Archive for the tag 'Lung Cancer'

Circulating Tumor Cells Reveal Insights Into Lung Cancers - Washington Post


eYugoslavia.com
Circulating Tumor Cells Reveal Insights Into Lung Cancers
Washington Post - Jul 2, 2008
By Amanda Gardner WEDNESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) — A new technique for finding and analyzing stray cancer cells in the blood of lung cancer patients may make it possible for doctors to one day not only determine the genetic "signature" of
New test may help doctors track tumors in 'real time' USA Today
Doctors extract cancer cells from blood sample Reuters
International Herald Tribune - HealthNews - Food Consumer - InjuryBoard.com
all 118 news articles

Some Truths About Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma

by Peter Nisbet

There are various types of mesothelioma but asbestos lung mesothelioma is an asbestos-induced cancer of the mesothelium of the lung, more familiarly known as the pleura, which is the external lining of the lung.

Many of the major organs of the body have a mesothelium, that of the heart being called the pericardium and of the heart the peritoneum. However, it is with the pleura that we are concerned here, and the symptoms of asbestos lung mesothelioma are what you would expect: coughing, discomfort in the chest cavity and eventual pain.

Before we come to possible treatments and palliative care, let’s have a look at what causes it and why we are still seeing new cases today after asbestos was banned for construction use in the 1970s.

Asbestos comes in several forms, the most dangerous thought to be crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos. This form of asbestos is in a highly fibrous form, and it is the inhalation and ingestion of these fibers that cause the problem. They tend to remain in the body for a considerable period of time and it can take up to 40 ��” 45 years before the symptoms of mesothelioma begin to appear, though some people contract it in their 30s.

To complicate the situation, it is not only asbestos that causes the symptoms, but any fibrous silicate, which it is why some compensation cases are not as cut and dry as they could be. To add to this complication, smoking adds to the possibility of cancer and it is argued that many patients would not have contracted mesothelioma had they not smoked.

This is not only an argument made by solicitors in court, but has been established by statistics. It is pretty certain that smokers have a greater tendency of contracting asbestos lung mesothelioma than non-smokers, since attorneys for the employers have used this as a reason for having the otherwise high compensation significantly reduced.

There is a popular misconception that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, but it is just a misconception. Lung cancer is mesothelioma, and in the USA 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by smoking. That is an indisputable fact. In order to prove the intervention of asbestos in a case, therefore, not only would the patients have to prove that they had worked with asbestos, but also not to have smoked. Had they smoked, then the award could be greatly reduced.

The term “asbestos lung mesothelioma” is therefore a correct one because that form of the disease to which we are referring is caused by asbestos, and not smoking, is of the pleura of the lung and not of the pericardium or peritoneum, and is mesothelioma.

Its treatment is largely palliative, or intended to ease suffering, because the prognosis is fairly grim. Only about 20% of cases live to 5 years after diagnosis, with most surviving only one year, though much depends on how far the condition had developed by the time it was diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment are used, but not successfully, and various degrees of surgery are also used. Removal of the affected lung, pericardium and half the diaphragm is the most major of these, and even that only extends life to a maximum of around five years from diagnosis.

There are new treatments being tested, but all treatment is expensive, and a good attorney is likely necessary to secure the compensation to pay for these. Ultimately hospice care will be required and again compensation money should be kept back for this. Ultimately, in spite of all the treatment given, it is palliative care that will make the last days of the patient bearable, as will the help and support of the family, and this is what compensation can fund.

About the Author
More information on this disease can be obtained from Pete’s webpage Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma where more detail is given of possible treatment.

Asbestos Exposure

by Loz

Asbestos Exposure

Symptoms of lung cancer, asbestosis or other asbestos - related diseases may include chronic cough and hoarseness, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, dysphonia, coughing up blood and shortness of breath. Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. The real crisis regarding asbestos exposure in the workplace is not potential litigation but the number of victims who contract the deadly disease Mesothelioma.

People who contract the disease must be absolutely sure that the cause for the same was asbestos exposure and then take steps to get the right legal counsel. Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset. Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease.

Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. In conclusion, there many things that you have to do for prevent developing of asbestos related disease, but The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) could be very useful and a good start point. If you think that you may have an asbestos - related disease because you worked exposed to asbestos many years and you show any of the symptoms above mentioned, you should visit a specialist doctor to be explored by him and decide whether you need more exams or not.

Other important thing is to visit the doctor regularly to stay informed about your health, (but this one must be specialist in the disease) whether you work or worked in contact with asbestos at your job. Without writing a book, I wouldn’t have the space to detail every observation I’ve made during this period, but I can assure you that no contact with asbestos is without a possible adverse health consequence. There are many more instances of contact for which I don’t have the time to detail here, but basically, with the characteristics of the material, knowledge of where you may encounter the substance and many hours of observation (I’ve been in construction over thirty years), you too can make the same deductive conclutions that I have made.

So, I set out to try to logically deduce, with a knowledge of the physical properties of asbestos,when I encountered the substance as I attempted to clean every surface and item in every room of the house. Supporters of the bill propose to set up a 0 billion dollar asbestos compensation fund, but it is doubtful if even an all out effort this week will bring the bill to a vote on the floor of the US Senate. While the Asbestos Bill is unfair and serves to limit rights and remedies of victims in favor of multi-billion dollar corporations, you can take action to help defeat this bill.

Every major asbestos victims’ organization opposes this bill, while being supported by the corporate defendants who knowingly poisoned their workers and the public with asbestos and would receive billions of dollars in liability relief. It was estimated that approximately 10 million workers had been exposed to asbestos by the year 1978 and that by 1970 25 million tons of asbestos had been used in building work across the USA. Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920’s.

In the 1920s the asbestos industry was aware of the damaging effects of asbestos, and yet they did nothing to protect workers or their families. Back in the 1920s, a large variety of medical articles showed that there was scarring on the lungs of asbestos factory workers. Become involved in the fight to keeps victims rights regarding asbestos litigation in the hands of the people.

About the Author
For more related information about Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Fibers, and Asbestosis Feel free to visit us today.

Symptoms and Treatment of Mesothelioma Cancer

By P. Mehta

Mesothelioma cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos. People who have received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very low doses are at risk of this. A person exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma after 50 years of exposure. The 2 common types are pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs).

There are no immediate symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. The symptoms may appear in 30 - 50 years after exposure to asbestos. The following symptoms may be noticed after several years of exposure.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma cancer: shortness of breath and pain in the chest.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer: abdominal pain and weight loss, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever.

Please note that these symptoms may be due to other reasons. If you have any of these symptoms or signs, please consult your Doctor for thorough checkup.

Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Cancer

There are several possible treatments. Following are the main options for mesothelioma treatment:

Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Photodynamic therapy
Radiation or chemotherapy combined with surgery may increase the survival time by double.

Copyright 2005, P. Mehta

[Please note that this article is not intended as a subsitute for medical advise. Always consult your Doctor.

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyright info. You are not permitted to include any additional hyperlinks.]

This article has been written by http://www.fatfreekitchen.com. Visit the web site mesothelioma information page for more information.

Information On What is Mesothelioma

by Uchenna Ani-Okoye

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. Signs and symptoms of the disease include among other things, shortness of breath and rapid unexpected weight loss as in patients with Mesothelioma, nutrients in the blood stream cannot always be absorbed resulting in malnutrition and weight loss.

Aside from Mesothelioma, these people can acquire asbestosis, a non-cancerous chronic lung sickness and other forms of cancer of the lungs, cancer of the larynx and kidney. There are treatments used to keep the patient comfortable, but there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Erionite fibres were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people.

The physicians empanelled by mesothelioma treatment support groups analyze each patient. A legal counseling along with aid from housing, utilities, transportation, accurate medical treatment, pharmaceutical supplies and services should be the prime motto of mesothelioma support. The compensation could be millions of dollars for victims of mesothelioma who have been exposed to asbestos.

Because mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos or asbestos dust, and nearly 30 million tons of asbestos was used in buildings of every description until the mid 1970’s, it has kept Mesothelioma lawyers in high demand, as they pursue Mesothelioma settlements for the victims and their families. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

‘What is Mesothelioma’, the website contains useful resources on Mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys, as well as causes by asbestos exposure, asbestos removal, asbestos attorneys and lawsuits, and asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma thus becomes a deadly disease when no remedial measures are taken to overcome it and when exposure to asbestos is not controlled. However it would take 10-40 years after the first exposure for the first symptoms of mesothelioma to become noticeable, which made it very difficult to diagnose.

It is important to stress that once you start experiencing the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma (shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing up blood, and palpitations) you should immediately seek specialized help. Mesothelioma can result from very small fibres or dust particles at low exposure levels. Generally, it is believed that sustained exposure to asbestos is more liable to give one mesothelioma.

Due to the difficulty of diagnosing mesothelioma in its early stages, many mesothelioma treatments focus on improving the quality of life for patients. There are many variables in evaluating a mesothelioma case, so only the patients doctor can determine the best treatment and possible prognosis on an individual basis. Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Chemotherapy of mesothelioma is being improved regularly as research labs and pharmaceutical companies are discovering new and more effective drugs. Pleural mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma patients.

If you’d like access to more information and resource links pertaining mesothelioma, then check out my site at: Mesothelioma Cancer.

About the Author
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an affiliate marketer who writes articles on various topics

How to diagnose mesothelioma?

by Archana Sarat

Qualified medical professionals perform mesothelioma diagnosis. A wide range of tests and procedures are done to find out whether the disease is present. Mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult procedure as the symptoms of mesothelioma are very similar to other benign diseases. This coupled with the fact that mesothelioma has a huge latency period makes patients and their doctors dismiss the symptoms of mesothelioma as signs of ageing. Only after detailed testing because of recurring symptom mesothelioma is confirmed.

Review of medical history of patient

The medical history of the patient will be reviewed in the first place. This is because the doctor will need to determine the extent and the severity of the risk factors and the symptoms of mesothelioma. Also, the doctor can find out the nature of asbestos exposure of the patient, how long and how much they were exposed. One another point the doctor will want to know is whether you were a smoker or not. This is because smokers have a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma as compared to non-smokers.

The doctor will also conduct some preliminary examinations to determine the type of mesothelioma. This can be found out by checking for fluid. When fluid is found in the chest. It is a case of pleural mesothelioma. When fluid is in the abdomen, it is a case of peritoneal mesothelioma and when fluid is in the heart, it is a case of pericardial mesothelioma.

Diagnostic tests:

CT scans, x-rays and MRIs are very useful in determining the spread of the cancer. These diagnostic image tests help to determine the stage of mesothelioma. All the methods are very useful and they help in making a more detailed diagnosis. The CT scans help in getting a 3D view of the inside body parts. Thus, the same part can be viewed from various angles. Unlike x-ray, MRI uses magnetic fields to view the body parts.

Testing fluid and samples of tissues:

In case of mesothelioma, fluid may build up in chest, abdomen or heart. In such cases, the medical professional will take a sample of this fluid and test it. The sample will be drawn via a long needle and then, it will be tested in a laboratory. The doctor in certain cases of mesothelioma may also prescribe a bronchoscopy procedure. Sometimes, certain tissue samples may be taken to perform further testing. Persons having lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma may also have lymph nodes affected by the disease. These patients may be advised to undergo a mediastinoscopy. This procedure helps the doctors to find out how far the disease has affected the lymph nodes. This will help in a better diagnosis of mesothelioma. It will also help in determining the stage of mesothelioma.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is a very complex procedure involving a lot of steps. While the first symptoms are completely misleading, the later symptoms are also not conclusive. Fluid build up in the body organs alone is not a sign of mesothelioma. Only specialized medical personnel in highly specialized laboratories can correctly determine mesothelioma. This is the reason why many mesothelioma cases go undocumented. It is necessary that all countries fund and encourage their researchers and medical professionals to find an easy and simple diagnostic procedure for mesothelioma.

About the Author
Archana Sarat is a freelance writer and research expert. She shares her knowledge of mesothelioma at http://mesothelioma-guidance.blogspot.com To know more about mesothelioma go to http://www.rarehope.com

Study Finds Increased Mesothelioma Death Rates In A Group Of Shipyard Workers

by Sam Gurgis

A recent study conducted on workers in a US Coast Guard shipyard has found a significantly greater mortality rate associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma compared to the general population. The study also found an increased general mortality rate.

The study followed 4702 (4413 men and 289 women) civilian workers who were employed at the shipyard between January 1950 and December 1964. The study then measured the number of deaths and their causes through 31 December 2001.

The study was conducted by S Krstev, P Stewart, J Rusiecki, A Blair and was published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The original study publication is available at http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/64/10/651.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. The majority of individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos particles at work or home. Family members of workers have also been affected. Renovators of homes containing asbestos cement material are accounting for an increasing number of diagnosed sufferers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for decades after the exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include abdominal pain and weight loss. Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be difficult due to the fact that the symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases.

Since mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma can be best be prevented by avoiding or limiting exposure to asbestos in homes, public buildings, and at work. Workers that may be at risk include miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, contractors and construction workers, particularly those involved with insulation. If there is a possibility of exposure (such as when renovating old buildings) protective equipment should be used and safety procedures should be applied. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials due to its durability and fire-resistant properties. In addition to buildings, asbestos was used in the manufacture of cars and ships and many other products.

About the Author
Sam Gurgis is a scientific writer and the webmaster at mesotheliomawise.org and sam-gurgis.com

Not Only Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. In fact there are many other risk factors that cause mesothelioma cancer. One of them is the erionite. Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to a group of minerals called zeolites. Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicates of the alkaline and alkaline-earth metals.
Erionite was used in the past as a noble metal-impregnated catalyst in a hydrocarbon-cracking process. It was studied for use in fertilizers and to control odors in livestock production, because of its ability to selectively adsorb molecules from air or liquids. In many countries erionite blocks were used (and may be are still used) as building material or in stucco pastes and whitewash.
Erionite was mentioned for the first time as a mesothelioma lung cancer risk factor in 1975, when Turkish government presented a study that uncovered a high incidence of a rare malignant mesothelioma in lung tissues of people in certain small villages in the Cappadocia area in Turkey’s central mountainous region. In two small villages the mesothelioma lung cancer accounted for 43% of the deaths during 23 years period of study. Erionite fibers were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people. Comparing this to a 9.7% rate of death from this disease among asbestos insulation installers shows how anomalous this condition was.
Further studies showed erionite causes similar diseases in laboratory animals. When researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital injected rats with the same dosage of erionite that they used for asbestos, the rats didn’t live long enough to get mesothelioma cancer. At a much-reduced dose, the rats did get cancer. Erionite is probably the most toxic known mineral - a milligram of fibers in the lungs is lethal.
Today erionite is considered so hazardous that the EPA requires any one who intends to manufacture, import or process any article containing erionite to notify the E.P.A. 90 days in advance. This gives the EPA a chance to review, limit or prohibit that activity. Read the rest of article here..

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990’s.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable. Read more >>>>

Number One Mesothelioma Cancer Source: Your Workplace

If you ask whether mesothelioma cancer could infect you easily in your workplace I could answer yes right now. Maybe you should already knew what mesothelioma is by reading this article. But if you didn’t I will give you quick brief now.

Mesothelioma is uncommon form of cancer, usually attack the pleura (the lining of the lung and chest cavity) or the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). Mesothelioma cancer caused by prolonged or persistent exposure to asbestos.

Unbelievably but true, recent studies showed that It is believed that even insignificant exposure to asbestos in environments such as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or even patient’s homes can result in mesothelioma cancer.

Now you know that the main reason for mesothelioma cancer is asbestos. Asbestos is the single biggest work place killer today. People who have worked with the material are at serious risk from developing lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, fatal respiratory illnesses that debilitate their victims.

Most people who suffer mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. You should be extra careful if you are: miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask manufacturers, and construction workers, particularly those involved with installing insulation.

Not only you could be infected but your family too. Several studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, because asbestos fibers are carried home on your clothes.

Read the rest of article here..

Next Page »