Councillors in the town of Hunmanby, located in Scarborough, UK, are concerned about illegal dumping after an upsurge in the practice may have exposed residents to asbestos. A recent report in the Filey & Hunmanby Mercury says a recent increase in flytipping in and around the area included an abandoned pile of asbestos sheeting, which will have to be professionally removed by an asbestos abatement company. Exposure to asbestos fibers can result in the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

The Hunmanby Parish Council is asking residents of the area to be on the lookout for illegal dumping to help them catch the guilty party or parties. Usually, the council is paid to remove and dispose of items left on roadsides.

The asbestos materials were left on Sheepdyke Lane and discovered by a local farmer, who suspected it was asbestos and called the authorities for safe removal of the material.

The Council requests residents report flytipping in the area by calling the Scarborough Council at (01723) 232323 or the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline at 0800 807060. Reports also can be sent to the Scarborough Council web site.

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is asking residents of the United Kingdom affected by mesothelioma to complete an online survey to help them gather data about the numbers of people affected by the asbestos-related cancer. They hope the data will help them lobby for new legislation to help mesothelioma victims and their families, and to secure funds for research and treatment.

According to a report in the Sheilds Gazette, Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the BLF, is particularly encouraging residents of South Tyneside to participate in the survey. She said the area has been identified as one of the “top 10 hot spots for mesothelioma in the UK.”

The reserach survey is supported by the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Reserach Fund. Readers of this site are familiar with this organization, which seeks to raise awareness about mesothelioma as well as money for research. The Gazette quotes Anne Craig, an official with the Knighton fund whose husband, David, died of mesothelioma, as saying, “I would encourage people to complete the BLF survey as soon as they can.”

Visit the BLF web site to COMPLETE THE SURVEY. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete. Or, call the BLF helpline at 08458 50 50 20.

About this time last year, Melbourne, Australia, resident Anita Steiner was facing the prospect of terminal cancer. At 45 years old, she had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Her doctor estimated she would have between six and 12 months to live. But after undergoing surgery that removed part of her right lung and its lining, along with one rib, Anita was focused on surviving. That was in May 2007. One year later, in May 2008, she was stunned to learn that she and her partner Patrick Lemmens were expecting a baby. She delivered a healthy baby girl on December 4, 2008, just in time for Christmas.

It is believed that Anita was exposed to asbestos more than 30 years ago, when she watched her father dismantle a shed covered with asbestos.

Even before her cancer diagnosis, Anita had struggled to have a baby, undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) but receiving only about a 1 percent chance to conceive naturally. After the diagnosis of mesothelioma, she had to stop IVF and relinquished her dream of motherhood. After radical surgery and six months of chemotherapy, the notion that she might become pregnant never entered her mind, she writes in her blog, anitalive.com.

It seems Anita is destined to beat the odds in life.

Her oncologist, Ian Haines, who practices at Cabrini Hospital, says Anita is in remission, according to a story in the The Age. He says the news of her pregnancy was “a surprise, to say the least,” and that after all her cancer treatments for Anita “…to become pregnant naturally and then give birth to this perfect baby was an absolute miracle.”

As of Christmas Day, the couple had not yet named the baby.

Anita’s story was recently featured on the news in Australia. Watch it here:

What a joy and an inspiration! God bless you, Anita, and your family!

Evangel University, a private Christian university associated with the Assemblies of God and located in Springfield, Missouri, lost its first and only Sports Information Director this week when David Fillmore passed away as a result of mesothelioma.

According to a KY3 News report, Fillmore was an alumnus of the University, having graduated in 1976. After a stint as a journalist in Colorado, he returned to Missouri and his alma mater to become Evangel’s Sports Information Director (SID) in October 1977. He also served as the NAIA District 16 SID from 1985-1993 and the Heart of American Conference SID from 1988-2003. He served as the University’s SID for 32 years.

Prior to his enrollment as a student at Evangel University, Fillmore served his country in the U.S. Army. He spent 13 months in Vietnam as a machine gunner with the infantry as a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

He was honored in 1999 with the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award, presented by the NAIA Sports Information Directors Assocation in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to the profession of sports information professionals within the NIA.” He also was inducted into the Evangel Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fillmore reportedly died from mesothelioma and complications from pneumonia on Sunday, Dec. 21. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and daughter, Deanna Brady.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Minnesota Public Radio has a great report on the public meeting held last night by the Minnesota Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership. The partnership is a program that is examining the extremely high rate of mesothelioma deaths among taconite mine workers in the Iron Range of Minnesota.

One question the five-year program, which received $4.9 million in funding from the Minnesota legislature in April, is trying to sort out is whether taconite dust may factor into an increased risk of mesothelioma. Taconinte miners were exposed to commercial asbestos, which was used in the mines and is the only currently known cause of mesothelioma, as well as taconite dust.

Listen to the MPR report or visit MPR online for a transcript.

Researchers from Ohio State University believe they may be the first in the world to study the “molecular underpinnings” of cancer through study of the individual bonds between asbestos fibers and human cells, according to a news release from NewsWise. The scientists will present their findings at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco this afternoon.

The report, titled “The Strength of Disease: Molecular Bonds between Asbestos and Human Cells,” is authored by Eric Taylor, a doctoral candidate in earth sciences at Ohio State, and Steven Lower, associate professor of earth sciences at the university. According to the news release, “the researchers used atomic force microscopy to observe how a singe asbestos fiber binds with a specific receptor protein on cell surfaces.” They believe this attachment of a lethal type of asbestos sets in motion a series of events within a cell that will eventually lead to illness years, even decades, later.

Asbestos exposure is almost exclusively identified as the cause of mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen and other organs. There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma. Asbestos also causes chronic respiratory diseases including asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs; and lung cancer.

The Ohio State study focused on crocidolite (blue) asbestos, which has been identified as one of the most deadly forms of asbestos. The substance is banned in most industrialized nations, but for years was used in products such as insualtion.

Taylor, who is presenting the study’s findings at the meeting today, said the purpose of the study is to find ways to prevent illness even after exposure to asbestos. Because of the long latency period of mesothelioma, with symptoms often not appearing for up to 50 years after exposure, diagnosis often comes too late for effective treatment.

The Ohio State University research is supported by the National Science Foundation.

Researchers studying an unusually high incidence of mesothelioma among Iron Range miners and their families reported they are “making progress” as five-year program gets underway, according to the Star Tribune, which serves Minneapolis and St. Paul. The $4.9 million research program was funded by the Minnesota state legislature in April.

The program is being directed by the University of Minnesota. Researchers held an open meeting yesterday evening to share initial results. The program, which involves health screenings for residents of the Iron Range, particularly mine workers and their families, began in Summer 2007, but got a boost when the legislature approved the funding to expand the study significantly. The funding established the Minnesota Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership task force.

The Star Tribune reports that the program will expand in 2009 to include a respiratory health assessment of 1,200 active and retired miners, as well as 800 spouses or partners. Participants will be selected at random. Physical testing will be handled by the Virginia Regional Medical Center, and testing is exected to run for a period of about 6-9 months.

While mesothelioma is almost exclusively associated with asbestos, researchers are investigating whether or not there is a link between taconite dust - which is produced in the Iron Range mining process - and mesothelioma. To date 58 mesothelioma deaths have been linked to the Iron Range.

According to the Star Tribune report, there are four ongoing health studies associated with this project: a mortality study under the direction of the Minnesota Department of Health related to miner deaths; a cancer rate incidence study; a respiratory health assessment for miners or former miners; and an occupational exposure study. In addition, the paper reports two environmental studies are part of the process as well, under the direction of the Natural Resources and Research Institute the University of Minnesota Duluth. These will examine sediments in lake bottoms as well as airborne particle measurements.

Researchers who have begun a five-year, $4.9 million study into an alarming number of mesothelioma cases in Minnesota will present a progress report tonight at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The study, which is operating under the direction of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, focuses in particular on Iron Range miners. The Minnesota legislature approved funds for the research project in April.

The study is the result of concern about a high rate of mesothelioma among Iron Range workers, with 59 identified cases to date. According to a report in the Duluth News Tribune, initial data indicates 17 miners who developed mesothelioma between 1988 and 1996. Then, in 2007, it was revealed that the Minnesota Department of Health had additional information about 35 more cases of mesothelioma among the mine workers.

Mesothelioma is thought to be caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos, but the Minnesota study is examining the possibility of a link between exposure to the taconite dust released in the Iron Range mines, and mesothelioma. According to the News Tribune, researchers are conducting health screenings for miners and their spouses. They hope to screen about 2,000 people within six to nine months.

Tonight’s program will share initial findings and inform the public about the progress of health screenings, and opportunities for involvement in the screenings. It also will feature a presentation about the geological aspects of the Iron Range mine area.

If you’d like to attend, the meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center, at 8586 Enterprise Drive. The presentation should last about an hour.

The success of chemoembolization in the treatment of our friend Debbie Brewer’s mesothelioma has been featured in national press in the UK, covered by BBC News and picked up by The Press Association. In the report, Debbie calls for the pioneering treatment to be brought to the UK. Currently, she must travel to Frankfurt, Germany, for the treatments.

Readers of myMeso have been following Debbie’s story for a while now, and know that the chemoembolization treatment has been successful, resulting in an overall 53 percent reduction in the size of her tumor, which she humorously nicknamed Theo. Her last visit to the clinic was Dec. 12, when she received the great news that she is now in partial remission as a result of the tumor shrinkage.

Chemoembolization is traditionally used to treat liver cancer. Debbie says the Frankfurt program sees a 60 percent success rate in the treatment of mesothelioma using the process, which introduces chemotherapy drugs directly into the tumor.

Diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2006, Debbie was initially told she had only a few months to live. It is believed that Debbie contracted mesothelioma from contact with asbestos on her father’s clothes when he unwittingly brought the substance home from work. Determined to beat the odds, she began researching mesothelioma treatments. In addition to the chemoembolization, Debbie uses mistletoe therapy, injecting the extract twice a week.

Read more about Debbie at her blog, Mesothelioma and Me.

For generations, skilled craftspeople and artisans have passed down their secrets for creating fine handmade furniture. Among the best is Tom Harrington, of the Southern Highlands area of Australia. For more than 16 years, he has passed on his wealth of woodworking knowledge to those up and coming in the art. According to a story in the Southern Highalnd News, Mr. Harrington has taught more than 180 students at the Sturt School for Wood in Mittagong, in addition to making fine furniture.

However, Harrington says he is teaching his last 12-month course at the school, which will be completed at the end of this year. He is discontinuing his role as an instructor after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, the News reports. He says his time spent as an instructor was a “career high.” Mr. Harrington is 57 years old. The news report does not elaborate on his current health or future treatment choices that led him to the decision to stop teaching.

Harrington currently serves as Director for the school, a position he has held since 1992. His biographical information says he trained at the Canberra School of Art under George Ingham and has worked as a studio furniture maker and a commercial cabinetmaker. His work is exhibited regularly in Australia and is represented extensively in private collections.

The Southern Highlands is positioned half-way between Sydney and Canberra on the main southern corridor. Situated 90 minutes from each of these major cities the shire has a population of nearly 37,000 and is maintaining a steady growth rate. The shire consists of several small villages that surround the major retail centres of Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale.