Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks the body’s mesothelial cells around the organs. The mesothelium provides a protective membranous lining for the internal organs and allows moving organs (i.e. the heart and the lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The names of the three regions of mesothelial cells that provide protective coating are 1) pleura, the sac which surrounds the lungs; 2) peritoneum, the lining which protects the abdominal cavity; and 3) pericardium, the sac which surrounds the heart. Three different types of mesothelioma cancer attack these three different regions.
The concern over the mines stems from several reports that have indicated large impacts on the health of those living and working in nearby areas. Residents in Hongseong and Boryeong counties in South Chungcheong Province are just a few that have been affected by asbestos-related diseases through inhaling the toxic asbestos fibers.
Pleural mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms include horseness, fever, blood in sputum, swollen arms and face, coughing, loss of weight, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weak muscles, and reduced tactile sensitivity.
One of these diseases is mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that most commonly develops in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). The biggest problem with this disease is the fact that as many as 50 years can pass by before symptoms finally arise.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: A cancer of the abdomen which attacks the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity. This affects approximately one-third of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms include abdominal bloating, impaired bowl function, fever, swollen feet, and nausea.
Pericardial mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma which attacks the pericardium surrounding the heart is extremely rare. Symptoms include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations.
Mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. In the United States, asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s – 1970s. During the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured in next two decades. By the 19
Another example of an area that has felt the impacts of a closed asbestos mine is Libby, Montana in the United States. Since the official closing of the mine in 1990, more than 200 Libby residents have passed away from an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. Currently, over a thousand residents are still suffering from a disease related to asbestos exposure.
80s, a new industry of asbestos abatement began to flourish. But according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as many as 733,000 schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.
Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic. There are three types of asbestos exposure.
The Social Security Administration is making it easier for ill and disabled patients to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The compassionate allowances initiative was announced in October 2008 as a way to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants whose medical conditions are so severe that their conditions obviously meet Social Security’s standards. Both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma are included on the list of 88 qualifying rare diseases and cancers.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. Peritoneal mesothelioma, also caused by asbestos exposure, affects the lining of the abdomen. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Mesothelioma has an extended latency period with symptoms sometimes taking between 20-40 years to appear. By the time the symptoms appear the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, and most patients are unable to work at this point necessitating a need for the early receipt of Social Security benefits.
Daniel E. Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says “the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances program will help streamline the disability benefits application process so that benefits are quickly provided to those who need them most.”
The SSA held public hearings to gather information from experts on rare diseases and cancers, enlisted the assistance of the National Institutes of Health, and also held public outreach hearings, and received public comments to develop the initial list of 50 conditions comprised of 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers.
This month the SSA added 38 conditions by holding additional public outreach hearings, working closely with the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and other groups. They also reviewed information gathered from previous hearings and consulted with their internal expert medical staff.
Compassionate allowances will allow the SSA to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. When combined with the agency’s Quick Disability Determination process, close to ten percent of disability claims, or a quarter million cases, could be decided in an average of six to eight days.
Commissioner Astrue said, “I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy as possible. The launch of Compassionate Allowances is another step to ensuring Americans with disabilities, especially those with certain cancers and rare diseases, get the benefits they need quickly.”
Exposure to asbestos, a known human carcinogen, is the direct cause of many diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Tens of thousands of individuals, especially working men and women, have died from mesothelioma in the last couple of decades and there are approximately 3 ,000 new diagnoses every year.
The dangers of asbestos were known to many companies that made asbestos-related products as early as the 1920s. However, asbestos continued to be used up until the 1980s — when most asbestos products were banned in the United States and other countries. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years. People exposed to asbestos in the 1950’s and 1960’s are just now showing signs of mesothelioma.
In a recent interview, Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP , a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, says, “getting to the cause of asbestos-related disease involves taking a thorough life history.” There are those who know automatically how they were exposed to asbestos, then there are other people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma who have no idea how or when they could have been exposed to asbestos.
Life History
For those patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who cannot pinpoint their asbestos exposure, Belluck will delve into their life to find a point where the toxic substance could have been inhaled into their system.
1. Occupation. Knowing all the occupations the patient held is critical. While mesothelioma is most closely associated to industrial workers including construction workers, insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, electricians and sheet metal workers, other jobs may have involved handling asbestos. Dentists that make casts for fillings, jewelers using crucibles, and laboratory technicians who have used Bunsen burners could all have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
2. Occupation of Household Members. Asbestos is so toxic that mesothelioma has been diagnosed in family members whose only exposure came from contact with stray fibers and particles that have built-up on the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as para-occupational exposure.
3. Home Renovations or Mechanic Work. The risk of developing mesothelioma can occur due to renovation or repair work in the home, as well as through mechanical work on car brakes or clutches. Many older homes contain insulation made from asbestos fibers, which once disturbed, can be inhaled creating a risk for mesothelioma. During brake and clutch maintenance, the pads and linings are often filed down, releasing asbestos dust.
4. Military Background. Military personnel may have been exposed to asbestos between the 1940s and 1970s. Some jobs required military workers to cut asbestos-laden materials, or work in enclosed spaces, such as ship interiors, where loose asbestos fibers circulated freely. Even occupants of base housing constructed prior to 1970 could be at risk.
Mesothelioma Prevention Tips
While doctors are not sure why some people exposed to asbestos contract mesothelioma and others do not, the best way to prevent mesothelioma is to limit or eliminate interaction with asbestos fibers. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos in your past, contact your doctor even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can significantly increase your survival rate.
If you are aware of a potential asbestos-exposure risk, bring it to the attention of the proper authorities, and do not attempt to dispose of the asbestos yourself. Improper handling of asbestos can put you and others at risk.
Stay informed on asbestos-related news, mesothelioma treatments, and risks and hazards pertaining to asbestos in your area. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to avoid potential risks.
Did you know that mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure can be prevented at home?
Mesothelioma is a violent, rare cancer that can affect the lungs, the heart or the abdomen. Caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, mesothelioma is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year. If you are not aware about how to prevent mesothelioma, below is the list of tips that can help you to live mesothelioma free life.
Mesothelioma is a disease characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the penetration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Current laws restrict the use of asbestos, but many industries used it in the past. Therefore, exposure occurred, and may still occur, in various jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Materials such as cement, clothing brake linings, vinyl asbestos tile, shingles, and fireproof paint, and filters all contained asbestos at one time, and many of these materials are still in existence. Additional diseases related to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.
Frequency Cases increase in the US
Statistical reports show that more than 2,000 Americans are affected with mesothelioma every year. However, even if most cases occur at work, many are still affected right at their own home. This does not necessarily mean homeowners use asbestos at home. Surveys reveal that cases of mesothelioma at home are commonly caused by asbestos dust brought at home.
People who work at industrial companies or construction sites, or simply those who have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos may unconsciously bring asbestos dust at home. Asbestos dust may stick to clothes, hair, skin, cars, or even in their tools. Hence, to avoid Mesothelioma, learn the prevention asbestos at home tips.
Tips to prevent mesothelioma disease:
1. Learn to recognize asbestos
The problem with most people who get sick with mesothelioma, even if they are not working in an industrial company or construction field, is that they do not know how to recognize asbestos or asbestos-containing products right at their own home.
The government has already passed laws and is now implementing full restrictions and control on the use of asbestos in home products. Asbestos containing products are considered as one of the primary factors for developing mesothelioma.
Hence, if you are planning to buy tools for your home, try to check if they contain asbestos. Some of the products that normally contain asbestos are floor adhesives, door gaskets, boilers, furnace ducts, vinyl floor tiles, textured paint, fireproof gloves, asbestos cement roofing, etc.
2. Buy quality materials
The use of asbestos cannot simply be ignored considering the fact that they have high resistance to fire. However, it is best that you check on the quality of the asbestos containing product you are about to buy. Low quality or damaged products may tend to emit asbestos dust, which can infiltrate your lungs and may develop mesothelioma.
3. Dispose asbestos dust before going home
Workers at an asbestos infested environment must try to eliminate any signs of asbestos dust from his clothing or tools. Before going home, it is best that the employee must take a bath thoroughly and wash his clothes carefully to eradicate asbestos dust.
4. Health Screenings.
Contact a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can significantly increase your survival rate.
5. Question asbestos risks.
If you are aware of a potential asbestos-exposure risk, bring it to the attention of the proper authorities.
6. Be wary on floors that contain asbestos
If you have used asbestos containing products in your home, such as the flooring, it is best not to wax or brush the floor. Brushing or waxing the asbestos containing flooring may discharge “microscopic fibers” into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos dust.
7. Do not sweep suspected asbestos dust
If you think you are about to sweep asbestos dust, leave it alone. Dust particles may only infiltrate the lungs once inhaled. This can be prevented by leaving asbestos dust alone. Do not let them fly into the air.
Prevention is better than cure. Hence, to avoid mesothelioma, it is best to learn the prevention asbestos at home tips and start a life away from health hazard.
Massachusetts, the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has recently published an article on the various roles played by a pathologist throughout the mesothelioma diagnostic and treatment process. The article defines the importance of the pathologist not only in the diagnostic stage, but also in the treatment stage as well.
According to the authors of the article, “The pathologist provides crucial input to the determination of many prognostic factors including histologic subtype, extent of local disease progression, resection margins, and nodal status. They discuss with the clinical care team at multiple points along the treatment spectrum, preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Lastly, they are increasingly called on to guide selection of chemotherapy and measure treatment response.”
Treatment for malignant mesothelioma is completely dependent upon perfect diagnosis and staging of the cancer. For example, Epithelioid Mesothelioma is treated slightly differently than sarcomatoid or biphasic mesothelioma. The stage of the mesothelioma disease upon diagnosis can heavily affect what treatment procedures will be effective for the patient. Therefore, the overall prognosis of a mesothelioma patient is established from information gathered by the pathologist.
Hence, the pathologist plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant mesothelioma. As all we know that there is no cure for mesothelioma, thus it is important to use the appropriate treatments for each individual patient to improve their personal prognosis. That’s why the pathologist becomes so important, helping to fine-tune treatment options for each patient’s particular diagnosis.
Newly elected legislation of New York City has decided to improve the health and safety concerns of workers during large demolition and reconstruction projects.
Exposure to asbestos may be the result of serious health conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. These three diseases could be a life-threatening as they are usually diagnosed in the advanced stages of development.
The most important piece of the legislation will put off demolition and asbestos abatement projects from being performed at the same time, thus reducing the amount of people exposed to asbestos. Earlier, demolition crews were able to walk around without masks or respirators while asbestos abatement was being conducted.
In the other pieces of the legislation, contractors will need to take tougher exams before being issued asbestos abatement licenses. These exams will cover new practices such as safer handling procedures and proper disposal methods.
In another regulation, the uses of matches, cigarette lighters and smoking is prohibited on the same floor where asbestos abatement is taking place to ensure all protective gear is being worn.
The people who already have knowledge about asbestos will have to discuss with the contractors about how to prevent exposure to asbestos with better preparation or how to make contractors educated about the asbestos. Even some professional asbestos abatement companies can inappropriately remove asbestos and fail to use protective equipment.
Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Mesothelioma Treatment & Diagnosis in New York:
If someone has been exposed to asbestos on the job or in the home environment, it is encouraged to seek regular medical check-ups to ensure lung health. If there is a possibility of developing symptoms that may possibly indicate asbestosis or mesothelioma, it is a good idea to contact a mesothelioma treatment center in your locality, who can provide the best care for mesothelioma, even from diagnosis to treatment. Here is the list.
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in New York
– (Please confirm the address as this site is not updated.)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. David H. Ilson
Associate Attending Physician
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10065
New York University Medical Center
Dr. Harvey I. Pass
Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery
530 First Avenue, Suite 9V
New York, New York 10016
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Department of Medicine
Division of Thoracic Oncology
Dr. Lee M. Krug
Assistant Attending Physician
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10065
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Manjit S. Bains
Thoracic Surgeon
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10021
The Mount Sinai Medical Center
The Derald H. Ruttenberg Treatment Center
Dr. Philippe A. Chahinian
Oncologist
1190 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Department of Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Raja Michael Flores
Attending Thoracic Surgeon
1275 York Avenue
Room C-879
New York, New York 10021
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Dr. Robert N. Taub
Professor of Clinical Medicine
161 Fort Washington Avenue, Herbert Irving 9-907
New York, New York 10032
New York University Medical Center
Kaplan Cancer Center
Dr. Roman Perez-Soler
Associate Director of Clinical Oncology
550 First Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Thoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery
Dr. Scott J. Swanson
Surgeon
1190 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Community and Preventive Medicine
Dr. Stephen M. Levin
Associate Professor
1200 Fifth Avenue, 1B
New York, New York 10029
Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Valerie W. Rusch
Chief, Thoracic Service
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10065
Dept of Oncology
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Roman Perez-Soler, MD
111 East 210th St.
Bronx, New York 10467
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Timothy Anderson, MD
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, New York 14263
Hoffman & Weinhold Oncology/ Hematology -Glen Falls Hospital
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Cheryl L. Brown, CCRP
100 Park St.
Glens Falls, New York 12801
CCOP-North Shore University Hospital, Div. Hematology/ Oncology
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Daniel R. Budman, MD
9th Floor, 300 Community Dr.
Manhasset, New York 11030
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Clifford A. Hudis, MD
1275 York Ave.
New York, New York 10021
Department of Surgery, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Mesothelioma Treatment Section
John Chabot, MD
161 Fort Washington Ave
New York, New York 10032
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Lee Krug, MD
160 East 53rd St.
New York, New York 10022
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Leonard Bruce Saltz, MD
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Department of Surgery, Thoracic Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Manjit Bains, MD
1275 York Ave.
New York, New York 10021
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Mary Hesdorffer, RN, BSN, Clinical Research Nurse
161 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, New York 10032-3713
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Owen A. O’Connor, MD, PhD
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, Atchley Pavilion Room 907
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
Robert Taub, MD
161 Ft. Washington Ave
New York, New York 10032
According to the Yoga Bear, a non-profit organization started in 2006, belief that “cancer patients and survivors can benefit from yoga as a corresponding treatment in cancer recovery.” The MD Anderson Cancer Center, known for their mesothelioma treatment center, also agrees with this approach offering yoga classes for patients in their cancer center.
Mesothelioma is an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed. In the recent investigation repot, it says that approximately 3,000 new cases have been found each year in the United States. Although there is no exact cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with the minimum degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation, accompanied by holistic therapy.
Holistic therapy and yoga offer students a mind/body approach to coping with mesothelioma and other cancers. Albert Einstein College of Medicine has found out that yoga offers helpful effects on social functioning among breast cancer survivors. Also, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood.
Yoga Bear has a dedicated team to offering both patients and survivors with opportunities for wellness and healing and matches them with free local yoga classes. Yoga Bear also provides on-site yoga classes in hospitals across the country including George Washington University Hospital, Kaiser, Maimonides, and Mt. Sinai, cancer centers, and through support groups such as The American Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Yoga is the primary activity that can “massage” all internal glands, organs and joints of the body that rarely, or never, get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. This stimulation and massage benefits the health of mesothelioma patients by improving flexibility and mobility.
Before undertaking yoga, or any exercise regimen, check with your physician.
Few days back the Quebec Public Health Institute issued a report concerning the prospective health hazards carried by the asbestos mineral mines near the town of Thetford Mines in Canada. The town’s largest employers are existing in this area. According to the reports of investigation, the people living near the mines are risking exposure to the dangerous airborne mineral fibers. However, the report did not reach a conclusion on the level of cancer risk that the mines posed to workers and their families.
The regional health and environmental authorities that called for the report stated that readers should be careful when interpreting the study’s conclusions, as the authors cited levels of “uncertainty” due to limitations on how the actual asbestos capacities were conducted. People who research behind the study stated that the methods used to determine the level of asbestos in the air suffered from “methodological limits” and that the “uncertainties” that those limits posed could lead to miscalculations of the risk levels involved in asbestos exposure in the area.
As per as safety is concerned at the site, the investigators also reiterated the findings by the United Nations-based World Health Organization, as well as several other independent research efforts. The researchers also confirmed several studies where patients developed severe lung diseases, such as mesothelioma, even after being exposed to very low levels of asbestos.
According to the news, one member of the country’s Parliament has called on the complete shutdown of all asbestos mines as well as the termination of the exporting of asbestos-containing material. Mr. Pat Martin, a New Democrat from Manitoba, has emphasized that he would like to see all the asbestos mines “sealed” and has expressed his support on a potential ban on asbestos “in all its forms” within the country’s borders. He also told about stopping the practice of exporting asbestos to poorer countries that have neither the technology nor the resources to protect workers from its dangers.
The president of Chrysotile Institute, Mr. Clément Godbout, said that the reaction to the study “alarmism” and a politically-motivated attack by those in the government who want to shut down the asbestos mines. Mr. Godbout said that the data supports the idea that, at low levels, exposure to chrysotile asbestos carries “no measurable risk”.
Thetford Mines was a town founded on mining and excavation, primarily of asbestos. Miners in south-central Quebec found a large source of asbestos ore in 1876. In that period the fibrous mineral was used widely in the early and middle decades of the twentieth century as insulation and fireproofing material, which brought jobs, industry and prosperity to the small town. Today, the mines employers employ nearly four hundred people out of a population of twenty-five thousand.
The investigating data shows that the residents of Thetford Mines had seventeen times the incidence rate of mesothelioma disease than the statistical norm, primarily due to the large concentrations of airborne asbestos. Luc Berthold, the Thetford Mines Mayor targeted to downplay the results by comparing the death rates from mesothelioma in the town, about one every thirty-five years, to the much higher death rates from other causes over the same time period.
According to the scientists and researchers, the incidence of mesothelioma disease and other asbestos-related lung diseases typically occurs long time after the exposure period. Keeping all these in mind, the true conclusions of the Thetford Mines studies may not be known until well into the twenty-first century.
The widow of a man who died in the asbestos cancer mesothelioma while working at a school in the UK is now bringing suit against that school.
David Kitchin had lost his life at the age of 60 due to the asbestos cancer mesothelioma while working in a school in the UK. His widow wife, Rosemary Kitchin is asking for £200,000 as compensation for the death of her husband, David Kitchin was exposed to asbestos while in a job as a master at Farleigh School, the suit claims, in part because he habitually passed through a main route into the school called the Stone Passageway. That passageway was dirty with the toxic asbestos dust from friable insulation surrounding the central heating and hot water pipes. Students of that school were in the habit of jumping up to swing on the pipes, which further added asbestos to the atmosphere. David Kitchin also had gone to the boiler house, which had yet more pipes lagged with asbestos.
Kitchin was working at Farleigh School from 1966 to 1969, and again from 1974 to 1986. According to the mesothelioma lawsuit, the school administration was careless because it exposed him to the risk, without any warning or protection from the asbestos fibers. The hallway was finally closed due to asbestos pollution.
Mesothelioma is serious disease that occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled. Once inside the body, they can change the DNA of individual cells, causing those cells to reproduce erratically. Mesothelium is a thin cover surrounding and protecting the body’s internal organs, is most susceptible to the needle-like and carcinogenic fibers.
Mesothelioma can remain asymptomatic and undiagnosed in the body for up to 50 years, but usually claims its victims in a matter of months after being diagnosed. Kitchen was diagnosed in January 2008 after complaining of stomach pain, and was then diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, one of the rarer forms of mesothelioma disease.
Mesothelioma claims another life in California in the US. John McTaggart, councilman and city founder of Ranchos Palos Verdes, California, died of mesothelioma at the age of 79 on November 4, just one day after he narrowly lost a municipal election. McTaggart, who was known as “Mr. RPV,” decided last summer to run for the city councilman seat he’d lost six years earlier. Despite he was in excruciating pain, his last acts was to cast his ballot on Election Day.
McTaggart was a former plumber and engineer. In his early career, he was uncovered to the toxic substance asbestos. This asbestos exposure caused him to develop the serious form of cancer called mesothelioma. Earlier he had recovered from the cancer several years ago, and he was confident about his health, but tests showed that his cancer had returned less than one week before the election. He was placed in home home care on November 1, where he died surrounded by family that on that Wednesday.
