Archive for the tag 'lung tissue'

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..

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.

Erionite is no longer mined or marketed for commercial purposes. Although other natural zeolites have many commercial uses (pet litter, soil conditioners, animal feed, waste-water treatment, gas absorbents, etc.) So potential occupational exposure to erionite occurs during the production and mining of other zeolites.

And there are questions:

Are there other mineralogical hazards like erionite and asbestos?

Should we expected mesothelioma lung cancer increases not only from asbestos exposure after another 20 - 30 years?

Read the rest of article here…

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause for malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos has been mined, processed and used to manufacture goods for over 6000 years. However, the more recent heavy use of asbestos, from the late 1880s to the 1960s, caused laborers to be exposed to it in such quantities that asbestos exposure became a deadly curse.

Thousands of cases of mesothelioma and asbestosis have occurred since the 1930s, and medical specialists expect this epidemic to continue for 20 years. The lag time between initial asbestos exposure and the onset of these deadly diseases is typically 30 to 40 years and has been as long as 60 years.
Inhalation of Asbestos
Inhalation of asbestos dust poses the highest risk during asbestos exposure. The asbestos fibers are so tiny that they are able to bypass the natural filtration system of the human lungs. Once inside the most sensitive areas of the lungs, these fibers become embedded in the lung tissue. The durability and tensile strength of these fibers are why asbestos was so widely used as a fire retardant and as a construction component. However, these same characteristics allow asbestos fibers to stay embedded in lung tissue for many years without being destroyed by the body’s natural defense mechanisms. When mesothelioma erupts in the lung tissue, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Asbestosis also occurs due to the embedding of asbestos fibers in the lungs.

Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, and it has occurred in a wide range of different laborers exposed to asbestos. Laborers in the Navy shipyards during and after World War II received heavy doses of asbestos exposure while they used asbestos to insulate piping, boiler rooms and other areas of high heat. In many cases the air was filled with asbestos dust and without proper respiration systems, these workers inhaled the asbestos particles day after day.
Those who mined asbestos were exposed to heavy doses during the mining process. In mining towns, such as Libby, Montana, asbestos dust filled the air in not only the mines and processing facilities, but also in the town square. This asbestos exposure has lead many laborers and towns people to develop asbestos lung cancer.
Construction workers who installed asbestos insulation were also exposed. Asbestos was widely used in car brake linings; therefore, laborers involved in the automotive manufacturing process were placed in work environments where asbestos fibers were inhaled, potentially leading to pleural mesothelioma.
Other Asbestos Exposure
Pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma are also thought to be caused by asbestos exposure. Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart and peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdomen. How the asbestos fibers become imbedded in the lining of these other organs is not well understood. For those laborers who contracted these diseases, food could have become contaminated due to asbestos exposure, leading to asbestos fibers invading the abdominal lining. Asbestos fibers could also have gotten into the blood stream, either through food or inhalation, due to asbestos exposure. Once in the blood stream, these fibers could become lodged virtually anywhere in the body.
Asbestos Removal
The use of asbestos has mainly been halted, and the potential for exposure to asbestos has fallen dramatically. However, a number of older buildings still include insulation and floor/ceiling tiles that contain asbestos. Great care should be taken to limit exposure to asbestos during demolition work in older buildings. Respirators should be used to filter the air, and the demolition areas should be sealed so that asbestos dust is not released from the demolition area. For construction sites, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has established extensive guidelines to protect construction workers involved in the demolition of buildings containing asbestos.
It is also common for floor tile in older homes to contain asbestos. When remodeling, it is recommended that these asbestos floor coverings not be disturbed and the new floor coverings be placed on top of the older ones. For homeowners, several websites provide information outlining safe removal procedures in order to limit asbestos exposure.

Primary and Secondary Lung Cancer

Cancer is a disease related to the uncontrolled growth of tissue, leading to the accumulation of mass (called a tumor or lesion.) Normal cells in the body divide and grow in an orderly controlled manner. When cells grow uncontrollably and this growth invades other tissues or organs, the growths are called malignant or cancerous. When a mass of tissue, or tumor, is benign, it is relatively stable and does not invade other tissues.

Cells from malignant tumors can break away and travel to other parts of the body, usually through the bloodstream, but also through the lymph system. When these cells find new host organs, these cells can grow into tumors in the new tissue. This spreading process is called metastasis and when a cancer has reached an advanced stage to where the malignant cells are attacking other organs, it is said that the cancer tumors have metastasized. The tumors in new organs are always made up of cells similar to those of the original tumor.
Benign tumors do not metastasize. They can often times be removed through surgery and not re-occur.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when lung tissue develops cancerous growths. Primary lung cancer is cancer that originates in the lung tissue. Secondary lung cancer is cancer that spreads, or metastasizes, from other organs.
Primary Lung Cancer
There are several different types of primary lung cancer. These are divided into two main groups:
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Pleural mesothelioma is often thought of as a third type of primary lung cancer. However, it is not a lung cancer. Mesothelioma does not develop in the lungs, but in the serous membranes surrounding the lungs. As such, it does not fall into the typical categories of lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also occur in other tissues, in the lining of the abdomen, call peritoneal mesothelioma, and in the lining of the heart, pericardial mesothelioma.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small Cell Lung Cancer comprises approximately 20% of the primary types of lung cancer. It is called small cell cancer because the tumor cells are very small, with the cells containing almost exclusively the cell nucleus and nothing more. This type of cancer is also referred to as “oat cell” cancer. Chemotherapy is often suggested for this cancer in the early stages because of the rapid way it which it spreads. Surgery is not a good option to stop the spread early on. This type of cancer is most closely linked to smoking; non smokers rarely have it.
Non-Small Cell Cancer
Non-small cell cancer falls into these categories:
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Large cell carcinoma
Adenosquamous cell carcinoma
Undifferentiated carcinoma
Each category of non-small cell cancer are physiologically similar and they respond to treatment differently than to small cell lung cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of primary lung cancer. This type of cancer is also linked to smoking and it develops from the cells than line the airways in the lungs. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. Commonly the tumor growths are located in the center of the lungs near the large airways (bronchi). It is also referred to as epidermoid carcinoma. It comprises approximately 30 to 35% of the non-small cell cancer in the US, affecting men and the elderly most frequently.
Adenocarcinoma, like squamous cell carcinoma, develops from tissues in the lung airways. But, it develops from the glandular secretory tissues. (tissues that produce mucus). It is often found in the outer airway passages, not the main bronchi, like the squamous cell variety. The incidence of this cancer is increasing. It comprises about 40% of the non-small cell lung cancer in the US and is the most common lung cancer among women.
Large cell lung cancer is named after its appearance. The cells look large and unnatural under the microscope. These types of cells grow quite quickly.
Adenosquamous carcinoma are cells that appear flat under the microscope, like the squamous cells, but derive from the glandular secretory cells, like the adenocarcinoma.
Undifferentiated carcinoma includes cancer cells that cannot be identified as one of the other groups. The cells appear abnormal under the microscope and multiply uncontrollably.
Secondary Lung Cancer
Secondary lung cancer is cancer that has spread to the lungs from other organs. Many different types of cancer spread to the lungs, because of its very high blood supply. These include breast cancer and colon cancer.
The type of cancer is very important when it comes to treatment. The different types of cancer cells respond differently to different types of chemotherapy and other therapies. When cancer cells spread from other organs to the lungs, then the lungs have to be treated for the other type of cancer, not lung cancer. This is an important distinction. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs, has to be treated for breast cancer, not lung cancer.

Mesothelioma cancer - best treatment options

Physical and History: A report from the cashier to check signs associated with the health, including the review of the signs of the disease, such as the pieces, or anything that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits, exposure to asbestos, past illnesses and treatments will also be taken into account.

Lung X-ray: An X-ray of the bones and organs of the interior of the chest. An X-ray absorption is a kind bundle of energy generated by the body and on film, which is a picture of areas within the organization.

Copper wire blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a blood sample is called and checked what follows:

The number of red and white blood cells and blood platelets.

The amount of hemoglobin (protein transports oxygen) in the red blood cells.

The packaging of the blood sample from the red blood cells.

Next sedimentation, a procedure in which a blood sample is checked out, and with regard to the speed with which the red blood cells are at the bottom of the test tube.

Biopsy: removal of cells or tissues from the pleura or peritoneum so under the microscope made visible by a pathologist to check the signs of cancer. The procedures used for the collection of cells or tissue, in particular the following:

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: The removal of part of the capital, suspicious tissue or fluids, with a thin needle. This procedure is also called a needle biopsy.

Lung biopsy. The patient lies on a table, slips in the computed tomography (CT), the X-ray machine in pictures of the interior of the body. The x-ray give the doctor help to see where the substance is not normal in the lungs. A needle biopsy is determined by the wall and thoracic surgery in the lung tissue is not normal. A small piece of tissue is removed through the needle examined under the microscope and signs of cancer.

Thoracoscopie: interfaces (interfaces) between the two coasts and thoracoscope (a thin, lighted tube) in the chest.

Peritoneoscopy: An interface (cut) in the abdominal wall and peritoneoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is in the stomach.

Laparotomy: An interface (cut) in the wall of the abdomen to check the inside of the abdominal symptoms of the disease.

Thoracotomie: A cut (cut) is made between two ribs to check inside the chest of signs of the disease.

Bronchoscopy: Procedures to consider, within the trachea and the large airways in the lungs unusual. A bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is through the nose or mouth into the trachea and the lungs. Samples of tissue can be made to biopsy.

Bronchoscopy. A bronchoscope is through the mouth, the trachea, bronchi and lungs in the large, on the lookout for anomalous areas. A bronchoscope is a thin tube-like instrument, a light and a lens for viewing. It may also be a cut. Samples of tissue can be taken to be the microscope to detect any signs of disease.

Cytological examination: an examination of cells under the microscope (a pathologist) to check something is not normal. For mesothelioma, from the fluid around the lungs or the stomach. A doctor checks the cells in the fluid.

Various factors influencing the prognosis (chance for the restoration), and the options for treatment.

The prognosis (chance for the restoration) and the options for the treatment depend on what follows:

The stage of cancer.

The size of the tumor.

When the tumor can be completely removed by surgery.

The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen.

The age of patients and health, including the health of the heart and lungs.

The nature and mesothelioma cancer cells in their appearance under the microscope.

When the cancer was diagnosed, or appeared (again).

Asbestos mesothelioma lung

Asbestos lung mesothelioma is a rare cancer, which can be in the cells specific lubrication, a bag around the lungs. This can be between 10 and 60 years to develop, but in most cases, the mean of 30 to 50 years, that the symptoms of the victims of lead time for a doctor.

Despite its name, it is not really lung cancer, that the lungs is not the first site of malignancy. Instead, it is the support of the lung tissue, the cancer cells. The tissue around the lungs or almost 75% of the cases diagnosed, but also the tissues of other organs can also use the Web sites of cancer elementary school opening.

Currently, there are between two and three thousand new cases diagnosed in the United States each year (US National Cancer Institute, 2002).

This disease accounts for about 75% of the cancers by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a mineral deposits, the quality of heat insulation. There was widespread in the whole world during the last century in the areas of military, construction and consumer goods until it banned carcinogenic effect. People can in the community, at work, at school, at home or from the clothing others who have been exposed. It is likely that most people were at a certain time in their lives.

The mineral composition creates a quality that is very fragile. He breaks into pieces, then crumbles easily. This allows the microscopic particles in the air, where they go unnoticed for long periods of time.

People can inhale these particles minerals without knowing it. The movement of the particles in the lungs, which Alveolarluft bags, and found in the lungs of support. It is impossible to remove them if the mineral particles to remain there. They can cause cancer slowly stupid.

This condition is currently considered incurable. Normally there are very few symptoms until the next steps if the cancer metastases. After the diagnosis the average survival period of between one and two years.

Early detection offers a great advantage. It is always recommended that people who suspect that they are the burden of the environment to find a doctor for a specialized training to monitor their state of health, as soon as possible.

The treatment is chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

After decades of experience, medical research is focused now on to slow or prevent the development of cancer. By learning all biochemical, in the introduction, development and the spread of the cancer, the researchers hope that they will find ways to change, as the cancer grows.

Since the asbestos lung mesothelioma can take decades to develop the deadly malignant, we can expect more, that the early interventions provide people with a normal life. Scientists explore new therapies including natural substances that lead to a good result in a laboratory in cancer prevention.

The most common causes of lung cancer

There are several factors, in connection with lung cancer. The most common causes are well known:

Nicotine

The cigarette is probably as close connection with the development of lung cancer. A person who smokes two packet of cigarettes per day or more of a chance on seven of the development of lung cancer. Those who smoke a carton of cigarettes per day over a period of twenty-five times as much to develop lung cancer, that a non-smoking restaurant. In addition, people who smoke cigars or pipe, five times more chances for the development of lung cancer a non-smoking restaurant.

The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked in the course of your life. Smoking damages the cells in the lungs. At the moment when you smoke, your lungs begin to heal themselves, by the damaged cells healthy, normal cells. Their risk of developing lung cancer falls almost immediately begins when the smoke. Every year, you do not smoke, your chances for the development of lung cancer cases. The fifteenth year, your chances of developing lung cancer are roughly the same as a person who never smoked.

Secondhand Smoke

Also known as passive smoking, the people who regularly secondary smoke have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, even if they do not smoke themselves. Studies have shown that those with a smoker have a higher risk of 24% of developing lung cancer that most non-smokers. The doctors believe that the lung cancer of about 3000 deaths per year in connection with the tobacco smoke in the ambient air.

Asbestos Exposure

Exhibition at the asbestos is a known cause of lung cancer and mesothelioma - cancer in the mucosa of the pleura lung cancer. Asbestos was frequently in the construction and products all days until the end of 1800, by the year 1960. Asbestos separates into fine fibers, silica are trapped in the lung tissue. The mesothelioma is inextricably linked to the asbestos exposure. There are no cases of mesothelioma among persons who have not been, or the asbestos in the workplace or on the environment. A non-smoker, asbestos has five times the risk of lung cancer, a non-smoker who was not suspended. Smoking increases the risk dramatically - that was a smoker asbestos is a risk for lung cancer, the 50 to 90 times higher than for non-smokers.

Radon

It is estimated that approximately 12% of deaths from lung cancer will be issued, radon, colourless, odourless gas that is a byproduct of the decay of uranium. The US Environmental Protection Agency believes that 15% of households in the United States have on the dangerous radon gas, from 15000 to 22000 deaths from lung cancer per year.

Air pollution

The scientists estimate that up to 1% of all deaths from lung cancer are on the air pollution. They feel that the longer the time very dirty air can increase the risks of developing lung cancer associated with passive smoking.

Mesothelioma cancer from asbestos

The internal organs of the human body are in a structure called mésothélium protective pouch. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), the pleura (lung), and the pericardium (heart).

Under certain conditions, the cells of the protective cover and uncontrolled division of cancer cells. This disease is also known as mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease, however, occur in people, in the shipyards, mines and factories of asbestos, the industries that produce the products on the basis of asbestos, and the company, the heating and construction. Approximately 3000 cases occur each year in the United States, and most patients are between 50-70 years. The statistics show that men are usually affected, including more than whites of African-Americans.

Initially studied in the late 1700 in the study were actually only in the year 1960. Tumors of the Mesothelioms can benign or stupid. The clever mesothelioma are divided into three types:

• Epithelioid what 50-70% of mesothelioma.

• Sarcomatoid, representing 7-20%.

• variable or two-phase flow, was 20-35%.

When asbestos fibers are necessary in the lungs of her travels through the great avenues for the attainment of the small passages and the pleura them. In the pleura damage: mésothéliales cells, which lead to cancer, lung tissue caused lung cancer and the development of scar tissue in the lungs amiantose. When asbestos fibers are swallowed, through the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research has shown that the disease manifests itself after 20-50 years have been exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific for the disease, but a patient can develop:

• breathe.

• pain in the chest, for the sealing believes, by the accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

• The back pain.

• Enflure the face and the poor.

• Loss sensors.

• muscle weakness.

• nausea.

• vomiting.

• An unexplained weight loss can be.

• The after a dry cough.

• neck pain.

• anaemia.

• fever.

• constipation.

• The problems of coagulation.

Since the highest for benign disease, the patient is often not the symptoms. It is recommended to consult a doctor if any of these symptoms persist, or if you suspect that you are consciously or unconsciously asbestos.

A doctor:

• Do you have a medical history and tries to recognize the symptoms and risk factors.

• Make a complete physical examination and verification of characters:

O Épanchement pleural effusion, the accumulated fluid in the chest cavity.

O fluid in the abdominal cavity.

O pericardial, fluid in the wall of the heart.

• Take an X-ray of the lungs and in the review of the thickening of the pleura, the calcification, lung and cracks reduced.

• Ask for a computed tomography to determine the location, size and extent of the problem, if everything is suspected.

• Recommend tests samples of tissues and fluids pleural fibrosis.

Other risk factors are smoking a cigarette or cigar, the exposure to radiation that the exhibition of zeolite, which is comparable to asbestos or exposure to infections caused by virus simien 40, a virus simien.

Those who work in an environment, at risk, protective clothing, the surroundings are regularly tested to the asbestos particles in the air, and ensure that the medical tests regularly report to the doctor and very bad, the progress .

His awareness of the disease and its problems.

Mesothelioma treatment - surgery

The surgery is a major step in the confirmation, and knowing the type of cancer. It can be used in patients with the combination of radiation and chemotherapy used before and after surgery.

Pleurectomy:
The most common surgery for the treatment of Mesothelioma pleurectomy, in which doctors open the chest of the patient and remove excess liquid or a tumor from the wall of the lung (pleura). Although this method to control the accumulation of fluid and reduces the pain, it’s not a cure. However, if the tumor is in its original form and does not have much further, pleurectomy can increase the survival rate of patients when used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Moreover, a pleurectomy can in patients less than the approval of the conditions for the health and the death rate is lower than the extrapleuralen lung resection.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP):
Extrapleural lung resection (EPP) is a serious and invasive form of surgery, the patients on Mesothelioma. In this treatment is a part of the lung, pleura (the wall of the lung tissue), pericardium (lining of the heart) and the mid-aperture, so that the tumor cells are removed. He takes the progress of mesothelioma, which the patient to breathe without a problem. It is normally associated with patients who are in the early stages of the disease, and when the tumor in the chest cavity. EPP is recommended for patients with a good heart and lung conditions, so that the severity of post-operative term. Although the operation in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy promising results, there is no guaranteed cure. The studies have shown that patients with therapies extrapleuralen lung resection, and have an average life span of 35 months after surgery, compared to only 9 months pleurectomy. But some doctors question of surgery, to the high risks arising from the internal bleeding, blood clotting, inflammation of the lungs, the accumulation of pus, shortness of breath and even death. So many surgeons recommend that the idea pleurectomy place of the technical complexity of the EPP.

Thoracentèse:
A small surgery is often performed on patients who can not be expanded or EPP pleurectomy, thoracentèse. In thoracentèse, thoracic surgeon inserts a needle into the chest of the patient to remove the excess fluid accumulated in the wall of the lung (pleura). This method is still not the cancer cure, but the symptoms to alleviate painful mesothelioma. In some cases, talc or other officials with a patient in the vaults of the scar in the chest wall and to help them breathe properly, without the tumor to increase to a certain degree.

Paracentèse:
Paracentèse is a similar method, with a needle to the liquid, but the abdominal section of the body. It follows the same procedure for the recovery of the liquid mucosa of the stomach and other organs abdominal muscle training. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma paracentesis are responsible for the surgery.