Q&A: Why do so many people seem to think lung cancer is the only risk of smoking?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by duncan

Question by Court F: Why do so many people seem to think lung cancer is the only risk of smoking?
A lot of smokers seem to think that as long as they don’t have lung cancer, they are beating their smoking habit. To me, that’s like 20th on the list of reasons why I wouldn’t smoke. Anyone ever notice this?

Best answer:

Answer by Hannah Jones
My mother is this way. She’s smoked since she was 13years old and now she’s 54, I think it’s a way of denial. Trying to give a reason to not quit smoking when really they should.

Give your answer to this question below!

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Mesothelioma Cancer Help

Posted on September 26, 2011 by duncan

Mesothelioma Cancer Help

Article by Bello Kamorudeen









There are several different types of mesothelioma cancer help you need when diagnosed with this aggressive disease. There are however three kinds of help that are very important and crucial for every victim of this terrible cancer: a] First and most important is information and medical support, b] legal help is also important because the cost of mesothelioma can become astronomical, c]Family support and help

-Medical support and Medical InformationFor medical help, you should ask your doctor about any mesothelioma cancer information brochures that are available. Because this is a complex and debilitating disease, digesting all of the information a doctor gives you can be overwhelming. Brochures and pamphlets can be read at your leisure to give you plenty of time to digest the information and think of any questions you would like to ask on your next doctor’s visit. The Internet is also a good place to find help and order mesothelioma information brochures from various cancer treatment centers and research organizations. These will give you the most up-to-date information on mesothelioma treatment options.

Asbestosis mesothelioma research is always underway in many different locations in the United States and overseas. You should also seek help via the Internet and with your doctor to find out how to enroll in clinical trials and keep informed about research advances in mesothelioma cancer treatment.

-Legal HelpLegal mesothelioma cancer help is imperative when you are diagnosed with mesothelioma so that you can get the compensation and assistance you deserve. Because nearly all cases of mesothelioma cancer can be traced back to asbestos exposure, a mesothelioma lawyer who is familiar with asbestos cases can help you get financial compensation and relieve the burden of debt and worry.Attorneys provide help with mesothelioma cancer in several ways:* They can evaluate your situation and determine if there is good cause for filing a claim against a former employer or a product manufacturer.

* They can represent you not only in court, but help guide you in areas such as finding the best medical facilities for your particular type of mesothelioma cancer.

* They can identify the source or sources of original asbestos contamination and determine the extent of liability by these companies.

War veterans often find themselves in a bad situation because they are barred by law from suing the government or their branch of the service for asbestos damages. In many cases, the manufacturers of materials used by the military have long since ceased to exist, leaving very few avenues to pursue. Mesothelioma cancer help from an attorney experienced in cases such as those experienced in mesothelioma in naval and coast guard personnel can provide avenues to pursue beyond the traditional ones.

– Family SupportThe most important cancer help you need, however, is the support of those around you. By talking to an attorney and getting solid medical information on mesothelioma to share with loved ones, you will alleviate many of the financial and medical fears of your family and friends. In turn, they will be confident enough to provide the most precious mesothelioma cancer help of all – love and support



About the Author

Bello kamorudeen is an health worker and author of several mesothelioma articles. For more info on mesothelioma,visit http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com










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Staging of Lung Cancer

Posted on September 26, 2011 by duncan

Staging of Lung Cancer

Article by lexoremman airness









Lung Cancer is the most common cause of death worldwide accounting for 1.35 million new cases per year and 1.18 million deaths for both incidence and mortality rate.

Lung Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of damaged lung tissues that is maybe due to metastasis infiltrating the lungs.

Symptoms of this disease may include dyspnea, hemoptysis, chronic coughing, wheezing, chest pain, cachexia or weight loss, dysphonia, clubbing of fingers due to hypoxia, and dysphagia.

There are four stages of lung cancer using the number staging system.

Stage 1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the type where the cancer growth is localized meaning it does not spread to lymph nodes yet. This stage may not manifest any obvious symptom yet not till an x-ray is done for another reason. Surgery can be treatment for this stage.

Stage 2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the stage where the tumor growth may have spread to local lymph nodes, but not any further. Persistent cough, of coughing out blood, shortness of breath, back pain, or repeated bronchitis are the common symptoms of this stage of cancer. Surgery can likewise be a treatment of choice for this. Radiation therapy can also be an option.

Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the stage considered to be locally advanced that means tumor growth has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the body. The classical symptoms of stage 3 lung cancer are persistent cough, shortness of breath, and repeated infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is also called metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. This means that the tumor cells has metastasized to another region of the body. Symptoms include dyspnea, hemoptysis, chronic coughing, wheezing, chest pain, cachexia or weight loss, dysphonia, clubbing of fingers due to hypoxia, and dysphagia. Surgery and chemotherapy is the common treatment for this stage.



About the Author

Early detection and awareness with staging of lung cancer can promote better prognosis of the disease. For further information about lung cancer and other diseases, you can visit http://www.healthlearns.net










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What are the chances of my mother not being affected by lung cancer?

Posted on September 26, 2011 by duncan

Question by I secretly hate my sister: What are the chances of my mother not being affected by lung cancer?
My mom has been a smoker since she was about 16. She’s now 38. For the past few years, she’s been smoking 1 to 2 packs of ciggarettes a day. When i try to talk to her about it, she always pulls the “Oh a lot of people smoke, and dont’ get lung cancer” card on me. But i’m starting to not believe it.
And i’m even more scared because she’s not fully covered on medical insurance..

Best answer:

Answer by hip-hop junkie
it’s really hard to stop smoking cause it’s sooo adicting. show her statistics online how many people die everydays because of it. and tell her what makes her think she’s not gonna get it if anything she might even get it eventually sorry to say.

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Lung Cancer — A Look At The Numbers

Posted on September 25, 2011 by duncan

Lung Cancer — A Look At The Numbers

Article by Linda Day









It is a known fact that lung cancer is the second leading cause of death and the biggest cause of cancer deaths in both sexes in the West. It accounts for about 30% of all deaths from cancer.

The unfortunate reality is that many of those deaths could have been prevented — fully 85% of all lung cancers are caused by smoking. This includes those who breathe in second-hand smoke from others in the vicinity. If everyone were to give up smoking, the incidence of lung cancer would drop dramatically.

After smoking, radon exposure is the second most common cause of lung cancer in America. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 21,000 deaths are caused every year by radon exposure.

Among various ethnic groups, the incidence of lung cancer is highest among African Americans. This is because of a high cultural propensity among this group to take up the smoking habit.

This is also one of the deadliest forms of cancer around. To give some comparative statistics, the five-year survival rate from colon cancer is 62% and that from breast cancer 87%. The corresponding figure for prostate cancer is 98%. In sharp contrast, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is a low 15%.

One reason for this low survival rate is that lung cancer tends to be diagnosed at a very late stage in its cycle — typically during stage 3 or stage 4. By that time, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and has affected many vital organs. This significantly reduces the probability of survival.

There is a prevailing myth that a smoker’s lungs will return to normal fifteen years after he stops smoking and at that point, his chances of developing lung cancer are the same as that for a non-smoker. The reality is that a smoker’s lungs never become completely normal again. However, it is true that his chances of getting lung cancer drop off as time passes, although it probably never drops to the level of a person who has remained smoke-free all his life.

This is borne out by the fact that while existing smokers make up about 40% of all new cases of lung cancer, former smokers account for fully 50% of such cases.

Studies indicate that former smokers have about 9 times greater chances of dying from lung cancer as compared to those who never smoked. Current smokers are said to be 23 times more likely to die from this disease than people who never smoked.

The numbers are slightly lower for women — former women smokers have 5 times the chances of dying from lung cancer when compared to never smokers. And current smokers are 13 times as likely to die of this illness.

It is obvious that prevention is the best policy when it comes to lung cancer. And the way to prevent this disease is to not smoke at all or at least, to give up smoking at the earliest.



About the Author

A researcher who writes about lung cancer, Linda Day has written about the symptoms of lung cancer and also offers other useful lung cancer information. Do visit the previous links for detailed inputs on this disease.










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What body parts or organs does lung cancer affect?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by duncan

Question by Not So Young: What body parts or organs does lung cancer affect?
what other parts besides the lungs does lung cancer affect and what happens, how does it affect it?

Best answer:

Answer by Corey L
Lymphoma can present anywhere, normal lymphocytes – blood cells that provide immune defense – are found.

N – lymph nodes
H – liver (hepatic)
L – lung (not shown)
B – bone marrow
S – spleen
P – pleura (lung lining – not shown)
O – bone
D – skin
M – mucos at linings- nose, stomach, eyes, etc

Lymphoma is not one cancer, but a name for a group of related cancers that arise when a Lymphocyte (an immune cell) becomes malignant.

When a lymphocyte becomes malignant it’s biologic behaviour is arrested at its stage of development.

Lymphomas cells may grown too fast or fail to die, and accumulate to form tumours in the body, most commonly in the lymphatic system – the network of lymph nodes and channels that filter blood

Picture courtesy Patients against Lymphoma

As Lymphoma is caused by cancerous lymphocytes it generally effects body regions where these cells are found
The lymphatic system protects our body from infection
Lymph vessels are thin tubes that branch into all parts of the body. They carry fluid derived from a body region back to small bean shaped structures called lymph nodes
Lymph nodes function like an army barracks, when an enemy is detected the troops (lymphocytes) are rallied and sent forth to find and destroy the foe
Besides lymph nodes and lymph vessels a number of other organs have a large population of lymphocytes
Thus the body region effected by lymphoma is not as easy to visualise as when someone is told they have brain or bowel cancer

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Posted on September 25, 2011 by duncan

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Article by online pharmacy









online pharmacy The peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of mesothelioma that accounts for only 10 to 20 % of all the mesothelioma cases diagnosed, around 3000 cases each year are diagnosed in the United States alone. This cancer develops in the mesothelium cell layer that is a membranous layer in the peritoneum.

Peritoneal mesothelioma also is caused by the exposure to asbestos like the all mesothelioma types. Being less common than the pleural type of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesotheliomas have a latency period of 20-30 years after asbestos exposure as compared to the period of 30 to 40 years in the cases of pleural mesothelioma. With a survival time ranging between 7 to 13.5 months it is present with a poor prognosis.

The associated symptoms include the abdominal swelling or pain with the changes in bowel habits for instance diarrhea or constipation. Others include lump formations under the abdominal skin and weight loss of unexplained origin. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, night sweats or fever are also common. In many cases there might be related cases of anemia. As may be the case with many patients who present late with generalized symptoms of cachexia and bowel obstruction resulting in severe abdominal pain and malignant ascites that result in abdominal distention due to the progressive growth of the tumor on the peritoneum.The diagnosis of mesothelioma cannot be made generally with the symptoms alone especially in case of peritoneal mesothelioma. The diagnosis in such cases begins with a thorough examination of medical history, physical history that is followed by imaging along with the tests for fluid and tissues of the mesothelioma patients.Any bodily abnormality is detected by the use of more sophisticated and reliable techniques such as CT scans and X-rays. To confirm the cancer presence the use of tissue biopsy is well accounted in mesothelioma diagnosis. It is a minor surgical procedure that involves the removal of fluid or tissue from the peritoneum.To check the presence of mesothelioma cells after biopsy, the fluid and tissues are tested in the laboratory. When it is ascertained that the patient is indeed suffering from the peritoneal mesothelioma the doctor and the mesothelioma patient together forms a treatment plan. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma the progression of the disease is much faster so the diagnosis is in most of the cases made in the later stages of the disease. Here the treatment becomes difficult as the cancer is in the later developmental stages. The doctors typically recommend the mesothelioma patients to get a treatment to combat the cancer and for pain relief.Common treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma patients may generally include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy as with all types of mesothelioma treatments. The mesothelioma patients may undergo a combination of treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma as there is no known cure for the disease. Participation in clinical trials to alleviate the pain and improvement of quality of life is another approach that mesothelioma patients may opt. These are for patients to test the newer and upcoming drugs for the disease.Many mesothelioma patients try the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). In this case higher concentrations of the chemotherapy solution are injected directly into the peritoneal cavity immediately after surgery so it is more effective in killing cancer cells in the abdomen than chemotherapy that is given through a venous route. Many a times before surgery, mesothelioma patients may go through radiation therapy to shrink the tumors.Most mesothelioma patients need to have cytoreduction surgery (CRS) that removes as much of the cancerous tissue in the abdomen as possible, thus reducing the “bulk” of the cancer which is also called “debulking” surgery.Many peritoneal mesothelioma patients may elect to participate in palliative treatment that do not attempt to cure a patient it rather work to and improve the quality of life for them.read more at pharmacy online



About the Author

I am pharmacist by profession (doctor of pharmacy). Drugs have become increasingly complex and people are being prescribed often. online pharmacyhas changed our lives today now it is very easy to get medicine via pharmacy online. Now you can buy quality medicine through online pharmacy










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Pollution: Checking the damages caused to the respiratory system

Posted on September 24, 2011 by duncan

Pollution: Checking the damages caused to the respiratory system

Article by Nilutpal Gogoi









THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DAMAGE

The long-term effects of air pollution include serious diseases like cancer. The highly polluted city air slowly metamorphoses our healthy and pink colored lung tissues into darkened particles of smog, dust, and other pollutants, making the lungs more vulnerable to infection. The highly sensitive respiratory system can be damaged in a number of ways.

Environmental pollution: One of the potent dangers is the environmental pollution. The environment smog contains many chemicals. Many of these chemicals are exhausted by the vehicles and the industries. What is more, several household cleaning products also emit such poisonous gases.

Cigarette smoke: This is yet another dangerous emission. The passive smokers are the hardest hit. Burning fags pose a serious threat to our respiratory system. Tobacco smoke contains over 40 chemicals including the dangerous tar. Most of them are known causes of cancer. Approximately 90 per cent of lung cancer cases among men, and more than 70 per cent among women have been traced to smoking.Besides tar several other chemicals enter our lungs from a burning cigarette. The tar from a single cigarette temporarily immobilizes the cilia of the upper and lower tracts of the respiratory route. The tar also temporarily paralyses the macrophages in the lung alveoli. When the cleansing and filtering functions are made inactive, the lungs and the air passages are laid bare to the different particles, viruses and bacteria that are airborne besides of course the tar. These substances settle down in the lungs’ mucous layers. It takes almost an hour for the paralyzed cilia to recover. But repeated paralyzing from the heated tar eventually kills them. Mucus builds up as a result of repeated smoking. The accumulated mucus blocks the smaller air passages. The obstruction triggers the “smoker’s cough”. This familiar reflex cough is the distressed lung’s effort to clear the air routes.

Indoor air pollution: This is one of the most dangerous but often disregarded dangers. The offices and homes are mostly bases of indoor air pollution. Many cleaning compounds besides furniture and synthetic carpets, certain construction materials, and even air fresheners emit hazardous gases. These remain highly concentrated in unventilated or AC rooms. The most vulnerable sections of people exposed to these respiratory dangers are children, elderly people and those having a history of respiratory illnesses. These people generally spend most of their time within the four walls. The indoor air pollutants not only weaken our lungs but also invite infections.

Occupational risks: Many professionals are daily exposed to impurities released by their activities. These workers run a high risk of suffering from respiratory diseases. Mention may be made of people picking cotton, those working in work in farms or shipyards, mechanics installing brake insulation or lining. Other people who suffer from such risks are miners, construction workers, quarry workers, stone cutters, and sandblasters among others.

GOVERNMENT & NGO MONITORING OF POLLUTION

All the governments have their independent agencies to monitor the pollution levels. There are also non-governmental agencies (NGOs) that carry out this activity. The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in USA, for instance, issues regulations for protection of workers. It has made mandatory the wearing of air masks with filters for certain jobs. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) monitors and also regulates the pollutants released into the air by different organizations and industries. In spite of such efforts, across the world, various types of respiratory illnesses have registered a rise.

DISORDERS & DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Any portion of the respiratory tract can be affected by the disorders and diseases of the respiratory system. Though the common ailments of the respiratory system are trivial, yet at times they can be life threatening as well.

Common cold, running nose & stuffy nose: Viruses cause colds by targeting the pharynx and the nasal passages. First, the viruses infiltrate the body through the respiratory system. Then, they target the cells in the nasal passage membranes. But before they can destroy the cells, the body’s immune system fights back. The immune system increases the flow of blood to the area. Such reinforcement of white blood cells leads to swelling of the membranes. This causes the stuffy nose. Increase in mucous secretions to neutralize the viral attack leads to the runny nose. Mentionably, the infection can affect the sinuses — membrane-lined cavities located within the head, besides the middle ear and the lower respiratory tract.

Hay fever & asthma: These are allergic reactions of the respiratory system. These conditions are caused when the immune system is irritated by irritants like dust or pollen. The symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose. It is a seasonal reaction when there is abundance of pollens in the air. Asthma attacks are generally mild. But, they can be life threatening too. A person suffering from asthma experiences difficulty in breathing. It occurs as the bronchi and bronchioles get inflamed and remain constricted temporarily.

Laryngitis: Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. Laryngitis is caused by various factors. They can be diverse like voice overuse, cigarette smoke or viral infection. Laryngitis leaves different effects on the voice. Till the inflammation subsides, it can either get hoarse, or get reduced to a whisper.

Bronchitis: Bronchitis refers to membrane inflammation. The membranes lining the bronchioles or the bronchi get inflamed. Bronchitis occurs due to bacterial or viral infection. Bronchitis can also happen from irritating chemicals.

Pneumonia: This infection of the alveoli is caused by viruses or bacteria. Pneumonia is a potentially serious state of the lungs. In pneumonia the alveoli gets inflamed after fluid builds up. This gathering of fluid and the consequent inflammation impedes the flow of carbon dioxide and oxygen between the alveoli and capillaries.

Tuberculosis: Also known as TB, it is caused by the tuberculosis bacterium. The lungs are primarily attacked in TB. At times, other body tissues also get affected. Unaddressed, the lung infection can even destroy the lung tissues. Earlier, tuberculosis was controlled by antibiotics. However, the bacterium has evolved an antibiotic-resistant strain posing a grave health problem.

Emphysema: This non-contagious disease affects alveolar tissue gets partially destroyed. The remaining alveoli gets enlarged and weakened. During exhalation, the bronchioles collapse. As a result, air remains trapped inside the alveoli. In the long run, emphysema affects the patient’s ability for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. The circulatory system also fails to function. This causes breathing problems. Emphysema can occur due to genetic factors besides infection, smoke, smog, and cigarette.

Lung cancer: The main cancer causing agents are uranium, asbestos, and tobacco smoke. Genetic reasons can also cause cancer. The respiratory cancerous tumors are formed in the lung tissue (alveolar), the bronchioles or the bronchi. Early detection of such tumors can halt their progression to other parts of the body. Then the treatments are more effective, and the prognosis for recovery is rather good. Unfortunately, 85 per cent of the lung cancers are diagnosed at a later stage when the tumors have already spread. In such extreme cases, the prognosis is poor.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome: It is also called RDS. The dysfunction refers to a cluster of symptoms. All point to severe malfunctioning of lungs. IRDS: Premature infants may suffer from Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS). IRDS happens when the alveoli fail to fully expand during inhalation. Alveoli expansion needs a chemical called surfactant. However, among the premature infants, the undeveloped alveoli fail to produce enough surfactant. The common treatment for IRDS is administration of air and surfactant through a breathing tube. This administration enables the alveoli to produce surfactant. ARDS: Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) occurs when the lungs get severely injured. Many automobile accidents, poisonous gases, or lung inflammation can cause such a dysfunction. ARDS patients generally have to battle for life with 50 per cent survival rate.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASES

Many traditional and alternative health systems like Yoga, Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy have various means of treating the different types of respiratory disorders. Yoga has simple breathing exercises called ‘Pranayam’ that have proven track records. The other alternative health systems like Ayurveda, Unani and homoeopathy also have viable strategies to effectively treat the respiratory ailments. However, prior to taking recourse to any of them, one should consult experts of those systems. Obviously some of the obnoxious habits like smoking and taking of alcohol must be given up to get the optimum results. This holds true for any treatment.



About the Author

Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children. For more information log on tohttp://www.fithealthonline.com/ http://www.healthylifelearning.com/ http://www.wanthealthylife.com/










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Mesothelioma Treatment In India At Delhi At low Cost

Posted on September 24, 2011 by duncan

Mesothelioma Treatment In India At Delhi At low Cost

Article by Pankaj Nagpal









Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).

Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types based on what part of the mesothelium is affected, including : –

• malignant mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma.

• Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissue in your abdomen.

• Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the tissue surrounding the heart.

• Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, which occurs in the lining around the testicles.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs. Pleural mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include : –

• Shortness of breath• Painful breathing (pleurisy)• Painful coughing• Chest pain under the rib cage• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest• Unexplained weight loss• Dry (nonproductive) cough

Peritoneal mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include : –

• Abdominal pain• Abdominal swelling• A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation• Lumps of tissue in the abdomen• Unexplained weight loss

Other forms of mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are unclear. These forms are so rare that not much information is available. Pericardial mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include difficulty breathing or chest pains. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis may be first detected as a mass on a testicle.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren’t specific to this disease and, due to the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be related to other conditions. If any persistent signs and symptoms seem unusual or bothersome to you, ask your doctor to evaluate them.

Causes of Mesothelioma

In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing the cell to grow and multiply out of control, when healthy cells would normally die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).

It isn’t clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It’s likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Benign pleural mesothelioma

A form of noncancerous (benign) tumor that can occur in the chest is sometimes called benign mesothelioma. However, this name is misleading. Benign mesothelioma doesn’t begin in the same cells where the cancerous forms of mesothelioma begin. And, in a minority of cases, benign mesothelioma can be very aggressive, despite the term “benign.” For this reason, some doctors now refer this tumor as solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor usually doesn’t cause signs and symptoms. Most cases are inadvertently discovered during tests and procedures for other conditions. It isn’t clear what causes solitary fibrous tumors, but they aren’t linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment for solitary fibrous tumor typically includes surgery.

Risk factors of Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure: The primary risk factor for mesothelioma

Asbestos is a mineral that’s found naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products. People who work around asbestos fibers are thought to have the greatest risk of mesothelioma.

When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers may settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma, though how exactly this happens isn’t understood.

Mesothelioma risk is believed to be increased in people who are exposed to high levels of asbestos, in people who are exposed to asbestos over a long period of time and in people exposed to asbestos at a young age. It can take 30 to 40 years or more for mesothelioma to develop as a result of asbestos exposure.

Some people with years of asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma. And yet, others with very brief exposure develop the disease. This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma or doesn’t. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk.

Possible risk factors Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include : –

• Personal history of asbestos exposure : – If you’ve been directly exposed to asbestos fibers at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is greatly increased.

• Living with someone who works with asbestos : -People who are exposed to asbestos may carry the fibers home on their skin and clothing. These stray fibers can put others in the home at risk of mesothelioma. People who work with asbestos should shower and change clothes before leaving work.

• Smoking : – Risk of mesothelioma is increased greatly in smokers who are exposed to asbestos.

• SV40 : – Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys. Millions of people may have been exposed to SV40 when receiving polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963, because the vaccine was developed using monkey cells. Once it was discovered that SV40 was linked to certain cancers, the virus was removed from the polio vaccine. Whether SV40 increases the risk of mesothelioma is a point of debate, and more research is needed.

• Radiation : – Some research links mesothelioma to the radioactive substance thorium dioxide, which was used along with X-rays to diagnose various health conditions from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thorium dioxide was later found to cause cancer and is no longer used.

• Family history : – A family history of mesothelioma may increase your risk of mesothelioma, but more research is needed to understand this theory.

Tests and diagnosis of Mesothelioma

If you have signs and symptoms that might indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to check for any lumps or other unusual signs. Your doctor may order imaging scans, such as a chest X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest or abdomen, to look for abnormalities.

It’s not uncommon for mesothelioma to be misdiagnosed initially because mesothelioma is rare, and its signs and symptoms aren’t specific. Your doctor will likely rule out other more common conditions before considering mesothelioma.

Biopsy

Biopsy, a procedure to remove a small portion of tissue for laboratory examination, is the only way to determine whether you have mesothelioma. Depending on what area of your body is affected, your doctor selects the right biopsy procedure for you Options include : –

• Fine-needle aspiration : – The doctor removes fluid or a piece of tissue with a small needle inserted into your chest or abdomen.

• Thoracoscopy : -Thoracoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your chest. In this procedure, the surgeon makes one or more small incisions between your ribs. A tube with a tiny video camera is then inserted into your chest cavity – a procedure sometimes called video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Special surgical tools allow your surgeon to cut away tissue for testing.

• Laparoscopy : – Laparoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen. Using one or more small incisions into your abdomen, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and special surgical tools to obtain a small piece of tissue for examination.

• Thoracotomy : – Thoracotomy is surgery to open your chest between the ribs to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.

• Laparotomy : – Laparotomy is surgery to open your abdomen to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.

The tissue sample is analyzed under a microscope to see whether the abnormal tissue is mesothelioma and what types of cells are involved. The type of mesothelioma you have determines your treatment plan.

Staging

Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, your doctor orders other tests to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer. Imaging tests that may help determine the stage of your cancer include : –

• Chest X-ray• CT scans of the chest and abdomen• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)• Positron emission tomography (PET)

Once the extent of pleural mesothelioma is determined, a stage is assigned. Formal stages aren’t available for other types of mesothelioma because these types are rare and aren’t well studied. The stages of pleural mesothelioma are : –

• I : – Stage I pleural mesothelioma is considered localized cancer, meaning it’s limited to one portion of the lining of the chest.

• II : – Stage II mesothelioma may have spread beyond the lining of the chest to the diaphragm or to a lung.

• III : -Stage III mesothelioma may have spread to other structures within the chest and may involve nearby lymph nodes.

• IV : – Stage IV mesothelioma is an advanced cancer that has spread to distant areas (metastasized). Mesothelioma most commonly spreads (metastasizes) to the brain, lymph nodes in the chest and areas of the lung that are away from the tumor.

Treatments of Mesothelioma

What treatment you undergo for mesothelioma depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for most people a cure isn’t possible. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage – when it isn’t possible to remove the cancer through an operation. Instead, your doctor may work to control your cancer to make you more comfortable.

Discuss treatment goals with your doctor. Some people want to do everything they can to treat their cancer, even if that means enduring side effects for a small chance of an improvement. Others prefer treatments that make them comfortable so that they can live their remaining months as symptom-free as possible.

Surgery

Surgeons work to remove mesothelioma in instances where it is diagnosed at an early stage. Sometimes it isn’t possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma spreading in your body. Surgical options may include : –

• Surgery to decrease fluid buildup : – Pleural mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in your chest, causing difficulty breathing. Surgeons insert a tube or catheter into your chest to drain the fluid. Surgeons may also inject medicine into your chest to prevent fluid from returning (pleurodesis).

• Surgery to remove the tissue around the lung or abdomen : – Surgeons may remove the tissue lining the ribs and the lungs (pleurectomy) or the tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritonectomy) in order to relieve signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.

• Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible (debulking) : – If all of the cancer can’t be removed, surgeons may attempt to remove as much as possible.

• Surgery to remove a lung and the surrounding tissue : – Removing the affected lung and the tissue that surrounds it may relieve signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. This procedure also allows doctors to use higher doses of radiation against any remaining mesothelioma, since they won’t need to worry about protecting your lung from damaging radiation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy travels throughout the body and may shrink or slow the growth of a pleural mesothelioma that can’t be removed using surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to make an operation easier or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the chance that cancer will return.

Chemotherapy drugs may also be heated and administered directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, or into the chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), in the case of pleural mesothelioma. Using this strategy, chemotherapy drugs can reach the mesothelioma directly without injuring healthy cells in other parts of the body. This allows doctors to administer higher doses of chemotherapy drugs.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may also be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma that can’t be removed through surgery.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy focuses high-energy beams to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs are in the chest, such as the heart, lungs, esophagus and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after biopsy or surgery to prevent mesothelioma from spreading to the surgical incision.

Radiation therapy is used occasionally in people with peritoneal mesothelioma to reduce signs and symptoms caused by the cancer.

Combination therapy

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in treating mesothelioma. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite aggressive treatment. Combination therapy has been used in both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Treatment for other types of mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are very rare and can be very aggressive. Early-stage cancer may be removed through surgery. Doctors have yet to determine the best way to treat later stage cancers, though. Your doctor may recommend other treatments to improve your quality of life.Please Log On To: http://indiahospitaltour.com/cancer-treatment/mesothelioma-treatment-india.htmlEmail Us: info@wecareindia.com




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Welcome to World Class Treatment and Surgery by We Care Health Services, India. Contact Us : http://www.indiahospital tour.com || E-mail us on : info@indiahospitaltour.com || Contact Center Tel. :(+91) 9029304141. The surgery and medical treatments offered by We Care Health Services at JCI Accredited / ISO Certified Hospitals are vast and varied; ranging from Heart Surgery in India, Cardiology to Cardio Thoracic surgery, Total Knee / Hip / Ankle / Shoulder Joint Replacement Surgery in India including ACL reconstruction Surgery to Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Surgery in India , Spine Surgery in India like Discectomy / Laminectomy Surgery, Cervical Decompression to Anterior / Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery in India, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Cancer surgery, Sterotactic Radiotherapy, Autologous / Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant Surgery to Breast Cancer treatments, Near relative Kidney Transplant Surgery to Dialysis and Kidney Biopsy, Low Cost Liver Transplants Surgery, Hysterectomy (Vaginal / Abdominal) to Ovarian Cystectomy, Hernia repair Surgery to Cholecystectomy, Advanced Neurosurgery in India, Bariatric surgery, Gastric Bypass Surgery in India, Eye Surgery in India, Cornea Transplant, Cataract Surgery to LASIK Eye care Surgery, IVF, ICSI, Egg Donor to Surrogacy, Minimally Invasive surgery or Laparoscopic Surgery to Cochlear Implants, Breast Lift / Tummy Tuck, Face Lift to Low Cost Rhinoplasty Cosmetic Surgery, multi specialty Hospitals in India offering first world treatments with board certified highly qualified medical consultants in attendance at third world prices..










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What does the media say about the link between smoking and lung cancer?

Posted on September 23, 2011 by duncan

Question by staryeyes69: What does the media say about the link between smoking and lung cancer?
What are the medias opinions about smoking being linked with lung cancer?

Best answer:

Answer by buffy fan
Direct connection, from the ‘health media’.

No connection, from the ‘cigarette media’. (unless you are able to read the tiny print that has the surgeon general’s warning.)

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Posted in Lung Cancer Q & A | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments