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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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Mesothelioma Prognosis

When an individual is diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other kind of cancer, one of the first questions they will have is “How long do I have to live?” This is a scary question - and a hard one to ask - but one for which most cancer patients will eventually seek an answer.
It is often very difficult for oncologists and members of a patient’s medical team to give a definitive answer to this query. Indeed, every case is different and cancer can be an unpredictable disease. Sometimes, cases that look hopeless turn out to be not so bleak. In other cases, cancers that don’t look so bad progress quickly and result in an untimely death.
Overall, the prognosis has been rather grim for meso patients during these past few decades. Malignant mesothelioma is extremely aggressive and has a long latency period. Hence, cases are usually not detected until the disease has reached the advanced stages of cancer. As a result the prognosis for such patients is often not favorable; the mesothelioma survival rate following diagnosis is usually just a year or two. That doesn’t mean, however, that there won’t be exceptions and that this dour outlook will not change in years to come, especially as more and better treatments are developed.

Determining Prognosis

Currently, a number of different issues determine the mesothelioma patient’s prognosis. These include:

• Type - Mesothelioma is classified as one of three types, depending on the tissues involved. The epithelial type accounts for about 50 percent of all cases, sarcomatoid mesothelioma is seen in 15 percent of diagnosed patients, and 35% have the mixed type of the disease. Those with epithelial mesothelioma have a better survival rate than the other types.
• Location - Mesothelioma is also classified on the basis of location. For example, pleural mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lung, is the most common, accounting for approximately 8o percent of all cases. Those with this type of cancer have the best rate of survival. Peritoneal mesothelioma, found in the lining of the abdomen, is the next most common and is diagnosed in about 10 -15 percent of mesothelioma victims. It is generally harder to treat. Less common types are very difficult to treat, including pericardial and testicular mesothelioma.
• Stage of the disease - The prognosis for mesothelioma cancer depends on how early the disease is diagnosed and how soon treatment can begin. Because of the disease’s extended latency period, it is often not diagnosed until it has reached Stage 3 or 4, when mesothelioma symptoms finally appear. Sadly, many of these symptoms are common to a wide range of respiratory diseases including many that are less serious, like the flu or pneumonia. This often results in misdiagnosis.
• Metastasis - When a mesothelioma diagnosis is finally made, oncologists will often find that the cancer has spread - or “metastasized” - from the location of the primary tumor - usually the pleura - to other parts of the body, often to the nearby organs as well as the lymph nodes. The extent of the metastases will determine what type of treatment is recommended as well as the prognosis.
• General health of the patient - Simply put, younger and stronger patients with mesothelioma live longer than those of advanced age who have extant health problems. Seniors are often dealing with issues like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, making mesothelioma surgery as well as traditional cancer treatments much more risky and severely limiting treatment options. 

 

Survival Rates

Most survival rates for cancer are quoted in regards to what is commonly known as the relative five-year survival rate. This indicates the number of patients who are still alive five years after they are diagnosed with the disease. Currently, the five-year survival rate for meso victims is just 10 percent. Though this seems like a grim number, it is indeed higher than it was about 10 years ago and much higher than it was 20-30 years ago.
The current one-year survival rate for mesothelioma patients is about 40 percent. This has also increased significantly in the last 10 years. Unfortunately, however, the prognosis for most mesothelioma patients remains poor overall. Many still die less than a year after diagnosis, with the average survival rate being 10-11 months, according to the American Cancer Association.

Improving the Mesothelioma Prognosis

During the last decade, the plight of mesothelioma sufferers has gained more attention and more research dollars have been funneled towards the study of this disease and the discovery of new and novel drugs and treatments to provide more hope of a better prognosis for the mesothelioma sufferer.
Scientists have been working on new tests that strive to diagnose the disease at an earlier stage. For example, the Mesomark® assay is a simple blood taste that measures the rate of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides (SMRP) in the blood. This biomarker is released by mesothelioma cells into the bloodstream and SMRP can be elevated for many years before symptoms appear and an actual diagnosis of the disease is made. This tool for early diagnosis could potentially save hundreds of lives.
Treatments with new chemotherapy drugs like Alimta® and procedures that deliver more targeted radiation to the tumor have also helped to add to a mesothelioma patient’s life expectancy. In addition, experimental treatments such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, and photodynamic therapy have shown some success in treating this difficult disease.
Each new step in the field of mesothelioma research improves the mesothelioma prognosis little by little and provides additional hope for mesothelioma-affected individuals and their loved ones.

Source

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/MalignantMesothelioma/OverviewGuide/malignant-mesothelioma-overview-survival-rates

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Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma medical professionals diagnosis

If you believe that you may have mesothelioma, a qualified medical professional will use a variety of diagnostic tests and methods to confirm the presence of the disease.

1. Medical history review and exam
The first step that mesothelioma doctors will take in evaluating an asbestos related disease is to obtain a full medical history to determine the level and severity of mesothelioma risk factors and presenting mesothelioma symptoms. This interview will look consider among other things, where asbestos exposure occurred, the length of exposure and the amount of asbestos that you were exposed to.
In addition, he/she will perform a medical exam to look for signs and symptoms of various types of mesothelioma. For example, if pleural mesothelioma is suspected the doctor will look for fluid in the chest, peritoneal mesothelioma often shows fluid in the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma presents with fluid in the area of the heart.

2. Diagnostic imaging tests
Chest x-rays are used to identify abnormalities in the lungs including unusual thickening, mineral deposits and fluid in the chest area. If these conditions are present then it may be evidence that mesothelioma has developed.
Diagnostic image tests like x-rays, CT scans and MRI's are useful in determining more information about the cancer including how far it is progressed. Each method provides another piece of information to your doctor to assist in making an accurate diagnosis. CT scans are capable of providing images of the same location from many different angles. MRI technology uses magnetic fields rather than x-ray to provide additional views.

3. Testing fluid and tissue samples
If fluid build-up in the chest, abdomen or heart area is present, your doctor may want to obtain a sample. To accomplish this he/she will use a long needle to obtain fluid from the target area. The fluid will then be sent to the lab for analysis.
A bronchoscopy procedure may be recommended for patients who are suspected of having pleural mesothelioma. For this medical test, a soft tube illuminates the trachea and bronchi to determine if any masses are present in the airways. If deemed necessary, the technician my take sample of tissue that appears to be abnormal for further testing.
If lymph node involvement is suspected which is common with asbestos lung cancer, patients may also undergo a mediastinoscopy. This procedure is similar to a bronchoscopy in that a soft tube enters the body under the chest bone and illuminates the chest area. In this way, the surgeon can examine lymph nodes for abnormalities, check to see how far disease may have progressed and when necessary help diagnose lung cancer vs. mesothelioma.
Diagnosing mesothelioma is never easy. Fluid build up alone in the chest, belly or heart regions is not enough to confirm a diagnosis. Tissue samples obtained from biopsy procedures are also difficult to discern because mesothelioma cancer cells often resemble other types of cancer. For this reason, specialized laboratory procedures are often employed to identify certain chemicals that are known to exist with mesothelioma and high powered laboratory equipment is used to examine the smallest details of cancer cells to confirm that mesothelioma is present.

Source
National Cancer Institute - Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma Symptoms

The warning signs of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the early signs and symptoms of the disease can be subtle at best. Symptoms are all too frequently ignored or dismissed by people who are inclined to attribute them to common every day ailments. Sometimes patients live with symptoms for up to 6 months before being diagnosed but usually the symptoms are present for two to three months prior to mesothelioma diagnosis.

About 60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain or side chest pain and there are frequent reports of shortness of breath. Lower numbers of people may experience difficulty swallowing, or have a persistent cough, fever, weight loss or fatigue. Symptoms to also consider are muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, coughing up blood, facial and arm swelling and hoarseness.

Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and as a result, symptoms often include abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. In the event that there is a hernia present, fluid build up may occur in the abdomen as well. Anyone previously exposed to asbestos displaying any of these symptoms should seek medical attention from mesothelioma doctors who specialize in treating mesothelioma like Dr. David Sugarbaker.

Source
Medicine.Net - Mesothelioma
http://www.medicinenet.com/mesothelioma/article.htm

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Carbon Nanotubes

Do you know about nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is the emerging scientific study related to the use of small, thin, carbon-based materials known as nanotubes. A plethora of products featuring nanotubes are becoming more and more widely used. These products range from technologically advanced items utilized by NASA to everyday items used in the home. Nanotubes are increasingly popular due to their light weight and supreme strength, which is said to be stronger than steel.

As the variety of uses for nanotubes increases, researchers continue to do studies and tests related to the consequences of nanotube use. Current research states that exposure to the thin, lengthier version of carbon-based nanotubes may lead to the development of pleural mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and has no known cure. Scientists claim that there is no cause for immediate concern, but that further testing related to nanotube exposure and the onset of mesothelioma is crucial. As with exposure to asbestos, nanotubes are only potentially dangerous if the tiny fibers are inhaled, putting manufacturers, lab researchers, suppliers, and other professionals who may handle nanotubes at the most risk.

What Kinds of Products Contain Nanotubes?

Carbon-based nanotubes are utilized in a vast array of items, including sports gear, automobile parts, electronic equipment, advanced medical tools, and items, such as space shuttle parts, currently in development by NASA. For your reference we have prepared a comprehensive list of products that may contain nanotubes.

What Risks Are Associated With Nanotube Exposure?

Currently, scientists and researchers assure the public that there is no immediate cause for concern related to nanotube exposure. The risk of developing pleural mesothelioma is greatest if the tiny carbon-based fibers of nanotubes are inhaled, much like the risk associated with inhalation of asbestos. However, those who handle nanotubes in the manufacturing and testing phases are at risk if they do not utilize appropriate breathing apparatuses and other necessary equipment.

Source
EmaxHealth - Carbon Nanotubes May Cause Mesothelioma Cancer
http://www.emaxhealth.com/111/22496.html

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Mesothelioma Causes

The main cause of the occurrence of mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled through the mouth and nose may eventually become embedded in the lining of the lungs, causing damage and resulting in mesothelioma lung cancer or asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found that swallowing asbestos fibers could contribute to a form of mesothelioma originating in the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma cancer generally results from occupational exposure but there are instances of environmental exposure to asbestos that can cause mesothelioma disease. Oftentimes second hand exposure of a family member to an asbestos workers dirty work clothes can result in that family member having a mesothelioma diagnosis. Asbestos insulation workers appear to have the highest death rate. One study reports that almost six percent of asbestos workers fall victim to mesothelioma or experience mesothelioma symptoms and asbestos insulation workers are over 300 times more likely to die from mesothelioma than the general public.

Sources

Cancerbackup - Causes of mesothelioma
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/.../Causes

eMedicineHealth - Mesothelioma Causes
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mesothelioma/page2_em.htm

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Mesothelioma

The most serious of all asbestos-related diseases is malignant mesothelioma. Although uncommon, mesothelioma cancer is no longer considered rare. Making a correct mesothelioma diagnosis is particularly difficult for doctors because the disease often presents with symptoms that mimic other common ailments. There is no known cure for mesothelioma, but treatments such as mesothelioma radiation and chemotherapy have helped to improve the typical mesothelioma prognosis.

The cavities within the body encompassing the chest, abdomen, and heart are surround by a membrane of cells known as the mesothelium. Mesothelial cells assist in general organ functions.

The mesothelium is particularly important to organs which are commonly in motion, such as expansion or contraction of the lungs, stomach, or heart. Lubrication from the mesothelial cells allows free range of motion within the body. The mesothelium of the chest, abdomen, and cardiac cavity are called the pleura, the peritoneum, and the pericardium, respectively. Each of these groupings of mesothelial cells are extremely critical to the functions of the body structures which they encompass.

Malignancies (cancerous tumors) occurring within the mesothelial membranes are known as malignant mesothelioma, or simply mesothelioma. Benign tumors of the mesothelium are known to occur, but are much rarer than the more common mesothelioma cancer.

While tumors of the mesothelium were first recognized in the late 18th century, it was not until the middle of the 20th century that this particular cancer was studied and examined with more detail. It was at this time where suspicions of the cancer’s causal relationship with asbestos exposure became more substantiated. A joint study through the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University of the Witswaterand/Johannesburg General Hospital in South Africa provided the most compelling evidence of the nexus between asbestos exposure and the development of pleural mesothelioma.

Incidence of mesothelioma is still quite rare, with only 2,500-3000 diagnoses in the United States each year. There was a spike in reported diagnoses between 1970 and 1984, which has been attributed to the latency period between diagnosis and the height of industrial exposures- which occurred roughly 40-60 years prior to this time. Exposure was common in nearly all industries but was particularly common in the WWII-era military industrial cycle, including Navy Shipyards.

Although this cancer is much more common in men over the age of 60 (largely attributed to the industrial exposures within male-dominated industries), mesothelioma in women and children has been described as well. Mesothelioma causes for diagnosis in women and children are mainly attributed to secondary exposure to asbestos, as it was not uncommon for men to bring asbestos back into the home on their body or clothing if proper cleaning facilities were not available on site.

There are three recognized mesothelioma cell-types. Between 50 and 70% of all mesotheliomas are of the epithelial variety. While prognosis is generally poor, these are considered less aggressive than mesotheliomas of the sarcomatoid and biphasic variety, which comprise the remainder of diagnoses. Mesothelioma treatment options for each type of diagnosis are essentially the same, depending on stage at diagnosis and overall patient health.

Pleural mesothelioma (affecting the lung’s protective lining in the chest cavity) represents about three quarters of all mesothelioma incidence. Peritoneal and pericardial mesotheliomas, affecting the abdominal and cardiac cavities comprise the remainder. Testicular mesothelioma is extremely rare and is typically presents with metastases of the peritoneal variety.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatments

Mesothelioma, while certainly an aggressive disease, is a treatable malignancy. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are available for many patients. While a combination of Alimta® and Cisplatin is currently the only FDA approved chemotherapy regimen, several clinical trials are currently in progress utilizing other drugs including Gemcitabine and Onconase, with many showing dramatically improved results in certain cancer patients.

Radiation therapy is also utilized, but typically in conjunction with other treatment methods like surgery and chemotherapy. Surgical resection of mesothelioma is possible in early-stage-diagnosed patients. Aggressive surgeries such as extrapleural pneumonectomy can extend survival rates far beyond previously-thought timeframes. Diagnostic and palliative surgeries such as pleurocentesis and pleurodesis are also common in patients of malignant mesothelioma cancer.

Alternative therapies have also been used effectively by many mesothelioma patients to assist in managing symptoms of the disease and conventional treatments. These treatments are mainly preferential but can be extremely valuable to many patients.


Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnostic

Mesothelioma can be a difficult malignancy to diagnose because the symptoms and pathology of the disease closely resemble other respiratory conditions. For this reason, misdiagnosis is not uncommon in mesothelioma patients. Symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, chronic cough, effusions of the chest and abdomen, and the presence of blood in lung fluid.

Diagnostic surgeries, including a biopsy, will typically be required to determine the type of malignant cells that are present in the body. Typically a body imaging scan, including a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or computer topography (CT scan) will be required to determine the extent and location of the disease.

Mesothelioma patients are generally referred by their personal physicians to one of the many renowned mesothelioma doctors in the United States. These oncologists are well versed in the disease behavior and pathology and are the most familiar with cutting-edge mesothelioma treatment options. Dr. David Sugarbaker of the Brigham and Women's Hospital, an extension of Harvard University and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, is at the forefront of mesothelioma treatment through the International Mesothelioma Program.


Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos, though cases have been documented in children or other individuals with no asbestos history. Asbestos is a microscopic and naturally-occuring mineral that lodges in the pleural lining of the lungs and the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity. In most cases, several years will pass (up to 60) before mesothelioma develops in those who had been exposed to asbestos.

In many cases, those diagnosed with mesothelioma who are known to have been exposed to asbestos may be eligible for financial compensation from asbestos manufacturers for their illness. Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and were exposed to asbestos should fill out the brief form on this page. We'll rush you a complimentary mesothelioma and asbestos exposure information kit detailing new mesothelioma treatments, active clinical trials, top doctors, as well as how to obtain compensation for asbestos-related health conditions like mesothelioma.

Sources:
National Cancer Institute – Malignant Mesothelioma
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/malignantmesothelioma

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