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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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.

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

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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.

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

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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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Adult Mesothelioma

Although mesothelioma can strike at any age, the majority of cases are found in men aged sixty-five and older. Although the gender factor is not entirely clear, age at diagnosis is due to the lengthy mesothelioma latency period. In most cases, it can be as much as sixty years between initial exposure to asbestos and the appearance of mesothelioma symptoms leading to a mesothelioma diagnosis. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can also be indicative of many other disorders that range from something as innocuous as the common chest cold to emphysema or tuberculosis; moreover, the malignancy does not normally form lumps like most tumors, but rather spreads in a sheet-like fashion. These factors make diagnosis difficult.

Another factor has to do with the amount and intensity of asbestos exposure. The greater the intensity of the exposure, the higher the chances of contracting mesothelioma. This is one reason that most victims are men in their sixties and older. However, there are documented cases involving mesothelioma and women. In one case, a woman who was a first responder on 11 September 2001 and contracted fatal mesothelioma, dying within five years because of the high concentration of asbestos fibers that day.

Those who have a family history of cancer are also more likely to contract mesothelioma. Studies have shown that DNA can attach itself to asbestos fibers; this interaction results in the cellular mutations that cause cells to become malignant.

The only sure mesothelioma cure is mesothelioma prevention and regular health monitoring and screening; diagnosed in its earliest stage (when it is still localized and has not yet spread), mesothelioma treatment can be successful.

Sources

Roggli VL, Pratt PC and Brody AR. "Asbestos Fiber Type in Malignant Mesothelioma: an Analytical Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of 94 Cases." American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 1994 Apr Vol. 25(4). pp. 609-10
WrongDiagnosis. "Mesothelioma, Adult Malignant."
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com

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Mesothelioma Prevention

Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive and deadly form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Although mesothelioma disease is relatively rare, it is one of the most painful and difficult to treat; the best cure for mesothelioma is prevention. Ultimately, this means avoiding asbestos exposure. Although the chances of contracting mesothelioma are proportional to the amount and intensity of the exposure, the disease has been known to develop in people whose exposure has been minimal - but who have a genetic predisposition to cancer.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has enacted a number of regulations to protect workers on the job at asbestos jobsites, where most asbestos exposure takes place. Under current laws, the maximum permissible level of exposure is 01. fibers per cubic centimeter for an eight-hour work day and one fiber per cubic centimeter during any thirty minute period. In addition, employers are obligated to monitor and regulate the work environment and provide employees with protective gear and safety training.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also issued recommendations on how people can protect themselves against non-occupational asbestos exposure:

1. Regular inspection and monitoring of asbestos products or materials in and around the home; asbestos was part of many common building materials.
2. Having asbestos abatement carried out by trained, licensed professionals with proper safety equipment only.
3. Avoiding sweeping, vacuuming, sanding, scraping or otherwise disturbing any surfaces that may be made from asbestos or contain asbestos materials.
4. Avoiding the use of tobacco; studies have demonstrated a link beween smoking and mesothelioma showing that smokers face up to a 9000% greater chance of contracting asbestos cancer
5. Getting regular checkups, particularly if there is a known history of asbestos exposure (i.e. having worked in an industrial occupation).

This last part is especially important, as many mesothelioma symptoms are indicative of other diseases as well.

Sources

American Cancer Society. "What Are The Risk Factors For Mesothelioma?"
http://www.cancer.org
"Mesothelioma Prevention"
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/m/mesothelioma/prevent.htm#preventlist

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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Numerous issues determine a mesothelioma patient's life expectancy once a diagnosis has been made. The stage of the disease, location and variety as well as the course of treatment and the patient's age and overall health can all play a significant part in determining how long the patient will survive.

Traditionally, mesothelioma patients have the worst prognosis of all cancer patients. The primary reason for this is the fact that mesothelioma latency period is long (i.e. usually measured in decades), and the symptoms are common to numerous other diseases that run the gamut from minor to life-threatening. for these reasons, mesothelioma is not usually diagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage, by which time little can be done other than attempts to make the patient more comfortable during his/her final days.

Mesothelioma types and location also significant in this regard. Epithelial mesothelioma tends to move more slowly, whereas sarcomatoid mesothelioma is more aggressive. Additionally, pleural mesothelioma and the very rare pericardial mesothelioma varieties that affect the respiratory system and heart respectively, tend to have more immediate effects. Those with the abdominal peritoneal type are known to have a slightly better mesothelioma prognosis. In some cases, such as those of Australian Paul Kraus and American Rhio O'Connor, patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have been able to live with the disease for a decade or more. Younger people (under age 65) who are in better health overall also have better mesothelioma survival rates.

In general however, the prognosis for a mesothelioma patient is not good. The most serious problem lies in the fact that by the later mesothelioma stages of the disease, cancer has spread - in some cases, to distant parts of the body. The average life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient following mesothelioma diagnosis is between four weeks and fourteen months.

Sources

Curran, D. et al. "Prognostic factors in patients with pleural mesothelioma: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer experience." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 16, 145-52.
Scagliotti, G.V., et al. "State of the art in mesothelioma." Annals of Oncology, 16 Supplement, ii240-5

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Mesothelioma Survival Rate

A common query for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma is “How long can I live with this disease?” Indeed, many patients will turn to their doctor with this question as will their concerned friends and family members. As with most diseases, however, there is no one answer as to the life expectancy of a meso patient, but - in general - the mesothelioma survival rate is based on a number of different factors. Every case is a little bit different and though the survival rate for mesothelioma victims has traditionally been grim, more and more patients are living longer with the disease as scientists discover more and better ways to detect the disease and to treat it.

Survival rates for mesothelioma patients depend on numerous factors that may include any or all of the following:

• mesothelioma latency period - Mesothelioma is an unusual form of cancer in that it has a very long latency period. Essentially, this means that the disease often “hides” in the body for many years, often up to four or five decades. Hence, 40-50 years may have passed since initial exposure to asbestos first occurred. This extended latency period also means that the disease is not detected until symptoms arise. Often, by that time, the cancer has spread from the primary area to other parts of the body.
• stage of disease at the time of diagnosis - Those whose mesothelioma is discovered in Stage 1 or 2 have a much better chance of surviving the disease for an extended period of time because more treatment options will be available to them. Those with Stage 3 or 4 mesothelioma will have fewer treatment options. The worst mesothelioma prognosis is seen in these patients with advanced cancer that present or are symptomatic with distant metastases of the primary tumor, i.e., the cancer has spread from the primary area to other parts of the body. 
• operability of the tumor - Due to the aforementioned latency period, surgery to remove the primary mesothelioma tumor is often not an option. However, if the disease is discovered in an early stage, a surgical procedure to remove the tumor may be a possibility, especially when the patient is otherwise healthy.
• age of the patient - The younger the patient, the better the chance for survival. Studies have shown that age does indeed play a factor in survival rate and young patients certainly fair better. 
• Co-morbidity with other illnesses - Patients, especially older ones, who have many other medical issues are less likely to survive for any length of time with mesothelioma. This is especially true with older patients, who account for large numbers of mesothelioma victims. Heart disease, kidney problems, diabetes, hypertension, and a host of other illnesses or disorders can severely impact treatment options and, hence, shorten a patient’s life span.
• mesothelioma treatment plan - The length of time a mesothelioma victim survives may depend on the treatment(s) he receives. Most doctors will be as aggressive as possible, understanding that this is a tough cancer to treat. 
• area and type of the disease - Mesothelioma comes in various forms. About 75 percent of cases appear in the pleura, 15 to 20 percent in the peritoneum, and just 5 percent in the pericardium. Pleural mesothelioma is easier to treat and patients will generally have a longer mesothelioma survival rate than those whose disease is centered elsewhere. In addition, those with epithelial mesothelioma (most cases are of this type) have a better prognosis than those with other types of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Survival Rate Statistics

Mesothelioma is a form a cancer with a notably poor prognosis; mesothelioma life expectancy following diagnosis ranges between eight and fourteen months. The primary reason is the lengthy mesothelioma latency period as well as the fact that early mesothelioma symptoms are indicative of numerous other respiratory diseases as well, often delaying a correct diagnosis. While Stage 1 or stage 2 mesothelioma is often potentially curable, Stage 3 and stage 4 mesothelioma is not; such patients are often relegated to palliative treatments to relieve symptoms and restore quality of life.

Mesothelioma prognosis is officially determined by a standard measure known as the relative five-year survival rate. This number indicates how many patients are still alive five years after being diagnosed with the disease. Currently, the relative five-year survival rate for meso is about 10 percent, a number that is significantly higher than it was a few decades ago. The one-year survival rate has also improved throughout the last 20 years or so and now sits at approximately 40 percent. Nevertheless, the overall mesothelioma survival rate remains poor.

However, there are exceptions to the rule and there are some individuals who have defied the normal mesothelioma survival rate. One man, Australian Paul Kraus, has been living with the disease since 1997, designing his own treatment program and shunning traditional medicine. Other meso victims who have been treated with standard therapies like chemo and radiation have also survived longer than the usual 10-11 months after diagnosis. For example, there are recorded cases of patients with a typical mesothelioma prognosis that beat the odds and survived with the disease for ten years and longer. In two cases (both elderly women), mesothelioma remission occurred for no apparent reason.

It has been difficult for doctors to determine why one patient can survive with mesothelioma for years and others succumb to the disease within a year of diagnosis. Some indicators point to the role of the immune system in fighting the disease; many survivors participated in some sort of treatment that served to enhance their body’s immune system.

Source
www.survivingmesothelioma.com

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Mesothelioma Cure

Although currently there are no cures for the asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma, research is moving in a hopeful direction toward finding a cure. Treatments to better manage the disease and live longer are available at this time, and offer a range of options for mesothelioma patients and hope for a greater mesothelioma life expectancy.

Understanding Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a lining that surrounds the heart, lung, and abdominal cavity. The major cause of malignant mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, and in particular the blue ‘crocidolite' and brown ‘amosite' types of asbestos. The asbestos particles, once they have been breathed in, act like tiny needles that work their way into the lung tissue and out into the outer layer surrounding the lungs, the mesothelium. Although how it happens it not presently understood by medical researchers, the presence of asbestos in this area causes cells to mutate, and the cancer to form. Changes to the immune system due to the presence of the asbestos particles may play a role in the formation of the cancer, but more research is needed to fully understand its cause.

The mesothelioma latency period is quite long before mesothelioma symptoms become apparent. What this has meant in the past is that once the cancer is discovered, it is often in latter stages of development, making it harder to treat the cancer. Surgery, mesothelioma chemotherapy and radiation treatments were given to help relieve pain, but recovery levels were not high.

The Road to a Cure

Japanese researchers working to change that have developed a new blood test. Earlier detection is possible with the Mesomark test, which looks for protein markers that are often tied to cancers. This test may make it possible to stop this disease with surgical procedures in the early stages, and offers hope for a higher success rate.

An early-stage vaccine was recently developed by researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands that has thus far show fairly promising results. The experimental vaccine utilizes dendritic cell immunotherapy, in which the body’s immune system, is trained to target and destroy malignant mesothelioma cells. The vaccine is comprised of a sample of the patient’s own dendritic immune cells that have been introduced to proteins taken from the mesothelioma tumor. Once reintroduced into the body, these cells have a defense mechanism built in to attack the tumor.

While the trials are in their early stages, the hope is that soon, those who may be at risk for mesothelioma (i.e. those exposed to asbestos), may be able to prevent tumor development altogether, or defend and eliminate developing tumors in their early stages. Thus far, the vaccine has been used only in patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma doctors and researchers have also examined the steps a long-time mesothelioma cancer survivor, Paul Kraus, has taken to live with this disease for going on 14 years. Although the treatments he partakes in are considered to be outside traditional clinical oncology, they have worked effectively for him to keep the cancer in check. In addition to oxygen treatments, he also eats a nutrient-rich vegetarian diet, many vitamin supplements, and prays and meditates. He has ozone, which is a form of oxygen, injected into his blood, to form an environment where the cancer cells do not thrive. Because oxygen can cause damage to healthy cells, he counters this effect with anti-oxidants in the foods he eats. Anti-oxidants are also supposed to keep cancers at bay.

Curative Surgical Approaches to Mesothelioma

Dr. David Sugarbaker is widely considered the country’s leading mesothelioma expert, and is currently engaged in the most progressive clinical therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma. His most aggressive therapy involves the use of surgical resection in the form of an extrapleural pneumonectomy in conjunction intra-operative, intrapleural chemotherapy, with adjuvant radiation therapy. Extrapleural pneumonectomy involves total pneumonectomy (removal of entire affected lung), the removal of the pericardium, the entire pleura, and the diaphragm. Following resection of these internal structures, the pericardium and diaphragm are reconstructed with prosthetic material. While the tumor mass and lung are resected, Cisplatin or other prescribed chemotherapy is applied directly to the surface of the internal organs in the hope to eliminate all remaining tumor cells. Radiation therapy is then administered following the patient’s recovery from surgery.
In patients considered ideal candidates for EPP with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, five-year survival rates have thus far been encouraging. Dr. Sugarbaker continues to advocate the use of GEMzar® (Gemcitabine) in many patients who have encountered adverse reactions to Cisplatin. Because the surgery and tri-modal approach utilized by Dr. Sugarbaker is extensive, many patients have utilized physical therapy, and other palliation therapies following treatment to regain mobility and for symptomatic pain relief.
There are also new mesothelioma treatment options that, while currently considered experimental, may provide an effective cure after further testing and research are conducted. Dr. Stephen Cantrell, as reported in Medical News Today, has combined a protein used by the immune system called interferon with cholesterol-lowering medication in a regimen called "Neo-Plas. It is thought that killer cells are activated by the interferon, and thus may help by going after the cancer cells. Early results are hopeful that this may provide a potential cure for mesothelioma and higher numbers of mesothelioma survivors.

Sources

Kraus, Paul. Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide. (Raleigh: Cancer Monthly, 2005)
McCabe, Edward. O2xygen Therapies: A New Way Of Approaching Disease. (Energy Publications, 1988).
Staff. "Boysenberries Seen to Impede Asbestos-Induced Mesothelioma". Environmental Health News, 8 February 2007.
Staff. "New Cancer Treatment Stops Aggressive Sarcomas." Medical News Today, 28 February 2008.

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Mesothelioma Remission

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, or lining, which surrounds the abdominal cavity, the lungs and the heart. Because of its commonly long mesothelioma latency period before diagnosis, the cancer is often far developed by the time a mesothelioma diagnosis occurs, and thus does not often go into remission. Remission is when the mesothelioma symptoms disappear in full or in part. However, there have been some encouraging recent cases of patients who consider themselves mesothelioma survivors because they have been able to manage the disease and live with it for several years. They have achieved this through alternative mesothelioma treatment therapies as well as major adjustments to their diets. Although mesothelioma chemotherapy and radiation treatments are still used in advanced cases of mesothelioma, new diagnostic methods offer hope that physicians may soon be able to diagnose this cancer earlier, and may thus be able to apply treatment much sooner to eliminate it.

Detection of Cancer

Malignant cancer cells are present in conjunction with protein markers. Patients who have been exposed to asbestos in the past also show higher levels of osteopontin protein, as reported in a New England Journal of Medicine 2005 article, a promising new bit of understanding about this form of cancer. Japanese researchers have also developed a new tool to detect mesothelioma in the earliest stages, when surgery could provide a superior mesothelioma treatment. This diagnostic tool is the Mesomark®.

Traditional Treatments

Chemotherapy and mesothelioma radiation are typical treatments used for many types of cancer, including mesothelioma. However, the Japan Journal of Clinical Oncology reported in 1998 that a 71-year old woman with peritoneal mesothelioma was given cisplatin and tegafur-uracil, two common chemotherapy drugs. This caused the patient to go into complete remission.

Adjuvant radiation therapy, which is a therapy applied after mesothelioma surgery, helps to reduce the recurrence of cancer, according to a study held at Sloan-Kettering. The type of radiation therapy often used is known as EBRT, or External beam radiation therapy.

Alternative Treatments

Paul Kraus, a patient who has stopped the progression of his mesothelioma for fourteen years as of 2009, has done so through oxygen therapy, as well as diet and meditation. The oxygen therapy is based on evidence showing that cancer cells grow in a low-oxygen environment, so by increasing the oxygen it has helped to slow the disease.

Dr. William Coley developed a different treatment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He injected strep throat bacteria into a patient with cancer, and this caused the patient's own immune system to kick in, with the result that the cancer cells went into remission.

In the 1980s, Dr. Demetrio Sodi-Pallares, a Mexican electrocardiologist, determined that by changing the diet and using a magnetic pulsating mattress of a patient with pleural mesothelioma, that the patient's effusions eventually disappeared. Unfortunately, the doctor's work has not been paid much attention in the United States.

Remission with No Outside Treatment

Although unusual, there has been a case reported of spontaneous remission of mesothelioma cancer in Australia. The 61-year old woman, a patient of Dr. Roger K. Allen of the Wesley Medical Centre, went into a rapid remission. The physician suggests that what caused the remission was the patient's own immune system as well as "cell-mediated immunity." Further study may lead to immunotherapy as a method of treatment leading to the remission of this type of cancer.

Sources

Allen, Roger K. "Apparent Spontaneous Complete Regression of a Multifocal Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleura." The Medical Journal of Australia, 2007.
Ito, H, et. al. "A Case Of Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Showed Complete Remission With Chemotherapy." Japan Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28 Feb 1998.
Kraus, Paul. Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide. (Raleigh: Cancer Monthly, 2005)
Lüderitz, Berndt, and Augustin Castellanos, eds. "History: Demetrio Sodi-Pallares (1913-2003). Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2004.
Pain, Stephanie. "Dr. Coley's Famous Fever." New Scientist, 2 November 2002.
Rusch, VW, et. al. "A Phase II Trial Of Surgical Resection and Adjuvant High-Dose Hemithoracic Radiation For Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma." Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2001.

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Mesothelioma Latency Period

Malignant mesothelioma often has a long period of latency, in fact the longest of the asbestos-related diseases, before a mesothelioma diagnosis occurs in people. Diagnosis happens by mesothelioma doctors when the disease becomes apparent, but latency refers to the length of time it takes from being exposed to asbestos until the time when the disease becomes apparent in a clinical examination. Latency can be as short as 10 years or as long as 50, but the average length of latency for malignant mesothelioma is 35 to 40 years between exposure and diagnosis.

Because the latency period for mesothelioma can vary from patient to patient, so too does the age of onset of the disease vary. However, most adult mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in patients between the ages of 40 and into their 60s. Child mesothelioma, while rare, does occur in 2 to 5 percent of malignant mesothelioma diagnoses.

A shorter latency period may occur if a patient has had a higher exposure to asbestos. Many of the people who have a short latency period were exposed to asbestos on the job; this is especially true of people with occupations in shipyards as well as the asbestos and insulation industries.

The typical long latency period of this disease is a contributing factor to a poor mesothelioma prognosis. Most cancers respond much better if they are caught early in their development. Because mesothelioma remains under the surface for typically many years, it is often quite advanced once a diagnosis is made.

Forms of Mesothelioma


The different types of mesothelioma cancer are named based on the parts of the body in which the disease occurs. The three primary mesotheliomas are:

• Peritoneal mesothelioma
• Pleural mesothelioma
• Pericardial mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the abdomen, while Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lungs. Pericardial mesothelioma happens in the area of the heart. Where the cancer occurs may also play a part in the latency period; a study showed that 28 years was the average latency period for peritoneal mesothelioma with an average asbestos exposure duration of 5 years, and 35 years latency period with 11 years exposure duration for pleural mesothelioma, but exposure duration could vary widely.

Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos while on the job appears to be the major cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos was widely used in the United States in the 1960s, and thus the disease tends to become most apparent 30 to 40 years after this, so perhaps the peak of diagnoses in the U.S. will have been between 2000 and 2004. Because laws on exposure to harmful elements while on the job were put into place, it is expected that these statistics will not be on the rise. Australia and Europe may see a peak in 2010 to 2019, and it remains to be seen what will occur in third world countries without the benefit of strong occupational hazard laws in place.

The Future


These statistics may be in flux, however, for several reasons. They include:

• better health care and better food, people are living longer after retirement
• better occupational exposure regulations, workers are no longer exposed to high levels of asbestos
• better occupational exposure regulations, workers are no longer exposed to high levels of asbestos
• Fewer cases of bronchogenic cancer, which may be fatal in workers exposed to asbestos, before the mesothelioma has made a physical impact

Due to these factors, we may see more cases of new-onset mesothelioma.
Secondary or limited exposure to asbestos is a contributing factor to the difficulty encountered when trying to figure out exactly when asbestos exposure occurred. However, one of the consequences of the World Trade Center disaster may help researchers to better understand this disease. Because rescue, cleanup, recovery and volunteer personnel were exposed to asbestos along with other airborne contaminants, long-term studies of these people are under way, which may assist researchers in gaining more knowledge about this serious disease.

Sources

Neumann V, Gunther, S., Muller, K.M., Fischer, J. Malignant Mesothelioma - German Mesothelioma Register 1987-1999. International Archives Of Occupational And Environmental Health. 2001 August. Vol. 74 (6), pp. 383-95.
Varan, A. et al. Malignant Mesothelioma in an Adolescent Boy. Pediatrics International. 1999 Dec. Vol 41 (6), pp. 693-695.
Chahinian, A.P., Pajak, T.F., Holland, J.F. Norton, L., Ambinder, R.M., and Mandel, E.M. Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma: Prospective Evaluation of 69 Patients. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1982 June. Vol 96 (6 Pt 1), pp. 746-55.
Robinson, B.W., Lake, R.A. Advances in Malignant Mesothelioma. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2005 Oct. Vol 353 (15), pp 1591-603.
Ohar, J., Sterling, D., Bleecker, E., Donohue, J. Changing Patterns in Asbestos-Induced Lung Disease. Chest. 2004 Feb. Vol 125 (2) , pp 744-53.
Landrigan, P.J. et al. Health and Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Disaster. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2004 May. Vol 112 (6), pp 731-9.

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Mesothelioma Disease

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the cells of the mesothelium, a thin membrane that lines the thoracic and abdominal cavities as well as the heart sac. It has been determined that the cause of mesothelioma is almost always exposure to asbestos. This disease is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and there is no known mesothelioma cure. Unfortunately, most patients die within just a few years of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

History


Mesothelioma cancer was first described and recognized as a pathologic entity in the 1870s by E. Wagner, who found two cases during a study of some 3,000 autopsies. However, this form of cancer was not recognized as a separate form of lung cancer until almost 100 years later. In 1960, a report by Wagner et al finally established asbestos as a definitive cause of the disease, citing a study of 30 cases of mesothelioma in South Africa, including those who were exposed on their jobs as miners and others with simply passing exposure. By just a few years later, the British Journal of Industrial Medicine confirmed that miners as well as those who lived near asbestos mines but didn’t work in mining were both developing the disease. Many similar reports followed.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

As studies continued to point to asbestos as one of the primary mesothelioma causes, it became more and more evident that this mineral was wreaking havoc with the lungs of those who were consistently exposed to it. A close look at asbestos, its types, and its uses would soon prove necessary in the study of mesothelioma disease.
Asbestos comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some types of asbestos are more lethal than others. As a matter of fact, the types of asbestos that belong to the amphibole group are the most toxic. These include amosite, tremolite, crocidolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite asbestos. The fibers that make up these amphibole varieties are long, thin, and sharp. Once inhaled, they are difficult to expel and become imbedded in the chest area where they cause scarring and can eventually result in the development of cancerous tumors and mesothelioma disease.

The serpentine form of asbestos - known as chrysotile - has been proven to be less likely to cause cancer but is hazardous nonetheless. Experts advise that any kind of asbestos exposure is unsafe and there have indeed been cases when chrysotile fibers were found in the lungs of those with mesothelioma disease.

Risk Factors

Asbestos has been mined for centuries, but the mineral, long considered a prime insulating material, enjoyed increased use after the Industrial Revolution. In particular, peak usage of this hazardous mineral occurred from the 1930s through the 1970s, and asbestos use was especially popular during World War II, particularly in the shipbuilding industry.

A total of about 90% of all patients who develop mesothelioma disease are believed to have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Navy vets and shipyard workers account for about one-third of these cases, putting them in the highest risk group for developing this aggressive cancer. Furthermore, in 1978, a study found that the disease affects 6% of workers who have been employed in high-risk occupations at asbestos jobsites for 15 years or longer, confirming that length of exposure may also have something to do with who gets asbestos and who does not.

Recent events have also shown that exposure to a large amount of asbestos for a short amount of time may also result in development of this disease. For example, emergency responders who worked at the World Trade Center disaster were diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma within just a few short years of being exposed to the material in the days surrounding 9/11. The first Sept. 11-related victim of the disease died in 2005, just four years after the tragedy occurred.

Individuals may also suffer secondhand exposure to asbestos. In 1990, for example, researchers discovered that half the mesothelioma patients under the age of 40 were exposed to asbestos in childhood. Many grew up in the shadow of an asbestos plant or mine, some lived near a natural source, and others had family members who worked with asbestos and inadvertently brought fibers into the home on their clothes, skin, or in their hair.

Today, the average mesothelioma patient is a white male, 65 years of age or older.  However, this statistic has more to do with employment than with specific mesothelioma risk factors. In addition, researchers have studied the impact of certain genetic factors on the development of mesothelioma and note that those with a family history of cancer have a greater chance of developing mesothelioma. This may explain why some individuals with only minimal exposure develop the disease.

Treatment


Regardless of how and why an individual develops mesothelioma disease, doctors acknowledge that it is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. The disease has a long latency period, remaining essentially silent for up to five decades. Because it is usually not diagnosed until it has reached advanced mesothelioma stages, most standard treatments for cancer are not very effective in slowing the disease, adding only a few months to the patient’s life expectancy. However, some newer treatments such as mesothelioma gene therapy and photodynamic therapy have shown promise in fighting this cancer and tests are being developed that will help detect the disease at an earlier stage, providing more hope for the meso patient.

Sources
Wagner JC, Sleggs CA, Marchand P (October 1960). "Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province". Br J Ind Med. 17: 260-71.
PMID 13782506
http://medicineworld.org/cancer/mesothelioma
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/Pollution/asbestos

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Mesothelioma Information

As with any disease or health condition, mesothelioma researchers have, over time, collected statistical information about mesothelioma. These statistics can help us learn about the proclivities of the disease and its incidence and potentially help future patients as we learn more about mesothelioma.

Incidence of Diagnosis

New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in between 2,500 and 3,000 Americans each year. These numbers, while significant, would indicate that mesothelioma is still a relatively rare disease, though incidence is expected to rise in the next decade according to projections.

Age at Diagnosis

The first diagnosis of mesothelioma typically occurs in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma patients, certainly, have been diagnosed at ages younger than 50 and older than 70, but diagnoses for those age groups are considered statistical anomalies.

Does Mesothelioma Occur in a Particular Sex or Racial Demographic More than Another?

Mesothelioma is much more common in men than women, due mostly to occupational asbestos exposure being more common among men of industrial labor sites. That is not to say, however, that women cannot be diagnosed with mesothelioma. In fact, recent evidence suggests that mesothelioma incidence in women may rise in the coming years as secondary exposures to asbestos can manifest in the form of a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. Also of note is that mesothelioma is much less common among African Americans than white Americans, the reasons for which researchers are still investigating.

What are Typical Patient Survival Rates Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

As mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its advanced stages, the mesothelioma prognosis is sometimes poor with life expectancy being little more than a year following diagnosis. If diagnosed early enough however, patient prognoses increase dramatically. Patient survival rates are often contingent on the treatments available to the particular patient. In early mesothelioma stages, tumors eligible for mesothelioma surgery and will result in improved prognoses over those who are diagnosed with stage 3 mesothelioma or stage 4 mesothelioma. As new and alternative mesothelioma treatments are researched and employed in the future, it is realistic to anticipate an improvement in patient survival rates.

Other Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma Disease

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease that attacks the cells of the tissue that lines the body cavity called the mesothelium. Its only known cause is exposure to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma Latency Period

Typically, there is a great deal of time between an individual's exposure to asbestos and the development of asbestos-related health complications. Mesothelioma is associated with a long-latency period (often 20-50 years) after exposure. Over a long period of time, lodged asbestos fibers slowly inflame the lung's external tissue, often serving as a pre-cursor to the development of malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Remission

Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Mesothelioma will often quickly metastasize from its origin into the lungs, abdominal cavity, and lymph nodes. As such, very few mesothelioma patients go into remission. However, if treated properly and early enough, many patients have been able to extend survival rates long beyond previous expectations. Treatment options include surgical resection, chemotherapy, and mesothelioma radiation.

Mesothelioma Cure

While advancements in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma have made tremendous forward strides in recent years, there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Patients who are diagnosed with early-stage disease may survive many years if the cancer is treated early with surgery, chemotherapy, and managed radiation therapy. Many patients have also had success through the utilization of alternative therapies in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments.

Mesothelioma Survivors

While there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, many patients have had success in managing their cancer with not only traditional treatments like chemotherapy and surgical methods, but also through the use of nutritional supplements, palliative therapies, and body-stress reduction techniques. Some patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have survived many years after what was an initially unfavorable prognosis.

Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Mesothelioma currently has no known cure and, as such, the survival rate for mesothelioma is low. However, mesothelioma can be managed through the use of many different treatment options. Aggressive therapies like extra-pleural pneumonectomy have extended survival periods long beyond previous expectations of mesothelioma doctors and oncologists.

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Life expectancy for those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma depends on a number of factors including, general patient health, cancer stage at diagnosis, and the eligibility of the patient for certain treatment options. Those diagnosed with early stage cancer who are in generally good health will have a more favorable prognosis than those diagnosed with later-stage disease.

Mesothelioma Prevention

Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was used for many years as an industrial insulation component. As such, the best mesothelioma prevention is the avoidance of exposure to asbestos. However, in recent years, physicians and cancer specialists have been developing a mesothelioma vaccine that will arm the body's immune system with cancer fighting anti-bodies and antigens in those who are at risk for the development of mesothelioma.

Adult Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is most common in adults. Adults who have asbestos exposure history are typically those most at risk for the development of malignant mesothelioma. It can take many years for those exposed to asbestos exposure to exhibit the effects of exposure and, as such, mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in older individuals, often up to 40 years following exposure.

Child Mesothelioma

Childhood diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is extremely rare, although it has been documented. Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos and takes many years following exposure to asbestos to manifest in adults. Generally speaking, childhood mesothelioma is considered to be unrelated to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma and Women

Many women that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma had no direct exposure to asbestos from working in industrial job settings. Instead they discover that they are victims of second-hand asbestos exposure that occurred while washing their husband's clothes that came home from work with asbestos fibers on them.

Mesothelioma Vaccine

Recent studies by researchers in the Netherlands have found promising results in preventative therapies for mesothelioma. Using cancer-fighting antigens within the body's immune system, mesothelioma patients have responded positively in most cases when treated with the mesothelioma vaccine. The hope is now that this therapy can be applied to those who may be at risk of developing mesothelioma in the future, particularly those who have been exposed to asbestos but have yet to develop asbestos disease.

Medical Timeline

Historical timeline containing important facts and developments related to the manufacture and use of asbestos and documented cases of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related diseases.

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

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