Women Affairs

They were only meant to be short-term jobs to help save for family holidays. But Maureen Bell's relations believe in just two years she was exposed to the cancer-causing asbestos which eventually killed her. The 65-year-old lost her fight for life in February 2005, within months of being diagnosed with mesothelioma. And now her family are fighting to find out how the much-loved gran-of-two, from Houghton, died. Outgoing and popular, Mrs Bell, a widow, started developing pains in her side in May 2004. Natural Cancer Treatments!!! Non-toxic Healing Of Cancer!!! Sister Christine Naisbitt, 57, of Mill Estate, Rainton Bridge, said: "She wasn't a person who was poorly, Maureen was always fit and active. She didn't have high blood pressure or any of the other illnesses associated with people of that age. She was chatty, friendly, active, outgoing, enthusiastic and full of fun." Daughter Karen Grundy, 49, added: "She didn't really know what was wrong with her. He...

Brands of talcum powder available in the country have been found to contain harmful elements, according to an initial study conducted by the Pakistan Medical Research Council (PMRC) in Islamabad. The researchers hastened to add, however, that the study was too small to draw a definite conclusion and further extensive studies would be undertaken. “More extensive investigations would have to be undertaken by consumer protection bodies such as the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,” said PMRC Director Dr Huma Qureshi while talking to Daily Times Friday. Talcum powder is produced from talc, a magnesium trisilicate mineral, which in its natural form may contain asbestos, a known human carcinogen (any substance that causes cancer or helps cancer grow). Asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesotheliomas (cancers affecting the lining surfaces of the chest and abdominal cavities). Because of this association with asbestos, all home-use talcum products marketed in the USA aft...