Parents Sue Scouting Group for Summer Camp Death of 11-Year-Old Son

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Summer camp should be a fun and learning experience for a child. But too many camps are run unprofessionally, with unqualified employees, and they put children’s health and safety at risk. No matter how well-intentioned these organizations may be, or how long they’ve existed without risks being realized, they must be held accountable for their negligence if they hurt your child.

If a summer camp’s negligent management caused a serious injury to your child, Satterley & Kelley PLLC, Kentucky summer camp injury attorneys are here to help you take legal action. We will be with you every step of the way, protecting your best interests and ensuring your family gets the compensation they deserve.

The trauma caused by the accident can be compounded by an uncaring insurance bureaucracy trying to save money at your expense. You can focus on your recovery while we handle them.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Death of 11-Year-Old at a New Hampshire Summer Camp

The parents of Keoni Hubbard of Lexington, Massachusetts, who was killed in a 2023 boating accident at a Boy Scout camp, Camp Bell, in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the matter.

The defendants are the scouting organization running the camp (the Daniel Webster Council, Inc.), the Boy Scouts of America, and a counselor who was 18 at the time, Ethan Showalter, who was apparently most directly responsible for his death.

Hubbard and seven other campers were taken out on Lake Manning in a 21-foot motorboat by Showalter. The Hubbards’ attorney, Tucker Merrigan, alleges he was “woefully unprepared” to supervise and take the scouts out in the boat. He claims Showalter allowed the boys to swim in the lake without anchoring the boat and failed to keep track of them in the water.

Keoni died of injuries caused when the boat’s moving propeller hit him. Jena and John Hubbard claim the Boy Scouts of America and the New Hampshire-based Daniel Webster Council are responsible for Keoni’s death because they failed to adequately train and supervise Showalter, according to WBUR.

Showalter received a boating license ten days before the accident and allegedly spent less than an hour learning about the boat’s controls. Merrigan states that Daniel Webster Council, Inc. broke its own rules by allowing him to be in charge of the boat despite the facts that he hadn’t received lifeguard training and wasn’t yet 21 years old.

Victim’s Mother Overwhelmed and Devastated

The lawsuit seeks damages, and the family wants to compel the scouting organization to implement and enforce safety rules. They state that legal action is the only way to ensure that happens. Merrigan told the press that if a jury decides the case, a verdict in their favor could result in damages exceeding $100 million.

He said the family didn’t want to sue Showalter personally, but had to under New Hampshire law to bring the case. He said, “(Showalter) was 18 years old, and he was put in an impossible situation with a job he was destined to fail.”

“I did not know that this level of sadness existed,” Jena Hubbard said in a press call. “Even the word sad seems insufficient, and it is overwhelming to think that I will feel this way every day for the rest of my life. I’m devastated my son won’t be able to grow up.”

Speak To a Personal Injury Attorney Today

If negligent actions caused your child’s injuries or death, Satterley & Kelley PLLC Kentucky summer camp injury attorneys are here to help you hold those responsible accountable. We will be with you every step of the way, zealously defending your rights and ensuring your family gets the most compensation possible. Don’t deal with this serious situation alone.

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.

Jet Skis are Popular, Fun, and Dangerous to Users and Others

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Jet skis, also called personal watercraft (PWC), are small and fast. Like any other kind of motorized transportation or recreation vehicle, when things go wrong, injuries or deaths can result. They must be operated with great respect for their power and speed, especially when other boaters and swimmers are around. Too often, they’re used as large, powerful toys without regard to others, and injuries result.

Satterley & Kelley PLLC represents people injured by personal watercraft and families of those killed by them. Negligent actions by operators can turn a fun day on the water into a living nightmare you’ll never forget.

How Many Personal Watercraft are There?

About 100 million Americans go boating every year, and about 11.9% of the country’s population owns a recreational boat (which is about 14.5 million people), according to Quicknav. Boat Brands states there are more than 12.5 million boats registered in the US. There are more than a million PWCs in use, according to Boat US Foundation.

How Often are PWCs Involved in Accidents?

The US Coast Guard (USCG) reports that in 2023, there were 43,844 boating accidents, resulting in 564 deaths and 2,126 injuries. PWCs are involved in 19% of known boating accidents, reports the National Safe Boating Council.

Of the 995 known PWC accidents that year, there were 527 injuries and 47 deaths (15 drownings and 32 deaths by other causes). The most common types of PWC accidents were the following:

  1. Collision with another recreational watercraft (614)
  2. Ejected from vessel (89)
  3. Collision with fixed object (64)
  4. Falling overboard (46)

The USCG states the most common causes were the following:

  1. Operator inexperience (183)
  2. Operator inattention (179)
  3. Excessive speed (167)
  4. Improper lookout (157)

These causes show that PWC accident-related injuries and deaths were the result of preventable accidents. People who are too inexperienced to operate a PWC safely aren’t forced to use them. Excessive speed doesn’t just happen. They’re the results of operator mistakes, which, depending on the circumstances, may be the result of negligence that could be the basis of an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

What are Situations Where PWC Accidents Happen?

Given how common PWCs are and how easily accidents may occur, it should be no surprise that many injuries and deaths happen.

A 12-year-old from Louisville was killed in a PWC accident last year, according to WDRB. He was with a friend’s family at the time, in a tube pulled by a boat. The friend’s father operated a PWC. He was distracted and didn’t see that the boat turned in front of him. His PWC struck the boy, causing head injuries. The boy died by drowning.

Collisions with other PWCs are a common problem, given the following incidents:

  • Luis Guevara, a 19-year-old minor league baseball player in the Baltimore Orioles’ system, died in June after a PWC crash in Sarasota, Florida, reports Cleveland.com. Guevara was one of four people involved and one of two who were hospitalized. They were on one PWC, which collided head-on with another
  • A Mississippi teen was killed over Memorial Day Weekend in another instance of PWCs colliding, reports WLOX. The incident happened in Mississippi near the Tennessee border
  • A June head-on collision of two PWCs off Lido Key in Florida sent two people to a hospital, according to WTVT, and caused minor injuries to two others. Sarasota County Fire Department officials quoted by the station suggest all those on PWCs must pay attention to what’s going on, wear a life jacket and helmet, given the high speed at which an operator or passenger could hit the water

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a PWC accident, a prompt and thorough investigation can be the difference between obtaining fair compensation or not. If you retain Satterley & Kelley PLLC as soon as possible after the accident, we can start putting together key evidence for your case.

Speak To a Louisville Accident Attorney Near You

Whether a PWC accident happened in Kentucky or out of state, we can be your boots on the ground if you or a family member were injured or killed. 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.

“Double Brokering” Truckloads and the Death of a 25-Year-Old

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Sarah Susman was 25 years old when she was killed in a truck accident in her home state of Oregon in 2021. She died while driving to her job as an emergency medical technician. A load of logs on the back of a semi-trailer came loose and struck her vehicle and others. Her family partially blames a trucking industry practice where safety takes a back seat to convenience and cost savings.

At the Louisville law firm of Satterley & Kelley PLLC, our attorneys can take on trucking companies and their insurance carriers and win. We represent individuals in Kentucky injured by careless truck drivers and their employers so they receive the compensation they deserve. We also represent families who are killed in fatal truck accidents.

Four vehicles were involved in the accident, reports the Register Guard. The trailer tipped over, hitting two vehicles, one owned by Susman, and a pickup truck, which lost control and struck a Ford Mustang. The truck and Mustang drivers were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries.

What Could Go Wrong, Did Go Wrong

An investigation found the log truck and its driver were an accident waiting to happen. By sheer random circumstances, Susman, not someone else driving in the area, was killed. According to The Street, police found the following:

  • The driver, Shane McVay, was intoxicated
  • The truck’s front brakes didn’t work
  • The truck was speeding
  • The trailer was overloaded by about 1,300 pounds

McVay was arrested and found guilty in 2022 of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and recklessly endangering other people. He received a ten-year prison sentence.

Susman’s family sued the companies involved in the shipment in a wrongful death action in 2023 that seeks $65 million in damages. The trial started in June and is expected to last three weeks. At issue is not just the obvious factors that caused the accident, but how McVay, his truck, and his load ended up next to Susman and her car when the accident happened.


“Double Brokering” and How It Results in Semi-Trucks Endangering Others

Her family’s attorneys blame the practice of “double brokering” for creating the dangerous situation that took Susman’s life. The lawsuit alleges that double brokering occurs when multiple contractors pass hauling jobs among themselves with minimal oversight. The shipper may not know who ultimately moves their freight.

In Susman’s case, the logging company Starker Forests hired R&T Logging to haul its felled trees. R&T Logging subcontracted the work to Wolf Creek Timber Services and is accused of doing so without properly vetting the company for its safety practices.

The plaintiffs claim that the companies involved knowingly ignored safety regulations and failed to ensure the use of safe, competent operators and equipment.

Super Dispatch describes double brokering as a party acting as an intermediary connecting shippers and trucking companies for transportation services. This intermediary (whether they’re a broker seeking someone to haul a load or a trucking company) subcontracts the load to another company without the client’s knowledge or consent.

They state this is illegal and violates Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. They strictly prohibit brokers from subcontracting a load to another broker without the shipper’s explicit consent. This is considered a serious violation that increases the risks of complex liability issues, fraud, and unexpected delays.

Deliberate manipulation is usually involved, though it can also result from overbooking or miscommunication. Typically, shell trucking companies operating under misleading identities accept transport jobs, then illegally subcontract them to other carriers. The shell company receives payment, but it may not pay the original contracted carrier.

While double brokering is illegal, co-brokering is not. It occurs when a broker legally outsources a load to another broker with the shipper’s full knowledge and approval. This can occur when the primary broker lacks the capacity or expertise to handle a particular load.

Speak To a Kentucky Truck Accident Attorney Today

Commercial trucking is a highly hazardous business. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds. Anything that heavy traveling at highway speeds has the potential to quickly and easily kill anyone in the way. Couple that with companies ready and willing to cut safety corners to make more money, and it’s no wonder so many like Sarah Susman lose their lives on America’s roads.

If you are injured or a loved one is killed in an accident with a commercial truck in Kentucky, Satterley & Kelley PLLC can get you the compensation you deserve. Put boots on the ground with our 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.

The Biggest Source of Benzene Exposure is Tobacco Smoke

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Benzene is a chemical that causes cancer and other serious health problems for those who inhale or swallow it. It comes from many artificial and natural sources, but the most common one is tobacco smoke. You may put this toxic substance in your body because you smoke or you’re exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers in Louisville represent Kentucky residents and people around the nation with cancer and other diseases caused by asbestos and chemical exposure. If you’re diagnosed with a benzene-related condition, it’s time to start discussing your potential legal claims to compensation for your medical costs, pain, suffering, and other damages.

What is Benzene?

It’s a sweet-smelling, colorless liquid that evaporates very quickly and dissolves

poorly in water. Benzene is highly flammable and widely used in motor fuels and as a solvent. It’s part of many manufacturing processes, including for pesticides, drugs, detergents, plastics, and dyes. Gasoline and tobacco smoke contain benzene. It also occurs naturally as part of smoke from forest fires and volcanic emissions.

How Am I Exposed to Benzene?

It usually occurs through inhalation and ingestion, with inhalation being the more common method. Sources of benzene in the air include tobacco smoke, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline fumes, and industrial emissions.

Smoking tobacco causes about half of all benzene exposure in the US. A typical smoker inhales about ten times more benzene daily than a non-smoker, according to the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.

About 20% of the country’s total benzene exposure is caused by burning gasoline and industrial pollution. People living in cities or near industrial areas face greater exposure than those in more rural areas.

Benzene is Just One of Many Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke has thousands of chemicals. At least 70 of them, including benzene, are known to cause cancer, reports the American Cancer Society. Some of them include the following:

  • Acetaldehyde
  • Arsenic
  • Benzene
  • Cadmium
  • Formaldehyde
  • Hydrazine
  • Lead
  • Nickel
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Radioactive elements, such as uranium-235, polonium-210 (see below)
  • Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)
  • Vinyl chloride

In addition to causing cancer, some of these substances can also cause lung and heart diseases, and harm a developing fetus in a pregnant woman. Most of these chemicals come from the smoke created by burning tobacco leaves.

How Might Benzene Impact My Health?

Inhalation of benzene in the short term may cause dizziness, headaches, confusion, drowsiness, and unconsciousness, reports the Virginia Department of Health. Ingesting large amounts of benzene may cause vomiting, stomach irritation, convulsions, sleepiness, rapid heart rate, and death.

Chronic benzene inhalation may damage your bone marrow and result in blood disorders, including leukemia. Benzene causes excessive bleeding, anemia, and damage to the immune system. Women inhaling benzene at high levels may have irregular menstrual periods, and their ovaries may shrink.

How Can I Protect Myself from Benzene?

Reduce your exposure to benzene by not smoking tobacco and staying away from second-hand smoke. You should also limit your contact with gasoline fumes, burning wood, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust.

What Should I Do If I’m Diagnosed with a Benzene-Related Health Condition?

You may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve suffered due to your condition. This includes lost wages, medical bills, pain, suffering, emotional and psychological effects, and the impact on your relationships with others.

If you’re interested in learning more about possible compensation, contact a law firm experienced in representing victims of companies injuring others with the toxic substances they sell. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers have helped injury victims for more than 25 years.

We have relationships with the best experts to help us prove that benzene caused your condition and the emotional, psychological, medical, and financial harm you suffered.

Call Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with leukemia or another severe illness caused by benzene exposure, you may receive financial 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.

Gas Stove Cause Leukemia

Can the Benzene Produced by Your Gas Stove Cause Leukemia?

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Yours may be one of the approximately 47 million homes in the US that use natural gas or propane-burning cooktops and ovens. Stanford University researchers found that cooking with these appliances can produce benzene levels higher than those found in secondhand tobacco smoke.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys represent those in Kentucky and around the US who have cancers and other diseases caused by toxic substances, including asbestos and chemicals. Even if you’re unsure of how you were exposed to benzene, if you’ve been diagnosed with a related medical condition like leukemia, it’s not too early to start discussing your possible legal claim for your medical costs, pain,  suffering, and other damages.

Research Finds Cooking with Gas Puts Cancer-Causing Chemical Into Your Home

Benzene exposure is linked to a greater risk of leukemia and other blood cell cancers. It seeps into homes that use natural gas appliances, including stoves. A new Stanford-led analysis finds that a gas oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or a gas cooktop burner on high, may raise benzene levels in the air higher than what’s found in secondhand tobacco smoke, the most common way people are exposed to benzene.

The chemical may also drift throughout a home and linger in areas beyond the kitchen. Concentrations found in bedrooms may exceed national and international health guidelines.

Benzene forms in the flames of gas stoves. Natural gas contains methane. When it’s burned in a perfectly calibrated way, like in a laboratory, the result is carbon dioxide and water. But combustion by a kitchen stove is much more variable. There can be many other potentially toxic byproducts, including benzene.

How to Reduce Benzene Exposure in Your Home

Good ventilation helps reduce the amount in a home, but researchers found that exhaust fans were often ineffective at eliminating exposure. Other low-cost approaches to reducing exposure include using portable induction cooktops or electric-powered tea kettles, toaster ovens, and slow cookers. You may qualify for federal or local tax credits or utility rebates if you replace a gas stove with an electric one.

Researchers found gas and propane burners and ovens released 10 to 50 times more benzene than electric stoves. Induction cooktops emitted no detectable benzene. The benzene emitted when gas burned was hundreds of times higher than the benzene levels found when unburned gas leaked into homes.

Prior Research Establishes the Dangers of Unburned Natural Gas in Homes

Researchers performed gas analyses on 185 unburned natural gas samples collected from 159 residential stoves across California and published their findings in 2022. They found 12 hazardous chemicals in homes, and the amounts varied widely depending on the geographic region and the utility involved.

Benzene was found in 99% of samples. Levels in homes could be higher than what the state of California considers safe. Researchers estimate that the benzene released by unburned natural gas into the atmosphere is equivalent to the benzene emitted by 60,000 gas-powered vehicles in a year.

What Should I Do if I’m Diagnosed with a Benzene-Related Medical Condition?

If you have a benzene-related cancer or other illness, you may be entitled to compensation for what you suffer as a result. This can include pain, suffering, lost wages, medical bills, psychological and emotional effects, as well as the impact on your relationships with others.

If you’re interested in obtaining compensation, you need a law firm with experience representing victims taking legal action against companies that injure others with the toxic substances they sell. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have helped injury victims for more than 25 years.

Call Us Today For A Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or another severe illness caused by benzene exposure, 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.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Benzene Can Cause Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). What is AML?

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The chemical benzene has been linked to the development of several cancers, including AML. Benzene is a naturally occurring chemical, and it can also be artificially created. It’s in a wide range of products, but most people are exposed to benzene through cigarette smoke and gasoline fumes.

What is AML?

Leukemia is a term for cancers of blood cells, according to Yale Medicine. There are several types, which are classified based on the type of blood cells impacted and whether the condition is acute or chronic. Acute leukemias develop relatively quickly, have a rapid onset, and progress rapidly. Chronic leukemias develop more slowly and progress over several years.

AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults. It usually affects older people (68 is the average age at diagnosis), though it can occur in adolescents and children. It accounts for 1.1% of all US cancer cases, with an estimated 20,240 people in the US diagnosed with it in 2021.

Because it’s an aggressive cancer, treatment should start as soon as it’s diagnosed. Many patients can be cured, but various factors are at play, resulting in widely varying outcomes.

Leukemia begins in the bone marrow, a spongy tissue at the center of bones, where new platelets, red, and white blood cells are created. Leukemia is the result of genetic mutations that disrupt the process by which these cells are formed.

This causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells that are useless to the body. They crowd out healthy cells, preventing them from functioning properly and keeping you healthy. Cancer cells can be viewed as parasites, consuming nutrients to thrive, while the body suffers as a whole.

With AML, there are large numbers of abnormal myoblasts. This is a type of white blood cell that doesn’t mature, so there’s a shortage of infection-fighting white blood cells. Those with the condition are more likely to suffer infections as a result.

These leukemia cells go into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. As the number of malignant myoblasts increases, they accumulate in bone marrow and block out healthy blood cells. Eventually, bone marrow can’t produce enough normal red blood cells and platelets to meet the body’s needs. 

This causes a chain reaction in the body:

  • Red blood cells carry oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body. Those with low red blood cell levels may be short of breath and feel tired
  • Platelets help stop bleeding by playing a role in forming blood clots. Without enough healthy platelets, people with AML may bruise and bleed easily

Unlike other kinds of cancer, AML usually doesn’t form tumors. There are many AML subtypes, and treatment can vary depending on which one affects you.

Is There a Link Between AML and Benzene?

Known risk factors for AML include increasing age, being male, having chemotherapy in the past, obesity, cigarette smoking, exposure to benzene and other chemicals, including formaldehyde, according to 2018 research on the link between benzene exposure and AML.

“Benzene exposure is one of the few well-established risk factors for myeloid malignancy.” Myeloid refers to bone marrow tissue or cells that develop from it. Researchers examined 2005 to 2009 data from the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System (MCSS), a population-based registry that collects information on cancers diagnosed in Minnesota.

Researchers found that benzene exposure for less than five years was statistically “associated” with AML, and exposure for five or more years was “significantly associated” with AML.

“Occupational exposure to benzene and other solvents is one of the most consistently observed risk factors for myeloid malignancy…The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that benzene exposure is carcinogenic to the bone marrow and causes…AML…”

What are AML Symptoms?

 Symptoms include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Short of breath
  • Bruise and/or bleed easily
  • Nosebleeds
  • Bleeding gums
  • Heavy menstrual flow 
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Pale skin
  • Frequent infections
  • Headaches
  • Bone and joint pain
  • Tiny red spots on the skin
  • Small skin bumps, nodules, and/or rash
  • Vision problems
  • Abdominal swelling

If you have these symptoms, consult your healthcare provide

How is AML Treated?

Treatment options depend on your age, overall health, and your AML subtype. Treatment is divided into two phases:

  • Induction chemotherapy: Patients are given chemotherapy drugs to kill as many leukemia cells as possible. The goal is to put you into remission (you have no symptoms, and there are too few leukemia cells to detect or there are none to find)
  • Consolidation therapy: This is the second treatment phase after remission. The goal is to kill remaining leukemia, if any, lowering the risk that the disease will return. This involves more chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation

Other AML treatments include the following:

  • Targeted therapy: Drugs targeting specific parts of cancer cells so healthy cells are not affected, which is a major adverse side effect of chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy: This kills cancer cells by exposing them to radiation. This can be used before stem cell transplantation to shrink myeloid sarcomas and to treat AML that spreads to the brain or spinal cord

If AML doesn’t respond well to treatment or returns after a period of remission (relapse), your healthcare provider may suggest palliative care.

What’s the Outlook for Those With AML?

That depends on several factors, including the following:

  • Your age
  • General health
  • Prior chemotherapy treatment

Generally, younger, healthier patients with no history of chemotherapy use have better outcomes, but there are many factors at play. The five-year survival rate for adults in the US (the percentage of people alive five years after diagnosis) with AML is 29.5%. Many of the cases used to generate this statistic didn’t use the latest treatments currently available, so your chances may be better.

Call Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with AML or another severe illness caused by benzene, you may receive financial 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.

FDA Recalls Acne Products

FDA Recalls Acne Products Found with Benzene from Stores

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Seven acne products found to be contaminated with low levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, are voluntarily recalled after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests. These actions were announced in March, more than a year after third-party testing found the chemical in far more products.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, attorneys in Louisville represent Kentucky residents and people across the country with cancer and other diseases caused by asbestos and chemical exposures. If you’re diagnosed with a benzene-related medical condition, it’s time to start discussing your potential legal claims to compensation for your medical costs, pain, suffering, and other damages.

Benzene is an artificially created and naturally formed chemical. It’s part of crude oil, gasoline, and tobacco smoke. Benzene exposure increases the risk of several medical conditions, including leukemia.

Independent Lab Found Benzene in Acne Products

Valisure, an independent quality advocate, filed a citizen petition in March 2024 with the FDA, stating that it found elevated benzene levels in acne treatment products containing benzoyl peroxide, according to the defense law firm Skadden Arps. Valisure provided test results on over-the-counter brands and prescription acne products.

Valisure states that benzene formed over time in these products because the original formulation degraded, not because the products were contaminated or because benzene was an added ingredient. It claims 94 of the 175 products it tested had benzene. Valisure asked the FDA to recall the products, due to its own investigation, test these products, and update its benzene guidance.

FDA Also Finds Benzene, But in Fewer Products

The agency didn’t immediately recall the products or change its benzene guidelines, but took the rest of their advice. The FDA tested 95 acne products after the Valisure report and found six with enough benzene to request that their manufacturers remove the products from the market. A seventh had levels that weren’t quite as high, but they agreed to stop selling that product. One common factor with these products is that they were close to their expiration dates.

Here are the recalled products and their lot number, according to the Lansing State Journal:

  • La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment: MYX46W
  • Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser: 23 09328
  • Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5%: V3305A and V3304A
  • Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator: V4204A
  • SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion: 2430600
  • Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream: 49707430

The products involved were sold nationwide in stores and online. The FDA doesn’t see the problem as serious enough to advise consumers to discard their anti-acne products and replace them. They claim that even with daily use over many years, the increased cancer risk would be very low.

The FDA took a swipe at Valisure in its announcement:

“FDA has continued to raise concern that use of unvalidated testing methods by third-party laboratories can produce inaccurate results leading to consumer confusion. Specifically, such methods may result in much higher reported levels of contaminants such as benzene than are actually present in tested products. It is critical that third-party laboratories reporting their results to consumers use validated methods so their results are reliable.” 

Valisure stated it used “industry standard” methods for most of its results.

Although the FDA took a conservative approach with the recall, if you have these products, don’t use them and throw them out to avoid any health risk.

What Should I Do If I Have a Benzene-Related Health Condition?

You may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve suffered due to your condition from companies responsible for your exposure. This compensation could include lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional and psychological effects, as well as the impact on your relationships with others.

If you want to learn more about how a benzene-related condition could result in compensation and how your legal rights can be protected, contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, because our attorneys are experienced in representing victims of companies that injure others with the toxic substances they profit from.

Call Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with leukemia or another severe illness caused by benzene, you may receive financial 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.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Traveling for Mesothelioma Treatment: What You Need to Know

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A mesothelioma diagnosis often feels overwhelming—not just because of the emotional, psychological, and physical ramifications, but also because of the logistical ones. The shock of learning that you or a loved one has mesothelioma is often immediately followed by a series of very difficult, very serious decisions about what to do next.

One of the biggest decisions many patients face is whether to pursue aggressive therapeutic treatment for mesothelioma—and if so, whether to travel in order to access that treatment. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, and most doctors—even most oncologists—do not have the training, experience, resources, and research connections to offer comprehensive treatment. For many mesothelioma patients, the best care is often located far from home, at specialized cancer centers or with experts working at prestigious hospitals or medical systems.

Traveling for treatment can offer mesothelioma patients and their families access to cutting-edge therapies, experimental clinical trials, and expert teams — but it also comes with unique logistical and emotional challenges. In this article, we’ll explore what patients and their families need to know to make the best decision and prepare for the road ahead.

Why Do Some Patients Travel for Mesothelioma Treatment?

As mentioned, mesothelioma is a rare cancer, to the extent that most oncologists may only see a handful of cases — or none at all — in their careers. This is why seeing an experienced mesothelioma specialist can make such a big difference. Mesothelioma experts have the experience and resources to tailor care to the specific needs of mesothelioma patients, utilizing the most recent research and technology.

Often, mesothelioma specialists work at or in coordination with specific cancer centers or hospitals with mesothelioma programs. These cancer centers and hospital programs, which are often located in or around major US cities, can offer:

  • Multidisciplinary teams with surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, and palliative care experts, in addition to physical and respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and other clinicians well-versed in mesothelioma treatment and care.
  • Access to clinical trials, offering promising, cutting-edge treatments that are otherwise not widely available. Participation in clinical trials for experimental new treatments may drastically improve quality of life and prognosis while giving patients and their families the chance to contribute to broader mesothelioma research.
  • Advanced diagnostic tools that can help accurately stage the disease and guide treatment, including the consideration of essential information like cell type.
  • Tailored surgical approaches, like extrapleural pneumonectomy, pleurectomy/decortication, or HIPEC/cytoreductive surgery, often performed by experienced mesothelioma surgeons (and in some cases, by surgeons who themselves invented or improved the procedure).

These resources can be essential in delivering quality mesothelioma treatment to patients, and accessing them may require traveling for care. While this will ultimately not be the right choice for every patient, especially patients who opt primarily for palliative care instead of curative therapy, it can lead to better outcomes and peace of mind for many.

How to Decide If Traveling Is Right for You

The decision to travel for mesothelioma treatment depends on many factors, including your health, the health and wellbeing of your support system, your financial situation, and personal preferences, among other factors. When thinking through whether travelling for mesothelioma treatment is the right choice for you, it’s important to consider:

  • Medical stability and physical ability to travel. In some cases, mesothelioma patients are not well enough to withstand a significant amount of travel. Ask your mesothelioma care team whether you are medically stable enough for travel.
  • Caregivers and family members. When mesothelioma patients travel for treatment, they often require the presence and assistance of their primary caregivers, who are often members of their household or immediate family. Consider whether your caretakers or family members will be able to travel with you, and if not, whether you can travel for mesothelioma treatment without them.
  • Financial ability. Traveling for mesothelioma treatment, as well as receiving treatment at a hospital program or cancer treatment center, can be very expensive. While insurance may cover some of your treatment and even some of your travel-related expenses, and while many cancer centers have payment plans and financial assistance options available, mesothelioma patients and their families should consider the potential out-of-pocket costs of traveling for treatment.
  • Comfort with being away from home. Mesothelioma patients—like people generally—vary widely in their comfort with being far away from home for extended periods of time. For some patients and their families, this is less of an issue; for others, discomfort with being away from home for weeks or months is a more considerable factor.

Mesothelioma patients and their families should speak openly and honestly about their options, desires, and concerns when it comes to traveling for treatment. Your local mesothelioma care team, as well as the team at the cancer center or hospital program, may also be able to help coordinate and ensure continuity of care between your home and a given cancer center or hospital. If travel isn’t feasible, some experts may also offer virtual consultations to guide your local team.

Planning the Logistics of Medical Travel

If you’ve decided to travel for mesothelioma treatment and have chosen a treatment center or hospital program, you’ll need to plan for the practical aspects of travel. Your selected cancer center or hospital will likely have resources and assistance for mesothelioma patients and their families traveling for care. In addition, you can self-help by considering the following:

  • Transportation: How will you get to your destination? Will you fly, drive, or take a train? If you’re flying, ask the cancer center if they offer support services for patients with mobility or oxygen needs. You can also ask your mesothelioma care team about what you will need in order to travel safely as a mesothelioma patient.
  • Lodging: Many cancer treatment centers and hospitals have lodging resources for patients traveling for care as well as their families. Some have agreements with local hotels for discounted rates, or connections with nonprofit organizations that help patients find affordable or free housing nearby, such as the American Cancer Society’s Patient Lodging Programs.
  • Medical records and insurance: Make sure you have all your documents, including medical history, test results, imaging, and pathology reports, sent to your intended cancer treatment center in advance, as well as all necessary insurance paperwork and referrals. Call your insurance provider to confirm what is covered at a given treatment center and whether prior authorization will be required. Carry copies with you as a backup.
  • Caregiver support: If someone is traveling with you, they may need to take time off work, arrange for FMLA, and/or arrange for childcare, pet care, or other logistical arrangements.

What to Pack for a Treatment Trip

Packing for a medical trip is different from packing for vacation. While your cancer treatment center should give you a list of things you should bring with you when traveling for mesothelioma care, remember to include:

  • Medical essentials: Insurance cards, IDs, medications, copies of medical records, and a list of questions for your care team
  • Comfort items: A cozy blanket, headphones, a neck pillow, snacks, books, or anything that helps you relax
  • Clothing: Comfortable, loose-fitting, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes that are easy to change in and out of for exams and treatments.

Traveling for mesothelioma treatment isn’t always easy, but it can be a critical step toward better care and more hopeful outcomes for patients and their families.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help with your mesothelioma lawsuit. Call our office in Louisville at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.

How Pets Can Help Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families

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Simply put, mesothelioma changes everything for patients and their families. From the time of diagnosis onward, people with mesothelioma often face waves of uncertainty, fear, and emotional upheaval. Treatments can be exhausting, both physically and mentally, and their outcomes are uncertain. Everyday life may begin to feel unfamiliar and onerous, and it can be difficult to find the strength to put one foot in front of the other each day.

However, in the midst of all this, there may be a steady source of comfort and support already at home or waiting to join you there. Pets—whether dogs, cats, birds, or other companions—have an extraordinary ability to lift our spirits, reduce stress, and bring joy to our lives in even the hardest times. For mesothelioma patients, pets can be much more than just animals: they can be part of the healing journey.

The Emotional Impact of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma often poses a wide range of emotional challenges to both patients and their loved ones, including high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress—especially as they adjust to their new reality post-diagnosis while beginning their journey through mesothelioma treatment and care. Mesothelioma also deeply affects the emotional wellbeing of patients’ families, whose realities have changed alongside that of their loved one.

This emotional impact is significant in of itself, but for mesothelioma patients, it can also make a significant difference when it comes to prognosis. Studies have shown that elevated stress and anxiety, as well as sustained depressive symptoms, can both have negative repercussions on physical health. This makes it all the more important to promote, protect, and support the emotional wellbeing of mesothelioma patients.

In general, the most important form of emotional support for mesothelioma patients comes from other people (i.e., community members, friends, and family, support groups, clergy, and mental health professionals). However, while this human support is essential, animals also have a great deal of support they can offer to those dealing with mesothelioma. Many mesothelioma patients find unique comfort in the steady presence of unconditional love and acceptance that only a beloved pet can provide.

How can pets help mesothelioma patients?

  • Combatting Loneliness: One of the most significant stressors for mesothelioma patients is loneliness. Being ill, specifically with a serious rare cancer like mesothelioma, can create distance between mesothelioma patients and other people—both physically, due to hospitalization, reduced energy, or the need to isolate for health reasons, and emotionally, due to feelings of going through something that no one else can understand. This distance can lead to profound feelings of loneliness and alienation.

Unlike people, pets offer a form of companionship that can fill in the gaps of that loneliness. Animals don’t require conversation, explanation, or for patients to “put on a brave face.” They don’t get uncomfortable nor do they need to be reassured about a mesothelioma patient’s condition. Rather, they simply show up with affection and presence, reminding the patient that they are not alone. This reminder can be powerful medicine when it comes to mesothelioma patients’ emotional wellbeing: it can lift spirits, ease emotional pain, and even reduce the intensity of physical symptoms by calming the nervous system.

  • Reducing Stress and Boosting Happiness: Speaking of calming the nervous system, numerous studies have confirmed what pet lovers already know: pets can indeed help reduce the physiological effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. Interacting with a pet—even for a few minutes—has been shown to:
    • Lower cortisol (the hormone linked to stress) levels
    • Increase production of oxytocin (the “bonding” hormone)
    • Increase production of serotonin and dopamine (chemicals that support good mood)
    • Reduce blood pressure and heart rate associated with stress or anxiety

These beneficial effects could be especially helpful for mesothelioma patients, many of whom have heightened stress from the demands of scans and treatment and the emotional toll of living with mesothelioma. Petting a dog, hearing a cat purr or a parrot talk, or even watching a goldfish swim can offer moments of real calm in a storm, both for mesothelioma patients and their families.

  • Providing Routine and Purpose: Many mesothelioma patients describe a sense of having their sense of purpose stripped away, as the condition takes over more and more of their daily lives and their days are increasingly defined by medications, appointments, treatments, and waiting rooms.

However, caring for a pet can create structure and provide a sense of responsibility in a way that feels manageable and rewarding for some mesothelioma patients. Some of the basic tasks of pet care—cleaning a birdcage, feeding a cat, or walking a dog—can ground mesothelioma patients in the present and give them a sense of normalcy and usefulness that can benefit their emotional health.

  • Encouraging Regular Exercise: In addition to providing a grounding sense of routine and purpose, pets can also encourage mesothelioma patients to get regular gentle exercise, which is important for the success of their care and treatment. Whether it’s a walk around the block with a dog or playing on the carpet with a cat, pets can get mesothelioma patients moving and stretching in beneficial ways, which can also boost mood, build bodily strength and stamina, and improve circulation.
  • Strengthening Family Bonds: As we’ve mentioned, pets don’t just help mesothelioma patients—they can also help entire families. Pets can be a shared source of love, laughter, and emotional relief for families affected by a loved one’s mesothelioma, with some even considering their pets family members themselves. Animal companions can offer stability and unconditional love in a confusing, difficult time; for caregivers, pets can be a source of calm, a moment of joy, or even a reminder to slow down and breathe. Sharing the responsibility and joys of pet care also creates moments of connection between family members—walking the dog together, laughing at a mischievous kitten, or cuddling together on the couch. These experiences help keep families grounded and emotionally connected.

Pets and other beloved animal companions offer a unique kind of support: steady, loving, and absent of any expectations. They don’t ask questions or make demands. They don’t need you to be brave. They just show up with wagging tails, loving purrs, warm bellies, and the desire to be close to you. This can be an essential comfort to mesothelioma patients as well as their families, who can rally around the love and care of an animal friend together. In this way, for the mesothelioma community, pets are often more than just animals—they are partners in care, recovery, and resilience.

Are you or a loved one looking for more information about mesothelioma lawsuits? Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help. Call our office in Louisville at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You can also complete our contact form for a free consultation.

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What to Know When Your Parent Has Mesothelioma

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Many adult children are familiar with the traditional reversal of responsibility for care as their parents get older, becoming the caretaker rather than the person being cared for. Even so, a parent being diagnosed with mesothelioma can present unique challenges for their adult children. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the experience of watching a parent face a serious illness like mesothelioma, all while balancing caretaking responsibilities with the stressors of everyday life. Many adult children describe a complex mix of emotions about their parents’ mesothelioma journey, often experiencing a full gamut from grief, sadness, and helplessness to fear, anger, and frustration, all undergirded by a deep sense of love.

Whether you’re a young adult trying to find your footing or an older adult raising your own family, your parent’s mesothelioma diagnosis may be daunting and may feel like something no one else can understand. However, you are not alone. Many adult children of mesothelioma patients have walked this path before you and are walking it alongside you now.

While each family’s mesothelioma journey is unique, this article will explore insights gleaned from other adult children of mesothelioma patients, which may be helpful in finding the balance between caring for your parent and caring for yourself.

  • It’s okay to feel your feelings (including feeling overwhelmed): Many adult children of mesothelioma patients feel the need to “stay strong” and deny their own emotional needs in order to provide assistance and care to their parents—even while secretly falling apart inside. Many describe feeling guilty about their feelings, especially if they are negative, as well as a general sense of overwhelm that keeps them from fully recognizing and processing what they are experiencing emotionally. It’s important to remember that your feelings about your parents’ mesothelioma are normal, including the emotional whiplash you may be experiencing—moving quickly between shock, sadness, resolve, and hope, all cycling again and again. Give yourself space to feel, grieve, and not have all the answers.
  • Talk—and listen—to your parent about what they are going through. When it comes to conditions like mesothelioma, it can be hard to know what to say—or how much to say—to your diagnosed parent. Your parent may or may not want to talk about their diagnosis with you. They may have difficulty talking about it at all, with anyone, but they may also have questions they aren’t ready to ask you or fears they don’t want to burden you with.

One of the most powerful gifts you can give your parent (and yourself) is making space for honest conversation on their terms. Let your parent know you’re there to listen without judgment. If the time feels right, you can ask gentle guiding questions (such as, “What are you most worried about?”; “What helps you feel supported?”; “Is there anything you want me to know?”) These conversations can sometimes be hard, but they can also open the door to connection, understanding, and love—as well as comfort for both you and your parent during a trying time.

  • Be aware of—and sensitive to—the role reversal. As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest things that both mesothelioma patients and their adult children struggle with is the role reversal from caretaker to person being cared for. This may be unfamiliar ground for both you and your parent as you navigate your new dynamic. It can be very strange to see the person who you once thought was invincible now lean on you for support—and it can be just as strange for them.

Many adult children of mesothelioma patients have found it useful to shift the focus of their parent-child relationship from hierarchy to partnership. Now that you are both adults, you aren’t necessarily taking charge of your parent, as your parent did when you were a child—rather, you’re walking beside them and lending support on their journey. 

  • Respect your parent’s autonomy but be ready to step in to help. Related to the previous point, one of the main ways you can effectively and respectfully move through your parents’ mesothelioma journey with them is to keep their autonomy and dignity intact whenever possible. It’s hard to watch a parent become more vulnerable, but it’s crucial to strike a balance between supporting and taking over. Ask them how they want to handle decisions, include them in conversations, and let them lead when they can. Respect their wishes and decision-making, even when you don’t agree.

There may come a time when you do need to step in to act in your parent’s best interest, in the event that they are no longer capable of doing so themselves—especially when they need help with logistics, paperwork, or emotional processing. However, it is advised to try to maintain their independence whenever you can, which can preserve their dignity and your relationship.

  • Let other people help. Many adult children of mesothelioma patients express feeling the need or the obligation to shoulder everything themselves, leading them to avoid reaching out for help. Sometimes, it can feel like asking for help—or simply accepting offers to help from others—is a sign of weakness or a rejection of your responsibilities to your parent. However, it’s important to remember that there is nothing weak about asking for or accepting help. On the contrary, allowing other people to help you care for your parent is a sign of love and respect, both for your parent, yourself, and the person helping out.

Whether it’s a sibling taking a turn with appointments, a neighbor dropping off meals, or a friend listening when you need to vent, say yes when people offer support. And if they don’t offer, ask. Create space for a community of care where tasks can be delegated. This will give you the energy and emotional space to be fully present in the moments that matter most.

  • Don’t forget to take care of yourself: While a parent’s mesothelioma journey contains many ups and downs, it is ultimately a very difficult experience—potentially one of the most difficult experiences of your lifetime. It can also be all-encompassing, narrowing your world to your parent’s needs, their appointments, and their care. And while you want to be there for them fully, your own emotional and physical wellbeing matters too. It’s important to acknowledge that you’re doing the best you can, and you deserve support and care, too. Consider seeing a cancer-informed therapist or joining a mesothelioma support group to help you process your emotions. Make sure you are eating, drinking, and sleeping enough, and try to take breaks—even small ones—on a regular basis to recharge.
  • Be present in the ways that matter: Amid the uncertainty, fear, and pain of mesothelioma, try to be present with your parent to embrace the everyday joy of being together with them. Embrace spontaneous moments of deep connection in small joys. A walk around the block. A shared laugh. A meaningful conversation. A treasured memory. An acknowledgement of past harm. A silent moment of just being together.

Having a parent with mesothelioma is an intense, life-changing experience, but you are not alone in it. Adult children of people with mesothelioma are doing something incredibly hard—and incredibly meaningful—in moving through their parents’ mesothelioma journey alongside them. Remember that your love, no matter how messy or imperfect, is a light in the dark. That love will endure, no matter what happens next.

Are you or a loved one looking for more information about mesothelioma? Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help. Call our office in Louisville at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.