The national mesothelioma law firm of Baron and Budd is now offering free wristbands to help raise awareness of mesothelioma cancer. The wristbands are available here and come in adult and children's sizes.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It usually occurs in the lining of the lungs, but can also affect the stomach or heart. Approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Unlike most cancers, mesothelioma is preventable.
Because mesothelioma is so rare, it can be misdiagnosed. Mesothelioma symptoms are usually very similar to lung cancer symptoms, even though these two cancers have very different treatments.
Asbestos diseases, such as mesothelioma, were first discussed in medical literature as early as 1907. Despite this, many of the asbestos companies kept this information hidden from the public to protect their profits. As a result, hundreds of thousands of workers have been affected by dangerous asbestos diseases that could have been prevented. Decades later, many countries have taken steps to restrict the use of asbestos-containing products, and some have banned the material. The United States is not one of them.
Baron and Budd has been working with mesothelioma patients and their families for more than 30 years and is dedicated to supporting mesothelioma in and out of the courtroom. The firm is a 2012 platinum sponsor of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent non-profit dedicated to giving asbestos victims a voice, raising awareness about asbestos diseases and advocating for an international asbestos ban. Russell Budd, the firm's president and managing shareholder, serves on the Foundation Board of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).