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A Conversation With Brother Otto (Sonny) Boles
The following article is the result of a conversation with Brother Otto (Sonny) Boles long time member and past president of Local 80 who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in January 2002. We all have questions on whether or not we will contract cancer, chances are we will. Local 80 loses members most every year to cancer. So, when you or one of your brothers contract cancer, what do we do, where do we turn and, how as brothers do we react, here then is a message from Sonny.
Boles
891 MacQueen Boulevard
Saint Albans, West Virginia 25177-3752
(304) 722-2255 email: OCB0145@aol.com
Brothers of Local 80,
We all have had brothers to die from Mesothelioma. We know what causes it. Heretofore it has been lethal. I was diagnosed in January this year. The "good doc" in Charleston WV simply shrugged his shoulders and said, "chemo and radiation" are all we know to do.
Thank God for a local brother's son Dr. John Piersol who contacted us to say that if he had taken his dad to DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE in Boston, MA., he feels he would still be alive today. Well, that was all we needed to hear! My wife called them, set up an interview/consultation with the doctors there for a possible clinical study with Dr. David Sugarbakers' Mesothelioma Research Division connected to Harvard Medical School.
I qualified for this study, had my right lung removed February 15, 2002, came home March 18. 2002. Mini complication...lost weight ect., but my 4 month check up last week in June - Test of chest cavity fluid shows NO MALIGNANT CELLS! Now brothers that is wonderful news and God delivered it! (Incidentally, I was on more than 30 church prayer chains during this ordeal, and hope I still am... so don't discount this!!) I do have to have cat scans every three months during this year in the study.
When one of your members has meso, we don't know what to say... it's awkward for you and me! But, my surgeon Dr. Michael Jaklitsch said it's most important to stay in shape...don't smoke...keep active (exercise) so if you do get sick, you will be healthy and strong enough for the operation!!
If you would like to talk to me or my wife...we know some about meso, not everything, but we are happy to talk to you!!
Yours in good health!!
Some addresses/phone numbers/email
address you may want:
DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE
1-617-6954 (Mary Ellen Chambers) She can contact Dr. Jaklitsch or Dr.
Janne
Clinical Study: Leah Capalbo - email LCAPALBO@partners.org
Brigham & Women's Hospital 1-877-718-8003
Email Addresses: http://www.asbestos-attorney.com/truth.htm
c-hahn@marf.org
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/findspc.htm