News archive

There is some good news about a treatment for mesothelioma that is showing promise.  The University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto profiles Marc de Perrot and John Cho's Science Translational Medicine paper highlighting the potential of triple combination therapy (immunotherapy, radiation and surgery) to improve outcomes for people living with mesothelioma.  This was posted on UHN's website on April 15, 2021.

Link to UHN website: UHN media release

See attached media release in PDF format

The CMF is very proud to announce that we now have a new Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation Professorship in Mesothelioma Research at University Health Network (UHN). This new professorship will help support mesothelioma research and may encourage medical students to pursue further medical training and research in this area.

To mark this momentous achievement, the UHN held a virtual celebration on April15, 2021 honouring the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation and Dr. de Perrot in the new Professorship made possible with your donations and support.

You are invited to view the celebration at your convenience:  Link to livestream: https://youtu.be/PH7UrBb93uU

The Canadian Cancer Society has created a webinar series on COVID-19 and cancer to offer support and information to people with cancer and their caregivers, family and friends. Each webinar is presented by an expert speaker and addresses a central question about managing cancer needs during this time of COVID-19. Topics include:

• Cancer and COVID-19: Exercise for people with cancer and their families during COVID-19 (Length: 48 minutes)
• End-of-life and palliative care in the time of COVID-19 (Length: 17 minutes)
• COVID-19 and cancer treatment (Length: 45 minutes)
• Cancer and COVID-19: Staying safe (Length: 21 minutes)
• Coping with cancer and COVID-19 (Length: 25 minutes)
• COVID-19 and cancer patients (Length: 13 minutes)

For more information and to watch a webinar: https://www.cancer.ca/en/support-and-services/resources/cancer-and-covid19-webinar-series/?region=bc

Motley Rice LLC stepped up with a very generous donation.  We are tremendously grateful for their continued, kindhearted support during these challenging times.

   Atherton Law Firm has very generously donated once again to the CMF. We are very grateful for Atherton Law Firm’s unwavering, continued support.

Thank you to our friends in the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators  and Allied Workers for their very generous support both financial and moral!

Miskin Law has stepped up once again with a very generous donation to fund the support we provide to those affected by mesothelioma.  We are very grateful for Miskin Law's continuing support!

  A big thank you goes to the Metropolitan Plumbing & Health Contractors Association for their generous support!

And thank you to the Insulators Local 95 for their generous donation and whose support we value tremendously and can always count on! 

Thank you to the BC and Yukon Building and Construction Trades Council!

Thank you to The Linda Frum and Howard Sokolowski Charitable Foundation and EES Financial Ltd. for their continued support!

These donations will help us continue to support those affected by mesothelioma. The pandemic has prevented the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation from holding our usual fundraising events.  This has had a devastating affect on our fundraising efforts. Please consider helping us continue our work. Donate now.  We can't do it without you!  

"The company has faced thousands of lawsuits from cancer patients who claim that its talc was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, and that the company knew of the risks."

    - By Tiffany Hsu and Roni Caryn Rabin in the New York Times, May 19th, 2020

In a developing story, the New York Times is reporting that Johnson & Johnson announced today (May 19, 2020) that it is discontinuing North American sales of baby powder made with talc. According to the article, Johnson & Johnson "would wind down sales over the next few months, allowing existing bottles to be sold by retailers until they run out. Baby powder made with cornstarch will remain available, and talc-based baby powder will continue to be sold in other parts of the world."

To read the full article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/business/johnson-baby-powder-sales-stopped.html

Johnson & Johnson's consumer announcement can be read in full here: https://www.jnj.com/our-company/johnson-johnson-consumer-health-announces-discontinuation-of-talc-based-johnsons-baby-powder-in-u-s-and-canada

The CMF will continue to monitor this story and will publish updates as they emerge.

"Many Canadians work their entire adult lives assuming if they become sick because of their job, they and their families will be taken care of. For the thousands of people who do develop an occupational disease each year, the reality is very different."

            From the Introduction to "The Uncounted", by reporter Greg Mercer

On May 8th, The Star and The Record published "The Uncounted", a series of six investigative reports written by reporter Greg Mercer on the toll of occupational disease in Canada. CMF Board Chair Dr Eudice Goldberg is quoted in Part 2: Prevention and Part 6: Compensation. CMF Board Member Alec Farquar is quoted in Part 2: Prevention. The work of CMF Scientific Advisory Committee member Dr Paul Demers (Director of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre) is cited throughout and he is quoted in Part 1: Statistics, Part 3: Regulations, and Part 4: Diagnosis.

To view each of the reports, click on the links below:

• The Uncounted - Introduction
• The Uncounted - Part 1: Statistics
• The Uncounted - Part 2: Prevention
• The Uncounted - Part 3: Regulations
• The Uncounted - Part 4: Diagnosis
• The Uncounted - Part 5: Enforcement
• The Uncounted - Part 6: Compensation

For Immediate Release: February 2, 2017 The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation receives Upper Canada Medal from Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation (CMF) is honoured to receive the Upper Canada Medal from Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation (TG&WHF) and the Toronto Mesothelioma Program at University Health Network (UHN). The Upper Canada Medal, originally created by the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada, recognized the service of volunteer soldiers in the War of 1812. Recognizing an even greater need, the Society decided in 1829 to reduce the medals to gold bullion to pay for building the original Toronto General Hospital. Today, TG&WHF honours special donors by awarding these medals in recognition of distinguished philanthropic support. The award is being presented by Dr. Marc de Perrot, Head of the Toronto Mesothelioma Program, to Dr. Eudice Goldberg, Chair of the CMF and other members of the CMF Board in recognition of their ongoing generous support of the Program through annual grants. “All of us in the Toronto Mesothelioma Program are grateful to the CMF for its generous support.” says Dr. de Perrot. “For nearly ten years, the CMF has been a committed partner in our educational mandate. By enabling us to train the next generation of leaders in mesothelioma care and research, the CMF is helping patients across Canada access effective treatment, while also inspiring discoveries that improve health outcomes for people living with mesothelioma.” “The CMF is honoured to accept this award. We know how important it is to support the work of Dr. de Perrot and others in the Toronto Mesothelioma Program” says Dr. Goldberg. “They offer hope to those diagnosed with mesothelioma.” Mesothelioma is a de vastating disease caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos-related diseases are the number one cause of death in the Canadian workplace, with more than 500 Canadians diagnosed annually with mesothelioma and, unfortunately, many of them succumbing to this terrible cancer. The cutting-edge UHN program does offer hope for people diagnosed with this disease. Clinical trials and the latest in treatments are making a difference! The CMF grants support the training of physicians; building their knowledge and expertise, and improving screening and treatment for mesothelioma. The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation is a registered charity devoted to raising awareness and understanding of mesothelioma. In addition to these and other educational grants, it provides support to those diagnosed with the disease and their families. Please visit the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation website for more information: www.cmfonline.org. -20- For more info: Sheila Kirouac, Executive Director Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation www.cmfonline.org Dr. Eudice Goldberg, Chair Board of Directors Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation