Why does the US have so many lung cancer patients?

Posted on June 2, 2011 by duncan

Question by Rednas: Why does the US have so many lung cancer patients?
2/3 of Japan smokes but they have 81% less lung cancer patients but 1/4 of the US smokes and we have more lung cancer patients.

Best answer:

Answer by Spreedog
Very good question “Rednas.” You are not the first to wonder about this. http://lungcancer.about.com/od/causesoflungcance1/f/lungcaparadox.htm
Japanese cancer trends over the past several decades have become more and more like the USA as cultural differences and dietary choices become closer between these two developed nations.

Let’s look at some of the data worldwide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_cigarette_consumption_per_capita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_map_of_countries_by_number_of_cigarettes_smoked_per_adult_per_year.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_tobacco_consumption

From http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/l/lung_cancer/stats-country.htm
Lung cancer in USA vs Japan (SEER 2002 data USA)
USA 182,886 lung cancers diagnosed out of 293,655,405 population
0.06 % of the people had a lung cancer diagnosed in that early 2000s year
Japan 79,302 lung cancers diagnosed out of 127,333,002 people
0.06% of Japanese people were diagnosed with Lung cancer that year
Yet the data for many nations worldwide was extrapolated from U.S. trends.
We always have to examine how data is collected.
The U.S. is probably rated high in quality of cancer data collection,
and LA County may be an exemplary group of data managers / cancer registrars.
It would be very interesting to see what DeniseDDS has to say about this.
Where did you derive the data quoted in your question ?

What do you think? Answer below!

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Posted on June 2, 2011 by duncan

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare form of a rare type of cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer that’s caused from exposure to asbestos. Less than three thousand people are diagnosed with this type of cancer in the US each year. Of those, between ten and twenty percent have peritoneal mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that grows in the peritoneum, which is a layer of tissue that essentially covers the abdominal area. Other types of mesothelioma form in the tissue that surrounds the organs like the heart and lungs.

This cancer is caused by inhaling asbestos. The fibers don’t break down in the body like many other ingest or inhaled substances. They never leave once inhaled, and lodge between mesothelial cells, which gives this type of cancer its name.

Because today we know that asbestos is dangerous and deadly, it has to be removed from public buildings and we’re warned about having it removed from our homes. Special hazardous materials handlers, known as hazmat workers, have to remove asbestos while wearing protective suits and using special equipment to keep it from getting on their skin or into the air.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, like other forms of asbestos-caused cancer, will often not show up for several years after the initial asbestos exposure. It can even take 2 to 5 decades before symptoms appear. But once the exposure happens, and the asbestos fibers lodge between the cells, they cause irritation and inflammation. This causes the cells to grow abnormally and they become cancerous. As the cells continue to grow and divide in this warped way, the peritoneum thickens, and the cells eventually form a tumor or often several tumors.

Symptoms can include things like fever, sweating at night, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, stomach swelling, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, anemia, constant fatigue, and in many cases the lumps growing on the abdominal wall can be felt beneath the skin. Since most of the symptoms are symptoms of a variety of ailments, having them does not mean you have peritoneal mesothelioma. X-rays can confirm or help rule out the disease, as can other testing like tissue or fluid biopsies.

This type of cancer has often been present in the body so long before it’s discovered, that it’s typically very hard to treat. By the time it’s discovered, it’s almost always last stage cancer, which means it has spread over the affected area and often beyond it. Surgery can be performed to remove the obvious cancer, and then chemotherapy and radiation are used to kill any remaining cancer cells or at least slow its growth. There is no cure, but these measures can bring temporary relief from the pain of the cancer and prolong the patient’s life.

A chemotherapy treatment known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy can sometimes be used to help fight the cancer. In this treatment, the medicine is injected into the peritoneum instead of the bloodstream, to fight the cancer at its source. This treatment and clinical trials of new treatments often give peritoneal mesothelioma patients the best chance at longer more comfortable lives than standard treatments alone.

Joe Gardner has years of experience working in health care and extensive research of mesothelioma.

Article from articlesbase.com

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Lung Cancer Treatment

Posted on June 1, 2011 by duncan

Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers existing in the world nowadays. Generally lung cancers are self inflicted through heavy smoking. As with all diseases and especially with any form of cancer is to detect the disease as early as possible so, that treatment can be given to increase the chances of endurance. However, by the time the symptoms are noticeable the disease is probably at its advanced stage. But, if the symptoms are detected early enough your odds get better.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung Cancer symptoms vary from person to person and may include:

Fatigue
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chest pain, if a tumor invades a structure within the chest or involves the lining of the lung
Loss of appetite
Coughing up phlegm or mucus
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
Swelling of the neck and face
Fatigue
Clubbing of fingers

Sometimes people with lung cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. But if you notice one or more of them for more than two weeks, consult your doctor.

Risk Factors
Many factors may influence the development of lung cancer, including:
Smoking
Family history
Personal history
Occupational or environmental exposure
Radiation exposure
Industrial exposure
Air pollution
Environmental tobacco smoke
Lung diseases

These are common types of Lung Cancer Treatment:

Surgery
The standard operation for lung cancer includes removal of the lobe of the lung in which the tumor resides (lobectomy) and dissection and removal of the mediastinal lymph nodes (MLND). This procedure is usually performed through an incision on the back and requires the ribs to be spread apart (right).

Advances in minimally invasive surgery are improving treatment outcomes for many lung cancer patients. Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive technique, is resulting in better outcomes and decreased recovery times. VATS lobectomy can accomplish the same cancer operation as the traditional open procedure, but requires only three or four small incisions and does not involve spreading of the ribs. VATS is an option for selected lung cancer patients, particularly those have a small tumor in the outer regions of the lung.

Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation treatment is most often used in conjunction with surgery, but it can also be combined with chemotherapy as an alternative to surgery.
Proton therapy is an innovative treatment at MD Anderson, which delivers high radiation doses directly to the tumor site, with no damage to nearby healthy tissue. Proton therapy results in better cancer control with fewer side effects. Many lung cancer patients may be candidates for proton therapy.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to destroy tumors, is usually used along with surgery in lung cancer patients. Chemotherapy can make the tumor more manageable before surgery, or to destroy lingering cancer cells at the tumor site after surgery.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy involves a light-sensitive chemical injected into the body, where it remains longer in cancer cells than it does in normal cells. The chemical is activated with a laser that initiates the destruction of cancer cells. PDT is best used on very small tumors, or to reduce some symptoms of lung cancer.

Sarasota Interventional Radiology using Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for lung cancer treatment. Interventional radiology technique has really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of the most dangerous diseases like cancer.
More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

Article from articlesbase.com

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mesothelioma doctor

Posted on June 1, 2011 by duncan

mesothelioma doctor

Article by Thomas Goldman







A mesothelioma doctor is a specialist in the rare cancer called mesothelioma which is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. It is a difficult disease to diagnose because all the obvious symptoms can be caused by other less serious conditions, so it is vital to go to the very best specialist available in order to get the most reliable diagnosis possible.

Since the disease is rare, specialists are also not commonly found in every area. However there are easy to find lists of specialists on the internet which can be very valuable in the search. Also, these lists sometimes include doctors who are looking for patients who might be suitable for trials of new approaches to treating the disease. The unique research in the field done by particular doctors is also sometimes listed.

In addition to specialists in the disease, support is offered at major cancer centers in the USA and other countries where the disease is common such as UK, Australia and Canada. The internet offers other forms of support including a wealth of available data on the disease, as well as support discussion groups and other support facilities.

It is important to be aware that the more standard treatments such as radiation therapy which might be available locally, are found to not necessarily be the most effective treatments. For example, a combination of radical surgery plus chemo and radiation therapy has been found to be far more effective than radiation therapy alone, but the surgery might only be available from a few national specialists, and not possible at a more local facility.

Your local doctor might be able to refer you to a specialist, or you can practice “self-referral”. When choosing a specialist it might be wise to find out how often that specialist has performed the procedure that is recommended for you, what the results have been, and have all the details, side-effects and other factors been explained to you to your satisfaction.

A mesothelioma doctor will keep up to date with all the new research and findings about the disease.

For more relevant information see our Blog Post Mesothelioma Symptom

For more relevant information see our Blog Mesothelioma Reports

(sources include http://www.wikipedia.org)



About the Author

Thomas Goldman is an experienced artist musician and knowledgable in a variety of subjects. He loves travelling.

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What are the chances of actually getting lung cancer from smoking?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by duncan

Question by Asandi: What are the chances of actually getting lung cancer from smoking?
I’m 19, and have only smoked for maybe a year, but my parents always smoked so I got second hand smoke form that mostly all my life.

But I’m just wondering what are the chances of actually getting lung cancer from smoking?

Best answer:

Answer by Ricardo M
Pretty High, I guess. Im 18 and i have been smoking since 8th grade. I am currentyl a senior so thats about 4 years. I have had bronchitis 2 times and my doctor told me its from smoking too much. And that getting too many sicknesses from smoking can definitely lead to lung, throat, and mouth cancer. But i dont care. I still smoke but i think it would be a smart choice to quit but id rather not

What do you think? Answer below!

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Specialists Provide Personalized, Gender-specific Care for Women with Lung Cancer

Posted on June 1, 2011 by duncan

Specialists Provide Personalized, Gender-specific Care for Women with Lung Cancer

The Women’s Lung Cancer Program, directed by Yolonda L. Colson, MD, PhD, is dedicated to understanding the significance of gender in lung cancer susceptibility, tumor biology, and disease course in order to develop the most effective, personalized treatment plan for each patient.

Program specialists are evaluating specific genetic mutations in tumors, as well as the greater susceptibility of women to develop certain types of lung cancer, such as bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and adenocarcinoma.

In addition, Program specialists are examining the basis for the development of lung cancer in women who have never smoked (accounting for 20 percent of all women with lung cancer, compared with only five to 10 percent of male lung cancer patients).

Program experts also are evaluating ways to reduce the high recurrence rates of early lung cancer among women – as high at 40 percent with an average 60 percent survival rate. The Program is dedicated to advancing the understanding and identification of lung cancer as a women’s cancer – accounting for more deaths among women each year than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined.

Providing highly specialized diagnosis and treatment for women diagnosed with lung cancer, specialists in the Program use:

·Sub-specialized radiologic and pathology tools;

·Expert surgical intervention;

·Advanced medical and adjuvant therapies;

·Cutting-edge translational research;

·Comprehensive support services.

Through thoracic surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, social workers, and other specialists, the Program offers the latest in clinical trials, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and oncology therapies designed to improve outcomes.

The Program is currently leading several promising research studies, including:

·Characterization of micrometastatic nodal disease in lung cancer – This NCI-funded Phase I/II clinical trial is exploring the clinical application of an optical imaging technology that uses safe, invisible, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent light to permit sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification via real-time image guidance during surgery.NIR fluorescent lymphotrophic contrast agents permit non-radioactive, real-time lymphatic mapping that will provide a clinically applicable means to improve surgical staging with expected therapeutic benefit to patients with early-stage lung cancer;

·Design and validation of drug-eluting polymers for peri-operative loco-regional drug delivery – These pre-clinical studies examine numerous polymer and nanoparticle drug delivery mechanisms aimed at preventing cancer recurrence at either the suture line or within regional lymph nodes following surgery. Copolymer films containing paclitaxel are being evaluated to prevent growth of recurrent disease following resection of primary tumor nodules. Polymer nanoparticles with ph-sensitive intracellular drug release mechanisms have been shown to migrate through lymphatic channels to deliver chemotherapy to regional lymph nodes.

Patient Support

The Program offers the Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, a monthly meeting for patients with lung cancer and their family members, held in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Designed to provide a supportive environment for patients to learn about lung cancer and become advocates for lung cancer care, surrounded by fellow survivors of lung cancer, the Forum offers seminars on a wide range of topics, presented by medical professionals, advocates and cancer survivors.

The Forum is held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Gretchen S. and Edward A. Fish Center for Women’s Health at the Brigham and Women’s Ambulatory Care Center, 850 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Attendance is open and does not require registration.

For close to 175 years, Brigham and Women’s Hospital has been the most trusted name in women’s health. Our women health center has been the site for important advances in women’s health. Our team works to improve the health of women and transform their care. For more information about BWH, please visit http://www.brighamandwomens.org/.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s leading hospitals.

Article from articlesbase.com

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What is Mesothelioma?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by duncan

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops within the mesothelium of the body. The mesothelium is the protective covering in the body. It covers various organs, including the lungs. The mesothelium is made up of two thin layers. When cancer develops in the mesothelium it is between these layers. The narrow space makes it very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages.

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the majority of patients will not live longer than eighteen months. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the advanced nature of the disease once it is diagnosed and the lack of an effective surgical method of removing the tumors.
Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone’s initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.
Pleural mesothelioma – This is the most common form of mesothelioma. It is a cancer of the lining of the lungs called the pleura. The pleura, fibrous sheets that help protect the lungs, produces a lubricating fluid that allow the lungs to move smoothly as we breathe. Pleural mesothelioma is uncommon and may be misdiagnosed as lung cancer. Lung cancer, however, is different from pleural mesothelioma. Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the lungs; pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs. Approximately 75% of all malignant mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma – This cancer is much less common than pleural mesothelioma. It accounts for about 10 to 20% of mesotheliomas. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the stomach or abdomen called the peritoneum. The peritoneum, cells that produce a lubricating fluid that protect the stomach, allows the stomach to move freely when food is digested. Peritoneal mesothelioma can start in the abdomen and spread to other parts of the body.
Pericardial mesothelioma – This is the rarest form of mesothelioma – only about 5 to 15% of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma. It is a cancer in the lining surrounding the heart called the pericardium. The pericardium, cells that produce a ubricating fluid that protects the heart, allows the heart to move freely when it is pumping blood to other parts of your body.

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Alternative Lung Cancer Treatment and You

Posted on May 31, 2011 by duncan

Alternative Lung Cancer Treatment and You

Most of the people around the world die due to cancer, and one common cause that ties them together is lung cancer. The standard age for the diagnosis of this disease is sixty. Cancer can be broadly classified into two types, small cell (or coat cell) lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The growth of small cell lung cancer is very quick and can easily spread to the other body parts. This kind of lung cancer is most common among the smokers. The non-small cell lung cancer is further divided into three types; squamous cell carcinoma (a very common type of lung cancer), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.    

Around 170,000 new lung cancer cases are detected every year and about 160,000 people lose their lives due to the disease, if it is detected before spreading to the lymph nodes or other body parts, there is a 50% chance of survival. But, most of the times, cancer is not detected at the early stage making the survival chances as low as 12%, though things have improved nowadays owing to the better diagnostic procedures.  

There are three kinds of alternative lung cancer treatment, they are, correct nutrition, oxygenation therapy and lycopene. Though these natural cures for cancer are very useful but one also has to remember that the following alternative types of medicine and therapies do not have a solid scientific base.    

To decrease the risk of lung cancer one should include fruits and vegetables including tomatoes in their diet. Shiitake mushrooms have lentinan that also protects one from lung cancer.

Soybeans have an antioxidant known as Genistein and might inhibit the expansion of the lung cancer cells. Other antioxidants that aid in lung cancer cures are Alpha carotene, beta carotene, and other carotenoids. But, many scientists believe that beta carotene can also be connected with an elevated rate of lung cancer and death in the smokers, and people exposed to asbestos. If beta carotene, Vitamin C and E are taken together the possible consequence are thwarted. Taking glutathione, selenium, lutein and lycopene can also decrease the risk of lung cancer.  

There is a relationship among the sugar and cancer too. The scientists consider that decreasing the sugar intake in the body can decrease the growth rate of lung cancer. There is a solid scientific back up for this. Just like the cell of human body, the cancer cell produced by sugar from carbohydrates in the diet for power. Some malignant and active cancer cell reproduces and spreads when one takes in the big quantities of sugar, to decrease the spread of the lung cancer cells the patients are advised to decrease amount of sugar in their diet.    

A “one minute cure” today for lung cancer is the Oxygenation Therapy. Clean and adequate supply of oxygen to a patient suffering from lung cancer is a perfect cure for this disease. Certainly other aspects like proper diet, and eating good food is also taken into the thought.   

Lycopene or tomatoes have been accepted as a cure for several kinds of cancer including the lung cancer. Investigations reveal that tomatoes can lower the dangers of acquiring cancer particularly the lung cancer, colon cancer and the prostate cancer. Tomatoes have a certain substance known as lycopene, an antioxidant, they might not be useful for alternative lung cancer treatment but they are good for prevention for the lung cancer.

A lot of alternative lung cancer cures and therapies are good for a patient suffering from lung cancer, but some of them do not have the scientific backing.

Are you looking for more information on alternative lung cancer treatment? Visit http://www.NaturalCuresForAllDiseases.info. today for more information!

Article from articlesbase.com

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Q&A: Is it rare to get lung cancer at an early age?

Posted on May 30, 2011 by duncan

Question by Peter: Is it rare to get lung cancer at an early age?
Is it rare to get lung cancer at an early age? How long does it take before you die? Also can it be stopped via lung transplants?

Best answer:

Answer by Cameron
My stepson Terry developed lung cancer at age 7. He recovered but died last near due to complications from an infected reptile bite.

Give your answer to this question below!

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Mesothelioma Treatment Center for Cost Effective Treatment

Posted on May 30, 2011 by duncan

Mesothelioma Treatment Center for Cost Effective Treatment

Article by Jeff







Mesothelioma treatment center provides the best possible treatment for the mesothelioma disease. Mesothelioma is deadly disease which is caused by asbestos. There are several parts of the body such as lungs, abdomen, and heart that are mainly affected by mesothelioma.

You may wish to be treated locally or you may choose to be treated in a specialized mesothelioma treatment center for your mesothelioma. There are various specialized mesothelioma treatment centers who can offer a wide range of treatment facilities for mesothelioma. However these centers may not necessary be always good. In order to get a good and reliable mesothelioma treatment center you need to know more about the center and its previous treatment records. If possible you can take a suggestion from previous patients as well. As per as travel fare is concerned, getting a reliable and good mesothelioma treatment center in your city would help you to save your money.

Specialized mesothelioma treatment centers often have good and experienced teams of Physicians. They have various teams of specialties such as radiation oncologists, pulmonary therapist, surgery oncologists, pathologists and others.

Most mesothelioma treatment centers offer traditional ways of healing as well as non traditional methods. There are some ways of treatments that are considered as traditional methods. These traditional treatment methods are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery may not be an option for all mesothelioma treatments. It depends upon the seriousness of the disease. Before choosing surgery as option for the treatment, doctors will have to consider a few things. If the tumors are very extensive, surgery may not work and it might even do more harm than good. If the surgery is suitable option for your treatment then doctor will explain to you the various kinds of surgeries depending on the location of the cancer. The treatment is usually undertaken together with chemotherapy and radiation.

It is important that that the mesothelioma treatment center coordinates with your local care team. You may still involve your local care team in your treatment especially if the mesothelioma treatment center you choose is far away from your residence.

Mesothelioma treatment center provides all the latest information about mesothelioma disease. Lots of mesothelioma treatment centers are available on our website. These are reliable and cost effective.



About the Author

Jeff Milton is an experienced seo consultant who has been working with mesothelioma treatment center for a long time. Contact him for suggestion regarding new mesothelioma treatment feel free to contact him through New Mesothelioma Treatments.

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