Frank Bender, a forensic sculptor who worked with John Walsh, the host of the popular show America’s Most Wanted, has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Although he had no formal training in forensics or the arts, Bender has worked for more than thirty years accurately recreating the faces of those involved in crimes – often working from only old photographs or the remains of the individuals. His clay representations have helped law enforcement agencies across America to track down and capture wanted criminals. Working with John Walsh and the authorities, Bender assisted in the capture of John List, a notorious murderer and one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals.

While it’s not possible to know for sure, it’s likely that Bender contracted mesothelioma from being exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy. Mesothelioma occurs as a result of either inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers. These fibers can become lodged in the mesothelium, a protective soft tissue that lines many of our vital organs, where they cause severe scarring and potentially the development of malignant tumors. Mesothelioma is an incredibly aggressive and incurable cancer which often takes the lives of its victims in less than two years following diagnosis. While palliative treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are available for mesothelioma patients, they aren’t always recommended, and generally serve to improve quality rather than quantity of life.

Asbestos is a mineral substance that was used prolifically throughout the 20th century in a variety of different industries. Prized for its thermal insulation and fire retarding qualities, it was used fervently in the production of Navy fleets to insulate pipes, boilers, engine rooms and more. Up until the 1980′s when rigid regulations and restrictions were placed on its use, asbestos was used and handled freely by many workers without even the simplest protective gear such as a dust mask.

Recently, procedures for working with asbestos are more closely monitored and harmful exposure to the substance appears to be declining. The fact that mesothelioma can take several decades to become diagnosable, however, lends to its diagnoses continuing to rise every year. Mesothelioma kills thousands of Americans annually, and that number is likely to continue to rise until today’s safety measures protect tomorrow’s generation of industrial workers.

The United States is one of very few developed countries that hasn’t passed a complete ban on the manufacture and use of asbestos containing products.

Bender has opted not to be treated with traditional mesothelioma therapy regiments, due to their many undesirable side effects.