Framingham firefighter lost to mesothelioma cancer

Early this month, Framingham, Massachusetts firefighter Mike Urban, 57, lost his battle with mesothelioma cancer. This aggressive disease that affects the protective lining of the body’s major cavities and organs is rare and caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos.

Urban’s passing comes on the heels of the loss of 58-year-old retired firefighter Michael Marshall to lung cancer last month. Lung cancer is yet another disease commonly cause by asbestos exposure, along with asbestosis.

Urban’s family has been unable to conclusively pinpoint the cause of the mesothelioma. His wife speculated that exposure to asbestos could have taken place in his childhood home, at a fire station, while firefighting or from using carpentry materials, as Urban was a self-employed carpenter before joining the Fire Department.

Asbestos is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulated mineral fiber has been commonly used in construction materials, as insulation and as a fire retardant. When asbestos is disturbed or burns, it realeases toxic fibers that become airborne and are easily inhaled. These fibers lodge in the lungs for decades causing damage. Urban had pleural mesothelioma, which specifically affects the lining of the lungs, leaving no doubt that he’d likely inhaled asbestos for a prolonged period of time.

The local Hollis Street and Saxonville fire stations both have had asbestos, and several years ago, an area in Station 2 was closed off and bolted before the contamination was cleaned up, making exposure at his station a real possibility.

“Mike was family, and we lost a member of our family, and we’ll deal with that the way any family does,” said Station 2 captain at the Saxonville firehouse Paul Barlow

PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA

Welcome to the Pleural Mesothelioma

Part of our mission at PleuralMesothelioma.com is to provide current, reliable data on all topics relating to pleural mesothelioma cancer. We are dedicated to compiling the latest and most up-to-date information on pleural mesothelioma and offer a number of resources to those coping with the pulmonary cancer. From treatment options to top doctors and the best cancer centers in the United States, PleuralMesothelioma.com is a one-stop resource for pleural mesothelioma patients and their families.
The Next Step: Life After a Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis

After a patient has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, one of the first concerns for a patient and their family will be available treatment options to improve prognosis. The following include important topics for recently diagnosed pleural mesothelioma patients.


Improving Pleural Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

While prognosis for pleural mesothelioma patients typically ranges between four and 18 months, there are several traditional and alternative treatment methods that may prolong a patient’s life expectancy. Some prognostic factors cannot be changed, but improving patient heath and treatment efforts, quitting smoking, and the addition of immune-boosting therapies are a few ways to potentially improve a patient’s life expectancy.
Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment

Receiving an official pleural mesothelioma diagnosis often comes after a series of imaging tests, collection of fluid samples and a tissue sample known as a biopsy. The stage of development the cancer has reached by the time of diagnosis has a great impact on available pleural mesothelioma treatment options.

Pleural Mesothelioma Causes

Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of pleural mesothelioma. Used in many industries throughout the 20th century, asbestos was found in thousands of products and those who worked with the material in an occupational setting are most at risk for developing pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma research is exploring other risk factors, but none have been proven like the link between asbestos and pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma and Veterans

As a result of their exposure during military service, U.S. veterans account for a sizable percentage of pleural mesothelioma patients. The group of veterans most at risk is naval veterans and this is a result of the mass amount of asbestos material used on naval vessels. Navy veterans who worked in shipyards or aboard vessels experienced more asbestos exposure than the average member of the Armed Forces and can claim benefits from the VA system for this service-related condition.
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