I was speaking with a friend of mine recently about writing, as she's writing a urban fantasy short story, and the subject of blood types came up. You see, I always remember my blood type, B Positive, because that’s how I always strive to be. Unfortunately, sometimes I fall short of my goal. Today is one of those times.

The Face Of Climate Change is the theme for Earth Day 2013. Countries around the world are mobilizing their citizens to take part in various activities to raise awareness of the growing threat of climate change. From a green car show in Santa Barbara to an Earth Day Flash Mob in Korea, people of the world are taking part in this historic day to celebrate and raise awareness.

As Asbestos Awareness Week 2013 progresses, it’s important to take a look back in time at the valuable information we’ve posted on our blog. Some of our most popular blog posts have been those related to asbestos awareness and education. Asbestos Awareness week is an important time for the mesothelioma community. Since so many people are unaware of the dangers of asbestos, this week in particular is an ideal time to educate others on these hazards.

With March Madness in the air, so many people are focusing on their brackets. We're looking at the places teams will be playing as well, but for different reasons. Want to know how March Madness and the places these teams are playing relate to the world of mesothelioma and asbestos? Here are some examples:

With the rise of people being diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, it has sounded an alarm with the general public. People everywhere are beginning to wonder if they, or their families, have been exposed to asbestos in their homes or somewhere else in their day-to-day life. A lot of people are under the impression that asbestos only lies in certain building materials, like siding. However, these deadly fibers can be present in a lot of other places as well.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that few people survive. This disease has made the news in recent years due to lawsuits filed against companies that do not disclose their knowledge of the potential toxic results of asbestos exposure.

First known as Armistice Day, the history of Veterans Day comes from the end of fighting during World War I on November 11, 1918 when an armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany went into effect and ended the most destructive and widespread war to that date. The war officially ended seven months later when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.

Mitt Romney's oversight of Bain Capital correlated directly with the maneuvers made to liquidate GSI and return a substantial profit to the company. Here, a younger Romney is shown at the height of his stewardship over the private equity company. (Huffington Post)

In early 2012, reports circulated detailing some of the profit-centered entitlement raids that occurred at Bain Capital under Republican Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney. The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance became intrigued when asbestos industry defendants appeared on a list of these types of corporate liquidations and commissioned a three-month investigation of the company’s handling of GS Industries through journalist, Gary Cohn. What we uncovered is the true human tragedy of collateral damage stemming from this profit model. We found a community affected by decades of toxic exposure, gasping for breath while picking up the pieces among an uncertain future.

Left to right- Leah and Stacy

Late last week, Leah and Stacy, two sisters who joined together to fight against the asbestos industry after losing their father to mesothelioma, along with the entire anti-asbestos community, were outraged and saddened when the Canadian government in Quebec loaned the Jeffery asbestos mine $58 million to reopen their operations. Last year, the Jeffery Mine was closed because of financial troubles. With the well-known connection to cancer, the Jeffery mine's closing was a victory for those fighting to close it. Now, more than ever, Leah and Stacy could use the help of all anti-asbestos supporters to help victims and their families' have a voice against this deadly carcinogen and continue to fight to shut down asbestos mining!

Shannon's House-- or "Cancer Camp".

“Cancer Camp” is what my sister affectionately refers to the days we spent at Shannon’s House that cold February in 2006. We had a room on the first floor toward the back. It was a small room with two mostly comfortable twin beds, a huge closet and a private bathroom. I had packed a fleece blanket that my mom had made for me and brought it with to use in the hospital, and I was so glad to have it with me while I was at the house. It was a little piece of home that I had while healing. She had also made my sister one, and so we both had our blankets from mom with us for “Cancer Camp”

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to take a moment to highlight Tammy Reed, the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Advocate of the Month for June. Tammy plans to be big contributor on our social community by offering support and words of wisdom to others affected by cancer. Below is an interview with Tammy about how Mesothelioma affected and changed her way of life and why she continues to spread the message of MCA.

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to take a moment to thank Laura Huff, the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Advocate of the Month for May. Laura has been a big contributor on our social community by offering support and words of wisdom to others affected by cancer. Below is an interview with Laura about how Mesothelioma affected and changed her way of life and why she continues to spread the message of MCA.

I’d like to take a moment to thank Rebecca Arnautovic, the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance’s Advocate of the Month for April. Rebecca has been incredibly active and visible in our Facebook community and continues to help spread the message of the MCA, while lending her support and knowledge to others affected by cancer. Beneath is an interview with Rebecca about her own experience with cancer and how that has shaped her way of life.

Dr. David Sugarbaker and I.

On April 24th, I had my bi-annual check up in Boston with Dr. David Sugarbaker. It’s been 6 1/2 years since my diagnosis. It has been 6 years and 3 months since my subsequent surgery to have the tumor and my lung taken out—wow! I get giddy when I think about it. The few weeks before my appointments I usually suffer from what I call “Scanxiety,” or this anxiousness that comes before the scans to see if “it” came back.

Poster from AFL-CIO

Today, April 28th, marks the international Workers’ Memorial Day. Observed each year, it is a day for remembering fellow workers who have been hurt or killed on the job and a day to renew focus on the efforts to continue to work towards safer working conditions for all.

Asbestos: a fiber that is 700 times smaller than a human hair, yet it kills 90,000 people a year. Asbestos exposure can cause the deadly disease known as mesothelioma, an aggressive, yet preventable, disease.

This past weekend I traveled to Los Angeles, California to attend the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization's international conference, “Asbestos: An International Public Health Crisis”. From March 30 to April 1, I was surrounded by renowned experts and other asbestos victims and survivors like myself. It is an amazing event that brings us together to share our experiences and learn about how we can help spread awareness and education about the disease and learn about new treatment options.

On March 5, 2012, the United States Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 389) recognizing the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week.” Sponsored by United States Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the resolution hopes to raise awareness of asbestos-related diseases – including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer – and the incredible danger asbestos exposure poses to health.

The following post is the first in a series of mesothelioma patient, survivor, and caregiver interviews entitled Perspectives in Mesothelioma. The first participant in our series is Louise "Lou" Williams, a mesothelioma survivor who serves as Vice President of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria in South Melbourne, Australia. We'd like to thank Lou for not only sharing her story with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance and its visitors, but also for serving as a tireless advocate for the many victims of asbestos disease across the globe. Read below for Lou's unique perspectives and reflections on mesothelioma and other asbestos related disease.

We’re excited to share this tremendously comprehensive infographic we’ve put together detailing the dangers of asbestos. Below you’ll learn where asbestos comes from and how it now affects nearly every corner of the United States. While asbestos has been banned for use in most capacities since 1980, you’ll see below that the mineral is still found in a multitude of commercial products, buildings, naval ship components, as well as automobile brake and friction components.