Humor Helps Stressed Veteran Mesothelioma Caregivers
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Humor Helps Stressed Veteran Mesothelioma Caregivers

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma, the asbestos-caused cancer, has a high symptom burden in British military veterans. There is little research on what it is like to live with mesothelioma as a veteran. Or what it is like for veteran mesothelioma caregivers. New research has been published in the journal of Illness, Crisis & Loss on this topic. The article highlights how veterans and their families cope with the stress of the disease. Asbestos Exposure in the British Military Malignant mesothelioma is a disease linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure in the British Armed Forces has been documented. Many were exposed in damaged buildings during conflict and aid delivery. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in older people, and survival rates are poor. Symptoms first appear…

Atomic Military Veterans Faced Higher Risk From Asbestos Than Radiation
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Atomic Military Veterans Faced Higher Risk From Asbestos Than Radiation

ByAlex Strauss

A study published in a US medical journal shows atomic military veterans faced a higher risk from asbestos exposure during their service than they did from radiation.  The study published last summer focused on more than 100,000 veterans. These veterans participated in at least one of 230 above-ground nuclear weapons tests between 1945 and 1962. The tests took place at eight nuclear test sites.  Some soldiers participated in military maneuvers, observed nuclear weapons tests, or provided technical support. Others served on board ships or were stationed on islands during or after nuclear tests.  In spite of their proximity to radioactive weapons, atomic military veterans were more likely to die of an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma than a radiation-related illness. The…

Mesothelioma Risk Among Navy Veterans is Focus of New Report
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Mesothelioma Risk Among Navy Veterans is Focus of New Report

ByAlex Strauss

A new study offers a sobering reminder of the mesothelioma risk among Navy veterans. Researchers at Vanderbilt University compared mesothelioma deaths among 114,000 veterans. These veterans were involved in nuclear testing during the Cold War. They referred to these service members as “atomic veterans”. Between 1945 and 1962, the US conducted 230 above-ground nuclear tests. Some of the tests took place in the Nevada desert while others were in the Pacific ocean. In a new study in the International Journal of Radiation Biology, researchers found a high mesothelioma risk among Navy veterans. They determined that it was much higher than it was in the other atomic veterans studied. Assessing Mesothelioma Risk in Atomic Veterans More than 250,000 military personnel took part…