The Silent Assassin Asbestos Mesothelioma

Many people are living with the seeds of the deadly killer Mesothelioma lurking inside there bodies.

It can take 10 to 15 years after exposure to asbestos and other cancer causing agents for the Mesothelioma to become active. Litigation regarding mesothiolma should surge in the years to come. Mesothelioma is a very serious disease.

If you or your loved ones becomes a victim of this devastating disease what are you options? Where will you go for support? Where in the country are the best treatment centers for Mesothelioma. Who will aggressively protect your rights in court? What about the suffering that it causes? What about the years it takes off someone?s life?

The first step is to determine if you or anyone in your family are potential victims of the deadly curse.

Up to 9 out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals. Absestos was used in construction, ship-building and the manufacture of household appliances.

Talk to your family members, discuss you history of exposure to any of the above examples.

Be prepared to battle this devious and cunning disease.

Find a quality mesothelioma lawyer. This is where Mesothelioma laws come into play. Every state has very stringent laws regarding asbestos material.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer that attacks three vital components of the human body. Mesothelioma damages the lining of the chest, abdominal cavity, and the heart. Unfortunately many cases of Mesothelioma are not diagnosed in the early stages of the disease because symptoms may remain latent for decades.

Another deadly aspect of Mesothelioma is the minimal exposure it takes to become infected with this disease. It only takes an average of one to two months of exposure to become afflicted.

Many cases of Mesothelioma are caused by asbestos, a mineral fiber that was used in the construction of buildings because of its highly effective insulation and flame resistant properties. The inhalation of these fibers is directly related to the diagnosis of Mesothelioma.

Signs and symptoms of the disease are shortness of breath, pain in the abdominal region and chest, swelling of the neck or face, and trouble swallowing. The dilemma is that these symptoms may be caused by less a severe issue such as a common cold or other ailments.

Treatments for mesothelioma range from surgery to radiation to chemotherapy. None of these treatments seem to be highly effective in curing patients, but like other types of cancer, research is being done to try and find a treatment that will successfully heal Mesothelioma patients.

To find out What Is Mesothelioma visit http://www.whatismesothelioma.ca

Regain Lost Confidence By Buying A Mastectomy Bra

Surviving the surgical procedure mastectomy doesn?t end after going through the operation. A woman still needs to confront the difficult challenge of living a normal life despite the noticeable changes done on her body. The loss of a part or the whole breast usually leads to a significant loss of confidence and self-esteem. As part of the recovery process to regain the lost confidence in one?s health, there are a number of alternatives available to women.

Surgical reconstruction of the breast is often not opted by many women right after mastectomy because of the inevitable trauma that comes with these kinds of procedures to both the body and the mind. Usually, it takes several months that can stretch to several years before these women are ready to undergo the knife again. Still, there are some who are adverse towards surgical augmentations. There are a number of feasible options for these women. Short-term alternatives available are breast prostheses and mastectomy bras.

A mastectomy bra is especially intended to keep the breast prosthesis secure for women who have gone through mastectomy to treat breast cancer. These are particularly designed with no underwires for maximum comfort. This bra permits the prostheses to move like the regular set of breasts as the wearer moves. In truth, there is not much difference between a mastectomy bra and a regular bra. However, one will note that a mastectomy bra has built-in stretch pockets in the cup area for one to place the breast prostheses.

Losing a part or the whole breast can somehow strike a feeling of imbalance which stems from symmetry and proportion that most human beings take for granted. To regain a sense of balance, the mastectomy bra promises a number of advantages.

1.It aids body posture because of the ultimate support that it provides.

2.It gives some form of protection to the wounds and scars which are a result of the surgery.

3.It can somehow reduce the chances of obtaining back problems, neck and shoulder aches.

It is certainly good news for the women out there who still want to feel sexy and feel confident about their bodies despite having gone through the surgery. A fabulous way to wear breast prostheses is to wear it with a sheer mastectomy bra with lace trimmings. On the other hand, there are mastectomy bras in posture styles which are specifically designed with full crossover backs to give the front more support.

Mastectomy bras have kept up with the latest styles done on regular bras. A number of brands that offer stylish mastectomy bras are Playtex, Jodee and Amoena, which are known to carry this type of bra in a variety of designs and fabrics ranging from the lacy ones to sporty ones.

Although this type of bra may not be readily available in malls nationwide, there are specialty stores which carry a variety of mastectomy products and accessories as well as the professional service of a mastectomy fitter.

This fitter is sufficiently trained and experienced to assist their customers in choosing clothes that have the perfect fit given the current condition of these customers. Nordstrom?s in fact allows the addition of prostheses pockets to normal bras for a minimal fee and sometimes for free on all bras sold there. There are also online stores like the sites below.

Joyce Dietzel writes articles for my-bra-store.com a website dedicated to the most comfortable bras for you.

http://www.my-bra-store.com/Front-Closure.html

Preventing Cancer with Green Tea?

We are constantly hearing ideas and claims of what we should eat to keep us from getting cancer. There is always new research somewhere showing how eating this or that will help us and potentially protect our bodies from getting cancer. Some of the studies are valid, some are not; some of the research shows that it cannot completely prevent it, simply reduce our chances by this percentage or that percentage providing we are male or female, black or white, old or young, etc.

Well few of these things are as good as green tea researchers say, of course the Chinese have been saying it for 10,000 years. A brand new research now shows that the phytochemicals in green tea are absolutely incredible. Something that the Asian cultures have known throughout their history, in fact it is quite well known that green tea is known to prevent many forms of cancer such as; Leukemia, Pancreatic cancer, Colon cancer, Lung cancer and Breast cancer. Some say that if green tea was a medicine or drug it would be considered more of a wonder drug than most other cancer drugs. Green tea is considered by many to be a powerful herb, which would be wise to incorporate into your diet.

There are presently no known side effects for green tea, yet it appears to be one of the most incredible anti-cancer compounds around. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

Work and AsbestosRelated Diseases Part Two

The Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario, for instance, states that asbestos is classified as a designated substance in some workplaces. Hence employers are obliged to provide safety measures when they use a designated substance like asbestos.

The employer can only keep the amount of asbestos dust low, in order to reduce the possibilities of its workers of getting ill due to asbestos fibers inhalation or swallowing.

Designated Substances are hazardous substances that can be a biological, chemical or physical agent or combination thereof prescribed as a designated substance to which the exposure of a worker is prohibited, regulated, restricted, limited or controlled. Some regulations specify different procedures to control designated substances such as Acrylonitrile, Arsenic, Asbestos, Asbestos - Construction, Building and Repair, Benzene, Coke Oven Emissions, Ethylene Oxide, Isocyanates, Lead, Mercury, Silica and Vinyl Chloride among others.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act mentioned states that the employer has to review the work methods and assess the likelihood of worker exposure, when a designated substance such as asbestos is present in the workplace.

The control program, when there are risk of worker exposure to hazardous minerals like asbestos that can produce asbestosis or another asbestos-related diseases, must include engineering controls, work practices, hygiene practices, record keeping and medical surveillance.

This article was written by staff of Disorder Skin.com, visit http://www.disorderskin.com for skin disorder information, or you could see their last article:skin disorder called morphea scleroderma at:
http://www.disorderskin.com/1/skin-disorder-called-morphea-scleroderma.html. Thanks for use this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

XRays and Breast Cancer Risks Considered

Have you have chest X-Rays? Well they can lead to Breast Cancer, or rather they can greatly increase the risks they say. A recent report in the UK says the women who are genetically susceptible to breast cancer can greatly increase their risks by getting chest X-rays.

The report States the Following; A chest X-ray could increase the risk of getting breast cancer; More than 1 in 500 with the susceptible gene face a dramatic rise in threat; Women with the BRCA1 and 2 mutation should opt for MRI scans. At least one medical cancer professor states that although this study appears to have proper data showing this there are limitations to the study because those women who are more apt to be in the hospital for another reason might have other issues involved as well.

Nevertheless the study shows the tens of thousands of women have increased their chances for breast cancer thru chest X-rays in the past. There is more information here and in much greater detail than this article shows.

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=936332006

One research project prior the Lancet Oncology study shows the opposite for BRCA mutations and this does also cause a question to the study X-ray issues and further finds that mammograms appear to not have the problems like the X-rays do. Go do some research on this yourself if you feel that this issue concerns you. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Breast Cancer Treatment: Conventional Treatment Methods

Your team of doctors will make treatment recommendations based on the stage of your cancer. Your standard treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy. If you have been diagnosed with DCIS or LCIS, your stage is the lowest and the road you will travel will be easier. For DCIS, your options may include breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy with or without radiation and hormone therapy.

LCIS treatments options are a bit different. They include observation to determine changes, hormone therapy to prevent cancer from developing, or bilateral prophylactic (preventive) mastectomies.

Things get more complicated when your cancer spreads beyond the ducts or lobes/lobules. Once your cancer has been staged, you can visit www.cancer.gov to determine your treatment options. They will typically include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and/or hormone therapy. For IBC, treatment options are similar to the other types of breast cancer, but they will always include chemotherapy because of its aggressiveness.

?Surgery: Breast surgery can be either a lumpectomy, where the tumor is removed, or a partial or modified radical mastectomy. With a lumpectomy, it is typically followed by radiation. This way, you get to keep your breast and studies have shown no difference in survival rates between lumpectomy/radiation and mastectomy.

Note: Not too long ago, they used to perform radical mastectomies where the breast, all the lymph nodes, and the underlying muscle were cut away. Thankfully, medicine has discovered that's not necessary. Now, a partial or modified radical mastectomy is performed, where either part of the breast tissue, or the entire breast, and possibly a portion of the lymph nodes, are removed. On the whole, a mastectomy isn't too bad a surgery, although everyone is different. I found both of mine to be quite easy, but you will wake up with drain tubes, which you?ll typically have for at least a week.

?Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is defined by Wikipedia as ?the use of chemical substances to treat disease. In its modern-day use, it refers primarily to cytotoxic drugs used to treat cancer.? This can be a frightening prospect for anyone. We've all heard horror stories about how very debilitating chemotherapy can be. However, much progress has been made in the management of chemo's side effects, to the point that, once you have the right management tools, you can continue to enjoy the activities you typically do. Chemo is a means of treating your cancer systemically and is typically recommended for those whose tumor is larger than a certain size and/or the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. The thinking is that if your cancer has had the opportunity to access the rest of your body, your treatment should be systemic as well.

?Radiation: Radiation therapy is typically a localized treatment option, where rapidly dividing cells are damaged. Cancer cells are very rapid dividers, so radiation is an effective option. Typically, radiation therapy is given for about six weeks, five days a week. It's very much like lying still for an x-ray, only instead of lasting a second or two, it lasts a couple of minutes. It can cause fatigue, toward the end and slightly after, and can cause a sunburn effect on your skin.

?Hormone Therapy: Many breast cancers are hormone-dependent. In these cancers, there are receptors on the tumor that can be filled with estrogen. The thinking is that when estrogen fills these receptors, it causes the tumor to grow. This is called estrogen-receptor positive (ER). These cancers respond well to hormone therapy and the hormone therapy drug that will be recommended for you will depend on your menopausal status. These drugs are in pill form and you take them once a day. The most popular of these drugs, for pre-menopausal women, is Tamoxifen and, for post-menopausal women Femara or Arimidex. There is new evidence that suggests that taking Femara, after taking Tamoxifen for five years, increases survival rates.

?Immunotherapy: There is a fourth modality of treatment on the horizon and it's called Immunotherapy. This involves getting your immune system to fight your cancer and there is, and will be, a lot of research being done in this area.

Melissa Buhmeyer is a breast cancer survivor and has been so for seven years. She is also the founder of http://www.breastcancer-treatment.us, a site focusing on breast cancer treatment options, news, articles, and survivor experiences.

Finding Ways To Tell If Mesothelioma Is Present And Treating It Effectively

X-rays and CT scans are, typically used to confirm suspicions and diagnosis of mesothelioma. Biopsies, tissue samples and even diagnostic surgery are also used to verify the condition, diagnosis and severity, spread, treatment and overall prognosis.

It is normally formal medical procedures, done in hospital and requires anesthesia. The diagnosis itself is done using accepted medical science and microscopic analysis of specialized stains.

Ingestion and inhalation are seen as the most common way that asbestos gets into the human internal system. Mucus of the trachea and bronchi end up being swallowed. Some of them lodge in the intestinal tract and from there they can move through the intestinal wall into deeper into the body. Fibers lodged in the lungs can be taken into the lymph system and spread throughout the body.

Asbestos is a cancer-casing element that become malignant or cancerous and can lead to discomfort and even death. We are however extremely uncertain about what exactly causes it, how and why it develops.

There is not a cure. The size and stage of the thickening, fluid, fibers, their extent, spread, type and if and how it responds to any treatment all influence the diagnosis and final outcome.

Combination therapies have become popular in response to dealing effectively with mesothelioma. It is referred to as multimodal therapy. These could include any, some or all of the following, chemotherapy and other drug-based therapies, radiation regimens, surgery, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and anti-angiogenesis drugs.

Treatment tries to counter the disease moving inward and spreading outward. It is comprehensive, in-depth and holistic in its approach. Treatments are mostly focused on reducing pain and alleviating discomfort. Improving overall health, lung function and quality of life is the focus. It cannot be cured. Debulking and X-ray therapies have also been used in experimental studies. The battle, studies and research is on going and continues.

Elizabeth Perez, the webmaster of http://www.mesotheliomamedical.com/mesothelioma.htm is a part of the Sharing Information Group that provides useful information to the public through the syndication of free articles.

Mesophelioma Victims: Fight for Your Rights!

A few decades ago hundreds of construction workers suffered from asbestos exposure in their workplaces. Nowadays, a great number of these people are suffering from malignant Mesophelioma. There is a period of 20 to 50 years between the initial exposure and the development of the disease. The diagnosis of Mesophelioma is quite difficult because the initial symptoms are very similar to the ones from a common flu.

People diagnosed with malignant Mesophelioma are usually told that the expected survival rate is only from eight to twelve months. During this period treatments and special cares to relieve the pain are needed. When on time, there is a possibility of a surgery that can take out the cancer. If not, chemotherapy (taking drugs to fight the cancer) and radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill cancer cells) are the only choices that will hopefully help the victim. These treatments are quite expensive. In the worse of cases, he/she will die before legal measures are taken.

If one of these situations takes place, the patients as well as their families must look for justice and fair resolution of this problem. Having to deal with pain and suffering from the disease is enough; it is quite unfair to be in the position of dealing with economical pressures due to the high monetary demands of the treatments of this disease. That is why patients must know that they can set a legal lawsuit against their former employers any time.

If the Mesophelioma victim did not file a lawsuit while alive a relative can take the power of attorney, this means that he/she can make legal decisions on behalf of the victim. This should be done right after the death of the victim because the statute of limitations limits the amount of time that you have to file the lawsuit. In many states, there is only one year to file the lawsuit.

Visit Hugesettlements if you want more information about Mesophelioma Cancer. You can also find helpful data on Asbestos, and Asbestos Exposure consequences and legal implications.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is one of the most uncommon forms of cancer. It generally affects the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. The most common form of this disease is pleural mesothelioma. The pleuron is a slight membrane between the chest cavity and the lungs. The lubrication it gives does not allow the lungs to get grazed when they come in contact with the chest wall. Pleural mesothelioma is also known as lung cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma is another form of mesothelioma. The membrane that envelops the abdomen?s organs is known as the peritoneum. While it is less common than pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is more invasive and consequently more fatal for the patient.

Mesotheliomas are either easily curable or malignant. The most widespread form of mesothelioma is the ?diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma?. This tumor is invasive and destructive. It characteristically spreads quickly to the lungs? surface, heart or abdominal organs. Life expectancy for patients afflicted by this cancer usually ranges between four months to two years. Of course, that depends a lot on myriad factors, like the stage of the disease?s detection, the patient?s health etc. With appropriate care, some patients have survived for a number of years.

Early diagnosis and surgery may elongate life expectancy. Surgery may not be a feasible option, however, for older or weaker patients. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy can help in the overall program. Home care and pain management are other alternatives during the later stages of the malignancy.

Automobile mechanics, painters, plasterers, pipe fitters, plumbers, shipyard workers and welders, to name a few, are in regular contact with asbestos and thus in greater danger of getting the disease than individuals of other professions.

Generally, it is believed that sustained exposure to asbestos is more liable to give one mesothelioma. However, some individuals with short but severe exposures have developed this malignancy. Also, a person can get this disease indirectly. Women, while washing the clothes of men (son, husband) who work with asbestos, can develop the cancer.

Mesothelioma Asbestos provides detailed information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos, Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases, Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment, Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer and more. Mesothelioma Asbestos is affiliated with Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis: A Guide

Diagnosis of mesothelioma is a difficult procedure. It is to analyze the symptoms in the initial stages. The symptoms of this rare disease make the diagnosis very difficult even to a doctor, since the symptoms would be very similar to other common diseases in the early stages of this deadly disease. Delay in the diagnosis is very common in most of the cases. As a matter of fact these symptoms can appear as non-specific to both the patient and their doctors.

A careful assessment is needed in the diagnosis of mesothelioma which relates both the clinical and radiological findings. The tissue biopsy is also confirmed carefully along with the above factors. The reviewing of the patient?s medical history can be very helpful to diagnose mesothelioma. Observation of the disease and the history includes details such as the patient?s asbestos exposure, the complete physical examination, x-ray results of the chest and abdomen, and the lung function tests.

A Computerized Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan may also be taken at this level. If the preliminary test results prove suspicious, then a biopsy is performed for confirming the diagnosis. The location of the cancer can be determined with the help of performing the biopsy. If the biopsy test confirms the presence of mesothelioma, the stage of the cancer is then determined. A series of tests are performed to determine the amount of cancerous cells that have spread.

If the test shows that the cancerous cells are not developed beyond the membrane, then the disease is considered to be localized. During this diagnosis procedure, various tests are performed such as the imaging tests, which includes the use of x-rays; CT (Computed Tomography) scans; MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging); PET (Positron Emission Tomography); bronchoscopy or mediastinoscopy, used to look into the affected area; cytology, used to test the pleural fluid after it is removed by a needle; thoracoscopy, used to look directly into the tumor; needle biopsy; and open biopsy. Those are the major tests that are performed during the mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Litigation provides detailed information on History of Mesothelioma Litigation, Mesothelioma Diagnosis: A Guide, Mesothelioma Laws, Mesothelioma Lawyers: A Guide and more. Mesothelioma Litigation is affiliated with California Contractor License Bond.

The Hunt For A Cure For Mesothelioma Experimental Treatments And Clinical Trials

Research and studies continue in the pursuit of a cure for Mesothelioma. This is where we try to find and innovate creative new treatment plans, remedies and solutions for coping, dealing and addressing the disease and the quality of life for the patients suffering from this disease. It robs the patients of their very precious breaths of life.

Evaluation of new treatment effectiveness, therapies and related medications or medical interventions is ongoing and for most doctors and specialists in this field a passionate and urgent, as well as serious pursuit and commitment is unquestionable. The race is on to find a cure for this rare type of cancer.

The newest technology and procedures are being tested in experimental conditions and clinical trials and progress is being made, albeit small steps at a time. We keep unraveling the mystery and deadly secrets of this killer cancer.

Here are some examples of some of the progress and ongoing studies underway at present:

Combination chemotherapy
More than one treatment at a time approaches have proven successful. Mixed results at times just deepens the complexity of these diseases, making it obvious that there is more here than meets the eye. Drug cocktails and mixes are tested in clinical trials on real patients and the results publishes in medical journals. Most of the patients respond well to the treatments and feel that they are doing their part to forward the science and treatment of themselves, but also many others.

Intra-cavitary chemotherapy
Invasive and aggressive internal treatment, by applying the treatment drugs or chemo elements directly into the cavities (like a concentrated and much higher dose, localized) This is done and has been successful, with minimal side effects and the results look promising. It actually reduces the damage significantly and controls the spread somewhat. It holds promise for more experiments and clinical trials in years to come.

Brachytherapy or radiation (radio-active) treatments are placed directly into the chest or peritoneal cavities.

Multimodality therapies where combination treatments and methods are used surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to optimize a patient?s chances for a successful outcome and surviving the disease, have a quality of life in their final days and even die with dignity and manage pain associated with the progressive nature of the disease.

Gene Therapy
This is a revolutionary and experimental form of Mesothelioma treatment. It consists of a genetically and manufactured virus to counter the effects of the disease, ,repair the damage and stop the progression. It attacks the tumors and cancerous areas, stains, all in an attempt to intervene and cure.

Immunotherapy
Giving patients a fighting change and improving their quality of life, these approaches typically focuses on giving the immune system a boost to fight the disease. It leverages the body?s natural ability to want to re-establish equilibrium and heal itself.

Photodynamic therapy
Photosensitive drugs are used to treat the tumors or affected area.

There are lots of other examples and always the hope that the cure is around the next corner! Pursuits and efforts in this area will continue.

Elizabeth Perez, the webmaster of http://www.mesotheliomamedical.com/mesothelioma.htm is a part of the Sharing Information Group that provides useful information to the public through the syndication of free articles.

Breast Cancer Information Every Woman Should Read This

Millions of women are affected with breast cancer all around the world. Breast cancer is growing like an epidemic and is predicted that 45,000 patients will die from breast cancer, this year. If you feel a solid lump in your breast, you must visit a specialist for consultation.

Breast cancer symptom:

Breast cancer in its early stages does not cause any pain. Unfortunately, in early stages when breast cancer develops, it does not show any breast cancer symptom. But as it grows, it can cause remarkable changes, which a woman should note. Breast cancer symptoms include thickening or lump near or in the breast, change in the shape or size of the affected breast, tenderness of nipple or nipple discharge, inversion of nipple into the breast, pitting or ridges of the breast, skin of the breast appears warm, red, swollen and scaly. A lady should visit her doctor if she persist with any breast cancer symptom.

Specialists diagnose breast cancer by any of the following examinations: palpation, mammography, ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration, needle biopsy or surgical biopsy.

Breast cancer treatment:

Breast cancer treatment options depend on location and size of the tumor in her breast.

Various methods of breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer treatments can be systemic or local. Radiation therapy and Surgery are the local breast cancer treatments. Local breast cancer treatments are used to destroy, remove, or control the growth of cancer cells. Hormonal therapy and Chemotherapy are systemic treatments. Systemic treatments are targeted to control or destroy cancer cells all over the body. Different forms of breast cancer treatment can be prescribed at the same time or one after other.

Surgery is one of the most common breast cancer treatments. Many types of surgical interventions may be used. A surgical intervention to remove breast is called a mastectomy. An operation carried out to remove the cancer cells without affecting the size of breast is called breast conserving surgery or breast sparing.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy: Under this breast cancer treatment specialists use high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing.

Chemotherapeutic breast cancer treatment: specialists use different types of drugs or combination of different drugs to kill cancerous cells or stop them from growing. Drugs are given in cycles; a treatment period is followed by a recovery period that is again followed by another breast cancer treatment.

Hormonal therapy for breast cancer treatment is used to stop the growth of cancerous cells that affect the female hormones. This breast cancer treatment may include use of medicines, which change the way hormones work or surgery to remove the ovaries that produce female hormones.

Breast cancer treatment decisions are complex. The decisions are usually affected by the stage of the disease, judgment of the doctors and the consent of the patients.

Breast cancer pictures can be found on various websites and in medical books. These breast cancer pictures can be helpful to make the patient?s know about their cancer stage and the possible remedy if any..

Funds are arranged through various programs like breast cancer walk to spread breast cancer information among the affected and suspected people and to give them moral and economic support as well.

Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of health related subjects, always with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often.

A related resource is Breast Cancer Signs

Further information can be found at News2Reviews

A Brief Overview of Mesothelioma

Introduction

Nowadays there is a lot of discussion all over the world, both offline and over the Internet, about mesothelioma. In the USA, there are mesothelioma awareness groups in almost every city in the USA. Besides discussion forums, mesothelioma legal cells, mesothelioma forums, mesothelioma awareness groups etc., today mesothelioma research is a very vast subject. There is even a Mesothelioma Memorial Scholarship that is offered every quarter. This scholarship is given in remembrance and honor of those that have been touched by mesothelioma. Billions of dollars have been spent in trying to fight this dreaded disease and find a cure. Let us begin by asking this simple question ? what is mesothelioma?

What is Mesothelioma?

Asbestos and mesothelioma are infamously related. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. It is a rare form of cancer, and affects only those people who have had a history of exposure to asbestos, not others. However, there can be secondary cases, where a person may come into contact with someone who has been exposed to asbestos in the past. The key to mesothelioma, as is apparent here, is exposure to asbestos.

The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Once the patient has inhaled asbestos dust/fibers, other factors like smoking can aggravate the condition over a period of time. There can be other causes of mesothelioma too. For example, there have been cases diagnosed where the patient has had no history of asbestos exposure. People can get it from people who have had asbestos exposure. Before we proceed further, let us define mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma definition: Mesothelioma is defined as is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant (cancerous) cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Malignant mesothelioma cells proliferate at the affected area, and are usually very hard to remove totally.

Mesothelioma came to be widely known about only from about the 60s, when the symptoms started manifesting, and mesothelioma cases were diagnosed. Across America, for people working at facilities that were asbestos-related, it became a nightmare. This was more because at that time, asbestos, because of the number of advantages it had over other metals, was widely used across industries all over the world. It was a tragedy of epic proportions waiting to be unleashed, and when it was unleashed, it wrought havoc in the lives of people all across America. Thousands lost their lives to mesothelioma, and even now, thousands more continue to fight this dreaded disease.

Even today, more than 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the USA. Today, mesothelioma victims and their relatives struggle to cope with the disease. For survivors of mesothelioma legal action against the industries that brought this disease on them has been one way of exorcising the pain and agony they have had to undergo. For a number of victims of mesothelioma lawyers have been able to settle cases successfully. There are mesothelioma support groups to help mesothelioma victims and their relatives cope with life in the aftermath of the disease. There are websites like www.mesotheliomaweb.org, www.mesothelioma.com, www.cancer.gov, etc.

Mesothelioma is considered extremely lethal for a number of reasons:

?Mesothelioma diagnosis is often very late. It manifests in a person years after exposure to asbestos, as long as 15 to 20 years.
?While the gestation period is extremely long, as mentioned above, the exposure time is extremely short, as less as two to three months. This means that a person doesn?t even have to have prolonged exposure.
?The average lifespan of a person, after diagnosis, is very short, around 24 months.
?It affects not only a person exposed to asbestos; chances are that he can pass on the asbestos dust or fiber to his near and dear ones as well.

Types of Mesothelioma

Primarily, mesothelioma occurs in three areas, based on which mesothelioma is categorized into:

?Pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pleura, the outer lining protecting the chest cavity as well as the lungs)
?Pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pericardium, the sac enclosing the heart)
?Peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the peritoneum, the lining protecting the abdominal cavity)

Based on the types of cells seen in a mesothelioma patient, mesothelioma can again be categorized into 3 types:

?Epithelioid mesothelioma (approximately 50 to 70 percent of all mesothelial cells)
?Sarcomatoid mesothelioma (least common mesothelioma cell type, approximately 10 to 15 percent)
?Biphasic mesothelioma. (approximately 20 to 40 percent of all mesothelial cells)

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The symptoms of mesothelioma depend on the kind of mesothelioma a patient may have. If a patient is suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma, he would generally feel a pain in the chest region, accompanied by shallow breathing. These symptoms occur owing to the deposition of fluid in the pleura.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms differ from those of pleural mesothelioma. In the case of localized peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms include:

?Fever
?Difficulties in bowel movements
?Anemia
?Abnormalities observed during blood clots

In the case of advanced peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms would further include pain, a swelling of the face or the neck, and difficulties in ingestion.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually map to those of other, lesser serious ailments. Therefore it is prudent to consult a specialist to ensure what the symptoms indicate.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma diagnosis is not an easy task, as the symptoms map to other lesser ailments, as mentioned above. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is a review of the patient?s medical history. It is important to know if the patient has had any illnesses whose symptoms mesothelioma too displays. At this time, it is also important to know if the patient has had prior exposure to asbestos. If the patient hasn?t had any illnesses displaying the symptoms related to mesothelioma, and has had exposure to asbestos, then there can be suspicion of mesothelioma.

It is important to do a detailed physical examination of the patient, including x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. The focus would usually be on the abdominal and chest regions. If there is anything suspicious at the end of these examinations, it is advisable to do a biopsy.

A biopsy is usually done by a specialist, either an oncologist or a surgeon. Biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the patient and subjecting it to specific tests to determine the presence or absence of mesothelioma. Biopsy in the case of mesothelioma can be:

?Thoracoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from inside the chest region, using a thoracoscope)
?Peritoneoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from the abdominal region, using a peritoneoscope)

Once the diagnosis is made, it is vital to learn the stage at which mesothelioma has been detected. Depending on whether the cancer is still at the original site or whether it has spread to other parts of the body, the mesothelioma can be called:

?Localized (still at the original site)
?Advanced (spread to other parts of the body)

Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma treatments vary depending on the type of mesothelioma, as also the stage at which it has been detected. The three most commonly used treatment forms against mesothelioma are:

?Surgery ? Surgically removing the cancerous body part. For example, malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment could involve removal of the affected lung by performing a pneumonectomy.
?Radiation therapy ? Exposing the affected part to high-energy rays to kill the malignant cells
?Chemotherapy ? Using chemicals/drugs to destroy the malignant cells, either by injecting them into the patient, or intravenously, or by direct placement in the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

Besides these three options, research is underway to find newer and more effective treatment options. Clinical trials have played a major role in developing newer treatment options.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

In the case of mesothelioma, prognosis is not as accurate as it is with other lesser serious ailments. This is because prognosis usually depends on the phase at which an illness is detected. Mesothelioma is usually detected quite late in a patient, so it becomes difficult to state the cure percentage or lifespan of a patient after treatment. Whatever statistics are available are not as reliable as one would like them to be. While it has not been easy to determine which of the two ? pleural or peritoneal ? mesothelioma is harder to stage, experts are generally in agreement that a prognosis is quite difficult for both.

However, latest studies and research have shown that mesothelioma patients might not be as bad off as was initially believed. This data is tabulated below.

Stage of Mesothelioma DetectionChances of Survival (No. of Years)Percentage of Patients

Mid to advanced stages3 years10%

5 years5%

Early stages2 years50%

5 years20%

This is just general data on mesothelioma prognosis. There is specific data available n the Internet for specific scenarios and situations.

Resources

?www.mesotheliomaweb.org
?www.mesothelioma.com
?www.cancer.gov
?www.wrongdiagnosis.com
?http://www.mesolink.org/legal-guide/mesothelioma-legal-options-faq.html

The writer does freelance writing work. Primary areas are keyword-rich articles (especially in healthcare, insurance, credit), creative writing, blogposts, etc.

For more information please visit: http://www.projectrade.com

Eating to Avoid Breast Cancer

Breast cancers tend to be seen as a completely feminine affair but the truth is, men too are at risk, albeit very rarely, of developing breast cancer. Despite medical advances several things are still not clear about breast cancer and in most sufferers of this a disease, a clear cause can still not be shown to be responsible for the disease.

Breast cancer is not hereditary, though a family history of breast cancer increases the risk. Certain other factors linked with developing breast cancer include; the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer is increased by being overweight, the use of hormone replacement (HRT) increases the risk, having the last menstrual cycle from the early 50's and older increases the risk, having the first menstrual cycle at a later age and being pregnant at an early age lowers the risk. Although most breast cancers are hormonally related other factors may affect the risk, such as stress, carcinogens, use of stimulants, exposure to pesticides and oral contraceptive.

In its early stages, breast cancer doesn't show any sign and when it does the first sign is usually a painless lump that is found in the breast. When breast cancer becomes more advanced and spreads to other parts of the body then the symptoms could be more obvious depending on the part of the body affected. The symptoms could range from neurological problems, bone pain, weight loss, fatigue and anaemia.

Along with traditional medicine, changing the diet and one's lifestyle can help with breast cancer. Keeping to a vegetarian style diet by reducing animal fats in the diet; eating very little meat and cutting down on dairy products, will help. Only eating organic vegetables and meat (this will reduce the exposure of pesticides and hormones), consuming lots of tomatoes as these are high in lycopene which can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, consuming plenty of olive oil, increasing fiber in the diet, reducing the exposure of soft, fatty or acid foods to soft plastics; not using cling film, buying food that comes in paper, glass or ceramic containers or if food is supplied in a plastic container then removing and storing in a glass or ceramic container in the fridge. Cutting out stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and alcohol, changing one's lifestyle to minimize stress, maybe taking up Yoga and meditation, increasing exercise, cutting out smoking and increasing the consumption of the essential oils Omega 3 and Omega 6 which are found in oily fish, seeds, evening primrose oil, borage oil and flax oil.

Some food materials are known to be anti cancer in action. Increasing the amount of such food in your daily diet regime could go along way to preventing cancer. Such foods include sweet potatoes, carrots, watercress, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, spinach, onions, leeks, garlic, soy products, lemons, mangoes, melon, peppers, pumpkin, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, pears, shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, cabbage, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, oranges, seeds, nuts, squash, tuna, mackerel, salmon, wheat or rice bran, oats, wild rice, rye, apricot, walnuts, beans and the herbs and spices - rosemary, thyme, oregano and turmeric. These vegetable and fruits should be eaten raw and as fresh as possible or lightly steamed so that no goodness is lost. Soybeans and products are extremely good in reducing tumor growth and inducing cancer cells to revert to normal. Soybeans have genistein in them, which is an angiostat (anti-growth compound that prevents cancer from growing by preventing the formation of new blood vessels that aid cancer cells to grow).

There are so many factors linked to breast cancer that are beyond our control. Factors like exposure to radiation and chemicals, caused by environmental pollution, a family history of breast cancer and a couple of other factors are outside our reach. It makes real sense therefore, to play the little part we can in the prevention of this dreaded disease.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Mesotherapy Before And After

Most Mesotherapy practitioners claim remarkable results in treating cellulite, localized fat deposits, and wrinkles. There are numerous patient testimonials of successful treatment, and ?Before and After? photographs on Mesotherapy clinic websites. For cellulite, results may be seen in as little as four weeks, and by the time treatment is completed, patients may have lost between two to four inches from the body area being treated. Similarly, for localized fat loss such as in love handles and other problem areas, approximately ten treatments can result in the loss of two to six inches. However, there is wide variation in how soon results may be seen, depending on which body area is being treated. There may also be considerable variation between people who are having the same body area treated. For cellulite and mesolifts, or facelifts with mesotherapy, patients are typically advised to return for maintenance treatment every six months to a year after the initial treatment is completed.

The majority of mesotherapists point out that fat reduction results can only be maintained through exercise and a healthy diet. This is one reason Mesotherapy is considered controversial. Mesotherapy treatments typically extend over two to six months, a length of time that is adequate for results from healthy lifestyle changes to become visible. It has not been scientifically proven whether weight loss is attributable to these healthy lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and a balanced diet, or to Mesotherapy itself.

Results with Mesotherapy are gradual, as small areas are targeted over a period of time to eventually have a cumulative effect. On the other hand, results with plastic surgery such as liposuction are immediately visible, and may be quite dramatic. For this reason, ?Before and After? photos of people who have undergone Mesotherapy may have more subtle differences between them than one would expect to see with plastic surgery.

Mesotherapy provides detailed information about mesotherapy, cost of mesotherapy, mesotherapy before and after, mesotherapy injections and more. Mesotherapy is the sister site of Mesothelioma Doctors Info.

Who is at Risk From Mesothelioma Cancer?

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer which is fairly rare although in the last few decades the number of people who have died from it have dramatically increased. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos without sufficient protection. When a person is exposed to asbestos, he or she inhales tiny asbestos fibres which are suspended in the air. These fibres pass into the respiratory system and end up becoming lodged in the lungs. An accumulation of asbestos fibres in the lining of the lungs like this can cause nearby cells to deform and eventually leads to what is known as pleural mesothelioma. Accumulation of asbestos fibres in the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma and build up of fibres around the tissue of the heart can cause pericardial mesothelioma. Asbestos fibres reach these places over time or because they have been transported there by the lymphatic system.

Mesothelioma has a very large latency period (time between getting the cancer and feeling the symptoms of it). This period is usually between 30 ? 50 years and so a person who bears mesothelioma is unlikely to know that they have got it. This is why mesothelioma is so hard to diagnose in its early stages because it shows no symptoms and the few symptoms that it does show such as wheezing and shortness of breath are typical of far more common diseases such as pneumonia. The likelihood of being cured depends largely on how early and how aggressively the cancer is treated. If it is treated when it has fully developed and matured then it is extremely difficult to cure.

In this way, those at risk are those who have worked amongst asbestos. Construction workers, asbestos manufacturers or those who have lived within a mile of an asbestos factory are the people who have the largest contact with asbestos. Those who are in contact with these people are also at risk because asbestos fibres can stick to clothes and hair. The majority of people who are discovering that they have mesothelioma are elderly men of about 60 ? 70. This was the generation which worked with asbestos a lot without sufficient protection. Many of these men are now lodging multi million dollar lawsuits against the companies who exposed them to the dangers of asbestos.

For more information on pericardial mesothelioma such as the risks, causes, symptoms and treatments go to:

http://www.pericardialmesothelioma.co.uk
http://www.pericardial-mesothelioma.co.uk
http://www.asbestos-resource.co.uk

Breast Cancer Recurrence

One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the three week rule. If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. Many factors may be involved in determining the survival rate for this aggressive cancer; some are better understood than others. Estimates of median survival time range from one to two years; survival depends on underlying factors such as the type and extent of spread of the mesothelioma. Only seven percent of people with this cancer survive to five years after diagnosis, but this outlook is gradually improving with some promising experimental treatments. Some people live well beyond five years from the time of diagnosis.

In general, younger age at diagnosis, absence of weight loss and limited loss of lung function are associated with chances for increased survival. Stage I mesotheliomas, which have not spread to the lymph nodes or adjacent tissues and organs, also carry the best prognosis. The type of cell the cancer is comprised of can also affect survival. The epithelioid cell type has the best prognosis, the mixed or biphasic cell type the next best prognosis, and the sarcomatoid cell type the worst prognosis. The majority of malignant pleural mesotheliomas are of the epithelioid cell type.

Because this cancer takes so long to manifest, people are usually diagnosed at an older age and with more advanced disease, potentially worsening the prognosis and the treatment options available. The more aggressive the treatment, the better the outcome may be, but in cases with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be the only alternative. New drugs, such as the combination of Alimta with Platinol, have been shown to improve survival in malignant mesothelioma patients whose only option is chemotherapy. A number of experimental treatments, such as immunotherapy and biotherapy, are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

Malignant Mesothelioma provides detailed information about malignant mesothelioma, diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma, malignant mesothelioma diagnosis, malignant mesothelioma lawyer and more. Malignant Mesothelioma is the sister site of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyers.

Mesothelioma Lawyer Upholding the Rights of People If Not Life

Had it not been for the Mesothelioma lawyers the reign of terror unleashed by the widespread use of asbestos would have left the American society scarred just as asbestos leaves scarring marks in the lungs! Quite aptly, a Mesothelioma lawyer is regarded as the guardian of the Mesothelioma victims.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer; an ailment of the mesothelial cells that line the internal body organs. Typically associated with the exposure to asbestos, Mesothelioma is very rarely diagnosed at its early stage. Consequently, most cases are not detected before they reach malignancy.

As regards asbestos, man has been familiar with its heat and combustion resistant properties since the ancient times. People of the prehistoric civilizations were open to the use of asbestos. All the while, however, man was in the dark about the hazardous effects of asbestos. America saw the maximum use of asbestos during the two World Wars. Rampant use of asbestos was made in the shipping, construction and combat equipment manufacturing industries.

Once the dangers of asbestos exposure were recognized, legal regulations aimed at eliminating the use of asbestos (rather the abolition of asbestos) were introduced. Today, the US law does not prohibit the use of asbestos but attributes deadly consequences to its use. The legal regulations and warnings, however, failed to deter all employers and masked use of asbestos continues in certain fields.

This denial, on the part of the US employers, to abide by the asbestos regulations has given rise to hundreds of asbestos litigation claims. Some eminent lawyers and law-firms have come forward to safeguard the interests of the Mesothelioma. Every state of US now has its own Mesothelioma lawyers and law firms. The proceeding being quite complicated, people (who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or those who have been exposed to asbestos) approach lawyers and law-firms for help regarding their asbestos lawsuits.

These days, the Mesothelioma attorneys file class action lawsuits against those manufacturers who continue to use asbestos in their products and expose their employees to the probable health threats. (Class action lawsuit is a legal device that allows a person or persons to sue or be sued as the representative of a group of people; however, it also requires all of them to have a common interest). Class action lawsuits, upholding the liability of employers and seeking compensation for the harm caused to employees, have restored the peace of mind (even if it is only a bit) of the Mesothelioma victims and their near and dear ones.

Law-firms fielding competent Mesothelioma lawyers with proven records of accomplishment can pull off advantageous monetary settlement in the form of reimbursements for the Mesothelioma victims. Mesothelioma settlements, ranging from few hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depend on the lawyers? skill in pinpointing the cause of asbestos exposure. Once this hurdle is crossed, the Mesothelioma lawyer investigates into the avenues of working out the smartest deal for the Mesothelioma litigation claim. In case of litigations being handled by experienced lawyers, manufacturers readily agree to the settlement proposals benefiting the Mesothelioma victim as well as the family members and the society at large.

You may freely redistribute this article on your website providing no alterations are made to the text and the link remains intact.

For Lawyers and Attorneys Please visit us at http://www.1st-lawyersonline.com

Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Several factors influence lung cancer survival rates. The type of cancer, the stage it is at when diagnosed, and the overall condition of the patient all play a role in determining survival. Cancer survival is usually expressed in terms of a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of patients with cancer who survive at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.

Studies have shown that five-year survival rates among non-small cell lung cancer patients vary by stage. Stage 0 patients have the best survival, of close to 50 percent at five years. Approximately one-quarter of stage II patients survive to five years, as compared to eight percent of stage III patients and only two percent of stage IV patients. In general, small cell lung cancer tends to proceed more rapidly to terminal disease. Ten to fifteen percent of patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer, and between one and two percent of those with extensive-stage cancer, survive to five years.

Estimates of cancer survival do not reflect current treatment advances that may lead to better chances of survival, because they are typically calculated for a five-year period that does not include the previous year. Further, each patient responds to treatment in a unique way; aggregate estimates do not account for individual factors that may improve or worsen the likelihood of survival.

The overall number of deaths in the United States from lung cancer rose throughout the 1980s, and began to drop for men in the 1990s. However, a similar decrease has not been observed among women. Over fifty thousand current and former smokers have been enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial to find out if chest x-rays and CT scans taken before the onset of lung cancer symptoms may improve early diagnosis and therefore survival.

Lung Cancer provides detailed information on Asbestos Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Stages, Lung Cancer Survival Rate and more. Lung Cancer is affiliated with Asbestos Exposure.

Personal Renewal for Mastectomy Patients

Swim With Confident Again In Your Mastectomy Swimwear

While the past is gone forever, the painful experience of undergone a mastectomy can be a source of courage and determination to keep on growing into the future and to continuously lay the ground work with confident knowing that you have the power to consistently grow to achieve happiness and confident.

If you are willing to go the extra mile, your success will be inevitable, something deeper, wiser and more powerful than your previous sense of yourself. More importantly you can be a great model, to inspire and encourage others who have been through the same experience.

Yes! Surely, you can build your confident and self-esteem by not consuming too much time living in the past which often can cripple your future growth. Under such circumstances, you have to work on getting yourself back into the active life style, to feel worthy of happiness, to be physically fit and having extra ordinary health.

Now, starting your active life style by spending some time with friends at the beach or going for a swim at your local swimming pool can be very exciting and fun. If you like the idea of going on for a vacation to a nice beautiful beach, then go out there and enjoy your live. As you go along, you'll experience a sense of personal renewal that opens new possibilities. The beauty of your new adventure will get you more and more exhilarated.

If beach or swimming pools are your choice for personal renewal into and active life style, it's time for you to look for mastectomy swimwear that make you looks beautiful, feel confident and relax. Your first task is to look at yourself physically and developing a fashionable style that look great and attractive.

Mastectomy swimwear comes in all the same styles and designs as traditional swimwear. The only difference is that your special needs are handled either by selecting a suit that accommodates your existing prosthesis, or you can opt for specially-designed swimwear that includes high-tech filler material that rounds out the cup with a natural appearance.

You can buy special bras that replicate the balance and symmetry that you had before your procedure, and now you can select swimwear that does the same thing. Prostheses won't get damage by chlorinated water or salt water, but for the durability of your breast prosthesis, proper care and cleaning after a swim will keep it stay in shape.

When looking for your mastectomy swimsuit, make sure your mastectomy swimsuit provide the support you need, a high neckline with more coverage around the under arm will help hold the prosthesis securely when you are in an active physical movement. A fashionable mastectomy swimwear can make you look and feel beautiful, confident, and comfortable and no one can tell whether you are wearing breast prosthesis. Bright color with a beautiful print can be more attractive and alluring.

You can find mastectomy swimsuit which feature the tummy tamer, hip minimize to give you the best silhouettes. For your daily activities, exercise and physical activities most store advice mastectomy patients to wear light weight prosthesis which is lighter then the traditional silicone form. You'll be sure to feel relax with total confident, with out worrying about the prosthesis getting out of position or restricting your activities.

Christopher Ayu is the webmaster and author of http://www.swim-wear-in-style.com. You can find this article posted on his site at http://www.swim-wear-in-style.com/Mastectomy-swim-wear.html.

Symptoms and Treatment of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos. People who have received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer. A person exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma after 50 years of exposure. The 2 common types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs).

There are no immediate symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. The symptoms of mesothelioma may appear in 30 - 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma cancer: shortness of breath and pain in the chest.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer: abdominal pain and weight loss, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever.

Please note that these symptoms may be due to other reasons.

Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Cancer
Following are the options for mesothelioma treatment:

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

Surgery

Photodynamic therapy

Radiation or chemotherapy combined with surgery may increase the survival time by double.

Copyright 2005, P. Mehta

[Please note that this article is not a subsitute for medical advise. You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyright info. You are not permitted to include any additional hyperlinks.

This article has been written by http://www.fatfreekitchen.com. Visit the web site http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/warning-signs/mesothelioma-treatment.html mesothelioma information, http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/warning-signs/mesothelioma-treatment.html for more information.

The Best Colon Cancer Treatment Options

Among the most spread cancers, colon cancer usually occurs in men and women over the age of 50. The main causes of colon cancer are related to the patient?s diet: very low in fiber and high in fat and calories. By keeping a healthy life style and good eating habits, you can prevent developing cancer of the colon even before this becomes a problem. You might also want to try and check your family history for cases of colon cancer and adopt a healthier diet in order to make sure you will avoid this problem in the future.

Colon cancer treatments are varied and you can choose from a series of traditional and alternative methods of dealing with this condition. Surgery is often the number one choice ? the surgeon removes the tumors on the colon, even if the cancer cells are spread beyond the colon itself. This ensures less problems in the future of the patient?s life, reducing chances of bowel problems or internal bleeding. Colon cancer surgery is usually categorized in four main areas: rectum resection, radio frequency ablation, colostomy and colon resection. The surgeon will determine which method is best suited for each individual patient. Detecting cancer at a very early stage is important, as the problem can be corrected in a decisive and final manner. By using a polypectomy, the surgeon will remove suspicious polyps in order to minimize chances of the disease. Local excision may also be used in early stages, in order to remove the cancer cells. After surgery, your hospital should provide you with ongoing support in order to ensure a fast and efficient recovery.

Intra arterial chemotherapy is another treatment worth consideration. This treatment targets tumors by delivering a powerful dose of chemotherapy. Primary systemic chemotherapy is often used before a surgical procedure in order to destroy a large majority of cancer cells. Systemic therapy is usually used with metastatic cancer, while the third method, adjuvant chemotherapy, targets any cancer cells that might have been left over after surgery. All three chemotherapy procedures are delivered through the hepatic artery and are an option if the cancer has spread to the liver.

Another choice comes from chemoembolization treatment. In addition to being delivered intra arterially, this type of treatment blocks the blood flow to the areas affected by cancer. It traps the chemotherapy drugs in the area of the tumor, thus ensuring that they work efficiently and on target.

George Anderson is very interested in colon cancer and the variety of colon cancer treatments available.

Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, the deadly disease which has topped news headlines for the last decade, is contracted through exposure to airborne fibers of asbestos. Sadly, the under-regulation of asbestos usage in years past, and arguably still today, exposed millions to airborne fibers and as a result thousands contracted the disease.

It can be safely said that almost everyone in the world has been exposed to asbestos in varying degrees. Because of the unique nature of the disease, even those who have suffered only minimal exposure are at risk of contracting the disease. In effect, virtually everyone has some risk of contracting Mesothelioma.

But this sort of statement perhaps oversteps the bounds of rationality. While it is certainly true that individuals who have been exposed to small amounts of asbestos for relatively short periods of time have contracted the disease, this is a rarity rather than a regularity. In fact, the vast majority of Mesothelioma cases involve individuals who were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers for intense and extended periods of time.

The industries most in danger of prolonged exposure and thus of contraction are shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, textile manufacturing, insulation work in construction, and brake repair personnel. There are, however, some other minor factors which can affect the likelihood of contracting the disease. Among these is radiation exposure. There have been causes in which individuals who were exposed to radiation have subsequently displayed signs of and ultimately contracted mesothelioma. However, empirical studies to attempt to verify this correlation have not proven out this claim very strongly.

Another more certain cause of the disease was the taking of the Polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963. Some batches of this vaccine were contaminated with Simian Virus 40 which has been detected in a host of rare cancers including Mesothelioma.

Those involved in construction or who lived in homes in the Cappadocian region of Turkey are also particularly at risk. In this region, homebuilders used Erionite, which is a type of zeolite silica stone. Exposure to the fibrous strands of this building material have led to an annual death rate of roughly 1% of the population which dies of mesothelioma each year in Turkey.

One of the most influential factors affecting Mesothelioma contraction is genetics. Some individuals who have been exposed to long periods and high quantities of asbestos have not contracted the disease. As a result, doctors have concluded that genetics play a major role in determining whether or not patients contract the disease. Unfortunately, the gene variability which offers some resistance to the disease also means that some are particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

Robert Linebaugh writes about health issues, and focuses on mesothelioma. Learn more at http://www.justmeso.com .

The Greatest Benefit of Colon Cleansing

One of the stories that has been bantered around after John Waynes death from Cancer was that at his autopsy they removed over 35 pounds of impacted fecal matter from his colon.

It is hard to discern if this is urban legend or fact. However, if this is true you can certainly understand how this waste could have adversely affected his health.

How much undigested food and waste material is being held in your colon?

When we think of cleansing we have to keep in mind that the body has seven channels of elimination. Just like you would clean your entire house you should also undertake a regimen of cleansing all of your channels of elimination. These channels are the liver, lungs, lymphatic system, blood, skin, colon and kidneys. A cleanse which focuses on only one of the channels of elimination is akin to deciding that you are only going to clean the closets in your house.

A constipated colon is one in which the transit time of food is more than 24 hours. Transit time is the length of time it takes for food to enter the mouth and exit the rectum. The basic principle of good digestive health is that you should put food in and wihin 24 hours that food should come out as waste.

The naturopathic perspective is that the longer the transit time of food, the longer these toxins stay in our digestive tract which permits proteins to putrefy, fats to get rancid, and carbohydrates to ferment.

Regardless how you look at it this cannot be healthy for your body. The longer your body is exposed to these toxins in your intestines, the greater the risk of developing disease.

Stop and think about this.

If you have only one bowel movement per day, you will have all of the other meals that you ate over the last 24 hours putrefying in your intestines. This is called intoxification. It is poisoning from within. The inability to purge toxins from our systems.

What we all need to understand is that the reason why constipation is dangerous to our health is that our bodies are designed to absorb whatever is in the digestive tract. If you put good healthy nutrition there the body will absorb it. Likewise, if you put putrefying, toxic waste there the body will absorb that as well.

The best way to start a cleansing program is by cleansing your colon. After you begin your colon cleansing program you might also want to consider maintenance program with colon hydrotherapy.

Talk to your Doctor for guidance and suggestions on things you can do to maintain optimal health.

Charles O. Palmerson is the webmaster for http://www.eConstipation.com an online Constipation Information Resource created to resolve poor digestive health.

Hodgkin's Disease

Lymphoma, better known as Hodgkin's Disease, is a condition characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. In addition to Hodgkin's, there are many other lymphoma diseases which are known as Non-Hodkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidences become more and more common with age, whereas Hodkin's lymphoma is common between ages 16 and 35, and over 50.

The most common sign of Hodgkin's lymphoma is swollon lymph nodes, mainly in the neck. This is not painful, however some of the other expected symptoms are. These other symptoms are unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, itchy skin, low grade fevers, and night sweats. As these are common symptoms of any infection, the only accurate diagnosis is through lymph node biopsy and blood testing.

Unlike Hodgkin's lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer. In the united states, 5% of cancer victims are due to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Signs of this disease are similar to that of Hodgkin's, with a few differences. As well as in the neck, swollon lymph nodes are common in the underarm and groin. And in addition to itchy skin, patients will notice unexplained red patches.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma must be tested for as well, using things such as X-rays, MRI's, CT scans, PET scans, and Lymphangiogram, which are pictures of the lymphatic system taken with x-rays after a dye is injected to differentiate the lymph nodes and vessels. These tests are due to the simple fact that the symptoms are common in many other, less critical, conditions.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Tyler Brooker is the owner and operator of Lymphoma Disease - http://www.lymphoma-disease.com, which is the best site on the internet for all lymphoma related information.

Breast Cancer Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

There are many types of breast cancer and not all look the same way. Not all breast cancers show up as a lump. One type of breast cancer that does not typically present as a lump is Inflammatory Breast Cancer or IBC. IBC makes up only 1% to 6% of all breast cancers, so many people are not familiar with the disease.

IBC is the most aggressive type of breast cancer. It tends to grow at a much faster rate than the other types of cancer. IBC grows in sheets or nests of cells in the breast as opposed to growing in a solid tumor. IBC grows in the dermal (skin) lymphatic system which explains why there is usually no lump associated with it. The symptoms of IBC appear due to the cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels below the skin - typically presenting as warm skin and color changes. Because of the involvement of the lymphatic system, IBC carries an initial Stage 3 diagnosis, however, the earlier you detect the disease and begin treatment, the greater your chances of survival.

Symptoms of IBC include a rapid, unusual increase in breast size; nipple discharge or change in the areola area (the pigmented area around the nipple); any skin changes of the breast such as redness, rash or blotchiness; a flattening or retracting of the nipple; persistent itching of the breast or nipple; dimpling or ridging of the nipple; a lump or thickening of the breast tissue; any lymph node swelling under the arm or above the collar bone; stabbing pain or sore breast; and a feverish breast. These symptoms may appear quickly and seemingly out of nowhere. Mammograms and ultrasounds usually miss IBC unless there is a tumor involved.

IBC can be detected by a number of biopsy methods. A skin punch biopsy or needle core biopsy in combination with an MRI and/or a PET scan are usually the course of action when investigating suspicious symptoms. Any area of concern removed by biopsy must also include the tissue from below the skin surface. Another term used to refer to IBC in a pathology report is dermal lymphatic involvement.

Some doctors will treat women with an antibiotic for mastitis upon initial consultation. Mastitis is a benign breast infection. If your symptoms have not improved after 7-10 days of antibiotic treatment, insist on a biopsy. Some skin rashes can be caused by allergies or are reactions to certain soaps and/or detergents. Changing the soap or detergent you use can sometime resolve a skin rash, but if there is no improvement you should insist on a biopsy.

One myth of breast cancer is that is does not hurt. Most of the time breast pain comes from non-cancer causes, such as hormonal changes. With IBC there is pain involved more so than other types of breast cancer.

The treatment for IBC includes chemotherapy, modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and auxiliary lymph node dissection (ALND) and radiation. If the cancer is hormone receptive, a hormonal treatment like Tamoxifen is used.

As with all breast cancer symptoms, any indication of IBC should not be taken lightly. Chances are in your favor that it will be benign, but in the event that you do have IBC, early detection and treatment are key to your survival.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Mesothelioma: A Cancer Caused by Asbestos

The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), pleura (lungs), and pericardium (heart).

Under specific conditions, the cells of the protective membrane divide uncontrolled and become cancerous. This disease is termed as Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease is found to occur among those who work in shipyards, asbestos mines and factories, industries that produce asbestos based products, and the heating and construction businesses. Approximately 3,000 cases occur each year in the US, and most patients are between 50-70 years old. Statistics show that males are commonly affected and among them whites more than African Americans.

First studied in the late 1700s in depth studies were only done in the 1960s. Tumors of the Mesothelioma can be benign or malignant. The malignant Mesothelioma are categorized into three types:

?Epithelioid, accounting for 50-70% of mesotheliomas.

?Sarcomatoid, accounting for 7-20%.

?Mixed or bi-phasic, accounting for 20-35%.

When asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs they travel through large air passages to reach the smaller passages and from them the pleura. In the pleura they damage: the mesothelial cells leading to cancer; lung tissue causing lung cancer; and the development of scar tissue within the lungs known as asbestosis. When asbestos fibers are swallowed they reach the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research reveals that the disease only manifests 20-50 years after being exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific to the disease but a patient may develop:

?Breathlessness.

?Chest pain accompanied by tightness believed to be caused by accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

?Low back pain.

?Swelling of face and arms.

?Sensory loss.

?Muscle weakness.

?Nausea.

?Vomiting.

?Weight loss that is unexplained.

?Persistent dry cough.

?Sore throat.

?Anemia.

?Fever.

?Constipation.

?Problems with blood clotting.

Since the above are common to minor ailments, patients often ignore the symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms persist or if you feel you have been knowingly or unknowingly exposed to asbestos.

A doctor will:

?Take down a detailed medical history and try and determine the symptoms and risk factors.

?Do a thorough physical examination and check for signs of:

oPleural effusion, fluid accumulated in the chest cavity.

oFluid in the abdominal cavity.

oPericardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the heart.

?Take a chest x-ray and check for thickening of the pleura, calcifications, and lowered lung fissures.

?Ask for a CT scan to determine clearly the location, size, and extent of the problem if any is suspected.

?Recommend tests of tissue samples and pleural fluids.

Other risk factors are cigarette or cigar smoking, exposure to radiation, exposure to zeolite a compound that is similar to asbestos, exposure to or infections caused by SV40, a Simian virus.

Those who work in a risky environment should wear protective clothing, have the surroundings tested regularly for suspended asbestos particles, and ensure that they have regular medical tests and report to the doctor any ailments that persist.

Being aware of the disease and its problems helps.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/health/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum including topics on health care, Children's Health Issues, addiction, Cancer, fitness equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Health Article Submission Directory http://www.1888Articles.com/health-articles-8.html

Work and Asbestosrelated Diseases Part Three

If you are an asbestos worker ask the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) or your employer about the asbestos control program in your workplace or about the management program for asbestos in buildings.

Control programs are very important to be carried out in workplaces where there are hazardous minerals like asbestos that can affect workers with severe pathologies such as malignant mesothelioma cancer, malignant lung cancer, asbestos related disease or asbestosis, among others.

Other important thing is to visit the doctor regularly to stay informed about your health, (but this one must be specialist in the disease) whether you work or worked in contact with asbestos at your job. He can order you different exams in order to know the current state of your health.

The law states that you can choose to be part of a medical surveillance program if it is needed. Every two years, the employer shall offer and pay for the medical surveillance program in such case.

According to experts a program of medical surveillance includes chest x-rays, lung functions tests, regular physical exams and medical and work history tracking.

Through a medical surveillance program like this it will be possible to help you to find an asbestos-related disease or other related conditions early, and stop them on time and do not get worse.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) may help you to find out if you are entitled to compensation if you worked exposed to asbestos, analyzing your medical report, after you talk will your employer and file a claim with the WSIB if you have an asbestos-related disease.

In conclusion, there many things that you have to do for prevent developing of asbestos related disease, but The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) could be very useful and a good start point. Specially in the case of compensations for by asbestos related workers.

This article was written by staff of Disorder Skin .com, visit http://www.disorderskin.com for skin disorder information, or you could see their last article: skin disorder deramaxx treatment at:
http://www.disorderskin.com/1/skin-disorder-deramaxx-treatment.html. Thanks for use this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

Fight Leukemia with a PreSale Ticket Car Wash Fundraiser

One of the most devastating cancers of all is Leukemia and the costs to fight it are immensely expensive. When a child has leukemia it is even more devastating threatening to cut a life short. Many times communities will rally together to have fundraisers to cover the costs. Generally the whole community and several fundraisers can come up with the funds with a couple of large donations. To attract large donors, it pays to have the public relations and show a consciousness effort to reach the goal for the treatment. Every year bone morrow transplants costs in crease. One of the fundraisers you might wish to consider is a car wash fundraiser. A pre-sale ticket car wash fundraiser can make significantly larger dollars than a normal car wash fundraiser. Let?s discuss pre-sale ticket strategies for a moment.

PRE-SALE TICKETS

You should seriously consider selling presale tickets for your car wash. There are a lot of advantages in pre-selling your tickets such as:

You know about how many people will come to your car wash ahead of time

66% of the ticket buyers never show up but you?ve already got the money

If it rains you?re washed up but not washed out

You will also have use of the money in advance even in the event of rain. Your rain date might be three weeks later yet you have most of the money in your coffers now. Important monies that can go towards your goal for the treatment.

Let?s take one of our 1990 car washes. It was for the local high school band. There were one hundred plus students in the band. The average student sold twenty tickets at $5.00 each. The presale ended up about $10,000. That in it self would be great, but it gets better. The day of the event we raised $985.00 in drive-ups. Some of the girls on the drill team waved tall flags and others held poster board signs that brought the cars in all right. We washed 408 cars. Wow, were we tired! We had two solid lines of cars at least fifteen deep all day long. 201 cars were drive-ups with no presale tickets. With tips included that made up the $985.00. That left 207 cars worth of presale with tickets. But you say, How can that be? 207 times $5.00 = only $1,035.00. That?s right. Since our lines were so long a lot of people didn?t claim their tickets or never intended on coming in the first place or forgot or had some thing else to do that day. I believe it was a combination of all these reasons. Whatever the reason, the money went to a good cause. We?ve had many many fundraisers that have been equally successful over the years.

Now someone will have to typeset these tickets and have them printed. There is probably someone in your group who is a graphic artist or really good with a PC or MAC computer. They?ll do fine. The tickets should be eight to ten on a page. You should print them on colored paper so they are not easily duplicated. You should pick a color that matches with your church, club or school?s colors. Have the tickets cut. Put the individual tickets into piles of twenty. Put a piece of cardboard or poster board the exact size underneath each stack. Buy some rubber cement. Put about ten stacks of twenty tickets on top of each other and put them in a vice. Paint the rubber cement on the left side of the ticket book and let dry for one hour. Repeat until you have enough booklets for each member. You might want to print another dozen booklets just in case. If the tickets are selling fast, you don?t want to run out. That will break your momentum.

You should have frequent ticket sales progress meetings with the people selling the car wash tickets. That way, if sales aren?t meeting goals you can help motivate members or reorganize the group.

Tickets can be expensive to print. Ask a local print shop to advertise on the back and become a sponsor in exchange for half price or free printing of the tickets. Most print shops do binding so you may be able to trade for that and save you the time and aggravation of binding the ticket books yourself. Print shops will do a more professional job at binding than you can do on your first time trying. Professional tickets are more presentable and look more official when selling to customers. This will help your group in their selling efforts.

When a community unites in a common cause miracles can occur, all this positive energy and mind power may significantly help the child win their battle with leukemia. Work together and work smart to raise the funds needed and the awareness required to rid the world of this terrible problem and save your local VIP from leukemia. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

CANCER AND PTSD Run SilentRun Deep

??Slowly, slowly the wound to the soul begins to make itself felt, like a bruise, which only slowly deepens its terrible ache, till it fills all the psyche. And when we think we have recovered and forgotten, it is then that the terrible after-effects have to be encountered at their worst.??D.H. Lawrence (Lady Chatterly?s Lover, 1928)

The eloquence of early twentieth century writers notwithstanding, today?s prose would probably lead to a quick internet link: PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, twenty-first century terminology for delayed reaction to everything from school shootings to rape. My job as a Foreign Service officer had me working at our embassy in Saigon during the Vietnam War. After trying to survive for two years on the inside of war, PTSD and cancer manifested later on in my life, (1) from the emotionally shattering effects of the war itself, and (2) from a poisonous substance I thought little of at the time.

Since there is no history of breast cancer in my family, the logical conclusion was that my excessive exposure to Agent Orange or dioxin, the toxic defoliant used extensively in Vietnam was the culprit. FYI many returning GI?s suffered from cancer-related illnesses due to exposure to dioxin (see: www.ejnet.org/dioxin).

Because of strict curfews following the Tet Offensive, government civilians like me spent considerable time on the rooftops of our hotels. I had a front row seat to beautiful downtown Saigon and to American aircraft swooping and looping in the distance, spraying Agent Orange around the perimeter of the city. The herbicide dioxin was meant to kill the dense brush where the Viet Cong concealed themselves to fire their mortars at us. What we didn?t know was that the misty substance could kill us too.

I vividly remember the day I was first diagnosed with breast cancer by one of the most prominent specialists in Washington, D.C. Specifically, I remember his insensitive response to my initial reaction, the arrogant manner in which he bragged about how many mastectomies he?d performed in the past, and how quickly and easily he could ?lop off? a part of my body that defined my womanhood. Scared, panicky and in tears, I fled his office and into the arms of a friend who recommended a physician more concerned with the well being of his patients than with his own god-like reputation.

Prior to the breast cancer detection I had also been experiencing severe migraine headaches and anxiety attacks. Like the D.H. Lawrence quote in my opening paragraph, emotional scars are deep and can be long lasting and destructive if we are acquiescent. Doctors had me on Valium for the anxiety; nothing helped the headaches. Then I discovered a meditative spiritual path that taught me about living in the present and looking within for the peace that does not exist anywhere else. I?ve learned that the past is past and there is nothing we can do to change it, the future is now and now is all there is while we are on this earth. I no longer need Valium and the headaches have lessened in frequency.

For the thousands of women who will be threatened with breast cancer, or any other physical or mental illness, here is my wish: For you to not panic, to be treated by the right healer for you and your temperament. Get opinions from different physicians, and when possible, contact other women who have had similar illnesses. The Reach to Recovery program (see internet) is a marvelous before and after source of information and therapy for breast cancer patients. Get spiritual guidance. Be grateful for all the good in your life. I am a survivor and you can be too.

Susan Scharfman http://www.susanscharfman.com

Eat Right and Early Detection Key to Colon Cancer Fight

Two of the best things you can do to reduce the risk of colon cancer from causing your early demise is to eat right and to seek Early detection at the first sight of a problem. Colon cancer kills about 350 people out of 100,000 people, so although the risks are not high they are high enough to be of concern.

One thing of great benefit to know is that over the last decade or so thru good education and Early detection fewer people are dying from colon cancer. But there are a few things you need to look out for such as; blood in your stool and knowledge of your family and types of cancer that run in your genetic lines. If one of your siblings or one of your parents has had colon cancer you'd be advised to be checked out as early as age 40 and every five years.

If you are a woman and you've had breast cancer or ovarian cancer you might also be susceptible. If you have an iron deficiency whether you are a woman or a man this can be of concern. The survival rate of most types of colon cancer is quite high if detected in the earlier stages and this will definitely better your chances.

It is recommended you go to the American Cancer Society's web site and read all about colon cancer if you think you might be at risk or you just want additional information and details for a loved one. I hope you will consider all of this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Mesothelioma ? The Facts

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, which is a disease by which the cells of the mesothelium start to become abnormal, and start to divide causing the possible invasion of organs and tissues nearby to the mesothelium. Mesothelioma normally starts in the pleura or peritoneum, and is a benign or malignant tumor that affects the chest or abdomen lining. Benign means non cancerous and malignant means cancerous.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer and the more common type is called pleural Mesothelioma. This type forms a tumor on the pleura, which is the sac that lines the chest cavity protecting the human lungs. There are other forms that effect different areas such as the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is commonly caused by the exposure of humans to asbestos. The effect of just a couple of weeks or even less can cause the risk of Mesothelioma. The effect is not instant and on average takes 35-45 years to develop a malignant tumor, and it is common for people working with asbestos as well as their families to contract Mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral that was widely used in the industry as the main material in creating roofing, gasket compounds, floor tiles and patching compounds. It is very dangerous once inhaled and the size of the quantity does not matter as it is all dangerous. If inhaled, the asbestos fiber can pass through the air passages which in turn, can contact the linings of the lungs which may result in injuring the cells and result to pleural Mesothelioma.

Often symptoms include restricted breathing difficulties, constant coughing causing chest and stomach pains. Treatment can comprise of chemotherapy, radiation or surgery to remove the tumor. Sadly once Mesothelioma diagnosis has been given to a patient, they often only live up to a maximum of a year, sometimes longer if they are very fortunate, and most of the time only a few months.

Common cases of Mesothelioma are found from workers such as Factory workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers, insulation workers and ship builders. People affected by Mesothelioma can file lawsuits against asbestos makers, manufacturers and employers as they have the duty to protect their workers from the negative effects of asbestos including Mesothelioma.

More information on Mesothelioma Diagnosis can be found at the author?s website at http://www.mesothelioma--diagnosis.info

Five Easy Things You Can Do Now to Help Prevent Breast Cancer

Rather than focusing on breast cancer, Wise Women choose to concentrate on keeping our breasts healthy through wise lifestyle and dietary choices.

The following tips may amaze you, since the actions and foods they suggest run counter to many alternative views of cancer prevention. They are supported with strong research, however - from the lab, with animals, and in long-term human studies. Thus, each of these tips has a solid scientific basis, unlike the assertions made by those intent on selling you their opinions and products.

Embarking on even one of these suggestions will definitely lower your risk of breast cancer. Using them all is even better. And as a special treat, I have added three extras. Look for lots more tips for keeping your breasts healthy in my book Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, recommended by many oncologists and breast health specialists including Dr. Susan Love. And please visit my special breast health website: http://www.breasthealthbook.com

1. Be more active

Evidence continues to accumulate that a vigorous lifestyle is one of the best ways to cut breast cancer risk. A study of 20,624 Norwegian women found those who exercised or worked out regularly cut their breast cancer risk by 72%. (NEJM, 5/1/1997)

For breast health I walk every day, take a weekly yoga class, and do tai chi twice a week.

2. Eat more unrefined seed foods

All seeds provide phytoestrogens. Women who eat the most phytoestrogenic foods are four times less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who eat the least. No study has shown a degree of risk reduction similar to that found for phytoestrogens ... (Lancet, 10/4/1997)

Whole grains such as wheat, rice, corn, kasha, millet, and quinoa are unrefined seed foods. Beans such as lentils, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, and chickpeas are unrefined seed foods. Nuts including peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and pecans are unrefined seed foods. And edible seeds such as sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin are unrefined seed foods. Fruits and vegetables that are eaten with their seeds - such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, summer squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers - count as unrefined seed foods. Even seeds used as seasonings count, such as cumin, coriander, caraway, anise, and dill seeds.

For breast health, I have replaced all refined carbohydrates - including white rice and white/unbleached flour products such as pasta, bread, cookies, crackers, pretzels, bagels, donuts, and cakes - with whole grain products.

3. Eat less vegetable oil; increase animal fat, especially from dairy products

Diets high in corn oil leave animals especially vulnerable to chemically induced cancers say researchers. (Science News, 6/24/89; 10/2/99) Frightening as this statement is, it is not true only of corn oil but of all vegetable (or seed) oils including those made from soy, sesame, sunflower, cottonseed, flax, and hemp.

If you are dubious about eating more animal fat and dairy products to reduce breast cancer risk, consider this landmark study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine (1/12/1998). To determine if food affected breast cancer risk. The diets of 61,000 Swedish women between the ages of 40-76 were followed for four years. The results? For every 5 grams (about a teaspoonful) of vegetable oil consumed per day, breast cancer risk increased by 70%. In contrast, for each 10 grams of fat from meat and dairy products in the daily diet, breast cancer risk was decreased by 55%.

Another study, begun in the early 1970s, followed 4,000 Finnish women's diets for 25 years. Results recently released found that those who drank the most milk had only half the breast cancer risk of those who drank the least.

American researchers agree. According to a report in International Journal of Cancer (2001), women who drank milk as children and continued drinking it as adults had half the rate of breast cancer of non-milk drinkers. (Yes, I do buy organic milk, but the studies used regular supermarket milk.)

Why? Galactose, the primary sugar in milk, slows ovarian production of estradiol, a cancer-promoting hormone. Additionally, milk is rich in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fat known to suppress breast tumors in animals.

For breast health I use yogurt, cheese, milk, butter, and olive oil daily, and eat meat occasionally.

Remember that olive oil is pressed from a fruit, not a seed. Women whose diets are high in olive oil, and who eat meat and dairy products regularly, have the lowest rates of breast cancer in the world. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1/18/1995)

4. Eat less tofu and soy beverage; eat more miso and tamari

While it is true that if you begin eating soy foods as a child and continue throughout puberty the breast tissues you create during your adolescence will be highly resistant to cancer until after menopause. However, if you begin eating unfermented soy (tofu, soy milk, and the like) after puberty, your risk of breast cancer increases. (Science News, 4/24/1999)

The active ingredient in soy - isoflavone - when given to breast cancer cells in petri dishes causes them to grow rapidly. (Extracts of dong quai and licorice have a similar effect.)

Miso and tamari - fermented soy foods - are the exceptions. Both are strongly cancer preventative, no matter when you start eating them. Animal studies have found both miso and tamari highly effective in preventing cancer, even in mice genetically programmed to get breast cancer. And the more you eat, the more you lower your risk of cancer.

For breast health, I use miso and/or tamari every day. I occasionally eat tofu or edemame. I drink no soy milk, and eat no other soy products of any kind.

5. Eat foods rich in antioxidants; avoid supplements of vitamins C and E

A diet that contains plenty of foods rich in antioxidants definitely lowers breast cancer risk. But supplements seem to do the opposite.

Doctors in Stockholm observed that, among breast cancer patients, treatment failures were higher for women taking vitamin E supplements - and the failure rate increased with dose. Studying this effect, researchers found that the anti-cancer benefits of fish oils disappeared when [we gave ... antioxidant vitamins?. In fact, when mice with breast cancer were given vitamin E supplements the more we gave them, the bigger their tumors grew. The authors conclude that vitamin E supplements preferentially protect a cancer and even aid its spread. (Science News, 4/29/1995 and 7/15/1995)

Supplements of vitamin C (synthetic ascorbic acid) are poorly used by body tissues. But cancer cells seem to thrive on it. (Cancer Research, 9/15/1999) One new chemotherapy links a lethal form of zinc to an ascorbic acid molecule; when the cancer eats the ascorbic acid, the zinc is set free to kill the cancer cell.

For breast health I eat 5-7 servings of dark green and bright red/orange foods daily.

Besides being active, choosing a diet high in phytoestrogens, eating one or more servings of dairy products daily, using miso and tamari regularly, and avoiding vitamin supplements, here are three more things you can do to help prevent breast cancer:

6.Sleep in the dark

Exposure to light at night increases the risk of breast cancer. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute (8/17/2001) reports that chronic suppression of melatonin - an anti-cancer hormone made only in the dark - increases breast cancer risk by at least 36%.

For breast health, be certain there is no light (except from the moon) in the room where you sleep. Not even a night-light. Not the light from a clock. Not the little lights on electronics.

7. Drink red clover blossom infusion

Red clover is a potent anti-cancer herb. It contains ten times more phytoestrogens than soy, and in a more complete form. I have seen it clear in situ cancers and pre-cancerous polyps hundreds of times. Since many breast cancers take 7-10 years to become big enough to be seen on a mammogram, I drink a quart of red clover infusion every week and skip the mammogram.

To prepare the infusion:

• Place one ounce, by weight (about a cup by volume), of dried red clover in a quart canning jar.
  
• Fill the jar to the top with boiling water and lid tightly.
  
• Let steep for four hours or overnight.
  
• Strain and drink.
  
• Refrigerate excess and drink within 24-36 hours.

For breast health, I drink red clover infusion regularly.

8. Eat seaweed as a vegetable

If the long-lived and cancer-free Japanese have a secret, it is seaweed, not soy. A sprinkling of kelp as a seasoning is nice, and so are nori rolls - but neither does much to prevent cancer. For that we must eat seaweed as a vegetable - at least a half-cup serving per week. Wakame, kombu, kelp, and alaria are especially effective, but sea palm fronds, hijiki, nori, and dulse may be used on occasion.

There is a rich variety of seaweeds available in Chinese grocery stores, health food stores, and by mail. Seaweed recipes are available in many books (including my herbal Healing Wise).

These eight tips - five easy ones and three more difficult ones - will vastly increase your chances of living to be a wild, wise old woman with healthy breasts. That's the Wise Woman Way the world round.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com