As previously discussed, lung cancer and mesothelioma are very closely related, but are not the same disease. A third similar condition is pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung condition, but is not cancerous. It is also called interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial fibrosis.

IF is characterized by the scarring and thickening of the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs. It is usually triggered by extensive periods of inflamation around the air sacs. Though there are several variations of IF, all occur due to the same main causes:

-Some known or unknown agent causes damage to the lungs.

-The air sacs become inflamed in response to the offending agent.

-Scar tissue forms, destroying healthy tissue, and the lung becomes stiff, impairing its ability to breathe and carry oxygen.

Asbestos is one of the man causes of IF. An irritant and pollutant like asbestos causes serious damage when it enters human airways; in the short run, lungs usually become inflamed. In the long run, inflammation can lead to scarring, triggering conditions like IF.

Please visit this link for more information about interstitial fibrosis and other asbestos-related diseases.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization hosted their annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference at the end of March. The conference featured several speakers and guests who shared experiences, research, and advice pertaining to asbestos.

One of the most notable presenters was Dr. Michael Harbut of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers, a division of the esteemed Karmanos Cancer Institute. Harbut stressed the importance of early mesothelioma detection, emphasizing that catching the disease as soon as possible "helps people live longer and less painfully–and hopefully less tragically for the family." Harbut and a team of researchers recently discovered that certain indicative signs of mesothelioma can be detected in blood tests.

After Harbut presented, we heard from one of his success stories. Vietnam veteran Gary Stevens' treatment with Harbut enabled him to live a full life without the crippling effects of asbestos. Stevens said he vividly recalls his days on a navy ship where he would constantly see "crystal-like dust coming down from the pipes that would sparkle in the light," without realizing it was asbestos. He never even knew he was at risk for disease. Stevens visited Harbut's clinic in 1993, and spots were detected on his lungs in an x-ray. The early detection and treatment prevented dangerous fluid build-up and allowed Stevens to continue with a healthy, busy life.

When Arkansas business owner Brandon Benoit, 35, went to the doctor regarding a football injury, he never expected the news he would receive.  Doctors examined Brandon's broken ribs, but what they found was much more concerning: a severe build-up of fluid around his abdomen.

Now, doctors have confirmed that Brandon has a rare case of mesothelioma called malignant peritoneal epithelial mesothelioma.  This variety of the disease accounts for about 15% of mesothelioma cases.  With mesothelioma, fluid build-up usually occurs around the chest and lungs, but in Brandon's case, the majority is located around his abdomen.  There are only a handful of doctors nationwide qualified to treat Brandon's rare case. 

Most mesothelioma patients are between 50 and 70 years old because the disease's latency period is so great.  Brandon is young to have been diagnosed; he suspects that he was exposed to asbestos before age five.  But like he does with his football opponents, Brandon is determined to tackle the cancer.  Because it was detected early, doctors are confident they can treat the mesothelioma with surgeries and chemotherapy.  The treatment schedule is demanding and expensive; the plan requires nine flights and hotel stays in New York City, all out of the couple's pockets.  They are looking into available travel resources.

To read the rest of Brandon's story, go here.

A small town of 700 in North Dakota has closed one of its two ballparks dues to risks associated with its gravel.  Residents of Killdeer are skeptical of the park's closing, but Steve Way of the Environmental Protection Agency says its best to be wary.  The gravel in the ballpark is made of erionite, a substance mined close to Killdeer.  Though erionite is not regulated by the EPA, preliminary tests indicate that the material causes cancer in rats.

In Turkey, a variety of erionite has been linked to mesothelioma.  However erionite there is sodium-based, and in Killdeer is it calcium-based.  Studies are being conducted to evaluate the risks of Killdeer's erionite.  Find the full article here.

A new study of Italian asbestos cement workers reveals the effects of ceasing asbestos exposure on the lining of the lungs. The risk of lung cancer in people exposed to asbestos falls after exposure to the toxic substance ends. The risk of mesothelioma in the pleura (lung lining) also declined after exposure ended, but the workers' risk of mesothelioma in the peritoneum (abdominal lining) continued to climb.

A total of 3,434 male and female workers were followed in order to understand the long-term risks of asbestos-related disease. All were working at the plant in 1950 or had been hired between 1950 and 1986, when the plant halted production. To read the complete findings of the study, click here.