Mesothelioma threatens the health and financial solvency of an Illinois residentAurora, Illinois - For two years, Aurora, Illinois resident Karen Miller suffered from shortness of breath, but on June 24, 2010, she began having chest pain and was rushed to the hospital. There she received chest x-rays, and a mass between her lungs and behind her heart was found. A biopsy of the mass revealed two weeks later that Karen was experiencing the advanced stages of mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the lining of the lung, known as the pleura, generally as a result of exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma is not lung cancer and is often difficult to diagnose or easily misdiagnosed.
Dorthy Treadway, Karen’s daughter, says of her mother, “As a child, her family lived next to an insulation factory, and when her and my father were together he worked at an aluminum factory. She's also worked at building plants. It could have been at any of those places where she contracted it."
Because of her advanced age, Karen is ineligible for surgery. She will instead undergo chemotherapy, radiation or participate in a clinical trial. Doctors have estimated Karen’s life expectancy of one year to eighteen months.
Making matters worse, Karen has no health insurance and treatment is expensive. "My mother is self-employed," explains Treadway. "She runs an upholstery business out of her home and also takes care of her 89-year-old mother."
However, there is one ray of financial hope on the horizon. A Karen Miller benefit will be held on September 11th at the Aurora Athletic Club. Event proceeds will help pay Miller's medical bills.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, call 630-391-2644 or e-mail dottymae66@gmail.com.
