64, claimed she developed the disease after years of asbestos exposure caused by work her family did on car brakes, according to the Courtroom View Network. 

Jurors decided that 15 other entities that were not defendants at the trial were 85% responsible for Cook’s mesothelioma. They included auto parts manufacturers and Johnson & Johnson, whose talc-based Baby Powder is another possible cause for Cook’s illness, a cancer affecting the lining of her abdominal cavity.

The maker of the brake-grinding tool allegedly long used by her father, Ammco, is owned by the defendant, Hennessy Industries. Cook argued they’re responsible for her mesothelioma because they failed to warn her father of the risks posed by asbestos in the dust created by the grinder.

The defendant told the jury her peritoneal mesothelioma wasn’t caused by chrysotile asbestos found in brake dust. It was instead the result of genetic risks or natural causes. Plaintiff’s attorney, with the help of a medical expert, convinced the jury otherwise, stating that the only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos.

Call Us Today for a Free Consultation

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma? If so, Satterley & Kelley attorneys can answer your questions, talk about your rights to compensation, and explain how we can help. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

New Targeted Therapy Shows Promise Against Mesothelioma

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A new drug shows how far medicine has come in treating mesothelioma, a fatal asbestos-related cancer, and how far it needs to go before there’s a cure. A trial in the United Kingdom (UK) shows that a drug once seen as a failure may extend the lives of those coping with mesothelioma.

The BBC reports that researchers in Southampton, UK, used a drug to slow the growth of mesothelioma for the first time. The disease is an aggressive cancer of the linings of the chest and abdominal cavities, and organs in them, including the lungs, heart, and intestines.

What is a PARP Inhibitor?

This NERO (Niraparib Efficacy in patients with unResectable MesotheliOma) trial looked at PARP (or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a protein that helps your cells repair themselves) inhibitors, which block the repair of damaged DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms).

DNA damage is part of a cell’s life cycle. It doesn’t prevent cells from growing and dividing if the damage can be repaired.

PARP inhibitor studies have shown that it can improve the survival of patients with some breast and ovarian cancers. A prior study showed that mesothelioma doesn’t respond to this type of drug, but it suggested more evidence was needed to establish whether it could improve patient outcomes.

PARP inhibitors work especially well with cancers that have gene mutations that make DNA repair more difficult, such as BRCA gene mutations. Due to these defects, the cancer cells become more dependent on PARP to repair the damaged DNA. If DNA repairs can’t be made, the cell cannot divide to create more cancer cells, and instead it dies, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

PARP inhibitors have been used to treat some prostate, breast, and gynecologic cancers. Some PARP inhibitors include:

  • Olaparib
  • Talazoparib
  • Rucaparib
  • Niraparib

PARP inhibitors may be used with more traditional treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Chemotherapy damages cancer cells’ DNA to kill them. Using a PARP inhibitor to make DNA repairs more difficult could increase chemotherapy’s effectiveness.

PARP inhibitors used with both chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been shown to cut the chances of disease progression in patients with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer (a type of uterine cancer starting in the lining of the uterus).

What Did the Study Show?

Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and co-lead of the trial, Prof. Gareth Griffiths, called it “a significant step forward.” The trial was run by the University of Leicester and the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

Eleven hospitals in the UK participated, and 88 patients whose mesothelioma treatment had become ineffective were included in the trial. Those given the PARP inhibitor niraparib had a 27% reduction in the chances that the mesothelioma would progress or cause death.

This delayed the progression of mesothelioma by an average of 1.5 months compared to patients receiving standard treatments. Many patients had a much longer period when their cancer didn’t grow.

What are the Side Effects?

PARP inhibitors’ side effects may include:

  • Low red blood cells (anemia)
  • Low white blood cells
  • Low platelets
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Hair loss

These symptoms are generally not severe and can be treated.

What are Researchers Looking Into?

PARP inhibitors have some limitations. The types of cancer they may treat are limited, and cancers can develop a resistance to them, making them less effective over time. But they’re the subject of ongoing research to widen the cancers they can treat and to come up with different mechanisms to sabotage cancer cell DNA repair.

Other targeted therapies are being researched to be used in combination with PARP to overcome resistance and improve responses. One of them is a PRMT inhibitor. PRMT (or protein arginine methyltransferase) is a protein in cells that interacts with DNA. A combination of these two has shown promise in studies.

Another research subject is reducing or eliminating side effects.

Take Legal Action Now — Contact Our Firm

If you have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Your family may also obtain compensation for the losses they suffered because of your disease. Let us be your boots on the ground, seeking the maximum compensation for you and your family.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Asbestos Exposure Increases the Chances of Developing Ovarian Cancer

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If you or someone you love has ovarian cancer, it may be because of past asbestos exposure. Asbestos is most commonly associated with lung-related cancers, like pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer. But this toxic mineral fiber has been linked to several cancers, including this one in women, a group of people not traditionally heavily exposed to asbestos.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of natural, fibrous minerals that is heat, fire, chemical, and corrosion resistant. Due to these properties, asbestos has been used for centuries in about 3,000 products, including insulation, fireproofing materials, wallboard, and automotive brakes, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Talc is another mineral fiber refined to make talcum powder. Talc and asbestos can be mixed in underground mineral formations, and if not handled properly, talcum powder may be contaminated with asbestos fibers.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Fibers are tiny and light. If they’re airborne, they can stay in the air for a long time, where they can be inhaled or swallowed by anyone nearby. It’s difficult, if not impossible, for the human body to break down asbestos fibers after they enter the body. Over years or decades, the fibers cause inflammation, scar tissue, and genetic changes in nearby tissue that can become cancerous or malignant.

Asbestos exposure causes most mesotheliomas (a rare cancer of the membranes lining the chest, abdomen, and abdominal organs) and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. Ovarian cancer can be the result of swallowing or inhaling asbestos fibers or the use of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder on a woman’s pubic area.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovaries are female reproductive glands that produce eggs (ova) for reproduction, reports the American Cancer Society. The eggs move through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where a fertilized egg settles and develops into a fetus. The ovaries are the main source of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen.

The ovaries have three kinds of cells. Each may develop into a different tumor type:

  • Epithelial tumors make up most ovarian cancer cases. They begin with cells covering the ovary’s outer surface
  • Germ cell tumors develop from cells producing eggs
  • Stromal tumors begin with structural tissue cells producing hormones and holding the ovary together

Some tumors are benign (or non-cancerous) and won’t spread outside the ovary. Malignant tumors, or those that have low malignancy potential, can spread or metastasize to other body parts and can be fatal.

How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?

Surgery is often the first line of therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may involve removing:

  • One or both of the affected ovaries
  • Fallopian tubes
  • Uterus
  • Nearby fatty tissue and lymph nodes if the cancer is in these areas

Surgery might be enough to eliminate the cancer, but most patients decide to use chemotherapy as well to cut the risk of the cancer recurring. Which comes first, and what chemotherapy drugs are used depends on the cancer stage and if it’s spread to other parts of your body. Chemotherapy can be delivered through an IV into a vein or directly into the abdomen with a catheter.

Another option is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is given during surgery. It’s sometimes recommended if the ovarian cancer is considered advanced or initially inoperable. Chemotherapy is pumped into the abdomen, hopefully sparing healthy tissue and causing fewer side effects.

Targeted therapy may be available. It uses your cancer cells’ unique characteristics, allowing them to grow, divide, and spread against them. These characteristics are targeted to identify weaknesses and attack cancer cells.

The latest class of ovarian cancer drugs is PARP inhibitors. PARP is a protein that repairs damaged DNA when dividing. PARP inhibitors block the protein, causing cancer cells to die.

Ovarian cancer’s five-year survival rates vary on the specific cancer types, but are overall better than other types of asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Call Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, Today For A Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with ovarian cancer after being exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation for your hardship. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.