The topic of denials and refusals from insurance companies has come up frequently in my work with patients and families. Financial issues and concerns are a constant battle when dealing with a serious illness and trying to get the best possible treatment. I encourage my patients to never take no for an answer, be persistent, and file appeals whenever possible.

Attached is an article which you may find helpful. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/insur/20020619a.asp

In a continuing effort to study the possible link between taconite mining and mesothelioma, the Minnesota Department of Health released a new report detailing the employment history of the 58 miners who have died from the rare asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma. According to the report, the 58 miners worked for different companies at different locations, doing different jobs for various lengths of time. Specifically, the men worked for six companies in various parts of the Iron Range, some for only a year, others for over thirty years. Some of them worked as mechanics, while others worked in the taconite mines. There have been 146 cases of mesothelioma among men in northern Minnesota since 1988, well above the national average. Although the findings do not rule out any of the proposed causes of this particular cancer cluster, it does conclude that the threat was confined to the workplace and not the region as a whole. If anything, this latest report emphasizes the need for more resources and funs to continue to study this issue.

Sometimes when faced with a serious illness or diagnosis such as Mesothelioma we don't know were to start. Two links I have found helpful are:

www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org - by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

www.plwc.org - by the People Living With Cancer

Both sites offer information and resources on a variety of topics for patients and caregivers.

Last week on the December 5th Oprah show Billy Ray Cyrus spoke about his father who passed away last year as a result of Mesothelioma. Oprah's show was titled "For One More Day" and she was joined by author Mitch Albom (author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven). They were discussing Albom's new book For One More Day. Various celebrities shared the names of people who they have loved and lost and would like to spend one more day with. Billy Ray chose his father.

For more information regarding the show click here: http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200712/20071205/slide_20071205_350_105.jhtml

Members of the Association of Cancer Online Resources started an annual Candle Lighting Ritual to remember those lost to Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Illnesses. They have scheduled the Candle Lighting for this Sunday, December 16^th between 7pm – 8pm. They hope to have candles burning in each time zone for the entire 24 hour period. I’ve included the guideline and script they suggest using. I hope we are all able to take part in this special ritual to honor and remember our loved ones.

"As we light these four candles in honor of you, we light one for our grief, one for our courage, one for our memories, and one for our love."

LIGHT THE FIRST CANDLE "The light of this first candle represents our grief. The pain of losing you is intense. It reminds us of the depth of our love for you."

LIGHT THE SECOND CANDLE "The light of this second candle represents our courage to confront our sorrow, to comfort each other, to change our lives."

LIGHT THE THIRD CANDLE "This third candle is a light to all of our memories of you. To the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry with each other, the silly things you did, the caring and the joy you gave us."

LIGHT THE FOURTH CANDLE "This fourth candle is the light of our love. As we go forward, day by day, we cherish the special place in our hearts that will always be reserved for you. We thank you for the gift your life brought to each of us. We love you always."

The recommendation of Hope for the Holidays is that, if we do this with others present, we can ask the others if they want to share something about the missing loved one after all the candles are lit.