Mesothelioma & asbestos-related illness

[klingon]

Last week my Dad got really sick and was admitted to hospital. They diagnosed mesothelioma - a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos between 20 - 50 years ago. Here's the Wikipedia article about it if you want more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma

Dad's cancer is quite advanced and he has tumours in his heart and lungs. Part of one of his lungs has collapsed. He has never smoked and the illness he has now is definitely a result of asbestos exposure.

He is 82 years old and is a WWII navy vet - apparently conditions in the ships were appalling and included men living in overcrowded, unventilated little spaces with their hammocks slung between pipes. The pipes were insulated with asbestos lagging - blankets of asbestos just with wire wound around it to hold it to the pipes.

Dad is very sick and isn't going to live much longer. He and Mum are struggling financially, and the extra burden of his illness is going to take a huge toll. Can anybody tell me where I might start investigating some kind of financial help for them? Does ACC cover this kind of illness? Who should I ask and where can I go for help?

[Macktheknife]

ACC does cover asbestosis but there are restrictions, get the GP involved immediately for the assistance.
Best of luck and call me if I can help.
Mack

[sAsLEX]

Dad is on a register and has regular checks as Meremere power station was full of the shit.

The RN has two relatively good ships tied up in rotten row due to small amounts of asbestos cladding on them. They know exactly where it is and it wouldn't cost much to remove......... but yeah back in the day health and safety weren't all that big in the defence forces and now its gone full circle!

[klingon]

ACC does cover asbestosis but there are restrictions, get the GP involved immediately for the assistance.
Best of luck and call me if I can help.
Mack

Thanks Mack. So far Dad's GP has been no help at all in this regard. Also at Whangarei hospital I specifically asked for a social worker to come and discuss the issue but she declined to even come and see him! She sent a message through a nurse saying that she didn't know anything about asbestos and she didn't think it was part of her job!!

So it looks like it's up to my sister and I to do our own investigations. I'm sure I will be calling you soon and picking your brain on the subject

Dad is on a register and has regular checks as Meremere power station was full of the shit.

The RN has two relatively good ships tied up in rotten row due to small amounts of asbestos cladding on them. They know exactly where it is and it wouldn't cost much to remove......... but yeah back in the day health and safety weren't all that big in the defence forces and now its gone full circle!

Glad your Dad is being monitored, sAsLEX. It's nasty stuff alright!

[Timber020]

Thats what killed Steve McQueen, not good man. Asbestos is an unseen killer, I caught a client cutting sheets with a skillsaw with his kid holding one end and no masks to be seen. The bloody sheet had it written in big letters how dangerous it was. I mentioned it to him, he ignored me, I mention it to his wife, she tore him a new one

One client lost, but perhaps a life saved!

[RantyDave]

Does ACC cover this kind of illness?

Since it's an injury he picked up at work, I would have thought the answer was yes.

However, perhaps more to the point (and, sadly, probably not in a timeframe that's useful to your dad) there are some gigantic Mesothelioma lawsuits taking place in the US. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a class action against the Navy and if not, there should be. The guys who were involved in the nuclear testing got a settlement, didn't they?

It's also worth remembering that it is the JOB of these government agencies to at least discuss whether or not they are able to help you. A sick Dad and a slacking ACC can make it to the papers pretty quickly. Go down all the legit channels as fast as possible, collect evidence of them failing to give a shit and take it to the papers. Don't threaten to take it to the papers, just take it.

Good luck, I really feel for you. Sorry I can't be of any further help.

Dave

[Swoop]

There are more cases out there that we don't know about. If anyone served on any of the navy ships, in the shipyards, roofing work on buildings, or any of the industries that used super-heated water and had insulated pipes - GET CHECKED OUT by a qualified medical specialist!

My Dad has been diagnosed with asbestosis and currently has a lawsuit/compensation claim underway.

I was surprised that he was given quite good assistance by our health service. North Shore Hospital was where he was admitted, so it might be an idea to have a chat with the support services there.

[klingon]

Thanks for your help and advice everyone (and a special thanks to those who have phoned me and sent me supportive PMs).

I have read all your posts and will take action quickly to see what we can do for my Dad. Not much time to reply to you all but I'm definitely reading your advice, taking notes and taking action.

Thanks to you all

klingon

[klingon]

By the way, Dad died on 18 August, 8 weeks after diagnosis. I had the privilege of being there to hold his hand as he passed away.

ACC was definitely the way to go - they have special rules for asbestos-related cancer and Mum will be entitled to some compensation (at least to pay funeral expenses and other direct costs, possibly other compensation as well).

Thanks again to those who offered advice and sympathy during this difficult time. My Dad was a great man and a wonderful father. I will miss him for a long, long time.

[Maha]

By the way, Dad died on 18 August, 8 weeks after diagnosis. I had the privilege of being there to hold his hand as he passed away.

ACC was definitely the way to go - they have special rules for asbestos-related cancer and Mum will be entitled to some compensation (at least to pay funeral expenses and other direct costs, possibly other compensation as well).

Thanks again to those who offered advice and sympathy during this difficult time. My Dad was a great man and a wonderful father. I will miss him for a long, long time.

Thats sad to read klingon...i saw a TV article a few years ago, the bloke had the same cancer...he worked with asbestos for only a few weeks on a Power Project by Taupo during the early 80's i think. He had a bit of down time on what he was doing (Sparky i think) so helped the Plumber with Asbestos Lagging till he could resume his job. I also used to have exposure to Asbestos years ago...some Vinyls had Asbestos backing, we were ok as long as we didnt sand it...Massive fines now if any floor sander touches the shit, i wont even look at it, i overlay the old vinyl with Hardboard, we are not even aloud to lift it...and i wont.....take care....

[yungatart]

My condolences on the loss of your Dad.
You and your family will be remembered in our prayers.

[RantyDave]

By the way, Dad died on 18 August, 8 weeks after diagnosis.

8 weeks. Shit, that's awful.

Sorry. Don't know what else to say. Sorry.

Dave

[klingon]

Thats sad to read klingon...i saw a TV article a few years ago, the bloke had the same cancer...he worked with asbestos for only a few weeks on a Power Project by Taupo during the early 80's i think. He had a bit of down time on what he was doing (Sparky i think) so helped the Plumber with Asbestos Lagging till he could resume his job. I also used to have exposure to Asbestos years ago...some Vinyls had Asbestos backing, we were ok as long as we didnt sand it...Massive fines now if any floor sander touches the shit, i wont even look at it, i overlay the old vinyl with Hardboard, we are not even aloud to lift it...and i wont.....take care....

I'm glad people are so much more careful with it these days, but it's been known for decades that it's really dangerous stuff. There are going to be so many men (especially men) dying of it in the next few years that it's a real tragedy. And no need for it to have happened.

My condolences on the loss of your Dad.
You and your family will be remembered in our prayers.

Thank you

8 weeks. Shit, that's awful.

Sorry. Don't know what else to say. Sorry.

Dave

Thanks Dave. Actually 8 weeks is about right. I hear stories of people whose loved ones died suddenly and they didn't get a chance to say goodbye, and in my opinion that would be much harder. I had time to quit my job and spend a lot of time with Dad in that last 8 weeks, and it was time I will always treasure.

[Swoop]

So sorry to hear of your Dad passing away, Klingon.

Shit. Lost for words now.

How are you coping?

[klingon]

So sorry to hear of your Dad passing away, Klingon.

Shit. Lost for words now.

How are you coping?

Hi Swoop, I think I'm coping quite well, thank you.

In our culture I think we're often kept away from death and dying, and it becomes a mysterious and frightening thing. This has been the first time I've spent time really close to a dying person and it has changed my feelings about death.

Obviously I miss my Dad, and typing this is making me cry. But I'm no longer afraid of death.

I'm glad I was with Dad when he died, and could hold his hand, and smooth his hair, and comfort him in the best way I could. The last thing he said to me was "goodnight sweet heart" and I said goodnight and kissed him. Pretty special.

Later that night he was delirious and didn't recognise me any more, but I talked to him and held his hand until he passed away.

My advice: If you have the opportunity to be with someone you love when they are dying, don't be afraid. Take the chance and treasure every moment. And after they have died, continue to be with them and talk to them and take care of them for a while. Very therapeutic.

My sister didn't want to see Dad after he died, but I combed his hair and straightened his bedding and took her to see him, and she was very glad she did. And I could tell her honestly that he died as peacefully as he could (under the circumstances) because I was there so I knew how it was.

Dying is never going to be easy. Nor is being born. But it is one of those things we're all going to go through sooner or later, so it shouldn't be frightening.

Thanks for asking.