OREGON – The first female mayor of Corvallis, Oregon recently died from mesothelioma.
Helen Berg, 78, battled with the asbestos-related cancer for some time. She was the city’s longest serving mayor and retired in 2006 after serving 12 years in office.
Berg did not make mention as to whether her retirement had anything to do with her health. She moved to Portland after retirement to be near her family.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer directly related to exposure to asbestos, a mineral that was popularly used in construction. Mesothelioma is a tricky cancer to both treat and diagnose, having symptoms that resemble the common cold like a simple cough or fever.
Once mesothelioma develops, patients have only about a year to seek successful treatment. Although there is no cure for it, if caught early and treated, many patients have had success entering remission. Current treatment for mesothelioma includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Once a person inhales asbestos fibers, it can take up to 50 years for symptoms to manifest, making it extremely difficult for victims to seek medical help.
If you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have been exposed to asbestos at a construction site or place of employment, contact a mesothelioma attorney immediately. You may be entitled to receive thousands if not millions of dollars in compensation.
There are skilled mesothelioma attorney in your area waiting to help you today. Call and schedule your initial visit. When time is of the essence in treating the disease, acquire a lawyer as soon as possible to increase your chances of beating mesothelioma.
