Some Basic Details of a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Unfortunately, our world  is one in which exist a number of organizations and individuals who may injure a person through misconduct and negligence. Quite often, a mesothelioma lawsuit may seek compensation from more than one defendant. In fact, there have been many notable asbestos cases with 40 or more defendants. Defendants are selected based on past occupational and environmental risks. This is typical in a  mesothelioma lawsuit, because many individuals possess a history with several different manufacturers and employers. These relationships establish the basis of a client's (or plaintiff's) complaint that officially comprises the initiation of a mesothelioma lawsuit.

There are basically two plaintiff types in a mesothelioma lawsuit. These include one type, in which, the actual affected individual(s) begins a mesothelioma lawsuit in an effort to receive damages for their injuries. This type of mesothelioma lawsuit is known as a personal injury lawsuit for living victims of asbestos exposure. The second type involves family, such as a spouse or children, and is most frequently referred to as a wrongful death lawsuit. As the mesothelioma lawsuit progresses, each defending party will respond to the complaint entered in court. These answers are reviewed by the plaintiff and each party enters into a discovery process that may include a number of interrogatories, depositions, record releases and witness testimony; among other items.

The average mesothelioma lawsuit is settled before it goes all the way to trial. However, the progression of each case is an individual process that may continue through jury selection and perhaps, even hours before the actual jury trial is scheduled before a defendant offers a mesothelioma settlement. Often, the dates leading up to a trial are stressful and anxious for all involved parties.

Once a mesothelioma settlement is granted, payment may be provided in varying time frames. This is largely because many companies charged with misconduct are also paying damages to others for similar personal injuries. It is not unheard of, for payouts to occur in time periods spanning from several months to years after the agreed upon mesothelioma settlement. In some lamentable cases, a defendant may file bankruptcy, further prolonging the likelihood of payment delivery. There are also some lawsuits that result in a schedule of multiple payments for damages rendered.

Anyone that knows a mesothelioma victim should spend some time researching the potential for a personal injury or wrongful death case. Although a monetary settlement could never replace a loved one, it sometimes offers comfort to individuals facing this terminal illness, to know that their family will receive restitution that is substantial enough to make a positive impact in their lives. Trust the mesothelioma lawyers at Baron and Budd, P.C. for total guidance through the process of a mesothelioma lawsuit.

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Lung Cancer Expert Speaks Out About Number One Killer

When we consult our doctors about a cut, bruise, or potentially fatal concern, we have the expectation that our doctor will either resolve the problem or provide the necessary information to ease our concerns. Of course, when the news isn't pleasant we can at least be thankful to know the truth. Although some prefer not knowing about bodily issues, perhaps we all can agree that we would all like to know how we can easily prevent lung cancer.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the facts about lung cancer. It isn't just another cancer, it maintains an astonishingly high amount of deaths each year and isn't just a self-inflicted disease. Don't drift off, it's true. It's caused by more than just smoking. Dr. Leach, a leading lung specialist, has fortunately expressed his concerns and advice regarding lung cancer and ways of preventing this deadly disease.

Preliminary Facts

219,000 - People in U.S. diagnosed each year.
160,000 - Lung cancer deaths a year-- more than breast, colon and prostate COMBINED.
85% - Will die within five years of their initial diagnosis. (1/3-1/2 for breast & colon.)
$1,675 - On research per lung cancer death, 4 to 18 times less funding than others.
20,000 - 30,000 - Lung cancer patients who never smoked.

Explanation

These numbers may come as a surprise to most. What's more surprising to you-- the number of deaths each year amongst nonsmokers or the data comparison amongst other cancers?

Research helps. It's clear. The money that goes to researching colon, breast and other cancers has been improving survival rates and bringing hope to the hundreds of thousands suffering from such diseases. Where there's hope for these people, there's little hope for those with lung cancer.

Lung cancer has the worst survival rate at 15% which can be compared to the 77% survival rate for breast cancer and 50% survival rate for colon. These percentages coincide with the amount of money devoted to the respective cancer. There's $18,658 spent per breast cancer death, $13, 666 per prostate cancer death, and $5, 292 per colorectal cancer death. These figures don't even compare to the $1,675 per lung cancer death.

So why the vast difference in research and funding? Well, it's kind of a circular effect. Most people don't want to fund what's considered a self-inflicted disease. Unfortunately those 20-30,000 non-smokers have to suffer alongside the "self-inflicted." In addition, most researchers and doctors prefer to work where there's funding, so the outlook on this cancer needs to change and doctors need to consider how they can help the many battling this disease.

Oh, one more thing. The people in this group of non-smokers that die from this disease actually amount to more than the deaths from leukemia, ovarian cancer, or AIDS.

Radon Exposure is the Link

How are so many people suffering when they haven't even smoked? Something doesn't add up here. Dr. Joseph Leach works at Virginia Piper Cancer Institute as the medical director. He's also a part of the thoracic oncology program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. As his specialty is lung cancer, he serves as an advisor to the MN Department of Health on radon.

Radon? What does radon have to do with this? Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer amongst nonsmokers. It intoxicates our homes without our knowing. We cannot notice it because it can't be found using any of our senses. Since there isn't much funding or research being done, there aren't any tests such as the mammogram to help in the diagnosis. Most people don't know they have this form of cancer because it doesn't have many noticeable symptoms. Where Dr. Leach lives, in Minneapolis, it's been estimated that one in three homes has high risk levels of indoor radon levels.

Prevention

Although lung cancer is quite ramped and fatal, it is very easily preventable. By simply choosing not to smoke and by reducing your radon exposure you're practically eliminating the causes. This is where lung cancer has a bit of an advantage compared to other cancers. It can be easily prevented. So, in a sense, the other cancers need the research and funding. Lung cancer can be prevented!

Contact Timbercreek Northwest today and schedule radon testing in Idaho or Washington and then radon mitigation in WA or ID. The radon testing will indicate your home's radon levels and the radon mitigation will reduce the levels to a healthy amount. Samantha Walton currently works as a web content writer for home improvement sites. She's a college graduate with a B.A. in communication and a concentration in public relations. She's aspiring to one day further her education with a seminary degree. Her experience ranges from internships in marketing and public relations, content writing for local television broadcasts, to writing and editing newsletters, fliers, and other content for her local church. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Walton

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What Is Lung Cancer Ribbon Or Pearl Ribbon?

A fight against the destructive disease of lung cancer has increased with the gradual increase in the awareness programs. People are increasingly being made aware of the signs, symptoms and the causes of the disease with the major disastrous results. Every individual as per their convenience has raised a voice against the disease in order to eradicate it. The alarming figures of lung show a huge number of people dying due to it. The figures are to be decreased and this is possible only when we all stand together to fight against it. Such raising of your concern and awareness about lung cancer program is done by way of a ribbon. A pearl ribbon is the ribbon form used to raise awareness about lung cancer patients.

The pearl lung ribbon in a way shows support and empathy towards the cancer patients. The plain pearl color lung ribbon often motivates and increases the courage and patience of the patients to get rid of the cancer cells and to fight against it through their strong will power. The pearl ribbon not only makes people aware of the disease but also lets them realize that any other person can be affected by it including you and hence, you should support for the noble cause of fighting against it.

The cancer ribbon first of all serves the purpose of motivation and support amongst all. It evolves a feeling of unity among all the citizens in order to fight against the disease and lets the awareness program to be a successful one. It raises a ray of hope amongst all to dream of a better future by complete eradication of the disease.

Secondly the cancer ribbon helps in donating to the patients for their treatment as well. The buying of the ribbon helps in increasing the donation amount to the lung cancer patients. The minor amount of the ribbon contributes a lot to the treatment of an individual suffering from the disease and even offers mental support.

A cancer ribbon is worn on the left hand side of the arm slightly above the heart. This is believed to be the best part of the body for displaying the support for the cause. The ribbon wearers often are not aware of the people suffering from the disease but still in a way feel closer and offer support to the people going through the severe pain.

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Treatment Options And Prognosis Of Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered incurable. By the time the disease has reached this stage, it has spread beyond its original site into other areas of the body. While it can be treated, those who are diagnosed with it can hope only that the tumor goes into remission.

Lung cancer spreads when diseased cells detach themselves from a tumor, and migrate via the bloodstream. The most common sites of metastasis are the liver, brain, lymph nodes, and bones. Once NSCLC has spread beyond the lung, traditional procedures, such as wedge resections, lobectomies, and pneumonectomies, will not, by themselves, cure the disease. Other forms of treatment are required.

Below, we'll describe the symptoms that display with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. We'll also take a look at available treatment options, and the expected survival rate for those who are diagnosed with it.

Common Symptoms Of Metastatic NSCLC

Signs of metastasis differ from symptoms that present when a tumor is located in one or both lungs. With localized lung cancer, a persistent cough accompanied by bloody sputum is common. Difficulty taking deep breaths, hoarseness, and recurring bouts of infections, such as pneumonia, are also common. Depending on the tumor's location within the affected lung, it may exert pressure on the nerves, causing pain in the chest and arms.

Symptoms of metastatic lung cancer vary based on which part of the body has been exposed to the diseased cells. If the brain is affected, you may experience intense headaches, problems with your vision, and a loss of balance and coordination. These and other signs are similar to those that present in cases of stroke.

If the disease spreads to the bones, it can cause pain in the hips as well as throughout the back. It may feel similar to pulling a muscle in the beginning, but will worsen. If the tumor reaches the spine, you may have difficulty walking.

When NSCLC spreads to the lymph nodes, the nodes will usually swell. This, by itself, does not present any serious problems, but can cause hoarseness and noticeable swelling in the neck.

How Stage 4 NSCLC Is Treated

As mentioned earlier, stage 4 lung cancer cannot be resolved by surgery alone. Even if a surgeon is able to remove diseased tissue by performing a lobectomy, the tumor will have already spread elsewhere in the body. This means the disease can continue to metastasize. For this reason, chemotherapy is often used as a systemic approach to eliminating cancer cells.

The drawback of chemotherapy is that the chemicals do not discriminate between good and bad cells; they merely target those that divide more quickly than others. While this is an effective method for targeting cancer cells, therapy also damages good cells. This is the reason many patients experience side effects, such as hair loss and nausea.

Radiation therapy can also prove useful in treating stage 4 lung cancer. It is administered to help manage symptoms, as opposed to completely ridding the body of cancer cells. Rather than chemicals, this form of treatment directs radiation at targeted areas of the body.

Expected Survival Rate For Stage 4 Lung Cancer

By the time non-small cell lung cancer has reached stage 4, the patient has a 10 percent chance of survival after five years. There are, however, many factors that influence a person's life expectancy. For example, younger patients have a better chance of survival than older patients; your body's tolerance of chemotherapy and radiation therapy also play a role; and unrelated medical conditions, such as an arrhythmia, can lower your chances of survival.

There are clinical trials that may yield new treatments that extend the life expectancy of patients diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC. Your doctor can discuss these developmental treatment strategies with you to determine if you are a suitable candidate.

Because stage 4 lung cancer is incurable, early diagnosis is critical. If you suspect you may have the disease, consult your physician immediately.

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Friable Asbestos: The Real Culprit Behind Your Symptoms

What is friable asbestos?
In any discussion concerning asbestos and the physical symptoms that can be developed from it we need to understand what is mean't by the term friable. Asbestos is said to be "friable" when it is dry it can be crushed or pulverized thus reducing the mineral into a powderized state. The real danger that occurs when asbestos is crushed is that it can easily become air born. Once the tiny fibers of asbestos are air born they can be inhaled into the lungs and once in the lungs the whole chain of events begins to unfold which can lead to scarring, asbestosis and even mesothelioma.

What are some examples of friable asbestos?
Some common examples of friable asbestos products would be acoustic ceiling tiles, many types of plaster and wall board, sprayed on insulation on boilder pipes, insulation inside of boilers, insulation inside of hotwater heaters and many more. These items can all be pulverized and reduced to a powder that can easily become air born. A good example of non-friable asbestos would be vinyl floor tiles and asbestos siding and some shingles. Floor tiling is a product that often contains asbestos but as long as it is not sawn, ground or sanded it remains incapsulated and consequently remains non-friable.

What should I do if I encounter a material that I suspect may contain friable asbestos?
The first thing that you should do if you suspect the presence of asbestos is to have a sample of the product tested at an EPA approved asbestos lab. An excellent resource for just such an endeavor can be found at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html. This information rich site gives all the latest regulations concerning asbestos that have been approved by the EPA. Once you find this site you will see a link that will help you find an approved lab near your home or business. Once you have sent in your sample and it has been found to contain asbestos you should then use this same site to locate a professional asbestos abatement company. This is no job for the unlearned or naive. Once a material is determined to be friable it is labeled as regulated asbestos containing material (RACM). The safest way to deal with it is to let the professionals handle the removal. The cost of inhaling friable asbestos fibers is too high to take chances with your health. It is worth a little extra money to avoid serious asbestos symptoms.

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What Are Most Common Lung Cancer Causes?

All those reasons which are known as the causes of lung cancer. There are a lot of lung cancer's causes in number, but it is very tough to narrate them in shorter time with heavy detail. Here in the coming topics some very important, common and major causes of cancer are explained in a handsome detail, which guide us very nicely and properly in our health matter.

Details about Causes of Lung Cancer are as under;

Environment and its Smoke

The most major problem and cause of cancer exists in the human's body, is due to the polluted environment in which we are surrounded very badly. In our surrounding polluted environment a number of polluted and health effective things exist, which support the cancer in spreading and developing rapidly. The smoke in the environment is produced due to the transport, emitted from the factories, chemical burning and garbage burning, mix up with fresh and healthy oxygen, after that the air in which we breath is mostly become polluted. When we use this polluted and unpleasant mixture of air through our mouth and lymph system, then it affects our lungs directly with a great harm. It affects the lungs continuously and with the passage of time our lungs are caught with cancer. So in this way cancer in our lungs begins to spread and develop, which is predicted latter in our body by our Blood Testing Reports, X-ray and CT scan.

Cigarette's Smoke

Lung cancer causes

As it is quite clear that, smoke is the major cause of cancer, so the smoke which is created during the process of smoking causes the failure and break down of the lung's working and efficiency. It is observed after a series of cancer's survey that, about 70% cancer in the people causes due to the cigarettes, which is rapidly increasing day by day. As much the cigarettes will be smoked, so much the possibility of lung cancer increases in the human's body. Hence it is not bad to say that, cancer depends upon the smoking directly.

Lung Diseases and Cancer Transformation

A number of people are suffered from so many diseases, which may convert latter into the lung cancer symptoms. It is happened due to the regular dosing and high quality of treatment, after which the lung's diseases become much serious and adopt the disease lung cancer. Sometimes the cancer is transferred from parents to the kids, as by nursing the little babies and blood transformation.

Asbestos (Minerals Decomposition)

The animals, trees and other living things, buried thousand of years ago, when are decomposed naturally, an irritate smell and a lot of dangerous particles fly and mix in the air, from where these enter in our body through breathing. These poisoned particles attack our lungs directly and cause cancer.

Radon and Poisoned Gasses

A number of poisoned gasses are emitted from the air conditioners and some other sources, which are mostly order less, tasteless and also invisible. These poisoned gasses invade the human's body through breathing in the lungs and affect the lungs seriously. These poisoned gasses cause cancer very soon by damaging the healthy cells and tissues. A similar gas, named as Radon affects the human's body in very short time and 80% causes lung cancer in human. In this way cancer develops and spreads quite sharply in the body.

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Asbestos Symptoms - The Rich And Famous Are No Exception!

Asbestos symptoms became very apparent in the life of Steve McQueen who 25 years ago found it impossible to run 15 yards on a movie set without the benefit of an oxygen mask. McQueen was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and died a year later. In fact, most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma die within two years of that diagnosis!

McQueen had been exposed to asbestos in at least three different ways.

McQueen's first exposure to the deadly substance occurred in his younger years in the construction trades. In those days the cheap and abundant mineral was used in all kinds of plasters, sheetrock and adhesives just to name a few. His second exposure happened in the Marines where he was assigned the task of taking asbestos insulation off of steam pipes in large ships. This activity no doubt exposed him to copious amounts of friable asbestos. Finally, Steve McQueen had a lifelong love for auto racing. The helmets and suits for drivers was loaded with asbestos. McQueen surrendered to this deadly disease at age 50 after trying numerous therapies.

Rock stars, athletes and politicians have been victims of asbestos related illness.

A number of athletes have died from mesothelioma. Terry McCann was an Olympic champion wrestler who contracted asbestos over exposure while working in an oil refinery. Merlin Olsen was an all pro football player and famed sportscaster who contracted the illness after years of working with sheet rock in construction work. Congress Bruce Vento and Jimmy Carter Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan, both died of malignant mesothelioma. Bishop Ian Cundy and rock star Warren Zevon were victims too. Zevon could never directly identify his exposure point but this just shows how prevalent asbestos is in our environment.

There have been a few victims who beat the odds.

While it is true that most folks die within two years of diagnosis it is also true that there are exceptions. Stehen Gould, politician, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and lived 20 years. He died of an unrelated illness. It just goes to show you that one should never abandon hope.

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All About Mesothelioma Risk

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which is considered to be very rare. This type of cancer occurs in protective lining, which is responsible for covering internal organs of the body called Mesothelioma. There are basically 3 types of Mesothelioma:

• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma
• Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Among all different types of Mesothelioma, pleural Mesothelioma is the most common one. More than 70% people are suffering from this type. Pleural Mesothelioma attacks on the lungs.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

This type of Mesothelioma cancer occurs in the peritoneum. It attacks towards the abdominal cavity. However, it is less common as compared to the pleural Mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

This type of Mesothelioma cancer occurs in pericardium and attacks at the heart. However, this type is least common.

The main recognized cause of this disease is Asbestos. It works in such a way so that the people who are exposing to the asbestos will develop the symptoms of Mesothelioma in upcoming future and not immediately. Many experts often suggest that the smokers are more vulnerable to Mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma:

Most of the patients of Mesothelioma do not notice any kind of symptoms in the earliest stages/months. Mesothelioma can only be detected by the regular medical checkups. Also many people confuse with the symptoms of Mesothelioma with the regular and common ailments. The symptoms of pleural Mesothelioma are:

• Fever
• Back pain
• Chest pain
• Muscle weakness
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Breath shortness
• Decrement in sensory capabilities
• Swallowing trouble in arm and face
• Hoarseness
• Coughing up blood
• Continuous cough

The main symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma are:

• Creation of fluid in abdominal cavity
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Weight loss

The main symptoms of pericardial Mesothelioma are:

• Night sweats
• Fever
• Trouble in breathing
• Chest pain
• Irregularities heartbeats
• Heart palpitations

Mesothelioma risk factors:

One of the most common risk factor of Mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. People who work in the place surrounding asbestos are more vulnerable towards Mesothelioma. Also the people who are exposed to the thorium dioxide are also vulnerable. Some experts also suggest that x-ray substances or also responsible for peritoneal andpleural Mesothelioma. People who are constantly in touch with Zeolite are also at a great risk. Zeolite is a mineral which is mostly found in Turkey's Anatoli region. Some medical experts also believe that there is a connection between the simian virus 40 and Mesothelioma. However, cases are still debatable. Tobacco, which is said not to be a direct responsible for this disease but the combination of the people who consume it and people who works in surrounding of asbestos are 50% more vulnerable to Mesothelioma.

Though Mesothelioma cancer is a rare type of cancer, but it doesn't mean that it is any less dangerous. As of now there is no proper cure for Mesothelioma and the problem with this disease is people are not able to find it in the early stages. This disease mostly takes the life of the people in just 2 years. The only key by which you can fight with this type of disease is to regularly go for doctors for diagnosis.

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Why You Want A Pitbull For An Attorney Instead Of A Poodle

Mesothelioma may be a form of cancer, but that doesn't mean there aren't legal issues involved. Mesothelioma lawyers specialize in making the connection to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma may be a very rare form of cancer, but that doesn't mean it isn't associated with an exposure to a certain substance. By now, you know what that substance is - asbestos. You might be surprised to learn that the correlation between exposure to the substance and the occurrence of the cancer is not absolute. That being said, it is sufficient that courts have unilaterally found manufacturers of asbestos liable for subsequent cancer results.

The issue in Mesothelioma lawsuits usually boils down to two issues. The first is identifying when exposure took place. If you can't prove exposure, you surely can't prove any defendant in particular should be at fault. The second factor is causation. Exposure isn't enough. You must also show that the exposure resulted in the eventual Mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma lawyers are old hands at these issues. The same defenses come up in every case, so they develop strategies for dealing with those defenses. Mesothelioma lawyers have private investigators and staff that will back track through time to find out where and when exposure occurred. It might have been while working in a shipyard or perhaps laying water pipes for a city. Yes, water pipes were actually lined with asbestos for years. Perhaps the exposure occurred when you or your loved one was working on building a school that incorporated asbestos products such as popcorn ceiling, siding, roof shingles or tile.

Once the exposure has been nailed down, Mesothelioma lawyers have the medical experts that are critical to building the causation side of the case. The issues become very technical, but the basic idea is you must show that exposure resulted in some harm. In this case, that is obviously Mesothelioma. Ah, but is one day of exposure enough to trigger it? How about 5? How about 25? Only a crafty lawyer can make the complex medical issues clear to a jury or judge.

Mesothelioma lawyers are experts in their field. They usually offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis. If you believe asbestos exposure has occurred, contact one of these Mesothelioma lawyers today.

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Lung Cancer Symptoms - Early Warning Signs and Symptoms

Lung cancer is a form of disease wherein the cell tissues of the lungs of the body start growing invariably and continuously. Mostly, the growth of cell tissues is uncontrollable. This cancer is one of the most commonly found types of cancer often resulting into death. One of the major causes of lung stated is smoking. Smoking results in 87% of chances of cancer. Early detection of cancer leaves us with some hope of positive treatment. In order to detect lung cancer at the earliest possible stage, a person should be well aware of the lung cancer symptoms.

The most common cancer symptoms are as follows:

Dyspnea refers to problems related to inhalation of breath. Shortness of breath is the earliest stage cancer symptoms. Dyspnea is when the cancer patient feels problem during the inhalation and exhalation of breath. The patient feels choked and is unable to breathe properly for a short period of time.

Hemoptysis is when the patient ends up coughing blood. Along with frequent coughs, the patient outbursts blood while coughing. This is the most common cancer symptoms and is an alert alarm as well for the patient to realize that the conditions are getting worse.

Continuous coughing problems over a long period of time which shows no proper results even after proper medication can be other cancer symptoms. Coughing problems in a cancer patient though are regular but it follows no regular patterns. It can increase and decrease as per on its own.

Chest pain is one of the major forms of cancer symptoms noticed. Every lung cancer patient complaints of continuous chest pain or pain in the lower part of the abdomen. Severe or unbearable pain is an indicator of worse scenario of lung cancer effects.

Cachexia or loss of weight is a serious indicator of cancer. Fatigue or feeling of nausea generally gives an indication of severe cancer cases. Rigorous loss of appetite on it even worsens the scenario. It is amongst the most alarming cancer symptoms in a patient.

Dysphagia refers to the state where the patients feel difficulty in swallowing. Pain while swallowing food and even swallowing the saliva down becomes difficult for the patients. Dysphagia though can be treated by medicines but does not affect the cancer treatment positively.

So, next time you notice a patient with similar symptoms, make sure you get him checked by the doctor as soon as possible.

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Asbestos: What Is It and How It Can Harm You

Asbestos comes from a Greek word that means inextinguishable or unquenchable. Six of the earth's naturally occurring silicate minerals combine to form asbestos. The properties that these six silicate minerals share include their asbestiform shape and their crystals which are long, slender and fibrous. Because of its excellent absorptive quality, good enough tensile strength and good resistance to damages from electrical, heat and chemical assaults, asbestos was a very famous and sought after component of manufacturers and builders alike during the 19th century. These properties are still very much valued by manufacturers of today. As of 2006, Russia has emerged as the biggest producer of asbestos, coming up with 40.2% of the entire output of the world. China came in 2nd with 19.9% of the world's share, Kazakhstan 3rd with 13.0%, followed by Canada and Brazil with 10.3% and 9.9% respectively of the world's share. A staggering estimate of about 2.3 million tons of asbestos is being mined in the world as of the present.

Asbestos is composed of six different types of minerals. These minerals are classified under one of two classes, namely chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos is derived from serpentinite rocks. These are the most commonly used asbestos fibers in the world. These fibers are valued for their curly fibers that allow it to be more flexible than its amphibole counterpart. Chrysotile asbestos is popularly being used for joint compound, as a component of cement for corrugated roof sheets of buildings, as part of pipe linings, as sealants for ropes in boilers, for insulation, and brake linings as well. Due to its flexible nature, it is also commonly spun and woven into fabric. Its myriad of uses however has been severely limited in several countries including the USA and a lot of European nations since the discovery of its potency as a health hazard.

Amphibole asbestos on the other hand has fibers that are straight and needle-like. These are mostly found in the south of Africa. Some of the natural sources of amphibole asbestos can also be found in Australia. Amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite are the five types of asbestos that fall under the amphibole class. These are usually used as a component of ceiling tiles and in the production of insulation boards that are of low density. Amphibole asbestos also serves as an important ingredient in fire retardants in commercially produced thermal insulation products. Examples of these thermal insulation products include gaskets, laggings, limpet sprays and fire-rated doors.

Aside from their differences in fiber configuration, these two classes of asbestos also vary in the degree of potency for a health hazard that they pose. Studies have shown that the amphibole class of asbestos has a higher degree of potential for causing malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease as compared to its chrysotile counterpart. Specifically the amosite and crocidolite variants have been touted as the most hazardous to humans due to their ability to persist for longer periods of time in the lungs. All the types of asbestos have also been found to cause the development of tumors in humans and animals alike. Malignant mesothelioma is the most commonly caused tumor.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is valued for its flexibility and potential for a myriad of uses. However, due to its high degree of potency as a health hazard, its uses have been severely limited. Its use has even been banned entirely in a number of countries.

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Asbestos: History of Health Concerns

The human race's use of asbestos has been riddled with controversies, much of which can be attributed to the numerous accounts of its high degree of potency as a health hazard.

Long before the start of the 20th century had even dawned, countless stories coming out of Greece and Rome have chronicled the mysterious "breathing" illness that had afflicted slaves who were assigned the task of weaving asbestos cloth. In the late 1890s, the suspicious death of around 50 asbestos workers in France prompted what would be known as the first ever study that delved into the possible health risk of asbestos. The result of the study however showed that the workers died from a generalized pneumoconiosis known as chalicosis. The fact that these workers were heavily exposed to a combination of asbestos and cotton dust could not be denied however.

In the first decade of the 1900s, the stories about the health risks of asbestos were anecdotal at best. At this time, asbestos was already considered as a dust hazard. But the gravity of the seriousness of it being a health hazard has not been recognized yet by the industrial sector. The 1920s saw the first wave of recognition about the health hazards of continued asbestos use. A British pathologist by the name of Dr. Cooke reported several cases of chronic bronchitis and fibrosis that he found in post-mortem examinations of lungs of asbestos workers. He gave this disease the name, asbestosis.

Dr. Cooke's findings were then followed by a large nationwide investigation into the health of some 360 of Britain's industrious asbestos textile workers. It was revealed that about a fourth of these workers suffered from pulmonary fibrosis. The results of this investigation resulted in the improvement of regulations regarding the manufacture of asbestos containing products as well as resulted in the implementation of hygiene standards in the factories, and the institution of requisite medical exams in the workplace. The asbestos industry also came to be included into the British Worker's Compensation Act. This unprecedented nationwide investigation came to be known as the Merewether report.

In the USA, the use of asbestos has also been very much marred with much controversies involving hundreds of millions of dollars exchanged between companies and workers. In the early 1930s, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company revealed that about 29% of the workers at Johns-Manville plant were suffering from asbestosis. The lawsuits that followed were settled out of court. A few years later, a group of asbestos companies agreed to sponsor research studies that will look into the hazardous effects of asbestos exposure to human health. These same companies however insisted that they have complete control over the disclosure of the results of the study.

It wasn't until the 1980s that modern regulation regarding the use of asbestos saw the light of day. An Asbestos Ban and Phase out Rule was issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1989. Two years later however this ruling was overturned in the case of Corrosion Proof Fittings vs. the EPA. To this day, trace amounts of asbestos can still be legally found in a number of products in the market. The EPA has put out a concentration limit of 7M fibers/L of drinking water for fibers with lengths of >=5 um. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a lower and more stringent limit at 100,000 fibers /m3 of workplace effective for 8 hour shifts within a 40 hour/week schedule. Other countries such as New Zealand and Australia followed suit issuing bans on the importation of asbestos in 1984 and 1991 respectively.

Controversy will forever surround the use of asbestos. It is up to individual countries to make sure that effective regulatory laws are in place to help keep in check the extent of its use and to ensure the safety of workers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seomul_Evans

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Lung Cancer Awareness in the Month of November

Making people aware of the disastrous results of lung cancer is very essential. The gradually increasing figure of the disease is presenting an alarming situation which can later turn out to be a major problem. Though, various treatments are offered by the doctors for the patients suffering from it, prevention is any day better than cure. One of the major prevention techniques can be taken by us. Its awareness program are always helpful in letting people know the causes, signs and symptoms behind the disease. It even helps to fight against it.

The month of November is celebrated as the lung cancer awareness month. During this month people are made aware on how to fight back against the disease and the major reasons behind. Smoking is considered to be the major cause for the disease. 50% of people suffering from cancer are believed to be chain smokers whereas 10% to 15% are believed to be non- smokers. The chance of cancer is 1:13 men and for the women the ratio is of 1:16. Making people aware of the disease is to be done on a large scale.

The symptoms for the diseases are chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing of blood, weight loss, hoarse voice, and difficulty in swallowing or gulping food. These are the major symptoms which when seen should be immediately referred by the doctors. People must be aware of the symptoms. The earlier the symptoms are detected, the chances of survival increase the more.

These awareness program includes the stages involved during the disease. It has four major forms of stages. Each stage has its own criticality and the treatment method varies in every stage. The final stage is the most crucial and is termed as a hopeless stage. The chances of treating the patient are the least during this stage.

The treatment measures offered in the lung cancer awareness cell include the surgery and the diagnosis part. These awareness program offers a varied form of information on all the factors of the disease. Surgery and Diagnosis are the most used forms of treatment measures. Apart from this, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy are also used in some critical cases.

Lung cancer awareness cell or program measures have always helped an individual in understanding the major concepts related to the disease and have helped eradicating the disease in various forms. Every year the month of November experiences such a facet of people ready to fight against lung cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_J_Anderson

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Asbestosis - How "Coffin Nails" Can Really Become Coffin Nails

Asbestos causes a host of health problems. One that doesn't get as much hype is asbestosis. In this article, we take a look at asbestosis and smoking.

Asbestos is a wondrous natural material. How so? It is incredibly heat and fire resistant. As a result, it has been used throughout history in products and building materials wherever heat and fire have been a concern. This includes in boiler rooms on Naval ships, in brake pads on cars and in construction materials like ceiling tile, siding, insulation and so on.

Asbestosis is not a form of cancer. There is a lot of confusion on this issue. Instead, it is a scarring of the lungs. This occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs and become embedded higher up in the lungs. The body cannot expel the fibers through coughing and scarring starts to occur. While asbestosis is not a form of cancer, it can lead to lung cancer particularly where other risk factors are present.

As you can probably guess, smoking is one of the key risk factors when evaluation the risk of lung cancer. Consistent smoking weakens and damages the lung material. In combination with the scarring from the asbestos fibers, this leaves the lungs in horrific condition, one so bad that the onset of lung cancer becomes much more likely. How much more? Try 50 percent more likely.

Now, there is a flip side to this equation. What if you smoke now and are exposed to asbestos? Is it a death sentence? No. According to the National Cancer Institute, you drop the chance of your getting lung cancer by a huge 50 percent if you stop smoking. Yes, another reason for you to stop firing up those coffin nails.
I smoked for years. I was never exposed to asbestos. At least I hope not. You can quit if you really want to. If you've been exposed to asbestos, the question is not whether you want to quiet smoking, but whether you want to keep living. Smoking while around asbestos is damn near committing suicide. Don't do it!

Thomas Ajava writes about asbestosis and smoking as well as other Mesothelioma issues for MesotheliomaAttorneyAssistance.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Ajava

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An Inspirational Mesothelioma Success Story - How We Are Proving This Deadly Cancer Is Beatable

There are countless books & stories online of how people have beaten all types of cancer without the need for orthodox treatments, yet stories of success against mesothelioma remain relatively rare & hard to come by. This is the main reason for sharing our experiences & success, in the hope of reaching the attention of those who need to know that mesothelioma by no means has to be the equivalent of their death sentence.
The main cause of mesothelioma relates to exposure to asbestos, with 1 in 10 people having previous asbestos exposure at some time later in life developing pleural mesothelioma. Around 80% of all people diagnosed with mesothelioma can recall being exposed to asbestos at some time in their lives & it is the presence of these asbestos fibres within the body which makes this such an aggressive form of cancer & a complicated one to beat.

Anyone who has themselves been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or who may be supporting a loved one will be well aware that the medical prognosis is not good. The average life expectancy from diagnosis is around 9-18 months, with a sharp decline in health & quality of life to be expected. As far as the reason for this disease taking a hold so many years after asbestos exposure remains somewhat of a mystery, perhaps a decline in the strength of the immune system or certain nutrients within the body which assist in the protection of our cells, which comes with age? A fairly likely explanation, yet how come so many people who have worked daily with asbestos over such a long period of time never develop mesothelioma, when others whose contact with asbestos may have only been brief end up developing this deadly disease? Are those who do not get mesothelioma simply lucky, or healthier than those who do? Well in my opinion the underlying causes here run far deeper than medical understanding & whilst it is possible that lifestyle factors may play a big role in the cause, we must consider that everything happens for a reason in this life & as for the outcome, well there is always a choice.

Just because one person (your oncologist) tells you this is how your life is now going to be & that you must accept this & prepare for what lies ahead, such as booking into a home etc. does not mean that this has to be the case. Even if you go get a second, third or even fourth opinion from other doctors - remember they all studied from the same textbooks, so to speak. They may well deal with people every day in similar circumstances but they too are likely to only be as good as what these people tell them, they do not know where else to turn. The answers you seek do exist; they just lie elsewhere & are in fact far simpler than most people would care to believe.

Our story

Our story began on the 11th February 2010, when the confusion over what was actually wrong with my Dad came to a close. He had gone to the doctors a while before having had difficulty breathing & after being referred for further tests & scans had already been wrongly diagnosed twice. The first suspicion was lung cancer, but then they called him in & revealed that the growth was in fact in front of his lung & so posed much less of a threat as it should be much easier to treat. We, as his family had raised hopes, only for them to be crushed beyond belief. As all those in similar situations will well know, this is the most harrowing time, to discover that the person or one of the people you love most in this world & have so much respect for is to face such a horrific & tragic end. It just does not seem right or fair in any way whatsoever, plus it always seems to be the good people in the world that such things happen to. My Dad has always been very successful, worked hard all his life & most of all his family are the world to him, he would truly do anything for us, yet we were supposed to stand back & just watch him suffer until he became almost helpless. "I don't think so!" After a week or so of being completely inconsolable, my anguish turned to determination. I became sure that there were answers out there somewhere, I just had to find them somehow & so I got to work. I spent full days, for weeks on end reading & learning all about cancer from various perspectives & mainly at cellular level & combined this with my own spiritual insight & guidance to gain an understanding of how this could be overcome. In the meantime my Dad had decided to go with the recommendation of his oncologist for a course of chemotherapy, a decision which he would come to regret somewhat. Apart from the awful suffering he had to undergo as part of the side effects of this treatment, it was completely unsuccessful & had no effect whatsoever on the growth of his tumour. After all he had been through this news left him feeling very down & depressed & in acceptance of what was to become his fate. To make matters worse fluid was building up on his lungs making him fell very tired & breathless & poorly. He was admitted to hospital for the removal of the fluid & at this point was in a very bad way. They removed 3 litres of fluid from his left lung & for the week following the procedure he was in immense pain & was unable to leave his hospital bed; it was a terrible time for us all as it was such an awful thing to witness. I think that having gone through all this was what made my Dad turn the corner; he had had enough pain & more than enough suffering now & was prepared to try anything if it meant he did not have to go through any more. The week after he came home from the hospital he began the protocol I had designed for him & the improvement began almost immediately.

The fundamental principles to success 

Although mesothelioma, due to the presence of asbestos fibres in whichever area of the body where the cancer is located, is slightly more complicated than other types of cancer; it is still cancer & cancer cells of any kind function in the same way. They need a supportive environment in which to survive, they are alive & all living things can survive only in certain conditions, when these necessities for survival are removed, they will perish. It is rather like a plant; you put the plant in a closed cupboard, therefore denying it of sunlight & it will get weaker, even if you still water it, it cannot survive without sunlight as this provides a source of energy which the plant converts to chlorophyll. This is the process which enables the plant to function at optimal health & therefore allowing it to thrive.

Both healthy cells & cancer cells need to produce energy to survive, they just happen to have complete opposite methods in achieving this. A healthy cell is aerobic, it uses oxygen to produce energy; a cancer cell in anaerobic & hates oxygen. Instead cancer cells produce energy through the intake of glucose. Already there is one clear method emerging through which we can weaken the cancer cells & boost the performance of our healthy cells; starve the cancer cells of glucose & get oxygen to our cells.

We can easily starve cancer cells of glucose by not eating any sugar! In practice, however, this is slightly more complicated than cutting out the two sugars in your coffee. Everything you buy which is pre-packaged contains sugar, from ready meals to baked beans -EVERYTHING! Anything such as fizzy drinks claiming to be sugar free should be avoided anyway for other reasons.

Cancer cells like high acidity levels, therefore foods which are acidic should also be avoided. The main area for confusion here exists around certain fruits, which may be loaded with cancer fighting nutrients, yet are acidic. My advice would be to cut out fruit for the first few weeks of your alternative treatment plan & then introduce it gradually. Blueberries & pomegranates are good ones, as are all berries due to their antioxidant properties. Bananas must be completely avoided though. An inexpensive way to neutralise the body's pH levels is to dilute a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water & drink 1/2 hr. before meals. Be careful to ensure the baking soda you purchase does not contain aluminium.

The intake of cancer killing nutrients & the protection of healthy cells can also be achieved to a large extent through diet. It is advisable to compliment the diet with certain supplements which will help replace the nutrients known to be deficient in mesothelioma sufferers & to help boost the immune system, as well as overall health. When selecting your supplements please be careful; many supplements manufactured today are Genetically Modified, always try to find ones composed of completely natural ingredients. I have a list of recommended sources on my website.

It is vital that when attempting to beat mesothelioma, or any other type of cancer, that you are aware of everything you put into your body; it is either fighting cancer or feeding it. It is therefore essential that a cancer diet is strictly adhered to. There are many interpretations of what people consider to be the best foods to eat & avoid as part of the cancer diet, my advice would be to just be sensible about what you eat. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

· NO SUGAR or artificial sweeteners - for the reasons mentioned above.
· Avoid acidic foods - the reasons for this I have already mentioned.
· No Dairy - There are a number of reasons for this; dairy produce is mucus forming & cancer cells love mucus, also the animals are injected/ fed with chemicals which enable them to produce milk all year round. (My Dad substitutes dairy with organic goat produce.)
· No Meat - A little organic chicken once per week is fine.
· No Bread - Contains sugar & yeast.
· Avoid Soya - Many health experts are advising to avoid soya due to the discovery that it is GM modified, in most cases.
· Eat Organic - I am sure most people are aware of the dangers imposed on our health through the use of pesticides & other additives for preservation purposes etc.
· Eat your Greens - Green, leafy vegetables are a good source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has so many benefits to our physical health & our connection with spirituality.
· Eat raw - Most of us have heard about how cooking destroys many of the valuable nutrients found in fruit & veg. Well this is true & even if a completely raw food diet does not appeal to you, try to at least achieve a substantial intake of raw vegetables each day. The best way to do this is to buy a good quality juicer, preferably one which also juices grasses. Carrots, beetroot & asparagus make excellent ingredients for your juices.
· Grasses - Wheatgrass & Baleygrass have a vast array of benefits for fighting cancer & can be added to your raw vegetable juices for increased potency. I would also recommend Chlorella Powder, as chlorella is the best source of chlorophyll that exists. In addition to this it contains every single nutrient in the human body in their natural form, its cells are almost identical to that of haemoglobin & it purifies the blood & is excellent for detoxification.
· Oils - Good quality oils such as extra virgin olive oil, not the regular cooking oils, can be used to dress salads & for cooking. They are an excellent source of good calories & are very good for those struggling with weight loss, as well as having various other health benefits.

The Budwig Diet

This should be an integral part of every cancer patient's regime & it has been used to cure many cancer patients, even many with just weeks left, thanks to the work of Dr. Joanna Budwig, who dedicated her life to healing people with cancer through her discovery of the amazing benefits of organic cottage cheese & flax seed oil against this disease. She actually proved this recipe to be effective against many, many other diseases as well & her life's work is still remembered & used by thousands of people with varying conditions worldwide today. The Budwig diet is well known about in Germany, the birth country of Dr. Joanna Budwig, but is less commonly known of in other parts of the world.

Preparation instructions

You will need:
Organic Cottage Cheese
Organic Flax Seed Oil
1 tsp Organic Honey
Blender

Preparation:
Spoon your organic cottage cheese into a blender & add the flax oil. The correct ratio for these ingredients is:
2 parts organic cottage cheese: 1 part organic flax seed oil
Add 1 tea spoon of organic honey to sweeten.
Blend for up to 5 mins. or until the ring of oil has completely disappeared from round the edge.
Serve.
Can be refrigerated to store.
Serving Suggestions: For a great cancer-fighting snack or dessert serve on a bed of fresh blueberries, raspberries or with dried acai berries.

The belief factor

We have discussed about the importance of diet & nutrition, the next thing which is equally important is "Belief!"
I can understand that initially it may be very difficult to have every faith in the renewal of your health, especially given the outlook from your oncologist's perspective. I guarantee, though, that once you begin with your cancer diet & especially with the addition of some powerful healing & cancer fighting supplements the effects will be felt very quickly & then you may just begin to believe in your ability to overcome this.
Even the most sceptical people about alternative treatments, if they just give the diet & a few supplements a try, they will have to admit in the end that it is doing them good; I know this because my Dad was the ultimate skeptic on such forms of treatment, but now he would never stop what he is doing & is keen to do more & more of it.

Making plans for the future & starting projects are an excellent idea; you are accepting you will be here & in good enough health to see them through & 'you are now believing!'

Emotional blockages to recovery

In addition to believing & having faith in your recovery, there are more often than not other emotional issues which need addressing.
Stress is the main obstacle here & in many cases of mesothelioma, more generally cancer, prolonged periods of intense stress & worry may have been a direct cause. When we suffer over a long period of time with such intense levels of stress & we see no way out, our immune system actually starts to shut down. It is almost like you are telling your body, through the intensity of your thoughts, that you see no escape from your circumstances & your body hears, as well as senses your anguish & so it answers your pleas & begins to provide you with a way out; it begins to shut down the effective functioning of your immune system & so disease has the door opened for its take-over. This will not be the case for everyone, yet it does give a viable explanation as to why 40 years or so after asbestos exposure, this disease may suddenly take a hold. The immune system has the ability to repair damage to cells & keep their healthy functioning in check, whether the cause is stress related or possibly due to poor lifestyle habits it does make perfect sense that in some way it has been compromised for cancer to begin to grow within the body.

Even if you do not believe that stress played any direct role in the cause of mesothelioma for you personally, the above does give a good indication of how negative its impact can be on your health & therefore all stress must be completely eliminated from everyday life.

Another possible emotional blockage can be one that relates to issues from childhood. Sometimes, even if this is rooted deep down in the subconscious, when life situations occur which reminds you of these issues from childhood they can cause emotional imbalance, which needs to be resolved.

A new start

You may find that being diagnosed with such a serious illness such as mesothelioma, especially if you choose an alternative treatment path, will cause you to address so many areas of your life & develop a completely new relationship with so many of the things you had previously never given a second thought about. The main one perhaps being food & just what a 'treat' may now be classed as; a chocolate role which can cause you so much harm or a fresh carrot juice, which will give you an almost instant lift & continued intake will be assisting in the saving of your life! It is time to realise the true purpose of food & its amazing potential for fighting disease & maintaining good all round health, not for just tasting nice for the time it is in your mouth!
Overcoming cancer is an extremely spiritual process & you will likely find yourself rediscovering your faith in the spiritual, or perhaps discovering it for the first time. Prayer should be practiced every day & your bond with the powers greater than yourself will strengthen & assistance & guidance will granted to you through prayer.

Many things & aspects of your life will perhaps take on a new meaning, embrace this & know that it is all part of the learning experience you were given & that you will emerge all the wiser, stronger & happier when you can turn round & look back on all this with your health renewed.

Following my extensive research & experience in the trial of various products for treating cancer, I now wish to share some of the very best ones I have come across with those attempting to beat cancer themselves, or wishing to help a loved one.

For further information & details of my latest top product recommendations please see my Cancer Protocol or my Mesothelioma Protocol

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Sharpe

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Mesothelioma Vaccine

Cancer vaccines of any sort generally fall under the broader category of immunotherapy. Vaccines are best described as medicines that are designed to boost the body's natural immune system and protect it against bacteria or viruses that can cause disease. Most individuals are familiar with the vaccines that are administered to babies or young children. They are given to stop the development of certain diseases like whooping cough and tetanus. Cancer vaccines can do that, too; however, there are others that are also designed to keep an existing cancer from spreading. Two mesothelioma prevention cancer vaccines are now available in the U.S. but treatment vaccines are still in the developmental stages and many are currently being tested in clinical trials.
According to the National Cancer Institute, a mesothelioma vaccine - or one that is used for the treatment of any other type of cancer - must achieve two goals. It has to stimulate certain immune responses and direct them against the target, i.e. the cancer cells; and it must be powerful enough to overcome the barriers that cancer cells use to protect themselves from attack. As scientists discover how cancer cells can escape recognition by the body's immune system, they can better develop treatment vaccines that will meet these goals.

In March 2010, a group of Dutch doctors and researchers announced that they had developed the first vaccine for mesothelioma and reported their findings in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The Dutch vaccine employs the use of tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells to stimulate the immune system, causing the body to produce mesothelioma-specific antibodies.

Treatment with this vaccine on clinical trial participants was achieved via a series of three vaccinations administered intradermally and intravenously over a two week period after mesothelioma chemotherapy. Results showed a positive effect in 80 percent of the individuals who participated. Side effects included a skin rash and flu-like symptoms for approximately 48 hours after the vaccines were given.

The results of the study indicated that the sooner the malignant mesothelioma patient receives the vaccine, the greater the chance of eliminating their disease. It's a very positive step in the right direction for mesothelioma cancer victims worldwide.

Sources

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/cancer-vaccines
Birmingham Science News Examiner
http://www.examiner.com

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Mesothelioma And Women

Traditionally, malignant mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer that affects men much more often then women. This is not because women are less genetically pre-disposed to the disease but merely because, historically, men more often worked at asbestos jobsites that put them in contact with dangerous asbestos. That said, however, mesothelioma disease has indeed been diagnosed in women, though on-the-job exposure is often not the reason for the development of the disease.

Some studies have also demonstrated that women who develop mesothelioma are much more likely to acquire peritoneal mesothelioma, the abdominal form of the disease, with the mesothelioma risk factors increasing five-fold with increasing exposure. This is noted in a study published in the journal, Chest. The reasons why are not clear but studies continue in hopes of discovering the answer to this question.

Reasons for Mesothelioma in Women

Because many women were part of the work force during World War II, some of them were regularly exposed to asbestos in shipyards, factories, and other places where they contributed to the war effort, and some of these women developed mesothelioma. These cases were indeed a result of direct exposure to asbestos.

Many of the women who are diagnosed with mesothelioma, however, have been deemed victims of second-hand asbestos exposure. This means they had no direct exposure to the toxic mineral but were perhaps subject to exposure by an indirect means. Generally, this occurred most often during the years when men worked in chemical plants, oil refineries, power plants, steel mills and factories that made widespread use of asbestos. The men - often husbands or fathers of the women who would later develop mesothelioma - would bring asbestos dust home on their clothes and the fibers would be inhaled by others living in the home. Often, these victims were the women who would wash their clothes. As a matter of fact, a 1997 study conducted by Durham (VA) and Duke University Medical Centers was able to identify a history of asbestos exposure in about 75 percent of the women who participated in their study; more than half of those 75 percent had suffered exposure due to household contact with asbestos workers.

In some cases, though rarely in the United States, women are exposed to naturally-occurring asbestos. This is asbestos that is found in the ground and is usually of the very toxic amphibole variety. This accounts for a high rate of mesothelioma cancer in countries like Turkey and its surrounding areas, where asbestos is abundant.

Sources

Malignant mesothelioma in women. Anat Pathol. 1997;2:147-63.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9575374

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Child Mesothelioma

Because it has a lengthy latency period and is primarily associated with industrial exposure, mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer that is usually suffered by older men; average age at the time of diagnosis is sixty-five.
Malignant mesothelioma is extremely rare in children, but has been known to occur. A study carried out and published in the late 1980s examined eighty children who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma; however, only five percent of these subjects had a known history of asbestos exposure. Of the eighty children studied, four had been knowingly exposed to asbestos, while one had received radiation treatments and another had suffered from prenatal exposure to a drug known as isoniazid, which is used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
It was later determined that only ten of the children actually had mesothelioma cancer; others had been diagnosed with other forms of cancer. Six were boys, and eight had the pleural variety. Two of the children were mesothelioma survivors until the age of nineteen.

In another study, the cases and death certificates of 42,597 children who had died of childhood cancer in the U.S. during the 1960s were examined and reviewed. Of these, only 31 had been diagnosed with mesothelioma disease, and less than half of those could be confirmed by hospital records. Unfortunately, there was no history of asbestos exposure in any of the thirteen confirmed mesothelioma cases.
This does not mean that asbestos played no part in the children's disease; secondary exposure and genetic predisposition all play a large part in mesothelioma, and fetal exposure is not unknown. Childhood mesothelioma however remains the rarest form of this disease.

Sources

Cooper SP, et. al. "Epidemiologic Aspects of Childhood Mesothelioma." Pathology and Immunopathology Research Vol. 8:276-286 (1989)
Fraire AE, et. al. "Mesothelioma of Childhood." Cancer, Volume 62 Issue 4, Pages 838-847 (June 2006)
Grundy, Gordon W., et. al. "Malignant Mesothelioma in Childhood. Report of 13 Cases." Cancer, Volume 30 Issue 5, Pages 1216-1218 (June 2006)

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