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Have you or your loved one been affected by mesothelioma or asbestos poisoning? Here you will find a plethora of articles and information about mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestos. |
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Lung Cancer: The Bad and the Worse
In terms of deaths caused by various forms of cancer, lung cancer ranks second only to breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute recently reported that an estimated 172,570 new cases of lung cancer will be reported this year and that 163,510 American will die from this disease. Lung cancer is caused predominantly by smoking. One expert says that in the case of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (cancer), it is almost always caused by smoking. Lung cancer is called lung cancer because it begins in the lungs. The right lung has three sections, the left lung has two. Each section is called a lobe. Sometimes the term "bronchogenic cancer" is used to refer to lung cancer as most lung cancers begin in one of the two breathing tubes, the bronchi, in the lungs. There are two major types of lung cancer. One is the Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) mentioned in the previous paragraph. The other is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer has three subtypes: Adenocarcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Large Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma. NSCLC is the least "serious" of the two types. In fact, if it is detected early, it is possible that it can be cured with surgery. Andenocarcinoma accounts for about 40 percent of lung cancer cases in the U.S. It is the most common cancer among women and can be seen in non-smokers. Squamous Cell Carcinoma represents about 30 to 35 percent of lung cancers and tends to stay localized in the chest longer than other types of lung cancer. Large Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma represents only about five to 15 percent of lung cancers in the U.S. The incidence of this type of cancer seems to be decreasing. The worst and most aggressive form of lung cancer is Small Cell Lung Cancer. It represents only about 15 to 20 percent of all lung cancers. It spreads to the lymph nodes and other organs more quickly than NSCLC, but seems more responsive to chemotherapy drugs. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is described in stages - Stage I through IV. WebMD recently reports survival rates of NSCLC as: · Stage 1A or 1B with no lymph node involvement has a five-year survival rate of 43 to 64 percent when treated with surgery. · Stage IIA or IIB with a single lymph node involvement, when treated with surgery, has a five-year survival rate of 20 to 40 percent. · Stage IIIA with a single lymph node involvement in the center of the chest, when treated with surgery has a five-year survival rate of 15 to 25 percent. · Stage IIIB with lymph node involvement in the chest and neck, when treated with radiation without other treatment, has a five-year survival rate of five to seven percent. · Stage IIIB with lymph node involvement in the chest and neck, when treated with radiation and chemotherapy, has a five-year survival rate between seven and 17 percent. · Stage IV with extensive lymph node involvement or cancer that has spread to other organs, hen treated with chemotherapy and palliative care to reduce symptoms and increase comfort has a one-year survival rate. The prognosis is much bleaker for patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer. This form of cancer is found in two stages: limited or extensive. The limited version is that which is found in only one lung and nearby lymph nodes. The extensive type has spread outside the lung to other parts of the chest or body (metastasized). Limited SCLC when treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy has an average survival time of 18 to 20 months. The extensive form of SCLC when treated with chemotherapy has a survival time of 10 to 12 months. Ttwo-year survival rate is one to three percent, and the five-year survival rate less than two percent. The majority of people diagnosed with SCLC will die despite the best available treatment. While surgery plays the most important part in the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, chemotherapy is always the chosen treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer. In the case of limited stage SCLC, radiation therapy may also be used as the cancer is still localized to the chest area where radiation can be focused. Small Cell Cancer Cells are so small they cannot be seen on scans. Even in the case of limited stage SCLC, it is possible for some cells to break away from the primary cancer and migrate to anywhere in the body. For this reason, chemotherapy is the preferred treatment as it treats the whole body, unlike radiation therapy which must be focused on a selected area. In act, chemotherapy is the preferred treatment for both limited and extensive stage Small Cell Lung Cancer. Article by Douglas Hanna. Douglas is a retired advertising and marketing executive and long-time Denver resident. He is the webmaster of http://www.all-in-one-info.com, a free resource for information on a variety of subjects. Please visit his site to subscribe to his free newsletter, "Tips & Tricks to Save Money & Live Better."
MORE RESOURCES: Selecting a lawyer to represent your case should not be a negligible decision. You need an experienced mesothelioma attorney, one who has a record in helping asbestos cancer victims, who can help you get the financial compensation you disserve. A lot of people are worried about asbestos, but what they do not realize is that undisturbed asbestos usually poses little or no problems.
On the other hand, everything should be done to prevent the release of asbestos fibres as they can cause serious damage to your health, especially to your lungs and be the cause of cancers. That is why asbestos surveys or asbestos removal should be done as soon as you find out that there is asbestos somewhere. The regulations are very tough and strict when it comes to asbestos, and the regulation 4 is one example. Being so dangerous because the asbestos fibres can damage your lungs and cause cancers, this is something that should be considered seriously and thats the reason why the regulation is so important.
In this regulation 4, you will find for instance the procedure to use in case a material containing asbestos is damaged and dust is visible. Mesothelioma is type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was being used in the construction industry for a long time due to its fire resistant characteristic and cheap cost. A major problem started arising when the asbestos particles inhaled by people started to threaten their lives. Mesothelioma is a killer disease caused mostly by exposure to asbestos. A number of people have succumbed to mesothelioma since the early 1800s, because back then, no one knew it was caused by asbestos exposure. Shortness of breath due to pleural effusion is a very common symptom of mesothelioma. Asbestos was called the miracle mineral by the Greeks especially because it could withstand heat. Due to this characteristic of this element, it was widely used in the construction industry until the late 1900s. Until recently, the bad effects of using this material werent known to the public, but when it came to light, it was too late. By the time the authorities found out that it was a killer, countless number of innocents had lost their lives in the fight against asbestos poisoning. The inhalation of asbestos fibers commonly causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and also asbestosis. Asbestos is something very dangerous and a lot of people are still unaware of that. Asbestos surveys need to be carried into buildings if it has not be done yet in order to identify if asbestos was used or not in the building. A recent survey carried out actually indicates that the highest risk of asbestos related lung illness in fact arises from insulation work in the United Kingdom. Epidemiologic work done by a professor called Peto has shown that in the first few years of the twenty first century we can keep on expecting a rise in the number of new cases of mesothelioma in Great Britain mainly due to asbestos. Mesotheliome really is a horrible cancer with a very long latency period. Mesothelioma requires a lot of money for treatment. Professional fees for medical doctors, laboratory expenses and medicines need money. Since the patient is unable to earn an income because of his incapacity to work, all the more money is needed. This dreadful disease exerts a lot of financial burden to the family. The main cause for this is the inhalation of asbestos fiber so the most likely candidates for this disease are those who work at asbestos mining sites and manufacturing plants which use asbestos as one of their raw materials. The protective lining that covers internal organs of the body is very important. It acts as the 'skin' that keeps the organs protected from unwanted infiltration, excess acids and other hazards. This layer is called the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a very sensitive layer, but also very strong. Getting mesothelioma diagnosis is difficult. Mesothelioma having a long incubation period means that the cancer is discovered when management has already become difficult. The incubation period may occur even up to twenty years after exposure. The cancer takes rot in many parts of the organ walls. Asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma, one of the deadliest cancers around. In the late 70's asbestos was largely banned but unfortunately products already being produced were not recalled and asbestos still lingers in many peoples homes walls and office buildings. The following is a brief recap of how asbestos and mesothelioma can effect you today. Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that most often develops in the pleura, or the lining around the lungs. It can also occur in the lining of the abdomen and heart. Asbestos is a strong mineral that has been used for various purposes, the most common among them being fireproofing and construction. When asbestos is broken or damaged, the individual fibers in it break free. These fibers are thin and needle-like and they easily float in the air. Asbestos is the collective term used to describe a family of several types of mineral fibrous rocks. There are currently six different regulated types of asbestos, with the three main types being Crocidolite, Amosite and Chrysolite. Crocidolite which is usually blue can be found a lot in southern Africa, Australia and in Russia. The Amosite which is usually brown is most commonly found in Africa. Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don't function right, divide very fast, and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. The lungs, a pair of sponge-like, cone-shaped organs, are part of the body's respiratory system. A British Lung Foundation survey has revealed that most tradespeople are unaware of the health risks posed by asbestos. Many building products, over the years, have contained asbestos. Many of these products are still present in homes that were built prior to the mid-1980's. So What exactly should you know about asbestos? |
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RELATED ARTICLES
Mesothelioma - Cancer that Strikes 40 Years Later Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. Mesothelioma Book - Review "Lean on Me" Cancer through a carer's eyes Lorraine Kember (2003) 130pp.ISBN 0 646 49969 6As Janet Craven, palliative care nurse, and Andrew Dean, palliative care physician note in their respective forwards to this book, Lean on Me is a unique and intensely personal description of a writer's responses to her husband Brian's diagnosis, treatments and final death from mesothelioma. Mesothelioma in the UK Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the external lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). The disease has been linked to exposure with asbestos dust. Asbestos - Mesothelioma Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral found in the ground and mined all over the world. It is so small it can only be identified under a microscope. How Is Mesothelioma Treated? Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. However, they may have been been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways. How to Tell if You Have Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma - Symptoms and SolutionsSymptoms of Mesothelioma can be latent in the body for years. And even when the symptoms do become evident, the symptoms are so general that they can easily be misdiagnosed. Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed: Dealing With Emotions People deal with and react to having cancer in different ways. There really isn't a right or wrong way to behave or feel regarding this disease and it is easily forgotten that partners, family and friends will need support as well. The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were all aware of the health dangers of asbestos. It seems strange that the asbestos industry in many parts of the world chose to ignore the risks. Wittenoom Graveyard Despite the known fact that Wittenoom is responsible for many deaths, there are some who are reluctant to ban tourists from visiting the town. Undeniably,residents who still reside there are feeling financial and emotional strain due to the lack of tourist trade, however when I saw an article in the West Australian Newspaper Wednesday 19th May, titled "The Town that Won't Die", I was upset and angered by the comments made by a resident of the town, who stated that he had lived in Wittenoom since 1966 and that to his knowledge,no one had died of mesothelioma during that time. Mesothelioma Attorneys and Asbestosis Treatment Data Mesothelioma attorneysIt is very important to work with specialized mesothelioma attorneys. They specialize in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits based on exposure of asbestos and other related asbestos lawsuit cases. What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don't function right, divide very fast and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. A leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women is probably lung cancer. Mesothelioma Cancer - What to Tell Children The amount of information you should give them depends on their age and how grown up they are. Being honest is one thing but giving them all the information at once may be too much. Acoustic Asbestos Ceiling Removal, Is It Necessary? Homeowners with acoustic asbestos ceiling question about the effects of asbestos contained within its materials that if inhaled would cause serious health hazards.If material contains more than 1% of asbestos, EPA defines as it's containing. Who is at Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma? Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined and used commercially. The use of Asbestos dramatically increased during World War II and since the early 1940's millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos dust working within industries where initally the risks were not known. Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed- Questions to ask Following diagnosis, uppermost amongst a patient's thoughts will be these.. Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. Mesothelioma Tragically the word mesothelioma is becoming more and more well known, the mere mention of it striking fear into all of us for we know that it is associated with death. Asbestos is the reaper, mesothelioma its hand maiden. Is Replacing the Lungs the Answer to Lung Cancer? Late stage lung cancers are some of the hardest to treat, but in the future scientists maybe able to grow human lungs and simply remove and replace the damaged lung. So far it appears that major steps have been made to make this feasible for lung transplants. Mesothelioma - an Asbestos Related Lung Cancer Mesothelioma is a form of cancer located in the lining of either the lungs, abdomen or the heart. These linings are thin layers of tissue covering the organ. What Is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the pleura (the lining of the lung and chest cavity) or cancer of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). It is usually caused by prolonged or persistent exposure to asbestos.
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