Your hobby could be killing you ... Bisphenol A, Epoxy, Toluene, Lacquer Thinner, Cyanoacrylate Glue ... got a mask?

"Understanding Pancreatic Cancer."  A great title for the "Guide for Patients and Caregivers" provided to my father from his surgeon upon diagnosis.

Does anyone understand this silent killer yet?  It is the 4th largest killer among cancer deaths in the United States, yet it is the hardest cancer to diagnose.  By the time you are diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, it is usually too late.  Only 7% of those diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer are operable (not cured, just operable.)  The other 93% are left to survive the "chemo brain" population.  When I say "chemo brain," I am not describing the mental cloudiness that can take over your brain during and after chemotherapy.  I am describing the chemo-brains who cannot develop a better drug than Gemcitabine after 13+ years, leaving the Pancreatic Cancer patients helpless and confused by the dozens of combinations of drugs mixed with Gemcitabine that provide, at most, poor results (see chart: http://www.scribd.com/doc/26723877.)  The inoperable Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer patient survives, on average, 3-6 months. 

When I ask the question "does anyone understand this silent killer yet?," I am also asking ... what causes Pancreatic Cancer?  I learned two interesting facts from the guidebook provided by the Surgeon.  One was that exposure to chemicals related to petroleum may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.  The second is that people who develop diabetes over age 50 have eight times the risk of getting Pancreatic Cancer.  These two facts may not seem related, but it got me researching.  

Although my father did not have diabetes upon diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, he was DEFINITELY around such chemicals: EPOXY, TOLUENE, LACQUER THINNER, and finally, CYANOACRYLATE GLUE.  My father has been building model airplanes for well over 46 years, in an unventilated basement.  I am not talking 2 hours per week.  My father will work on his planes 8 hours straight on just a Saturday alone.   My mom remembers coming home from work to a stench, that in hindsight, was probably cancerous.

EPOXY resins alone are a type of polymerizing glue from bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, and some amine.  Bisphenol A is a petroleum compound that is an endocrine inhibitor.  Now, I am not a scientist, but I can perform research.  My research is leading me to learn that Bisphenol A may contribute to exacerbate the development of type II diabetes.... interesting... Who Knew?

the Petroleum Industry ... morally obligated?

The Petroleum Industry comprised 45% of Fortune's Global Top 20 corporations in 2009, with total combined revenues of  $2,545,147 Million ... a number represented as 2.54515E+12 in an Excel spreadsheet... LARGE.  

Does a corporation have a MORAL obligation to fund research into the treatment of a disease that is scientifically proven to be caused by exposure to its product?

 

Who Knew?  Did you ever hear of the Greenpoint Oil Spill?  Although not in New Jersey, if you click on the google map picture to the right of this blog, you will see that Brooklyn is buried beneath that concentration of red dots ( aka "HUGE big red blob" of petroleum sites.)  Did you know that "Greenpoint has the highest pancreatic cancer rate in the nation?" http://www.blockmagazine.com/block_stock_barrel.php?title=lstrongggreenpoint_oil_spill_part_iii_th&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 

"The smell of death surrounds you, yeah" ... Lynyrd Skynyrd

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - January 14, 2010 (WPVI) -- Some people in South Philadelphia and southern New Jersey were awakened by a strong odor early Thursday morning.

Officials from Philadelphia Emergency Management confirmed the smell came from the Sunoco refinery on Passyunk Avenue.

The refinery was emptying a tank, and something spilled on its floating roof.  Sunoco said the material does not pose a health hazard, but created the foul smell that can be described as sulfur.
Tests from the NJ DEP also indicate this is nontoxic.
Sunoco said it is working to clean up the problem.

Who Knew?  Sunoco was fined $300 for this incident. The oral drug Tarceva (erlotinib,) used in combination with the intravenous drug Gemzar (gemcitabine,) to treat Pancreatic Cancer, is a newer form of chemotherapy. This means it is "minimally" covered by Medicare (it's complicated... if you select, and pay for, the proper Medicare "Parts", you would pay $1,200 per month until you fall into some galactic donut hole, where you then begin to pay $3,900 per month. If you do not have the proper Medicare coverage, you are out-of-luck, and must pay full price, or $3,900 per month.) The bottom line ~ Tarceva only extends the average life of a Pancreatic Cancer patient by 2 weeks.  The average life expectancy of a Stage IV Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer patient is 3-6 months.  Therefore, it could cost $23,400 to extend life for 2 weeks with this "silent killer."  hmmmm $300 ... something doesn't smell quite right.

You play where you live... who knew?

Who knew?  My house was directly located at the Puchack Well Superfund Site.  If you look at the Topographic map, from the EPA Superfund Record of Decision, Puchack Well Field EPA ID: NJD981084767OU 01, you will see that it looks EXACTLY like the Aerial maps I have provided of my neighborhood ... horrific, isn't it. EPA Superfund Record of Decision ~ Puchack Well

What do you do for a living?

I found it strange that both surgeons who examined my father asked exactly the same question: "What did you do for a living before you retired?"

The reason that question was asked is because all surgeons trained in the field of the Pancreas know that Petroleum is an environmental hazard for this killer.  Did you know that?  I didn't.  And guess what?  I grew up surrounded by Petroleum.  All along the Delaware River are refineries and storage facilities.  I grew up between Petty Island (Citgo Petroleum) and Hess.  My friends and I would literally "play" at the Hess tanks.  Who knew?