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Insulators promote cancer research at Karmanos

Date Posted: June 25 2010

DETROIT – When it comes to early detection of and getting treating for asbestos-related diseases, the Karmanos Cancer Center has the seal of approval of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators.

The partnership was sealed on May 28, when officers from the Heat and Frost Insulators union, on behalf of their contractors and the Breath of Life Association, presented Karmanos with a $70,000 check to support their National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos Related Cancers program.

The money will be used to fund research and operations at the center’s program, which fits hand-in-glove with the needs of thousands of building trades workers who have been exposed to asbestos while on the job. Karmanos says that asbestos exposures from 20 to 50 years ago are killing up to 10,000 Americans each year. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that even today, an estimated 1.3 million construction workers and general industry workers are exposed to asbestos.

“Nearly everyone in our trade especially, but really all the trades has a family member or knows someone who is affected by asbestosis or mesothelioma,” said Heat and Frost Insulators International Vice President Greg Revard. “Our goal has been to utilize in this region a quality center that our members can trust to go to get the right information on treatment and early detection for mesothelioma. Karmanos was selected as that center. They have such an advanced area of expertise in research and treatment.”

The Karmanos Center will serve as a preferred magnet for Heat and Frost Insulator workers in the International Union’s Central States region, which includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

“It’s all about finding a cure for mesothelioma, and getting the word out about early detection of the symptoms for the disease,” said John Martin, President of the West Virginia Master Insulators Association and a Trustee on the Breath of Life Association.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, located in Detroit’s Medical Center, has been designated by the National Cancer Institute as one of 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. Within its Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine is the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers, which provides focused care for people like afflicted construction workers. Dr. Michael Harbut is head of Karmanos’ National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers the center and is co-author of the world’s largest study of respiratory health in asbestos-exposed iron workers.

“We have an ongoing relationship with all the cancer centers, so if we learn something new, we exchange information,” Harbut said. “We see people in the trades all the time, and the only thing I would say to anyone who is worried that they have mesothelioma symptoms, is to come and get checked out. Our treatments have worked for others.”

The Karmanos Cancer Center can be reached at 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266), or at www.karmanos.org.

Revard said this year’s contribution to Karmanos came from local unions in the Central States Conference, as well as individuals, contractors and contributions from the Central States Insulation Contractors Association. He expects regular contributions will be made in the future to Karmanos.

“We appreciate your contribution and we hope we can make a difference in fighting this disease,” said Dr. Gerold Bepler, president and CEO of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, to the attendees at the check presentation. “There are new drugs and new approaches coming out all the time to help us in the fight.”


Present at the big check presentation to Karmanos Cancer Center are (l-r) Funds Attorney John Tesija, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 25 Business Manager Tim O’Connell, International Vice President Greg Revard, West Virginia Master Insulators Association President John Martin, President and CEO of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Dr. Gerold Bepler, Karmanos Dr. Michael Harbut, Asbestos Abatement Workers Local 207 Business Manager Dan Somenauer, and Heat and Frost Insulators Local 47 Business Manager Craig “Skip” Grigonis.