The City of Hope is among these outstanding cancer treatment and research facilities where patients diagnosed with mesothelioma can find excellent treatment.  City of Hope has remained steadfast in its commitment to provide patients with quality care for nearly 100 years, and it is listed as one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The City of Hope states that “Compassion drives our innovation.”  It aims to “give patients the chance to live longer, better and more fully.”  Many great institutions like the City of Hope understand that the quality of a patient’s life is as important as preserving life itself, especially when treating a disease like mesothelioma.  Institutions like City of Hope have dedicated themselves to providing their patients with state-of-the-art treatments and well-rounded patient support for the mind, body, and soul.

Patient Support at City of Hope

The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center helps to fulfill the City of Hope’s mission to “care for the whole person.”  This resource facility aims to be a model of compassionate care similar to other facilities around the nation.

Here you will find volunteers and professionals offering services that range from psychological consults to palliative care.  Pain management specialists, spiritual care providers, peer support groups, nutrition education, and social workers are all available to patients and their families at the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center.  The focus here is “strength, resilience, and hope.”

Services Offered At The City of Hope

• Patient Navigators at The City of Hope

These professionals are available to patients throughout their stay.  They help patients and family members get through complicated health care systems and help patients make use of the services available to them.  The patient navigators can help patients find interpreters, social workers, and financial counselors.  A patient navigator will likely contact a patient before his or her second visit to a City of Hope physician.

• Healing Arts Program

Many times, patients can find it therapeutic to take part in art classes, writing workshops, or music therapy.  These services are offered through the Biller Resource Center and are taught by specially trained artists and therapists.

• Positive Image Center

The way you look on the outside often affects the way you feel on the inside, and it can often be difficult for cancer patients as certain treatments can result in hair loss, and skin and nail discoloration.  At the Positive Image Center, makeup, skin care products and advice are offered along with hats, scarves and wigs for hair loss.  The goal here is to improve one’s self-image and self-confidence.

• Nutrition Education

Anyone who has been on a diet knows that nutrition can be a complicated subject.  Often times, patients experience a loss of appetite or difference in taste, and others may just want to eat healthier.  Here, dietitians help minimize treatment side-effects and help you create nutrition plans after treatment.

• Counseling and Support

Feelings of anxiety and depression often surface after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.  The City of Hope screens patients who may benefit from counseling.  Psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers can help patients cope with these feelings that have a lot to do with a patient’s overall health.  These services can also help with pain and the common feeling of isolation that so many mesothelioma patients experience.

In addition to these counseling services, the City of Hope offers patient peer pals.  This allows patients to be matched with other patients who have gone through an experience with cancer.  Sometimes the most comforting feeling comes from listening to someone who has been in your position before.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Support Facilities That Provide Comprehensive Care to Victims of Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Over the years of representing many individuals with asbestos-related illnesses, we have created strong bonds with our clients and their families.  We know how devastating a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be.  As attorney Gary Galiher says, “We have been greatly moved by the courage our clients display, and we are truly thankful for institutions like the City of Hope that strive to enhance and encourage their patients’ commitment to live longer, healthier, fuller lives.”

City of Hope

The state-of-the-art City of Hope facilities are located in Duarte, California, in acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.  At the City of Hope, compassionate patient care is the objective.  Here, ideas and breakthrough discoveries turn into emerging new therapies of tomorrow.  The City of Hope is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

M. D. Anderson is also one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  Its slogan is “Making Cancer History.”  M. D. Anderson sits in the middle of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas.  It has treated over 800,000 patients since 1944, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.  Because its experts focus in the treatment of cancer, M. D. Anderson is well-known for the ability to treat all types of cancer, including rare and uncommon cancers such as mesothelioma.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a team of specialists, including surgeons, medical oncologists, scientists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists, who aim to provide “experienced, up-to-date, and thoughtful care” of mesothelioma patients.

Sloan-Kettering offers its patients and their families a wide base of support ranging from clinical trials, to symptom management and even cosmetic education that help patients cope with the effects of mesothelioma.  Sloan-Kettering is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) is located in Boston at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which together  with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has combined resources to provide comprehensive care to mesothelioma patients.

Dr. David Sugarbaker, M.D., is the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP)  and is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery.  The IMP focuses on the treatment and cure of mesothelioma, and it currently consults with over 300 mesothelioma patients annually and treats over 180 of these patients.   It is the largest program of its kind.

Dana-Farber is another of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  It has been dedicated to helping cancer patients since 1947.  It specializes exclusively in cancer research, care and treatment.  It aims to provide its patients with compassionate care while advancing the diagnosis, treatments, and prevention of cancer and related diseases.  Outpatient care of mesothelioma patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital usually takes place at Dana-Farber.

Mayo Clinic

For decades, the Mayo Clinic has been dedicated to the treatment of complex illnesses, such as those caused by asbestos exposure.  It is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  Mayo Clinic employs over 3,000 physicians, scientists and researchers, and offers hospital services in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Many patients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are treated at the Mayo Clinic.  The Mayo Clinic’s philosophy is “the needs of the patient come first.”

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Supports Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

Over the many years of representing mesothelioma patients, we have forged strong bonds with our clients and their families.  We are aware of the devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences this disease has for patients and their friends and families.  Through our work, we have had the opportunity to interact with the researchers and the treating medical professionals of these great institutions, and we are encouraged by their dedication and unwavering commitment to helping their patients and our clients live richer and longer lives.  These professionals and outstanding treatment and research facilities continue to provide us with hope that one day we will find a cure for mesothelioma.

Today, mesothelioma patients’ quality of life is greatly improving.  The institutions that specialize in the treatment of mesothelioma are not  focused on just the disease itself.  Medical professionals today are increasingly focused on trying to maximize the patients’ overall well-being through a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Comprehensive Care of Mesothelioma Patients

Among the many impressive mesothelioma treatment institutions is Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a treatment center that believes “treating the whole person, not just the disease, is the best approach.”  Sloan-Kettering has a team of specialists, including surgeons, scientists, medical oncologist, pathologists and radiation oncologists who aim to provide “experienced, up-to-date, and thoughtful care” of mesothelioma patients.

In addition to great medical care, Sloan-Kettering offers its patients and their families a wide base of support.  Sloan-Kettering understands that the emotional toll mesothelioma can have on patients and their family members can be as traumatic as the disease itself.

Support Services at Sloan-Kettering

Sloan-Kettering offers a significant array of support for its patients.  The following are some services that are provided for mesothelioma patients at Sloan-Kettering:

• Inpatient Counseling & Support Groups

Sloan-Kettering understands that there is no “one-size-fits-all coping style” when it comes to dealing with cancer.  Therefore, there are experienced counselors at Sloan-Kettering that are made available to all patients to help them handle any distress they may develop.

• Outpatient Counseling

Outpatient counseling at Sloan-Kettering is offered to cancer patients regardless of whether or not they are receiving care at Sloan-Kettering.

• Nutrition

At Sloan-Kettering you can request to meet with a certified dietitian-nutritionist who can help you assess certain diets and who can help you eat properly while undergoing treatment.  If loss of appetite is a problem, the dietitian can make suggestions of foods necessary for nourishment and energy.

• Symptom Management and Support

Sloan-Kettering is dedicated to ensuring that all its patients do not suffer from avoidable discomfort.  If a patient is experiencing pain or other symptoms from treatment, Sloan-Kettering has created a Pain and Palliative Care Service that offers help with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath or nausea but also non-physical symptoms such as sadness, anxiety or depression that can lead to pain.

• Extra Help At Home

Sloan-Kettering recognizes that after a patient is released, they may need further assistance or they may need certain equipment at home.  Therefore, Sloan-Kettering has case managers who are available on each floor that will help patients get the care and supplies they need.

• Complementary Therapies

Therapists in the Integrated Medicine Service create services that complement your treatment and are targeted to help the spirit, mind, and body.

• Patient-to-Patient Volunteers

Sometimes nothing can be more comforting to a mesothelioma patient than talking with someone who has been through what you are currently experiencing.  Sloan-Kettering attempts to match patients with other patients who have been through a similar experience.

• Patient Representatives

Patient Representatives are available at Sloan-Kettering.  They can help you with any complaints or concerns you may have.  They act as your advocate to ensure that your rights are respected and any concerns you may have are addressed.

Better Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

Over the years, the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has worked with many researchers and medical professionals who have made great progress in their search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for mesothelioma.  Attorney Gary Galiher says, “we are pleased to see institutions such as Sloan-Kettering focusing on improving the quality of life of mesothelioma patients, not just focusing on treating the disease.  These relatively new approaches to treating the entire patient will no doubt continue to expand and will allow mesothelioma patients to have a higher quality of life while dealing with this disease.”

Today, the treatment and care of mesothelioma patients are often comprehensive and targeted at treating patients as a whole.  The International Mesothelioma Program(IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has become an excellent example of a facility that embodies this philosophy and approach to treating mesothelioma patients.  The  IMP offers state-of-the art treatment, cutting edge research, and an extended network of support for patients and families.  In terms of patient support, the IMP recognizes the need that patients have to talk directly with other patients about their experiences.  To meet this need, the IMP has developed a “Patient Matching” program.

Patient Matching Program at the International Mesothelioma Program

Dr. David Sugarbaker is the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery.  He possesses a great understanding of mesothelioma, but he also understands the devastating emotional effects this disease has on patients and their families.  According to Dr. Sugarbaker,  “Mesothelioma takes an emotional toll on patients and their families that cannot be underestimated; it can be nearly as significant as the disease itself.”

We all know that being faced with a serious, life threatening diagnosis such as mesothelioma can be frightening.  Patients begin to wonder what treatments are available to them, how they will respond to treatment, what will the recuperation period be like and so forth.  That is why the IMP has created the Patient Matching Program.

The Patient Matching Program connects current patients of the International Mesothelioma Program with survivors to help provide a more grounded perspective on the difficult and frightening prospects patients have to face when diagnosed with mesothelioma.  We all know how comforting it can be to hear encouraging words from someone who has been in your position before, and the IMP attempts to accomplish that through this program.

The program attempts to match patients by gender, age, state and the type of treatment received; however, many patients connect over the telephone and with patients of either gender and  any age from around the world, and strong bonds are often forged.

Mesothelioma Patient Matching Program Grows Exponentially

Doug Burnett, a farmer in Western Massachusetts, underwent surgery in early February of 2006.  Since then, he has been paired with more than 20 people from Florida to Israel.  He states that he and other patients often compare notes on medications and the symptoms they are experiencing.  Mr. Burnett stated, “We all need to pull together to get through this…I’m happy to do whatever I can to help.”

Mr. Burnett has given new hope and perspective to current or incoming patients who will hopefully give a sense of hope to a new generation of patients as the IMP continues to further its goal to provide mesothelioma patients with longer, healthier lives.

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.

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.

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.

The American Pain Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of life for those in pain by providing information, raising awareness, and promoting research to increase effective pain management.  Breakthrough cancer pain can wake cancer patients from their sleep and affect their ability to do certain activities including routine everyday activities.  Many have also reported that breakthrough pain has raised their daily medical expenses and caused increased visits to the doctor.

In response to the results of its recent survey, the American Pain Foundation will feature papers on the topic in their quarterly news letter.  The organization will also host a web-based seminar, provide tips on pain management, have a roundtable discussion with leading medical experts, and have a dedicated online chat.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Is Committed To Better Care For Cancer Patients

For over 30 years, Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented clients with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other illnesses that result from asbestos exposure.  We have worked with the families of our clients during difficult times, and as a result of our experience, we are very aware of the emotional, financial and physical impact of these diseases.   We have collaborated with world-renowned researchers, scientists and medical experts.  We have seen the evolution of cancer care over the years, and we are very encouraged by the progress we have made.

We are told by many of our clients’ families that the hardest part is seeing their loved one in pain.  Thankfully, further research continues in clinical trials, laboratories, and hospitals, and the focus on treatment continues to broaden into new areas that aim to provide patients with better comprehensive care.  The research by the American Pain Foundation is one important step toward helping patients better tolerate their medical treatments, thereby improving their quality of life.

Researchers are always looking for new ways to battle cancer.  We know that new approaches, research, and discoveries related to all types of cancer can play an important role in finding better treatments, and eventually a cure for mesothelioma and lung cancer.  The chemotherapy drug Cisplatin, for example, was used against various types of cancer since the 1970s.  However, clinicians eventually combined Cisplatin with Alimta and found that it was an effective treatment against mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma patients lived as much as 30% longer when treated with this combination, and it was made possible by the discoveries and advances made against other forms of cancer.

For years Mina Bissell, Ph.D., of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and others have pushed hard to emphasize the point that studying and understanding the cellular environment of cancer is as important as understanding gene mutations and alterations.  Which for the most part, has received the majority of researchers’ attention thus far.  As a result of their efforts, many researchers are now looking to study a tumor’s environment.  Scientists increasingly believe the interaction between cancer cells and the surrounding cells and tissue may reveal important information for eventually finding ways to prevent cancer.

Normal Cells May Be Responsible for Allowing Cancer to Escape

Autopsies often find tumors in people who die from something other than cancer.  However, these tumors go unnoticed because they were not causing noticeable symptoms.  Researchers believe that the tumor’s environment may play a big role in helping to keep these tumors in check.

Researchers are looking at normal cells to possibly explain why a tumor becomes lethal, rather than focusing solely on the tumor itself.  Researchers are also looking at factors that may affect normal cells such as aging and chronic liver inflammation that can change the normal architecture of cells or cause them to crumble.  The idea is that cancer may spread and become lethal because normal cells allow cancer cells to escape and thrive.

How a Cancer’s Environment Responds May Fuel Its Growth

In addition to allowing cancer cells to escape and spread, a tumor’s environment also plays a big role in fueling its growth.  Studies are now underway to show how cancer cells are able to signal surrounding cells (or cell signaling pathways) in a way that promotes cancer growth.  Genentech, a biotechnology company that is part of the Roche Group, is currently testing a new drug to interrupt this type of signaling.  The theory is that some tumors cannot successfully spread without the cooperation of the surrounding cells, so some types of cancer may be successfully treated by focusing on the cancer’s environment.

Focus on Cancer’s Environment Causes Researchers to Also Look Elsewhere

Many new studies have begun to focus on cancer growth factors that were previously dismissed.  For example, researchers are looking at the relationship between injuries and cancer growth.  There are many reports that cancer becomes more aggressive after surgery or some other traumatic injury, and researchers like Dr. Bissell are still developing evidence to support or disprove these theories.

Obviously, research in these areas will continue to help researchers better understand cancer.  These new approaches have not yet led to any cures, but researchers and scientists are hopeful, even though success may be years away.

We Support Research To Find Better Treatments For Cancer Patients

Galiher DeRobertis Ono is committed to supporting research to help find a cure and better treatment for lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.  Our law firm has helped many clients and their families obtain compensation for asbestos-related illnesses.

Through our legal work, we also collaborate with cancer researchers and institutions.  We are very encouraged by their efforts to develop better treatments, and we support researchers who are finding new approaches to fight cancer and other terrible diseases.

Renovation of the Straub Cancer Center

On January 28, 2010, the Straub Clinic & Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii held the grand opening of its newly renovated cancer center.  The Straub Cancer Center was previously split between the first and second floors of the Palama Building on King Street, but it has now been consolidated on the first floor.  The Straub Cancer Center has undergone over $2 million in renovations and has expanded approximately 2,000 square feet.

The Straub Cancer Center’s nine treatment rooms have also been refurbished with new equipment and furniture, including flat-screen TVs and adjustable recliners.  The cancer center has also expanded and improved its areas for family and friends, has an education room with a computer and other resources, and a healing garden.

Straub in the Battle Against Mesothelioma

The Straub Cancer Center, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, and Wilcox Memorial Hospital are all operated by Hawaii Pacific Health.  Hawaii Pacific Health, along with The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System, has recently joined with the University of Hawaii’s Cancer Research Center (CRCH) in an agreement that is likely to revolutionize mesothelioma treatment and research in Hawaii.

The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii receives more federal grant funding for mesothelioma research than any other research institution in the United States, and it is currently developing a new facility adjacent to the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) in Kakaako.  The involvement of Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System in this project means that the cancer center will be able to work with existing treatment facilities rather than building its own clinic for patient care.  In addition, together the hospitals will contribute a total of $2.2 million annually for the center’s operations.

The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System will collaborate, so that the hospitals provide the clinical component to patient care and the cancer center concentrates on bench research.  This efficient use of facilities, personnel and information will help provide mesothelioma patients with the best possible care.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Supports Efforts To Improve Patient Care

Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented hundreds of clients who suffer from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, and we have always supported efforts to find a cure for asbestos-related illnesses.

Our law firm has helped many clients and their families obtain compensation for asbestos-related illnesses.  Through our legal work, we collaborate with cancer researchers and medical professionals who provide our clients with quality treatment.  We are very encouraged by the continued support and collaborative efforts of research and medical facilities in Hawaii to find better treatment, and eventually a cure, for these terrible diseases.