USS Arizona Memorial

On February 16, 2010, an opening ceremony was held at Pearl Harbor for the first phase of the new USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, which opened to the public on February 17, 2010.  The project has been divided into two phases.  Phase two is set to open on December 7, 2010 on the 69^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Background of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center

The original visitor center opened to the public in 1980.  The center was built on soil that had been dredged to expand the Halawa Basin.  Since its opening, the center has sunk nearly 30 inches and the concrete structures have eroded as a result.

The original center was designed and built to accommodate approximately 2,000 visitors; however, since its opening, the center has grown to become one of Hawaii’s largest tourist attractions with over 4,000 visitors a day.

What You Can Look Forward to at the New Visitor Center

The new visitor center has a bookstore that is twice the size of the old one.  It also contains administrative offices, a snack bar, an education and research center, and a central ticketing operation that will allow visitors to easily view other attractions such as the USS Bowfin Museum, the USS Arizona Memorial (renamed the Word War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument), the Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Missouri Memorial.

Herb Weatherwax, a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor who attended the opening ceremony on February 16, 2010, stated that the new visitor center was “outstanding.”  Mr. Weatherwax was glad to see that larger bathroom facilities were available, as visitors of the older center were often forced to wait in long lines to use the bathroom facilities.  In addition, the center now has lots of shaded and seating areas for guests.

Phase Two – The Final Stage

Construction on phase two of the visitor center will begin immediately on the grounds of the old center and is estimated to cost a total of $58 million.  The second phase will include exhibits that will go beyond the actual Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.  Some exhibits will focus on the events leading up to the war and the results and aftermath of the attacks.

When phase two is complete, the visitor center will have grown nearly twice in size and will sit on an additional six acres, increasing to a total area of 17.4 acres.  The center is expected to open in time for the annual anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  The annual ceremony has been held at Kilo Pier; however, this year, the ceremony will return to the back lawn of the visitor center that will be three times larger than the original lawn.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Support Navy Veterans

For over 30 years, Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented U.S. Navy veterans and civilian workers who worked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

Many of our clients were exposed to deadly asbestos while working on ships during overhauls or routine maintenance.  As a result, our clients developed asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Through our work, we have had the pleasure of meeting many U.S. veterans who have bravely served our country.  We have listened to their stories and have been moved by their dedication and sacrifice.  We are so delighted to see the renewed energy and efforts being poured into this historic center that will surely continue to keep the memory of our brave veterans alive.

The Canadian asbestos industry has stirred up serious controversy in the province of Quebec in recent weeks, as Canadian health experts and opposition party members call for a re-examination of Canada’s export of asbestos to the developing world.  So far, the Quebec government has rejected these calls.  Indeed, the majority Liberal party recently refused to even create a parliamentary committee to study the health effects of exporting the nearly 175,000 tons of asbestos that are mined in Quebec and shipped all over the world.

The controversy began with Premier Jean Charest’s trade mission to India in early February.  Before this visit, Charest received a letter from a coalition of over 100 scientists from 28 countries, calling upon the premier to speak out about the hazards of India’s growing asbestos industry.  The scientists asked Charest to recognize the international consensus that all forms of asbestos cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, and present a serious threat to human health.  Accordingly, the letter asked Charest to stop promoting the use of asbestos in India and other developing countries.

Chrysotile Asbestos

Unfortunately, rather than speaking out about the hazards of asbestos on his trade mission, Premier Charest insisted that: “Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner; this is what WHO reports say.  It is not a banned substance.  It is up to the government of India to put the necessary laws in place.”

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) says no such thing about the safety of chrysotile asbestos.  According to Maria Neria, the director of public health at WHO, the organization’s “position is very, very clear” that “all types of asbestos are carcinogenic.”  As noted in a recent article in The Lancet magazine, WHO guidelines state that “increased cancer risks have been observed in populations exposed to very low levels.”  The WHO has further stated that “the most effective way to eliminate asbestos-related disease is to stop using all types of asbestos.”

Despite the strong international consensus that all forms of asbestos cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, the Quebec government has so far refused to stop exporting deadly and carcinogenic asbestos to India and other poor countries.  On the contrary, the  government continues to support the Chrysotile Institute, which lobbies internationally to minimize the health hazards of asbestos and prevent international organizations from banning the material.

So far, the voice of Canada’s $100 million a year asbestos industry has outweighed the voices of scientists and worker advocates.  However, public health experts are extremely concerned about the high rates of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer that are likely to emerge in the developing world as a result of Canada’s ongoing exports of this toxic substance.

According The Lancet, asbestos disease already claims the lives of 90,000 people a year worldwide.  Asbestos which is mined in Canada today will continue this deadly legacy for another generation.

The law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented clients with asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, for over 30 years.  We have seen first hand how this toxic and carcinogenic substance has harmed workers and their families.   Our firm urges the Quebec government to halt the export of Canadian asbestos, so that the dire public health consequences can be avoided.  It is time to stop this deadly industry.

Treatment of malignant mesothelioma has been extremely difficult.  Not only is malignant mesothelioma resistant to most forms of chemotherapy drugs, but even when the mesothelioma tumor responds to the standard protocol of treatment with Alimta (Pemetrexed) and Cisplatin, the malignant mesothelioma eventually becomes resistant to these drugs as well.  It is not known whether the malignant mesothelioma cells mutate to become resistant or whether there are portions of the mesothelioma tumor that were resistant to begin with, which then proliferate once the non-resistant tumor cells are killed by the Pemetrexed and Cisplatin combination.

Oxaliplatin

In the search for a cure for malignant mesothelioma, researchers are looking at various other chemotherapy drugs that might be used as a secondary treatment protocol to follow the first-line treatment with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin.  One such drug that is being considered is Oxaliplatin, which goes by the trade name Eloxatin.  Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) was first developed by Dr. Yoshinori Kidani at Nagoya City University in 1976.  Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is an alkylating agent that works by causing damage to the DNA of cancer cells.  Other alkylating agents that are used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma are Carboplatin and Cisplatin.

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and Gemcitabine Tested as a Second-Line Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a Clinical Trial

On December 18, 2008,  the Journal of Occupational Medicine & Toxicology, published the article entitled Gemcitabine Combined with Oxaliplatin in Pretreated Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: An Observational Study.  This paper was based on a clinical trial of 29 patients who were diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and had been previously treated with Cisplatin and Pemetrexed.  These patients were given a combination of Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin as a second-line treatment for their malignant pleural mesothelioma.  It was found that when at least three cycles of Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin were given to these patients in this clinical trial, 6.9% obtained partial remission and another 37.9% achieved stable disease.  This amounted to a malignant pleural mesothelioma control rate of 44.8%.  Just as important, the patients tolerated the treatment well with no significant toxicities or side effects reported in any of the patients.  This drug combination provides great hope and promise in mesothelioma treatment.

New Clinical Trial Using Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and Bortezomib (Velcade) in Patients with Malignant Pleural Or Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Columbia University opened a new clinical trial that began recruiting patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma in October 2009 that will use Bortezomib (Velcade) and Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) for treatment.  To be included in this clinical trial, patients must have received only one prior form of chemotherapy.  Patients who received a combination of Pemetrexed plus Cisplatin or Pemetrexed plus Carboplatin will qualify for this clinical trial.

Being diagnosed with cancer is always a devastating experience, and a mesothelioma diagnosis may be particularly overwhelming for both the patient as well as his family.  Often after hearing the diagnosis from the physician, the mesothelioma patient and his family understandably do not really hear much else.

Mesothelioma is aggressive and a multimodality approach (meaning surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) is often recommended as the course of treatment.  As a result, a patient necessarily has appointments with an oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a surgeon, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, at imaging, at nuclear medicine and with other specialists and departments.

In order to find one’s way through this seemingly complex medical maze, forward thinking medical centers today have on staff patient navigators to assist mesothelioma patients and others facing a cancer diagnosis.  A patient navigator is a professional with medical training, sometimes as a nurse or a medical assistant.

First and foremost, the patient navigator will meet with the patient and be there to help.  She will help schedule appointments.  She will try to set appointments as conveniently as possible, perhaps limiting the number of days that a mesothelioma patient has to go to the medical center or the hospital.  The navigator also meets with the patient’s team to discuss the plan for care and treatment, as well as progress and difficulties that may develop along the way.

If there seems to be a conflict between prescriptions or if instructions are unclear, the navigator will help to straighten out the situation and provide clarity for the patient.  The patient navigator’s job is to alleviate much of the stress and concern that a patient and his family may feel when trying to navigate the system themselves. The navigator helps to ensure that the patient does not feel alone in this process.

A mesothelioma patient’s needs go beyond medical tests and treatment.  An effective patient navigator will assist with issues involving medical insurance, financial assistance, nutrition and with psychosocial problems.  When the need arises, palliative care suggestions can be provided.  Sometimes the navigator will suggest an appropriate support group.

One example of a state of the art patient navigation system is available at Queen’s Cancer Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.  An award winning and innovative program, the Queen’s Patient Navigation Program helps patients wind their way through their medical treatment, and transition from inpatient to outpatient care when necessary.  The result for the patient is improved medical care, more focus on quality of life and an overall better experience for the patient at an incredibly difficult time.

The Researcher and the Clinician – “Translational Research”

“We are used to work[ing] with molecules, with cells,…with experimental animals, while…physicians are used to work[ing] with real live patients, and of course we use different…[terminology] sometimes…[In] some cases, collaboration is very useful and successful, and we can say, especially for us [who are] used to working in…the labs, [it is exciting] to meet the patients that are surviving or doing better.  Even small improvements are very important to us.  It’s…a very interesting and emotional experience.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Researchers and clinicians inhabit two very different worlds.  The researchers work with cells and molecules in their laboratories, and usually do not see the patients that they are trying to help through their research.  The physicians, on the other hand, care for their patients in clinic and hospital settings, and often get to know their patients intimately.   But communication between these worlds – the world of the researcher in the laboratory and the world of the physician who is caring for their patient – is becoming more and more important.

As researchers become increasingly aware of their role in communicating the results of their research to physicians, the physicians, in turn, can “translate” the results of this research into new and effective therapies.  Thus it becomes “translational research.”  The clinicians’ feedback is also very important to the researchers, who learn how the patients are doing and how they are responding to the new therapies.  This makes it possible for the laboratory researchers to adjust and revise their work.

This communication between researchers and physicians or “bench to bedside” approach is not always easy.  This can be difficult because they sometimes seem to use different languages as they talk in technical terms specific to their field of expertise.  However, the patient is at the very center of this collaboration and is the most important reason that this strong effort toward enhanced communication is being made.  On the occasions when the researcher has the opportunity to meet patients and to know how they are doing, this too can be very inspirational and motivational.

The Researcher and the Mesothelioma Patient

“I saw patients with incredible increasing quality of life…And to see that what we are doing could help individuals to feel…better is something very, very special that I’ve never experienced before.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Most of us do not think of research scientists having any contact with patients.  Ordinarily, research scientists do not have a chance to meet mesothelioma patients during clinical trials.  When clinical trials begin, the researchers “step back.”   However, in some instances, basic scientists do meet these patients.  Dr. Giovanni Gaudino has had this wonderful opportunity.  He describes this as an emotional experience because he saw the improvement in the mesothelioma patients’ quality of life, regardless of whether the therapy was successful in getting rid of the cancer or just stabilizing the disease.  These patients were happy, they were active, and they also recognized the importance of the work going on in the laboratory.  Dr. Gaudino explained that this was a very powerful emotional experience to see that as research scientists, they were helping these patients.

For over 100 years, Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, has played a pivotal role in supporting and maintaining the country’s fleet of submarines.  This company has shipyards  in both Groton,  Connecticut, and Rhode Island, which together employ about 10,700 workers.  At least for the foreseeable future, however, Electric Boat will be carrying out its work with a smaller work force on the waterfront.  Because of a reduction in modernization and maintenance of submarines, there will be  hundreds of layoffs among the trades such as carpenters and other construction trade workers.  Fortunately, this reduction will be offset by needs in other areas.

The Company executives estimate between 400 to 600 layoffs and 100 to 200 furloughs are possible in the year 2010, but these layoffs will be offset by the need to hire 300 to 400 new engineers and designers.  In addition to working on a surface ship program in conjunction with Northrop Grumman, these new employees will be carrying forward Electric Boat’s tradition of working at the cutting edge of submarine design as they develop the next generation of ballistic missiles.

A Series of “Firsts”

The Electric Boat Company, founded by Isaac Rice in 1899, has been at the forefront of submarine construction since its inception.  The first submarine to be purchased and commissioned into the United States Naval Service was the USS Holland SS-1 built at this shipyard.  The Holland was originally named the Holland VI after its inventor John Philip Holland.  Interestingly, this submarine had many of the design features that appeared in subsequent submarines  in more advanced forms, including an internal combustion engine for surface operation and an electric motor for submerged operation.

The company continued its outstanding service during both world wars.  During World War I, Electric Boat received orders to build 85 submarines for the US Navy and built 74 submarines during World War II.  More than half of the Gato class and many Balao class Submarines were built by Electric Boat Company, including the USS Gato SS-212, USS Darter SS-227, USS Scorpion SS-278, USS Perch SS-313, USS Sealion SS-315, USS Bugara SS-331 and USS Capitaine SS-336.

In 1951 the company received the contract to build the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus SSN-571.  This submarine was christened by then First Lady Mrs. Eisenhower and launched in 1954.  Among her many firsts, the USS Nautilus was the first submarine to reach the geographic North Pole on August 3, 1958 and to go on to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole.

Electric Boat also achieved another first when the first ballistic-missile submarine, the USS George Washington SSBN-589, was built there in 1959.  In July, 1960, this submarine conducted the first Polaris missile launch from a submerged submarine which added significantly to our country’s deterrent forces.

Asbestos Use at Electric Boat Company

The submarines built at Electric Boat from the 1940s through the mid 1970s contained many pounds of asbestos insulating products.  The shipyard workers who constructed these submarines were exposed to the hazards of asbestos on a daily basis.  Submariners who later served on these subs were exposed to asbestos dust generated through the routine operation and maintenance of asbestos-covered equipment, piping and machinery.  These submariners and shipyard workers are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases because of their exposure to asbestos.

The Importance of Clinical Trials

Many of us know that malignant mesothelioma is very difficult to treat.  Dr. Giovanni Gaudino, the prominent Italian medical researcher, talked to Galiher DeRobertis Ono about mesothelioma treatment and the hope his research offers.  He said:

“… since this cancer is so aggressive, since the incidence of this cancer is increasing . . . we have to go fast to find new therapies, effective therapies.  And the only way to do that is to foster as much as possible clinical trials.  I know that clinical trials . . . can be seen as an experiment on humans . . . And for individuals this could be hard to accept . . .  to be part of an experiment.  But at this point, clinical trials, I think, are the best way to try something new to get rid of this disease.”

Clinical trials are of paramount importance in the search for a cure for malignant mesothelioma.  There is general agreement that in most cases, conventional therapies are not working.  Time is of the essence, but it takes a very long time for new therapies to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.  The story is the same in Europe and in India – it takes a long time to approve a new treatment.  Clinical trials are a chance for patients to be exposed to novel therapies.  In some instances, existing, approved drugs are repurposed in new combinations.

To find a list of clinical trials, you can go to the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) website.  With almost 100 clinical trials listed on this site, all with different drug combinations and approaches, this can be confusing.  How do you decide which therapy is the best?

You may wonder if one clinical trial is better than all others.  This is not the case.  Cancers, and mesothelioma in particular, come in many different forms.  As a result, no one therapy is right for all patients.  One therapy may be effective for one patient, or one population of patients, but not for others who may find other therapies are more effective.

The evaluation and initial determination of whether one qualifies for a particular clinical trial is an important discussion a patient must have with his or her physician.  In general, patients must be carefully selected for these trials.  Patients must meet certain criteria to participate in any given study.  You cannot simply choose a clinical trial.  You must be evaluated by physicians to see  if you have the right “markers” for enrollment in the clinical trial.  While enrollment in clinical trials offers no guarantee that they will work, all patients should be encouraged to consider them.

The welcome reception for the 10th Annual Symposium entitled, “Current Concepts in Pulmonary and Critical Care” was held on Sunday, February 14, 2010 in gorgeous, balmy Hawaiian weather at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa at Kaanapali on the island of Maui.  The reception was sponsored by Galiher DeRobertis Ono, a law firm based in Hawaii and California, with a national reputation of  successfully representing mesothelioma clients for over 30 years.  The American Lung Association in Hawaii (ALAH) and the Hawaii Thoracic Society (HTS) presented this symposium held over four days with esteemed faculty from the United States and Japan.  Attendees at the conference included pulmonologists, oncologists, pathologists, professors, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners and others from our country as well as from Japan, Pakistan, Australia and Canada.

Welcoming each guest with a fresh orchid lei, attorneys Gary Galiher, L. Richard DeRobertis, Jeffrey Ono, Diane Ono and Ilana Waxman were on hand to meet the event organizers.  Dr. Christine Fukui, formerly of Kaiser Permanente, has treated many mesothelioma patients throughout her medical career as an internist, and Ms. Jean Evans, is the Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Hawaii.  Gary Galiher and the attorneys from the Galiher DeRobertis Ono team were privileged to be introduced to the faculty and symposium attendees during the elegant open air reception.  Attorney Gary Galiher commented that, “It was most interesting and enlightening to meet physicians so intimately involved in the study of pulmonary medicine who work directly and indirectly to help our mesothelioma and other clients who have asbestos conditions such as lung cancer and asbestosis.”

USS Flier SS-250

During World War II, the submariners of the U.S. Pacific Fleet  faced great danger.  In fact, nearly 22 percent of submariners were lost in World War II.  Of the 288 submarines deployed in the Atlantic and Pacific, 52 were lost.  All but four were lost in the Pacific war zone.

Today, explorers continue to search for these boats that disappeared.  The various discoveries of these lost or missing vessels have answered many questions about these submarines and, as a result, families who lost loved ones aboard the boats can finally feel a sense of closure.  The USS Flier SS-250 is the fifth U.S. submarine to be discovered since 2005.

A Brief History Of the USS Flier

The USS Flier was laid down on October 30, 1942 and was commissioned on October 18, 1943.  She was a Gato class submarine and was the only boat in the United States Navy to be named after the flier, a well-known round sunfish.

On August 12, 1944, while on her second war patrol to the coast of Indochina, the USS Flier struck a mine and began to sink immediately.  Seventy-eight men died in the tragic incident, and only eight men survived.

Recent Discoveries

In the spring of 2009, a team from YAP Films located the wreckage of USS Flier.  According to the Navy, Mike and Warren Fletcher, a father and son team of divers from the television show Dive Detectives, took the first footage of the submarine and provided it to the Naval History and Heritage Command to confirm the identification.

On February 1, 2010, the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force confirmed that the submarine found in the Balabac Strait is the USS Flier that was lost in World War II.  The Balabac Strait is located in the South China Sea between the Philippines and the islands of Borneo.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Help U.S. Veterans

Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented many men who served or worked on submarines during their repairs at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and at other shipyards such as Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Mare Island and Puget Sound.   Although they did not realize the danger at the time, our clients were exposed to deadly asbestos dust.  Many shipyard workers and U.S. Veterans were put at risk for developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases as a result of the toxic asbestos on board.

Through our work, we have had the pleasure of meeting and representing many U.S. Veterans who have served on submarines during WWII, the Vietnam War, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War.  We have listened to their stories and have been greatly moved by their dedication and sacrifice.  The discovery of the USS Flier in Southeast Asia clearly demonstrates that the brave sailors and their families faced untold hardship as they gave their lives in service of our country.

Today, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide.  It is estimated that the number of cancer deaths around the world is expected to rise by 45 percent between 2007 to 2030.  However, experts now claim that as many as 40 percent of cancers could be prevented by protecting against infections and by making lifestyle changes.

Experts Give Ways To Prevent Cancer

A report by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, highlighted infections that can possibly lead to cancer.  The report accentuated the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes.

David Hill, the President of the International Union Against Cancer, stated that we now have the knowledge to prevent approximately 40 percent of cancers, but tragically, we are not using it.

International Union Against Cancer Urges Government And Policymakers To Take Action Now

The International Union Against Cancer emphasized the importance of using the vaccines that we now have for human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer, and hepatitis B, which can lead to liver disease and cancer, as well as other illnesses that can be prevented with vaccines.

Other diseases that can also lead to cancer such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C and Epstein Barr have no vaccines.  However, the International Union Against Cancer has made a call to policymakers to educate their communities so that preventive measures can be taken and simple changes in lifestyle can be made.  Simple changes that would be of benefit include smoking ceasation, alcohol intake limitation, and sun exposure reduction.

As part of an effort to better educate communities and have governments and policymakers take preventive measures, the International Union Against Cancer launched their “Cancer Can Be Prevented Too” campaign on World Cancer Day, February 4, 2010.

Adequate Warnings Could Have Prevented High Incidence of Mesothelioma

Today, we are grateful that many experts are focusing on prevention and education as well as better treatments and cures for all types of cancers.  For more than 30 years, Galiher DeRobertis Ono has been successfully representing clients who have contracted mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, that could have been prevented if adequate warnings had been given and safety measures taken.  We know that exposure to asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma, and that many asbestos-related illnesses could have been prevented if civilian shipyard workers and military personnel on U.S. Navy ships and submarines had been adequately warned of the dangers of asbestos.  However, our clients were not provided with the information they needed to take necessary precautions to protect themselves.

In addition, others who lived near asbestos factories or mines were never educated as to the dangers of asbestos and never had the opportunity to take precautionary measure to protect themselves, and as a result, many have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses.  Due to bystander exposure and environmental exposure,  many unwary people have contracted and suffered from asbestos-related diseases.  Unfortunately, the asbestos manufacturers knew of the hazards of asbestos but concealed their knowledge and continued to sell their products, resulting in an ongoing tragedy of people being diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer.