Lung Cancer Vaccine Heading to U.S. | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

In 1961, the United States severed all diplomatic and economic ties with the country of Cuba. In July 2015, diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored, and it is anticipated that over the next several months, the U.S. government will take the necessary steps to lift the economic embargo against Cuba. And just a few weeks ago, President Obama landed in Cuba, the first time a sitting president has done so since 1928.

The restored relations between the two countries is being heralded for many reasons, however, victims who suffer from lung cancer may especially benefit from the news. That is because medical researchers in Cuba have developed a vaccine – Cimavax – which has been found to be effective in halting the growth and spreading of lung tumors, and the process has begun to bring the vaccine to the U.S. to begin testing for possible approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

People who have worked around asbestos are particularly susceptible to lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. At an especially high risk are people who worked in and around railroads due to the railroad companies’ failure to eliminate asbestos exposure when it was discovered how deadly any exposure could ultimately be to their workers.

Although the results of the vaccine are promising, there are limitations on what it can actually do. The vaccine does not prevent or cure lung cancers, but it can assist in extending the lives of those who have been diagnosed, and assist in making living with the cancers more manageable by helping to reduce the breathlessness and coughing many patients struggle with. 

Sadly, it is not just lung cancers which men and women can develop and die from after years of hard work and dedication to their employers. Our firm has successfully represented many victims, including one man who developed and later died from lymphoma. Our attorneys were able to show the man’s cancer was caused by his long-term exposure to diesel fumes on the job.  

If you or a loved one are struggling with health issues due to exposure to asbestos, contact a skilled Virginia asbestos cancer attorney today to find out what legal recourse you may have.