Free Credit Score

The credit score is an indication of a person?s financial creditworthiness. It is used to verify whether the person qualifies for a loan, or other credit, based on whether he has repaid his last loan satisfactorily. A credit score is used by banks and other lending companies for estimating how risky the borrower is. It helps them to know how large a loan can be given and at what rate of interest. In other words, a credit report is a reflection of the past credit history of an individual.

In the US, the credit score is based on the FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) score that is calculated using mathematical and statistical techniques. There are also other versions of calculating credit scores such as the kind that Beacon and Empirica use. A FICO score is based on various factors including: punctuality of payment in the past, capacity used (ratio of current revolving debt to total available revolving credit), length of credit history, types of credits used and recent credits obtained. FICO scores range from 300-850, wherein a score below 600 is considered ?bad?, and a score above 720 is considered ?good?.

Every person has free access to credit scores from three credit bureaus: Experian (Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model), Equifax (BEACON?) and TransUnion (EMPIRICA?). Apart from these, lenders can have their own credit scores from other credit bureaus or their internal systems. Free credit scores and reports can be obtained from these three bureaus, one from each, once a year, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). All three reports can be ordered at the same time. The reports can be obtained by visiting the website: www.annualcreditreport.com or by mailing an Annual Credit Report request form to the Annual Credit Report Request Service. Certain information has to be submitted for accessing the free reports: name, address, social security number, and date of birth. A free report can also be obtained more than once within the same year in certain situations, for example, if a person is on welfare, or if the report is inaccurate because of fraud, or if the person is unemployed and is looking for a job. If a company takes adverse action against the applicant such as denying an application for credit, insurance, or employment, one can request a report within 60 days.

Free Credit Score provides detailed information on Free Credit Score, Free Online Credit Scores, Free Credit Report And Score, Free Credit Score Services and more. Free Credit Score is affiliated with Free Government Credit Checks.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer, continues to remain a challenge for the medical fraternity. This form of cancer is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can be either malignant or non-malignant in nature. Perhaps the most important concern in mesothelioma is the inability to diagnose it at an early stage, as most people exposed to asbestos usually remain unaware of it. Since almost all cases of mesothelioma can be attributed to exposure to asbestos, it is also known as ?asbestos cancer.?

Mesothelioma results when the mesothelium cells become abnormal and divide uncontrollably. If not detected at an early stage, the cancer may spread to other body parts. Malignant mesothelioma continues to remain the most critical of all, and curing the disease at this final stage is extremely challenging. Physicians use several techniques to determine mesothelioma, particularly advanced imaging techniques. To determine the stage of mesothelioma doctors use several tested techniques such as the Butchart system, the TNM system, or the latest Brigham System. A definitive diagnosis, however, is still being practiced through techniques of fluid diagnosis and tissue biopsy.

General physicians are not able to treat the disease because of their lack of any special training for the disease. At best, the general physician can suspect mesothelioma and refer the patient to a special group of doctors who are specifically trained in several areas of mesothelioma. Once in the care of the specialist, the patient is taken care of by the pulmonologist, the thoracic surgeon, the medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, and pathologists and the respiratory therapist, in sync with the agreed line of treatment.

The arduous process of mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult experience for patients and their near and dear ones. The long-drawn tests, endless consultations and frequent visits to hospitals add to the woes of the sufferer. There are several missions and charitable organizations that understand the plight of the mesothelioma patients and their family members, and offer their services in the form of psychological counseling and other services that seek to mitigate the pains to a large extent.

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

Study Shows Improvement in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Cisplatin Plus Raltitrexed

Pleural mesothelioma patients treated with both cisplatin and raltitrexed may survive longer than patients who receive cisplatin alone, according to a recent study conducted in Europe and Canada (J Clin Oncol. 2005 Oct 1; 23(28): 6881?9). Raltitrexed (Tomudex) works by interfering with the ability of tumor cells to multiply and make deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. Cisplatin is a traditional chemotherapy drug.

Two hundred fifty pleural mesothelioma patients took part in a clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of raltitrexed. One hundred twenty?four patients took cisplatin and the rest took cisplatin plus raltitrexed. Most were men with an average age of 58 who had not received other chemotherapy treatments.

The raltitrexed study was a ?phase III? clinical trial, as defined by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. A phase III trial compares a new cancer treatment with a standard treatment, and requires a large number of participants. It follows a phase II clinical trial, which is concerned with the safety of a new treatment and how to administer it, and a basic phase I clinical trial, which tests the drug?s effectiveness on a small number of patients.

Survival Increased in Patients Treated with Raltitrexed The researchers looked at survival, progression of pleural mesothelioma, safety, tumor response rates, and the patient?s quality of life. They found the following:

? Forty?six percent of pleural mesothelioma patients in the cisplatin/raltitrexed group survived at least one year, compared to 40% of those in the cisplatin group.

? The average survival was 11.4 months for patients in the cisplatin/raltitrexed group, but only 8.8 months for patients in the cisplatin group.

? Twenty?four percent of patients treated with cisplatin/raltitrexed had a positive response against pleural mesothelioma compared to 14% of patients treated with cisplatin.

? The overall quality of life was about the same in the cisplatin group as compared to the cisplatin/raltitrexed group.

A small number of patients in both the cisplatin and cisplatin/raltitrexed groups developed low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Other side effects included fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, which were more common in the combined drug group.

Raltitrexed Is Related to the Pleural Mesothelioma Drug Alimta? Raltitrexed is in the class of chemotherapy drugs called antifolates. It blocks the production of thymidylate synthase, which in turn decreases the mesothelioma cell?s ability to make DNA, the basic genetic material involved in cell reproduction. It is registered in Europe for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.

Raltitrexed is closely related to pemetrexed (Alimta?), another antifolate. Currently, pemetrexed/cisplatin is the only chemotherapy drug combination that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved to treat pleural mesothelioma.

The authors of the raltitrexed study concluded that combining cisplatin with an antifolate such as raltitrexed or pemetrexed is more helpful in treating pleural mesothelioma than using cisplatin alone. They also felt that cisplatin plus raltitrexed did not have a harmful effect on the patient?s quality of life.

More information: http://www.mesothelioma-info-asbestos.com/

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Are You In Balance?

It has been two years since the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen plus Progestin (WHI) arm of this large trial was stopped early because it caused harm. The WHI showed the opposite of what was expected--Estrogen (Premarin) plus Progestin (Provera) caused heart disease and breast cancer as well as blood clots and strokes. WHI results show that estrogen does not improve the quality of life for women. WHI estrogen plus progestin results are evidence-based. We now have evidence-based proof that HRT is harmful to women.

But people are still taking Hormone Replacement Therapy and are concerned about estrogen deficiency. Why?

Little has changed because the fundamental, negative ideas about women and about menopause have not changed. Universal menopausal hormone therapy ... (is) based on a cultural belief that women are inferior and need fixing. For over twenty years I have been saying that menopause is a natural part of women's life cycle, the low estrogen levels after menopause are healthy and not abnormal. This made me unpopular--I have been labeled as way-out or worse. Therefore the WHI results for me were a vindication, says Jerilynn C. Prior BA, MD, FRCPC Professor of Endocrinology, Scientific Director, Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, University of British Columbia.

And, she is correct. Two years after the WHI study little has changed. If you go to your doctor today and request HRT most will prescribe it for you. Despite the fact that The Women's Health Initiative, the largest controlled trial of ovarian hormone therapy ever performed, provided the strongest proof that Medicine (which has been strongly influenced by the Pharmaceutical Industry) causes harm for women.

The website for the WHI study said, Women should stop their study drugs immediately. Following that order led to hot flushes in many women who were on hormone therapy because their body had adjusted to that higher level of estrogen. Women who heard the news of the study in the media also often stopped their therapy abruptly. That led to severe hot flushes in hundreds of thousands of women and in virtually all women who had previously experienced them.

Because it is well known that rapid withdrawal from estrogen causes night sweats and hot flushes, all physicians should have been ready with advice for women wanting to stop estrogen. Says Dr. Prior.

For Lack of helpful information, and because the resulting symptoms of night sweats/hot flushes were so miserable, many women, in desperation, reluctantly restarted unwanted HRT treatment.

It seems logical to now say that the WHI results require re-thinking of the concepts on which menopausal replacement and estrogen deficiency were based. The primary assumption that all women needed estrogen because they were deficient still needs to be addressed. I like what Dr. Susan Love said, If estrogen deficiency is a disease, all men have it! Destroying the concept of estrogen deficiency will be hard and may take many years to achieve.

In the mean time where does that leave you and I?

Estrogen Dominance not estrogen deficiency, according to Dr. John Lee is at the crux of our dilemma and bringing our hormones back into balance will be the key to hormonal health.

STEP 1. Become informed. The Let's Talk About Hormones video provides valuable information on hormone balancing. Dr. Lee's What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause has just been updated. Information is the key to your power!

STEP 2. Evaluate your own hormones with a saliva test whether you are on hormones currently or not. Find out if you have adequate hormone levels or are truly deficient.

STEP 3. Work with someone who understands the issues. Dr. Lee felt that most women can themselves oversee their hormonal challenges. If you must select a healthcare provider choose one who like Dr. Prior says, I will never again prescribe estrogen as a pill. There is now overwhelming controlled trial evidence that pill forms of estrogen cause unacceptably high rates of clots and perhaps, through clotting, also increased strokes and heart disease. There are not yet strong data but it is likely that estrogen given through the skin (as a gel, cr?me or patch) will be less likely to activate liver clotting factors and thus safer. To me it means bio-identical or natural kinds of estrogen and progesterone both given in physiological doses.

STEP 4. Just know that balancing hormones is not just about taking additional hormones but about diet and lifestyle changes.

I believe that we have a unique opportunity, right now, as women on this second anniversary of the initial WHI results. We can become pro-active about our own hormone health and share with those women around us who are struggling with their hormone challenges. Women reaching out to other women will have a greater effect than waiting for the research to catch up. Each of us must practice living with these important ideas. Then hormonal health will be ours.

This Article Is Copyright 2006 Jackie L. Harvey & Saliva Testing com

Jackie Harvey is a nutritional speaker who shares her interest and information on hormone health and saliva testing throughout North America in her popular Let's Talk About Hormones seminar. Visit her website http://www.Saliva-Testing.com for a schedule of events in your area and for more information about her Best Selling 1-hour video Let's Talk About Hormones with Jackie Harvey. Click For More information on Saliva Hormone Testing and Hormone Balancing

9/11 Impact On Mesothelioma: Researchers Worry

Researchers and experts are concerned about the possible impact of the 9/11 disaster on mesothelioma in the coming years and decades.

It is generally agreed that the large amounts of asbestos released during the 9/11 disaster will have a substantial impact on the number of new mesothelioma cases in the United States in years to come.

9/11 concerns over new mesothelioma cases are further complicated by the fact that it usually takes 20 to 40 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma cases to start developing. Currently there are about 3,500 mesothelioma cases being treated annually in the country.

And even where mesothelioma does occur, it is not known exactly how many of these patients will be actually treated because there is usually a large number who are misdiagnosed as having metastatic adenocarcinoma which is another different form of cancer. This could further worsen the impact of 9/11 on new mesothelioma cases over the next couple of decades.

Then there are the usual problems that hinder treatment of mesothelioma like the medical community not bothering to refer patients to centers where potentially curative treatment can be given because it is generally believed that the disease has no known cure. The truth is that although mesothelioma experts are far from having a cure for all patients, recent developments of more effective treatments including radical surgery and advanced radiotherapeutic modalities now offer much better odds for longer survival to patients suffering from mesothelioma.

Before 9/11, researchers had expected the number of new mesothelioma cases to peak in the next few years and probably begin to fall. More so because of the major asbestos control initiatives of the 1970s.

Visit the author's mesothelioma research blog for the latest mesothelioma research findings.

Finding a New Appreciation For Life After Cancer

I have just spent a delightful two weeks with my sister, Joy. Joy is the strong, energetic type who enjoyed a daily run before starting her teaching job. She had recovered well from a total mastectomy due to breast cancer twenty three years ago, and for the last two years had been having regular check ups for polyps in the bowel.

While running early one morning, she noted her foot was hurting. It was still troubling her several days later, so she decided to make an appointment with her doctor. The doctor examined her foot and suggested it would be a good idea to have a routine blood test.

This showed that Joy was anemic, which prompted the Doctor to do a colonoscopy. Wilma?s other sister rang with the disturbing news! The colonoscopy revealed Joy had colon cancer and faced the difficult decision to have the whole bowel, or a major part of the bowel removed.

Six weeks after surgery and in between chemotherapy, Joy came to me to recover. ?I am going to enjoy every day,? she said. ?This has made me appreciate life, as none of us know what is in the future.? And enjoy every day we did! During our bush walks the birds seemed to sing louder and sweeter, the moss appeared greener, the trees bigger. To Joy, the mountains were awesome, and the walk along the beach with the feel of the sand between her toes and the clear blue water were described as, ?just beautiful?.

Joy praises God for every new day

As nature came alive and Joy took on a new appreciation of it, I was drawn to this thought for the week.

?When men invented flying machines they were noisy, but God made songbirds so they could sing the purest music on earth! (Genesis chapter 1, verse 21)

The sophisticated song mechanism of birds leaves scientists speechless. Birds are such skilled musicians that it often requires someone with a degree in music to fully appreciate their brilliance. Nightingales can have a repertoire of 300 songs stored in their brains! They will often sing 70 songs before they repeat the repertoire again with perfect accuracy. Many birds have ?absolute pitch?, meaning that they can determine exactly what key they sing in without reference to anything like a tuning fork!

Some birds can perform antiphonal singing where two birds alternate notes in a song. This requires knowledge of the duet by both partners and split second timing in the execution of the duet. When human beings do this it?s considered very skillful and impressive yet birds can accomplish it easily! Since man-made music has an intelligent composer, it?s perfectly reasonable to assume that birdsong has an intelligent, divine Composer.

Some say that birdsong is only required for communication and mating purposes, but the complexity of their music goes way beyond any simple sounds that would satisfy these needs. We can safely conclude that birdsong was created for our enjoyment and that the dawn chorus was meant to remind us to praise God for every new day!? www.thoughtfortheweek.co.uk

It is a reminder to us all isn?t it, to stop and enjoy what God has given us to enjoy. Often we are so busy that we fail to stop long enough to listen to and enjoy nature.

By the way, the doctor never found anything wrong with Joy?s foot. Joy believes God used the foot to get her to the doctor, as they found absolutely no signs that would suggest there was another problem. If she had left it unattended, the outcome would have been worse. She wrote this poem before she flew home:

Cancer is such an ugly word

For me to get it, oh how absurd

But cancer came knocking at my door

And it was quite a shock, that?s for sure

But I know that God really loves me

And so from all fear I?m set free.

For God has promised to be with me all the time

Even when the mountain is real big to climb

The birds are singing and I?m still here

I have great support with the angels near

I?m so blessed in so many ways

I?ll live life to the fullest till the end of my days

For God has got special plans for me

He?s given me promises so that I can see

That there?s hope in the days ahead

So I?ve got a purpose to get out of bed!

Joy has found hope and comfort in knowing God really loves her and has her future in his hands. ?I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.? Jeremiah 29:11

None of us knows what tomorrow may bring, but we can be sure of our final outcome. In the movie 'Your Destiny Your Choice', Ryan gave little thought to life after death until he faced death...he was afraid! His sister Nicky comes to visit in hospital and shows him a computer program that could make him sure of his destiny. Will Ryan choose to be sure of his final outcome? You will disover the answer when you download this movie free on my website.

International traveller, author, and speaker, Wilma Watson has been helping people overcome life?s challenges for over 35 years. Her encouraging words have helped thousands reach their full potential. Wilma is the producer of a unique website that makes spirituality fun and simple. Visit her site at http://www.ydyc.org

Breast Cancer 101

The cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably invading near by tissue and spreading to other parts of the body via blood stream or lymphatic system.

Similarly, in breast cancer, a single cell begins to divide and grow abnormally. This is the most common kind of cancer in women. Besides being women, age is the other important factor for developing breast cancer. The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.

The breast cancer is classified into:

-Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
-Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
-Inflammatory breast cancer
-Recurrent breast cancer

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen. Recurrent breast cancer that has come back after it has been treated. Early detection through regular breast self-exams and a regular program of mammogram and physical exams show excellent results in curing it. Breast self exam is the process developed by the American cancer society for women to examine the breasts monthly. This process can reveal breast problem. Any swelling or unusual lumps or hardness in the breast is the indication of breast disease and a reason to rush to your doctor.

There are various factors, which increases the chance of getting disease as a breast cancer. Like:

1)Older age
2)A mother or sister with breast cancer.
3)Drinking alcoholic beverages.
4)Being white.
5)Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.

Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing other cancers.

Tests related to detect and diagnose breast cancer are:

1)Mammogram ? In which X ray is done of the breast.

2)Biopsy - The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. If a lump in the breast is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump.

3)Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue. If cancer is found in the breast, tissue from the tumor is examined in the laboratory to find out whether estrogen and progesterone could affect the way cancer grows. The test results show whether hormone therapy may stop the cancer from growing.

There are different 4 types of treatment option for breast cancer patients:

1)Surgery- Most patients with breast cancer have surgery to remove the cancer from the breast.

2)Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells.

3)Chemotherapy -Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing.

4) Hormone therapy - Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream.

For latest information about Breast Cancer please visit medicineworld.org. You can get more information through dedicated breast cancer message board, breast cancer support forum at bcancer.com

Mesothelioma Treatment: An Introduction

Mesothelioma is a rare yet very complicated form of a cancerous disease. It is contracted usually by persons working in asbestos mines and other asbestos-related industries, where the air is permeated with very minute asbestos dust particles that are inhaled during the breathing process. These particles are so minute that they can be viewed only under a microscope. These dust particles enter into the lungs, intestine, heart and other vital organs of the human body. The symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately; they have a very long incubation period. But once they appear, they become life threatening and result in a low survival rate.

The irony of the situation is that in most cases, the person is unable to interpret the symptoms when they arise. This is because symptoms, like cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pains, etc., can be simply taken for common ailments. The incubation period of the symptoms is generally very long, sometimes lasting many years. This further compounds the problem, as both the patient and the doctor normally do not trace the origin of the problem to its actual cause, i.e. the breathing of asbestos dust.

It is when the normal treatment does no good to the patient that a need to prepare a history sheet of the patient?s past years of life and work is determined. The research starts with the family doctor referring the case to the mesothelioma specialists for their consultation and thorough examination.

Obviously the first step, like in every other medical problem, starts with preparing the work history of the patient and conducting diagnostic examination to confirm the suspicions aroused by it. The physical examination includes taking X-rays of heart, lungs and abdomen, MRIs, and CT scans, biopsies, etc., that may further corroborate or contradict the initial hypotheses. Once the diagnosis regarding the extent, the variety and the age of the malady is confirmed, a multispeciality board of doctors meets to plan the treatment. The treatment of mesothelioma is coordinated with the regularly occurring new clinical tests trials. Still, the general treatment of the disease involves surgery to remove the affected tissue or the organ. Besides this, radiation treatment and chemotherapy are also prescribed to kill the cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma Doctors provides detailed information about mesothelioma doctors, mesothelioma doctor research, mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Doctors is the sister site of Mesotherapy Before And After.

Life After Breast Cancer Treatment

Many women are very uncertain and apprehensive about what to think, what to say and what to do after breast cancer treatment is over?at least for the time being?and they have recovered.

From the very first sign of breast cancer?maybe a lump in the breast discovered by a mammogram?and other symptoms of breast cancer, to a diagnosis to discussing treatments to receiving treatments and recovery, it?s been a long and arduous process for most women.

What now?

A big concern on the brain is the ever-looming threat of breast cancer recurrence. There are ways of preventing breast cancer recurrence, and many women decide to take tamoxifen after their treatments to prevent such a recurrence, but the important thing here is to not allow the fear of breast cancer coming back to haunt you every day.

Other issues have to do with your quality of life post-breast cancer treatment?managing pain and fatigue, dealing with the side-effects of treatment and other medications, breast reconstruction, menopause, sex, fertility and pregnancy, dealing with well-meaning friends, family members and strangers, and continued health checkups and medical followups.

Many women who come out of breast cancer treatment get a new ?lease on life? and become health nuts, engage in appropriate amounts of physical activity, do more volunteer work, work on special projects, devote more time to family and friends and just generally have a greater zest for life.

A much more likely scenario for women who have come through breast cancer treatment, however, is that they will experience a darker breast cancer recovery period. Some feel like there is always something to worry about and are afraid of ever having a normal life again. Some women experience strong symptoms of anxiety and depression, even paranoia or something close to post-traumatic stress disorder.

It?s helpful for these women to do something for themselves during this transitional period between breast cancer treatment and ?normalcy.? Many take some time off to just be with the ones they love, relaxing and resting. Or they take a vacation, for example, with their husbands and kids, or with a bunch of girlfriends.

Something else to consider is short-term counselling or therapy. Many women find it helpful to talk it out with a professional after enduring breast cancer treatments and dealing with the aftermath of recovering from a major life-threatening illness. Others look for a ?support group? of other breast cancer survivors, and find that to be even more helpful.

No, life will never again be the same. But that doesn?t mean it has to be a depressing, fearful or terrible life. It will be different, but it can be better. It just takes time.

Stay up to date on information, cures and news at the Breast Cancer Information Site.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos is the biggest work place killer today. Those who have worked with asbestos or who are regularly in contact with someone who has are at risk from asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. All these are fatal respiratory diseases which are extremely difficult to cure. Research is being carried out in various research labs all over the USA and many pharmaceutical companies are also endeavouring to find new drugs and treatment methods.

One rare disease caused by asbestos which is becoming increasingly common is mesothelioma. Although unknown by many today, it is almost certain that awareness of this disease will be broadcasted worldwide because of its increasing occurrence in men aged between 55 and 70. Many of these men are now lodging multi million dollar lawsuits against the companies who subjected them to asbestos. Those most at risk from mesothelioma are those who have been in regular contact with asbestos dust and fibres without sufficient protection. Just a couple of months of exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma 30 years later. The latency period (amount of time the disease takes to start taking effect) of mesothelioma is 30 - 50 years which is one of the reasons it is so difficult to cure because it is very difficult to tackle in its early stages. Another reason it is so difficult to cure is that its early symptoms are characteristic of many other more common diseases such as pneumonia.

Mesothelioma symptoms include:

- Chest pains - Coughing that worsens over time - Weight loss - Shortness of breath - Coughing up blood - Nausea and vomiting - Fatigue - Wheezing - Lung infection - Swollen lymph nodes - Loss of appetite

A patient will feel symptoms depending on which type of mesothelioma he or she has got. For information on the different types of mesothelioma go to: http://www.1-mesothelioma.co.uk

In the next 35 years it is estimated that over 1 million people will die from asbestos related diseases in developed countries. Most of these people will die from lung cancer and mesothelioma as these two are the most prolific asbestos related diseases.

All the detailed information you need on the symptoms, treatment, risks, science and more about mesothelioma can be found at:

http://www.1-mesothelioma.co.uk

All the detailed information you need on the symptoms, treatment, risks, science and more about asbestos can be found at:

http://www.asbestos-resource.co.uk

Asbestos And Mesothelioma Connection

Asbestos are primarily known as the substance which causes the deadly disease Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer in which the internal organs of patients become surrounded by a cancerous coating of cells. Asbestos describes any of a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate chemical family.

These fibers are often used in cement during construction and though they have been banned in construction in the United States today, their presence at construction sites world wide five and six decades ago are causing medical and legal problems today. Asbestos can take five or six decades to fully display their deadly potential and thus many of the construction workers who absorbed the dangerous chemical in the 1950;s and 1960;s while working, are just now experiencing the effects of the disease. Hence, many of the lawsuits that are being filed for Mesothelioma have to do with the intake of asbestos at construction plants in the 1950?s and the 1960?s.

Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease. Like many cancers, without continued support and attention, research and funding are not possible.

To find out information on mesothelioma lawsuits canada visit http://www.whatismesothelioma.ca

Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer

Chemotherapy is the use of very strong anticancer drugs to kill colon cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment and will address cancer that is in the entire body which is why it is often used to prevent spread or to treat cancer that has already spread. This is not the only reason why chemotherapy is used so if you doctor suggests treatment with chemotherapy drugs do not assume that your cancer has spread and metastesized.

Chemotherapy plays a few roles in the treatment of colon cancer. used to kill colon cancer cells that might have not been removed during surgical removal of the colon cancer. reduces the size of the tumor before surgery is performed used to treat colon cancer by controlling the growth of the tumor. used to relieve some of the symptoms of the colon cancer. reduce the likelyhood of recurrence Chemotherapy is often used after surgery is performed to eliminate cancer cells that may have been left behind and not removed by surgery. The chemotherapy can be administered through an IV (intravenously) or in pill form. Once the chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream they can reach cancer cells in all parts of the body. Some studies have shown that using a regimen of chemotherapy after surgery for colon cancer can increase the surivival rates for some stages of colon and rectal cancers.

In patients with advanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy is often useful in relieving the symptoms of the cancer.

Who is given Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer? The general opinion in the medical community differs on whether chemotherapy for Stage II colon cancer will be beneficial to the patient after surgery. It is usually only advisable in very high risk patients.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is the standard of care for patients with Stage III colorectal cancer. Also patients with Stage IV cancers of the colon or rectum can benefit from the use of chemotherapy as it often will help to shrink the tumor, increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life.

How is Chemotherapy Administered for Colorectal Cancer?

The use of adjuvant chemotherapy typically involves monthly administration of the chemotherapy drugs for usually 6 to 8 months. Usually on or a combination of the following drugs are administered:

5-FU (5-fluorouracil) leucovorin irinotecan oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) The standard adjuvant chemotherapy combination for colon cancer consists of 5-FU and leucovorin.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can produce some side effects. The type of side effects experiences depends upon the type of chemotherapy drugs used, how much of the drugs are given and the period of time they are administered. The side effects also depend on the individual.

The most common side effects for 5FU :

the feeling of being sick diarrhea sore mouth or mouth ulcers drop in blood cell count overall feeling of tiredness The most common side effects of irinotecan :

increased perspiration increase in the production of saliva watery eyes pain or cramps in the abdomen diarrhea overall feeling of being sick drop in blood cell count overall feeling of tiredness hair thinning or loss The most common side effects of oxaliplatin:

feeling of being sick numbness or tingling of the extremeties numbness in the lips

Bill Ransom provides information on Colon cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment at http://colon-answers.com

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a disease caused by exposure to the asbestos dust. The most unfortunate aspect of this disease is that its symptoms do not appear soon enough or within a short enough time after exposure to the asbestos dust. This complicates matters because when the symptoms finally appear, in most cases, they are not associated with the disease. It takes very long time, sometimes even decades, for the symptoms to appear in form of obdurate cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. Initially, the unsuspecting patient and even his family physician associate these symptoms with common diseases like pneumonia. It is when the disease starts spreading to other organs of the body that the doctors apprehend and tend to trace the origin of the symptoms of this life-threatening condition.

The other symptoms that appear are weight loss, breathing difficulty, fever and difficulty in swallowing food. The voice pattern may also change and the cough may be accompanied by blood; there also may be swelling on the neck and face.

Other symptoms can be in the form of pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, palpitation of the heart and vomiting. There may also be anemia and clotting of the blood. The best course of action is that a person should inform the doctor about any regular or inadvertent and short exposure to asbestos dust. Even acute symptoms of mesothelioma may be mistakenly associated with other diseases.

There are, however, some patients who do not show any important symptoms at all. Tumors may develop around the heart and can spread to other parts of the body. As the time passes and the disease grows older, the symptoms of all the three types of Mesothelioma?pleural, peritoneal and pericardial?start appearing in more vigorous form. Even at this stage, the symptoms are likely to be confused with other diseases. It is important not to ignore symptoms that continue to persist over a long time. It is also necessary to know the symptoms of all the three forms of mesothelioma so that the disease can be identified in the nascent stage. The delay in identifying these symptoms may allow the disease to take firm roots in the system, and then it may become too late to treat it.

Mesothelioma Doctors provides detailed information about mesothelioma doctors, mesothelioma doctor research, mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Doctors is the sister site of Mesotherapy Before And After.

Breast Cancer Facts Men Get Breast Cancer Too

One of the most common cancers among Black women, as you may know, is Breast Cancer. And that, my friends, is only surpassed by the number one culprit Lung Cancer. More than 217, 000 people will be affected by Breast Cancer this year. Now tell me that this fact isn?t a good reason for us to feel some fear. Every 2 minutes, my friends, a woman is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. And every 13 minutes because of Breast Cancer, one woman?s life is over. Imagine, 20, 000 newly diagnosed cases are expected to occur among Black Women. Of that, 57 hundred Black Women, because of Breast Cancer, will leave this earth my friend. Black Women 5 year survival rate is 74%. Compared to White Women whose survival rate is 88%. Scientists still don?t know why Breast Cancer affects Black Women differently to White Women. There?s a higher incidence of Breast Cancer in Black Women as compared to White Women. Black Women are more likely to be diagnosed with much larger tumors. And they are also more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced stages of Breast Cancer. Among women under 45 Black Women have a higher incidence of this disease. And this is compared to the incidences among women, if you please. The risk of Breast Cancer for all women surely increases with age. But yearly mammograms and monthly self- exams help to discover it at an early stage. Women between the age of 20-30 should have a mammogram every 3 years. Be familiar with your breasts so you?ll notice any changes occuring there. Report any changes that you find to your doctor without delay. The best method of protection is early detection, that?s what I always say. Mammograms are avalable; they are free for everyone. But if you have no insurance you can still get yourself a free one. Ladies remind your husbands and boyfriends to check their breasts when you do; They should report any changes they see in their breasts because men can get Breast Cancer too.

I have been busy promoting my book- Smiling Thru the Tears- A Breast Cancer Survivor Odyssey, doing radio interviews, television appearances and booked solid with Motivational Speaking engagements. I publish an enewletter- Metamorphosis, for Breast Cancer survivors and I stay busy. It is my way of staving off the demon and I thrive on the challenge of staying busy. Every new pain or change could become a potential point of worry and that is no way to live and I have no time for worry. I rise every morning cognizant that I overcame breast cancer...I am a survivor. I live with chemo related vertigo and neuropathy but I try not to let it define who I am. I know I have a new reality; the things I once took for granted have now become a challenge. I can't turn my head suddenly or lay flat on my back, but I can breath, I can laugh and I can rejoice and thank God for His New Year gift to me- my blessing. I had a biopsy on my left breast and on January 5th, 2005 after a second breast cancer scare, I was told that my biopsy came back negative. Yes folks, I am cancer free...isn't God great?

An Overview of Lung Cancer

General Information on Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, or carcinoma of the lung, is one of the most common forms of cancer today. It is one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States today. In the United States, another form of cancer that is becoming increasingly common is breast cancer, which is the development of malignant tissue in the breast. Breast cancer is seen mostly in women, though this does not mean that men are immune to it. A small percentage of men too contract breast cancer. The numbers are small, 1 man with breast cancer against a 100 women with it, but its there. However, there is one major difference between breast cancer and lung cancer. One can see the symptoms of breast cancer at an early stage, while in the case of lung cancer, the symptoms are not detected early, primarily because they match the symptoms of other lesser ailments. In this article, we will discuss lung cancer.

A person is said to suffer from lung cancer when a growth of malignant cancer cells is detected in the lungs. Depending on the stage at which lung cancer is detected, it can be classified as being in the:

?Early stages
?Mid-stages
?Advanced stages

Today, there is a vast amount of information on lung cancer available. Patients or relatives of patients can access information over the Internet, which has an almost limitless number of websites dedicated to different aspects of lung cancer ? types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc. For example, if you are from the United Kingdom and want to research information on lung cancer treatment, facilities, etc in your country, you can simply log onto the website of Cancer Research UK, UK?s leading cancer charity, and collect whatever information you want from their site.

Earlier on, treatment of lung cancer was not an easy thing to do, owing to the huge amount of expenses in the form of medical bills, hospital stays fees, etc. However, nowadays with the availability of insurance, things have become easier. Lung cancer insurance is available easily, as is insurance covering other forms of cancer.

Types of Lung Cancer

Two main types of lung cancer exist today. Both of these are seen in the epithelial cells of the lungs. They are:

?Small cell lung cancer (SLCC)
?Non-small cell lung cancer

There is another type, called mixed small cell/large cell lung cancer. In this type you can find both kinds of cells in the cancerous tissue.

Besides these two types, there is another form of cancer of the lung area, called mesothelioma or mesothelioma cancer or cancer of the mesothelium. However, this is not considered a primary form of lung cancer, as its target area is not the lobes of the lung, but the pleural membrane covering the lung.

Small Cell Lung Cancer
This is the rarer of the two basic forms of lung cancer. One out of every five lung cancer patients suffer from small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer, or non-small lung cancer, is the more common of the two basic forms of lung cancer. Four out of five lung cancer patients suffer from this type of cancer.

Based on the cell type/area in which the carcinogenic cells proliferate in the lungs, non-small cell lung cancer is further categorized into three types. They are:

?Squamous cell carcinoma
?Adenocarcinoma
?Large Cell Carcinoma
?Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma (BAC)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is the most common type of lung cancer. It occurs in the cells lining the airways inside the lungs. This form of cancer occurs mostly due to nicotine ingestion through smoking.

Adenocarcinoma
This form of cancer is seen in the mucus cells within the airways in the lung.

Large Cell Carcinoma
This is also called undifferentiated lung cancer. In large cell carcinoma, the proliferating cells are round and much larger than the cells seen in adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma (BAC)
This form of cancer is seen in the bronchioalveolar region of the lung.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

The main cause of lung cancer is exposure to tobacco. This is primarily through smoking. About 80% of lung cancer patients are smokers. Smokers may be cigarette smokers, cigar smokers, or pipe smokers; it doesn?t matter. The risk of contracting lung cancer is equal in all the three cases.

A person may inhale smoke directly. A person can also inhale smoke passively or involuntarily. This smoke is also called secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is of two types:

?Mainstream ? This is the smoke exhaled by the smoker, and amounts to more than 50% of all secondhand smoke.
?Sidestream ? This is the smoke emanating from the burning end of a cigarette/cigar/pipe/hookah.

Passive smokers too stand a high chance of contracting lung cancer. The chances of passive/secondary smokers contracting lung cancer is 30% higher than people who do not inhale smoke either actively or passively.

However, there have been instances of even total non-smokers suffering from lung cancer. This indicates that smoking is not the only cause for lung cancer. It is the primary cause, yes, but not definitely the only cause. The following are some of the other causes of lung cancer:

?Air pollution
?Inhalation of asbestos fibers
?Exposure to radon, a radioactive substance formed by breaking down uranium
?Inhalation of marijuana fumes by smoking
?Exposure of the chest area to radiation therapy during cancer treatment
?Hereditary reasons
?Presence of arsenic in drinking water
?Diet with low fruit and vegetable content (this increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers)

A combination of exposure to tobacco along with any of these causes greatly increases the chances of a person contracting lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

The following are some of the common symptoms of lung cancer. They do not usually manifest in the early stages. Even if they do, they are usually mistaken for some other ailment. These symptoms are:

?Persistent coughing
?Reddish or muddy brown spit
?Loss of breath
?Loss of appetite
?Persistent or repetitive infections of the bronchial tract
?Hoarseness of voice
?Renewed wheezing

In its later advanced stages, when the lung cancer is said to be in metastasis, the symptoms are:

?Numbness in the arms or legs
?A jaundiced appearance
?Tumorous growths near the skin surface
?Seizures
?Bone pain
?Dizziness

Lung Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

It is very rare to be able to detect lung cancer in its early stages. There are no specific symptoms of early stages of lung cancer. This is one of the reasons why lung cancer is usually detected in its later stages.

The use of a proper screening technique would greatly increase the chances of early lung cancer detection. However, there is no such proper and totally effective screening technique yet. Research is on to see if one can be formulated soon. As of now, a new technique called spiral CT seems to be the best option for early detection.

Once lung cancer is detected, the next step is to determine the stage it is in. This is done using the AJCC system. Roman numerals are used to mark the different stages of lung cancer, numerals from 0 to IV. Sometimes the stages are further divided into substages, using denotations A and B. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the denomination, the less serious the condition.

Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer treatment options are usually the same as prostate cancer treatment options or colon cancer treatment options. What I mean is that all forms of cancer have the same treatment options. However, lung cancer tests may be different from colon cancer tests. The standard treatment options for lung cancer are:

?Surgery
?Radiation Therapy
?Chemotherapy

What matters is the combination of methods being used. The more serious the cancer, the more chances that different treatment options will be used in tandem, or one after the other.

References

?http://www.aacr.org
?www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal
?http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Lung/General/Typesoflungcancer
?http://www.cancer.org
?http://www.lungcanceronline.org

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

Breast Cancer: Know Your Risk Factors the Signs and Symptoms and What to Do About It

All women, essentially, are at some degree of risk for developing breast cancer?considering that breast cancer is the most common cancer among North American women and that one in seven women either has it or will get it in their lifetime.

But some women have a higher risk of contracting breast cancer than others, and that?s why it?s important for all women to assess their individual risks.

There is no single cause of breast cancer, but some factors seem to increase the risk of developing it.

The risk is increased the older you are, if you had your first child after the age of 30 (or no children at all) and if you have a family history of breast cancer, especially a mother, sister or daughter. Other minor, suggested risk factors?some of which have not been fully documented or studied?include previous breast disorders, early first menstruation, dense breast tissue, use of combination birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (with both estrogen and progestin), a diet high in fat and alcohol and not breastfeeding or exercising.

If you?re a woman who has assessed a higher personal risk of developing breast cancer, you need to know what to watch for; the first signs and symptoms of the disease.

The first sign of breast cancer is normally a lump, a spot or other abnormality on the breast, usually felt by you first or seen on a mammogram (an x-ray of the breast) before you can even feel it. The lump is also constantly present, may feel hard, tender and unusual and like it?s attached to your skin.

Additional signs and symptoms of early breast cancer include other lumps, spots or abnormalities of the breast or nipple, such as a lump in the armpit, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge or eczema-type symptoms on the nipple, and irregular changes in the size, shape and skin of the breast.

Early detection is key. One way to help out with early detection is to learn how to do a breast self-examination?and to do them regularly. Breast self-exams basically allow you to ?get to know? your particular breasts and how they look and feel normally, so you are better prepared to detect any unusual changes.

Mammograms and clinical breast examinations, which are done by doctors, are usually considered more reliable than self-exams. Mammograms aren?t recommended until women are a bit older (into their 40s and 50s, although slightly younger if a woman?s personal risk factor is higher), but clinical breast exams can, and should, be done sooner and more regularly.

At the first sign of what may appear to be breast cancer, and even if it?s not, it?s important for women to talk to their doctor right away. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the sooner it can be treated, and the greater chance of survival.

Will Hanke runs Breast Cancer First Sign - an informational website about breast cancer symptoms, causes and cures.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Nearly 75 percent of mesotheliomas are initiated in the chest and are called pleural mesotheliomas. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this devastating disease. This occurs when asbestos fibers enter the pleura, which is the membrane that covers the lungs, and results in the formation of malignant cells. The people most at risk of developing this rare form of cancer are construction workers who have been exposed to asbestos fibers for extended periods of time, their families, who are exposed to the asbestos fibers that collect on the clothes of the workers, and people who live or work in buildings that are insulated with asbestos material.

The risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma depends on several factors, such as the length of time the person has been exposed, and the nature of the asbestos fibers involved as well as the different kinds of industries. Other factors can also contribute to onset of pleural mesothelioma.

The symptoms at the initial stage can resemble that of pneumonia. When malignant mesothelioma originates in the pleural cavity, the first symptom may be a mild pain in the chest or back. When malignant pleural mesothelioma spreads, organs and tissues in the immediate area can be affected. It grows into the chest wall, muscles and ribs. The pain changes from mild, general and episodic to severe, localized and chronic as the disease progresses. Severe pain may not respond to oral doses, intravenous infusions, or intramuscular injections of analgesics or narcotics.

There are at least two other forms of mesothelioma, but pleural mesothelioma responds best to treatment. Unfortunately, the fatality rate remains high. However, extensive research is going on to alleviate the pain of mesothelioma sufferers, develop a vaccine, and treat the progression of the cancer.

Mesothelioma provides detailed information about malignant mesothelioma, asbestos and mesothelioma, mesothelioma, mesothelioma research and more. Mesothelioma is the sister site of Asbestos Exposure.

Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases

The most common diseases caused by asbestos are asbestosis and pleural disease. The most general forms of asbestos cancer are mesothelioma and lung cancer. The former is also occasionally called mesothelioma cancer or simply ?meso?.

Asbestos dust is also responsible for numerous types of throat cancer, including pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Stomach and colon cancer are two other types of cancer related to asbestos.

It is vital to note that the latency period, which is the period between actually being in contact with the mineral and the onset of asbestos cancer or a disease related to asbestos, can be quite long. In some cases, it can be over 50 years after an individual?s first contact with asbestos that symptoms of asbestos cancer or any other asbestos disease is seen. Owing to this latency period, individuals exposed to this mineral decades back are still in jeopardy, today, to catch this illness. A trained medical professional can correctly conclude whether a person has asbestos disease or asbestos cancer. It is prudent for anybody working with asbestos to frequently consult a medical professional.

Asbestosis is another well-known disease caused by inhaling high volumes of asbestos fibers. Protracted gathering of fibers in the lungs can lead to the scarring of lung tissues. The most common complaint by a person who has contracted asbestosis is shortness of breath upon exertion. This condition is also called dyspnea. Also, a dry cough becomes more bothersome as the disease progresses. Asbestosis can lead to many other lung diseases, particularly pneumonia, that has a propensity to target weakened lungs. Furthermore, for individuals with asbestosis, the chances of getting lung cancer are multiplied by about 5 times.

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.

Victorious

There it is again. I muttered to myself, frustrated as I washed my arm. Every morning for five or six days in the fall of 2003, I noticed this rust-colored sticky stuff that appeared in both drips and smears on my left forearm and thigh. I had no idea where it could be coming from.

Finally, on Sunday morning I found the answer. My eyes followed my hand as I wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror. Looking past my fingertips, there it was. To my shock and horror, the rust-colored sticky stuff easily dripped from my left nipple.

In disbelief, I collapsed into my bedroom chair, swirling with a mix of grief and fear. I stared at the blank white wall, feeling vacant, distant, disconnected from what I had just seen in the mirror. All I heard was that loud, penetrating silence that surrounds and encompasses every thought and movement.

I called my doctor and was told that this was not an emergency room issue, but did need immediate attention. It could be cancer or another of many health challenges. Then, I began to wonder, what now? What is next?

After an exam, the breast cancer specialist made an appointment for that same afternoon to have both a mammogram and an ultrasound. They took two sets of two x rays on each breast and a third x ray of a specific area of my right breast. I realized I could have two areas of concern, not just the one.

Next, was the ultrasound. I could see the area of my breast where they had done the extra mammogram. There was a dark mass which had a very different pattern than the rest of my breast. After the biopsy, I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductile carcinoma, a rare, aggressive, deadly cancer that can quickly metastasize to the bones and lungs. Next is death. I had symptoms of both bone and lung cancer.

The ultrasound of my left breast showed a trail of little beads. Masses unevenly lined up from my underarm to my nipple. This could not be good, I thought. These masses were rubbing against several ducts, causing bleeding and discharge. That was the rust-colored sticky stuff. My left breast was diagnosed with a rare hyperplastic disease involving multiple ducts. My oncologist felt that I also had cancer in this breast. She was deeply concerned, and wanted to immediately remove the mass in my right breast and cut off 1/3 or more of my left breast. From now on, on medical history forms, I would check the box for cancer.

Even before these diagnoses, I had already decided that I did not want surgery. In my heart, I really did not believe I would live through a surgery, much less the chemotherapy or radiation. I preferred an alternative approach. I did have my health insurance to pay for most medical expenses, but it did not cover alternative therapies. Also, I had previous long term health challenges. I wanted a fix, not just a partial solution. I chose Mye Cell treatments in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and worked with Dr. Melenie Dunn, NMD in Scottsdale, AZ. Her number is 480.556.6700. I am now cancer-free.

I have the confirmed belief that each of lifes moments hold a purpose and a gift. There are no accidents. Nothing is random. Lifes lessons come hand in hand with their opportunities. I do not always remember to live by these beliefs, but I do always come back to them. I knew that this particular lesson was about trust. It was about my ability to trust. It was about my confidence in myself. My confidence in God. The lesson was about realizing, knowing with every breath and every beat of my heart, that I Am Blessed. We All Are.

Doreene Clement, a cancer victor and author of The 5 Year Journal, is currently writing a new book, Blessed, about her life and her cancer experience.

For more information:
http://www.the5yearjournal.com
480.423.8095

Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC All Rights Reserved

Go BraLess and be Free from Breast Cancer

The increasing rate of breast cancer has changed so many things about how an average lady should dress, eat or live. It is estimated that every two minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer and every thirteen minutes some dies as a result of breast cancer. This is an alarming record. It has also been shown that breast cancer tends to be higher in cultures where bras are worn frequently compared to where bras are absent.

In a report titled 'Dress to Kill, the link between breast cancer and bras', the authors examined the habits of 4700 American women, nearly half of them had breast cancer before compiling the report. It was discovered that wearing a bra for 12 hours daily increased the risk for breast cancer, cystic breasts, breast pain, breast tenderness and other breast related conditions. Ladies who had bras on for 18-24 hours daily have over a 100% increased incidence of breast cancer compared to those who don't wear bras at all. It is quite funny, but what this suggests is that by wearing a bra you are 3-4 times more likely to get breast cancer than by smoking cigarettes.

You may be wondering 'why is this so?' but the facts available are that bras create constant pressure on the breast, which compresses and constricts and hinders the lymphatic movement to the chest area. If you are a woman who wears a bra and you see red marks and lines after taking your bra off, you are at a greater risk for breast cancer.

The role of lymph is to flush out toxins and debris from tissues. If this flow is impaired, like when wearing a bra, tissues get toxic. We also impair toxin release by using underarm deodorants, which plug up and block our pores.

In another similar study done in the UK with a hundred women who suffer from fibrocystic breast disease, it was discovered that going bra free for three months had an astounding effect on the cure of these womens? disease. This study showed how effective this single treatment of going bra free was in overcoming a particular breast condition.

The bra has been a fundamental part of female clothing for so long, no matter what it is associated with it, I understand that it isn't going to be an easy task to suddenly drop a life long habit, not when it has to do with such crucial part of the body. This is understandable. You cannot just go bra free overnight but if you must wear a bra, try it along the lines below which will most likely reduce the risk associated with the wearing of a bra:

- Don't wear tight bras. Make sure the bra has a loose fit and always remove it when it is not necessary to wear it.

- Choose a bra with no under wires. These wires block the energy meridians from moving freely through their natural cycles.

- Around your menstrual periods, use a larger size bra as increased oestrogen levels in the blood during this period cause tissues to retain fluids making the breasts larger and the bra tighter.

- Stop the use of deodorants/antiperspirants, if you can. Wash your armpits often with soap and water instead.

- Bathe daily. The body releases 30% of all the toxins it produces through the skin.

- Use a shower filter that filters out chlorine. Chlorine also causes several forms of cancer. As you shower, your skin and lungs are absorbing huge amounts of chlorine.

- Occasionally incorporate Poke Root tincture into your diet to help the lymph flow more easily (especially if you have little white dots around the outside of your irises. This is known as a Lymphatic Rosary and is a sign of a slow or sluggish lymphatic system.)

- Sleep naked or in a stretchy T-shirt. Women who wear cotton or nylon non-stretchable materials while they sleep and who roll over often, can cut circulation off as these materials resist stretching.

- And most importantly wear bras only when it is completely necessary, this will reduce the number of hours you wear bra a day to the barest minimum.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Lung Cancer Stages

Cancers are staged depending on how far they have spread. Staging a cancer correctly is essential to select the most appropriate treatment option. A number of diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, bronchoscopy, blood tests, bone scans, and biopsies are used to find out how far the cancer has spread.

Non-small cell lung cancers, which account for about 80 percent of lung cancers, are staged using the Roman numerals 0 through IV. If a cancer is too small to be detected, it is called an occult or hidden cancer and not assigned any numeral. Stage 0 cancer, or carcinoma in situ, is limited to the lung and only involves a few layers of cells. Stage I cancer is still limited to the lung, with an area of normal tissue surrounding it. Stage I cancers are further divided into Stage IA and Stage IB, depending on the size of the tumor. In stage II cancer, the cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes, the chest wall, the diaphragm, or to the tissues lining the lung (pleura) and the heart (pericardium). In stage III cancer, lymph nodes in the central chest or on the other side of the body from the original tumor are involved. Stage III cancer is further divided into stage IIIA and stage IIIB. In stage IV cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bones or brain, or to a lobe of the other lung. Cancers that are stages 0 through IIIA may be treated with surgery. Treatment of stage III and stage IV cancers requires chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Small cell lung cancer has two stages. Limited-stage cancer is limited to only one lung, the tissues between the lungs, and nearby lymph nodes. In extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The brain is commonly involved in extensive-stage cancer.

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.

Asbestos Cancer Disease

The history of the Asbestos Cancer disease ?Mesothelioma? dates back to the early 1960s. The use of the silicate Asbestos can be traced back as early as World War II. However, the risks involved with Asbestos exposure were unknown at that time. With the passage of time, studies revealed that the cancerous disease was common in people of South African origin. Majority of them were mine workers. It was in 1962 that Dr. Mc Nulty made the first diagnosis of the Cancer related disease.

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that occurs in individuals who are exposed for short or prolonged periods to asbestos dust. As a consequence, the disease can cause severe disfigurement and impairment of the lungs. Individuals suffering from the fatal disease, suffer from breathing problems, abnormal blood clotting, unbearable abdominal pain, significant weight loss and high fevers.

Today, the dangers of the asbestos fibres have raised a growing concern among health professionals. To help prevent mineworkers and shipyard workers from transitory exposures to asbestos, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has devised rules and regulations to help win the race in defeating this gruesome disease, which has robbed the precious lives of many of Americans.

Mineworkers working in hazardous asbestos environments are urged to wear protective clothing at their workplaces. To help prevent inflicting their loved ones with the cancerous effects of the asbestos fibers, the OSHA urged asbestos exposed workers to make it a regular habit of showering daily to remove any trace of the cancerous silicate like fiber. Families of asbestos affected workers should be tested for any trace of this cancer-causing material.

For more Articles about Mesothelioma Cancer please click here http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com/articles/MesotheliomaAsbestos.htm

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Sara Reisness

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is generally caused by the inhalation of fibers from asbestos, which is a carcinogenic material. It is commonly seen among workers in the construction industry who have long exposure to asbestos. It can also be caused by living in asbestos insulated buildings for a long period of time, Genetics plays an important role, and some people are more vulnerable to the risk than others.

This form of cancer is relatively rare, and involves the mesothelium, which is the tissue that lines an organ. This tissue secretes a liquid that enables the organs to move. Mesothelioma tumors tend to affect the lungs, the stomach, the heart and other organs.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is a serious disease with high fatality rates. If the tumors are malignant, the survival rate is not encouraging. The average survival time after diagnosis is about a year. However, if the cancer is treated aggressively, the patient has a good chance of living at least two years, and the five-year survival rate is improving.

The most common form of the disease is pleural mesothelioma, which invades the chest cavity. In these cases, the asbestos fibers travel into the pleura, which is the lining that surrounds the lungs damaging the cells, and results in cancer. Onset is slow, and the most common symptom is persistent chest pain. Other forms of mesothelioma are the peritoneum mesothelioma (which manifests in the abdomen) and the pericardium mesothelioma (which affects the heart).

Mesothelioma is the issue in thousands of asbestos lawsuits today. Many people are coming forward with these lawasuits seeking damages for medical bills, wages lost, pain and suffering, and so on.

Mesothelioma provides detailed information on malignant mesothelioma, asbestos and mesothelioma, mesothelioma, mesothelioma research and more. Mesothelioma is affiliated with Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis.

Mesothelioma: A Cancer Which Is Caused Due To Exposure To Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is generally caused due to the exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a critical form of cancer which generally affects the lungs of the human organism. Mostly those people who are very much prone to the exposure of asbestos in their day to day life will lead to get affected by Mesothelioma. In this consideration, mostly, the labors in the industrial and in the construction firm get affected by Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is virtually caused due to the exposure to asbestos, which generally gets into one?s body through tiny dust like particles which float in the air in the process of inhaling.

Symptoms of mesothelioma are many and varied. The most common sign or symptom of Mesothelioma is lack of proper inhaling, continuous coughing, constant pain in the chest, etc. In addition to this, loss of weight, swelling of the abdomen, fever and anemia are also some other Mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer and hence the proper diagnosis of it cannot be enhanced due to the different symptoms that crop up in Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be treated in various ways. The most common and the basic form of Mesothelioma treatment is through surgery. The surgery will help in the removal of the affected lining of the body organs whether it be in the chest, abdomen or in the neck. Another popular form of Mesothelioma treatment is the radiation therapy. This radiation therapy or radiotherapy is implied in order to kill the cancer affects cell areas.

Mesothelioma thus becomes a deadly disease when no remedial measures are taken to overcome it and when exposure to asbestos is not controlled. But at present, there are various Mesothelioma law firms which are established in many countries of the world especially in those places where there is high percentage of mesothelioma, a cancer which is the result of high exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma law firm is entitled to provide advice to thousands of mesothelioma patients every year. Mesothelioma law firms are large enough to have huge resources and years of experience. Each case of mesothelioma is handled individually and proper investigations are made to help out the clients. Mesothelioma law firm provides adequate counseling to the victims of asbestos. The mesothelioma law firms are based on two aspects. Firstly, to alert the victims about the possibility of this cancer due to the exposure to asbestos and secondly to improve the work place where exposure of asbestos are common.

Farzina Naznin as a writer has been associated with various sites like http://www.carehealthsite.org/ http://www.bestcarehealthsite.com/ http://www.malehealthinfo.com/ for writing articles. Moreover, these sites will enable the writer to know the various forms of cancer and also about their treatments.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which typically affects the cells in one of two areas of the body in nearly 2,000 people annually. One potential effected area is the lining around the outside of the lungs, just inside of the ribs, known as pleural mesothelioma. The other can be located around the abdominal organs, at which time it is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. The tumors associated with the disease may be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The only known cause of malignant mesothelioma is a previous exposure to asbestos fibers, including chrysotile, amosite or crocidolite. Symptoms of this currently incurable disease may not occur until twenty years or so after exposure.

Asbestos manufacturers were quite aware of the hazards some seventy years ago, but decided to keep this information to themselves. Warnings for those at risk of asbestos disease did not arise until the mid 1960?s, but even then, the warnings were not sufficient to the cause. Even today, those who work around asbestos fibers are not fully warned of the situation and that they are at such high risks for dreaded diseases.

Pleural is the most common type of mesothelioma, for nearly 75% of all cases reported involve a tumor around the lungs. Asbestos fibers in the pleura can create a tumor, as well as encourage its growth. The malignant tumor does not depend on any other processes for its development. Although there is no current cure, pleural mesothelioma can be treated in a number of ways including: chemotherapy (and other drug-type therapy), radiation, intra-operative photodynamic therapy, and surgery. Experimental treatments like gene therapy and immunotherapy are also growing in popularity, helping to increase lung function and lessen pain. Peritoneal mesotheliomas are less common, but are still directly connected to asbestos exposure. It?s not known for sure how the asbestos fibers created a tumor in the thin membrane that surrounds many of the organs in the abdomen. Many believe that the fibers are simply swallowed and lodge themselves in the intestines, eventually moving through the intestinal wall into the peritoneum (thin membrane). Therapies for peritoneal mesothelioma include chemotherapy (and other drug therapies), radiation, and surgery.

Other areas of the body have also been known to house such disease- a type of peritoneal Mesothelioma has been found in the testicles while a pleural Mesothelioma has been found in the heart.

Benign (generally not life threatening) mesotheliomas are not believed to be caused by asbestos exposure. Nearly 70% of all such cases occur in females and can usually be removed with surgery. Unfortunately, cystic benign mesothelioma has a high chance of coming back after removed.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, seek out the most up-to-date information available and get the best medical care. There are literally hundreds of resources available to you through support groups, both medical and within your community.

William Johnson recommends that you visit http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/mesothelioma for more information on mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Doctor Research

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It afflicts persons who have worked in asbestos- related industries like asbestos mines, shipyards, insulation factories and construction sites. Initially, the workers in these establishments were unaware that the exposure to the asbestos dust could result in such grave consequences. They became conscious of the potential hazards of this disease after three or four decades, since the disease lies dormant for such long periods. The result of dormancy was that the medical field also recognized the existence of this disease a bit late; when the patients came for treatment, doctors were finally able to relate the symptoms to the causes. Initially the symptoms like chest pain, cough, fever and breathlessness were associated with common occurring diseases like pneumonia, but when the patients failed to respond to the treatment. the medical world started research.

Again, when the awareness of the hazardous effects of asbestos dust dawned on the medical community and the public, lawsuits began to be initiated in the courts for compensation, and the government began to act stringently against the asbestos-based industries. The total number of Mesothelioma-afflicted patients in the whole of the United States is not more than 2,000 annually, and, fortunately, even this number is likely to decrease over the coming years. Quite a majority of doctors are still unaware of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. Since the incidence of the disease is not very common, the number of doctors specializing in this area is also small.

The National Institute of Cancer, Washington Cancer Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, etc. are some of the major institutions and research organizations that are the best sources to find out the right doctors for Mesothelioma treatment.

Mesothelioma Doctors provides detailed information about mesothelioma doctors, mesothelioma doctor research, mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Doctors is the sister site of Mesotherapy Before And After.

Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

The costs of treating malignant mesothelioma are extremely high; estimates range from $150,000 to over $ 1 million. The most commonly used anti-cancer drugs used to treat malignant mesothelioma are Alimta? and cisplatin. The combined cost of these drugs for one treatment cycle is approximately $4,100; multiple treatment cycles may be required, and a cure is not assured. In fact, even with aggressive treatment, the median survival of a patient after diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma is between one and two years.

Some mesothelioma treatment costs may be covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. However, many people may not have health insurance or be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. Information on sources of financial assistance can be obtained from the social services units of hospitals, the Cancer Information Network and the American Cancer Society.

When occupational exposure to asbestos can be proven, patients with malignant mesothelioma may be able to seek damages from former employers through lawsuits. While there is a current cap of $1.1 million on the total amount that can be awarded to a single individual in a mesothelioma lawsuit, this cap is considered insufficient by some mesothelioma treatment advocates. They say that better diagnostic tests, combined with the availability of more effective treatment, means more people with malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed at a younger age and live longer. Increased survival is associated with increased treatment costs.

Some novel mesothelioma treatment options are being investigated in clinical trials. These include more affordable options such as immunotherapy, or expensive options such as gene therapy. In gene therapy, specific materials injected into the patient attack the genes in cancer cells, ultimately killing them. A single session of gene therapy may cost between $150,000 and $950,000. Clinical trials may cover some costs of treatment. However, certain trials only enroll people who have been recently diagnosed and who have not begun any other type of treatment.

Mesothelioma Symptoms provides detailed information on Advanced Mesothelioma Symptoms, Clinical Mesothelioma Symptoms, Mesothelioma Diagnosis: An Introduction, Mesothelioma Stomach Symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Symptoms is affiliated with Pleural Mesothelioma Information.

Breast Cancer Paget's Disease

One of the rare types of Breast Cancer is Paget's disease of the nipple, which can appear as a rash on the nipple. The rash or other changes in the nipple can indicate a cancer in the breast ducts, many times located under the nipple, which has then extended itself onto the surface of the nipple.

Sometimes this sign of breast cancer indicates a small ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a very early breast cancer that has not yet left the duct. Other times, Paget's disease of the nipple may indicate an invasive cancer somewhere else in the breast. In some cases, a woman who shows signs of Paget's disease of the nipple will additionally have an abnormal mammogram or have lump in her breast.

Before we move on I want to clarify that Paget's disease of the nipple is not the same as Paget's disease of the bone, which is a severe bone disease. Sir James Paget, a British surgeon and physiologist, discovered both conditions which were first documented by him, but they are completely unrelated diseases. Paget's disease of the nipple can also affect men, although it is rare.

Paget's disease of the nipple is often first noticed when physical signs of the disease appear. Signs of Paget's disease usually only occur on one nipple and can include persistent crustiness, scaliness, or redness of the nipple, itching or burning of the nipple and surrounding areola and bleeding or oozing from the nipple and areola.

Paget's disease can often be confused with other skin conditions, such as breast eczema. Breast Eczema is a highly treatable condition which can be characterized by red, itchy patches or weeping blisters around the nipple which reoccur, but clear up with proper treatment. Paget's disease does not clear up with routine treatment for eczema or infection and usually only affects one nipple.

A mammogram is the next step to check for cancer in the actual breast. Sometimes any underlying abnormal breast mass will not be present on a mammogram. A clean mammogram combined with an abnormal nipple finding requires further investigation.

A biopsy of the nipple tissue will need to be performed. Usually this consists of a punch biopsy that removes a small amount of tissue to check for cancer. If the mammogram indicates other areas of concern within the breast, biopsies of those areas should be performed.

If Paget's disease is caught early while it is still confined to the nipple and underlying breast ducts, the patient typically has an excellent prognosis. However, if Paget's disease of the nipple is associated with an invasive breast cancer or if the cancer has spread out of the breast to other areas of the body (metastatic disease), the survival rate can be lower.

Treatment of Paget's disease of the nipple involves surgery, radiation treatment and Chemotherapy or drug therapy (such as tamoxifen). Like other types of breast cancer, the location of the cancer will determine which type of surgery is done - a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Radiation therapy usually follows a lumpectomy.

A recent development in surgical treatment involves removing only the nipple and areola (sometimes followed by radiation therapy) in patients whose Paget's disease has no other underlying breast cancer, thus allowing the woman to keep her breast. Following treatment, an artificial nipple can be recreated using skin grafts and tattooing.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Cancer Curing Brain Theory Concept Part III

As I continue my theory on curing cancer I wish to further CYA my position. I am not a medical doctor, thank god actually, because the malpractice insurance would drive me nuts. Also since I am not in the medical field at all you cannot sue me for this idea, concept of mine. Now then continuing Part III.

Chemo that is directly induced where needed might work, but we have better technology now and could use specific fluid dynamic beams of energy or radiation pointed at the exact source and area or even non-evasive light. Now then here is some additional information: it is now possible to send thoughts by fax through three-dimensional spatial representation of the brain in hologram video. We have hologram faxing available and Brain Surgeons are using this to show damage in the brain. The guy who thought of it had my friend in Malibu working for his company in LA. Now they can transmit this data by fax, three-dimensional faxing, like sending a cad cam design computer, but you can now fax it with special machinery.

Now we maybe able to use this same idea to send a thought. This relates to my theory of cancer curing so follow along. Wow, eventually the devise would be very small the size of a dime or so to send and receive data or thoughts by way of this devise, this is way in the future, but it could be available to the common man in 20 years or so. Now before this technology gets this small and nano-tech achieves these seemingly impossible feats we can use the basic concept to record a thought for my cancer experiment.

Now just think about this for a second. There have been cancer survivors with very positive thought patterns and attitudes and part of the reason they lived and others died may have been just that. We must mirror these thoughts of strength, character and attitude and place these thought patterns in those who do not have them. We can look into the thought patterns of many cancer survivors and take those and average them and mimic them and place them in the patients. Duplicate them with TMS through fMRI scanning and send those impulses to those areas of the brain of the patient.

Strong patients will be best since those thought patterns can converge. All we have to do is isolate the things I have discussed before in my many articles and in my brain research with regards to the 10,000 chemicals of the brain 2000 interacting at any one time and 200 prevalent. Take the ten strongest components of the 200 and experiment with them. What we are looking for in those miraculous cases, why did they survive, what makes them different, why do some die and others live? We look at the brain areas which light up and release the cancer fighting biological components in each strong willed survivor. We find common ground and record it, then hook a machine up to stimulate those parts of the brain in the other cancer fighting folks.

First we try the first experiment by placing thought of one persons brain into that of another, and yes as strange as this sounds I do believe it is totally possible and as the future marches on, very probable. This experiment to prove my hypothesis takes two people from the same mom, preferably brothers or sisters of the same mom and dad and hopefully born within a short time frame (2-3 years). Grew up and were nurtured by the same parents. Similar birth dates. Twins would also be good for this. To prove my experiment first; You separate the twins by 4000 miles but both at the same altitude preferably sea level. Similar longitude with similar magnetic pulls and similar gravity pull of the Earth; this will make sure that the oxygen level in the brain is similar and it will be a non-artificial environment, not a clean room.

Next; You then hook up a brain scanner that records a thought, a complex one, simple one first time. Then record where in the brain the energy is located in sequence during the thought. This is done all the time. It will take a controlled thought and focused thought at first. Next you send the digital thought sequences to the other coast. You could also fax that three-dimensional model to the East Coast or Pacific side or where you are, and hook up the data and the model to the brother or sister. And recreate the exact impulses where they occurred in the last person on the west coast or East Coast. Provided the diets are similar and the intake is similar, oxygen level, basic genetics are similar, you should have it. The same basic thought. Recorded transferred and sent and then duplicated, Thought transfer.

Now that would be a worthy accomplishment in itself but the possibilities for cancer fighting would be amazing indeed. Now obviously you do not reveal the thought to the other person, let them tell you what the thought is or was. A thought is recorded and therefore timeless. Thoughts can travel through time at least we can travel thoughts to the future. Just like knowledge. Or at least this has been theorized by many including Einstein. Now for my experiment once concept of thought transfer is proven: Now after this is done, you take a cancer survivors abilities of focusing in their own your body, mimic the diet and intake of that person with the patient anywhere in the world.

End of Part III

Lance Winslow

Mesothelioma: The Basics

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is usually found in those previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous cells form in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining that covers most of the body?s internal organs. These cells typically form in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or the sac that encircles the heart.

The average life span of a person diagnosed with the disease is about 4 to 24 months from the finding. About 3,000 people in the U.S. die of mesothelioma every year. People at risk are those who have been previously exposed to asbestos dust, including former steel workers, auto mechanics, mineworkers, and military workers, among many others. Their family members may also be at risk, as the asbestos dust from clothing can travel through the air.

Mesothelioma has an extremely long latency period, which means that symptoms of the disease may not emerge until 30 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type and affects the area around the lungs, may cause shortness of breath, chest pains, and a persistent cough, which may lead to coughing up blood. These symptoms are caused by the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. The disease may start in the chest area and spread to other areas of the body. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include weight loss, severe breathing trouble, fever, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the face and neck areas. It should be noted that some people with the disease do not experience any serious symptoms at all.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is rarer than pleural mesothelioma, and affects the abdominal area. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal swelling and pain due to the build up of fluid in the abdominal cavity, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Breathing complications and chest pains may also be present, as well as bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting.

The rarest form of the disease is pericardial mesothelioma, which first forms in the area surrounding the heart. Tumors grow in the tissues around the heart and spread from there. Chest pain, shortness of breath, constant coughing, and shivering may be symptoms of this form of mesothelioma.

Diagnosis of the disease is oftentimes difficult, due to the fact that the symptoms associated with mesothelioma are similar to those of other conditions. The symptoms of the disease become more serious as the cancerous tumors enter the later stages of development, so people who have been exposed to asbestos at any time in their lives should contact their doctor immediately. Even if a person has never been exposed directly to asbestos but is experiencing any of the above symptoms, they should inform their doctor as soon as possible, as asbestos dust and fibres may have traveled through the air from items such as clothing.

People who have been diagnosed with any form of mesothelioma should immediately contact a lawyer. Individual states have their own statutes of limitation, meaning that there is a set time limit regarding how long a patient has to act on their diagnosis. When searching for a lawyer to handle your case, be sure to find one that has prior experience with mesothelioma cases. They will have the contacts and resources to take care of your case in a timely manner. The Internet is a helpful and efficient resource for a mesothelioma lawyer search.

Patients do not have to be concerned with paying lawyers up-front, since the majority of mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that they will not request payment of any kind unless they successfully settle your case. Lawyers will usually take a 35% cut of whatever settlement or reward the patient receives, but patients seeking compensation for their disease have nothing to lose and everything to gain in going to a lawyer for help.

The average mesothelioma-related settlement in the U.S. is $1 million. Cases that go to trial average awards of approximately $6 million, according to the RAND Corporation. A bill called the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (FAIR Act of 2005) introduced on March 17, 2005, seeks to create set amounts of compensation for mesothelioma victims, which would depend on their symptoms.

People who have mesothelioma are able to seek large compensation amounts because their disease is a result of a company?s decision not to take sufficient measures to protect its workers from breathing in asbestos while on the job.

http://www.allmesotheliomanews.com

Lung Cancer Treatment Options: Beating Lung Cancer

True to most cases, the treatment of cancer depends on a variety of factors. Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician and patient can now discuss between themselves treatment options that will be necessary. Patient must be well-informed of the side effects and possible outcome of a certain procedure.

Everything should be cleared beforehand to avoid regret. Other factors that are taken into account also includes the patient?s general health, medical problems that may affect treatment (such as chemotherapy), and tumor characteristics.

The characteristics of a lung tumor helps doctors separate patients into two groups: people with low risk of cancer recurrence and people with high risk of cancer recurrence.

Surgical resection is done with patients whose cancers have not yet spread beyond the lung. This is done through the following options: Thoracotomy - the opening of the chest wall for surgical procedures - and median sternotomy - surgery performed by cutting through the breastbone.

Other approaches include anterior limited thoractomy (ALT), thoractomy performed on the frontal chest using a small incision; anterioraxillary thoracotomy (AAT), thoracotomy performed on the frontal chest near the underarm; and posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) thoracotomy performed on the back/side region of the trunk. ALT, in particular, is less invasive than standard thoractomy - that is, it involves less disturbance of the body by incisions or other intrusive measures. ALT may result in less surgical blood loss, less postoperative drainage, and less postoperative pain than standard thoracotomy.

Lately, other less invasive procedures are being performed for the removal of tumorous tissue. For example, the video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), otherwise known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). This procedure uses a video camera to help envision and operate on the lung within the chest cavity. The surgical incisions made during VAT are more minor than those needed for thoracotomy or sternotomy.

However, physicians warn that VAT does not actually allow complete lung examination to identify and remove metastases that are not detected by preoperative chest X-ray. VAT is appropriate for Stage 1 and Stage 2 cancers that require lobectomy (surgical removal of a lung lobule) with lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes) and for peripheral (outer edge) lung tumors that can be removed by wedge resection.

Chemotherapy is the best option together with radiotherapy if the tumor is more aggressive and widespread.

Photodynamic therapy is most suitable for patients having inoperable lung cancer. This begins with the shot of a light-activated drug (e.g., photofrin/polyhaematoporphyrin, lumin). Then during examination of the airways using a flexible scope the lung tumor is illuminated by a laser that transmits light of a specific wavelength. The laser light is used to wipe out the sensitized tumor tissue.

Skin photosensitivity or light sensitivity is the side effect of PDT. The healing potential of PDT is the most exciting aspect of this therapy in lung cancer patients whose tumors are unseen on chest X-rays. The tissue-sparing effects of PDT may be particularly important for individuals with limited lung function.

Electrosurgery is performed using a needle, bulb, or disk electrode. Nd-YAG laser therapy (neodymium-yttrium/argon laser that concentrates high-energy electromagnetic radiation to destroy tissue), cryotherapy (destruction of tissue using extreme cold), and brachytherapy (treatment with ionizing radiation) are extra tumor size-reducing techniques that may be performed during bronchoscopy.

Radiotherapy - better known as radiation therapy - uses high energy radiation in order to kill cancer cells.

Cancer cells more often than not multiply quicker than other bodily tissues; they are affected by radiation which prevents cells splitting up and the formation of DNA.

Unfortunately, bodily tissues that also divide rapidly, such as the hair and skin, are very vulnerable to radiotherapy. The most side effects of this therapy include hair loss and skin disorders, such as skin redness due to blood vessel congestion; puritis, itching; desquamation, sloughing-off of outer skin layers; pain; atrophy, shrinking; increased pigmentation; edema, swelling), as well as fetal damage, increased susceptibility to infection, tachycardia (increased heart rate), changes in taste perception, anorexia (loss of appetite), malaise, nausea, and vomiting.

A good physician will discuss all the options available with their patient, as well as the possible side effects.

For more information about lung cancer, treatment options, and how to help your loved one cope, please visit Gretchen Reese's Lung Cancer Screening site: http://www.lungcancerscreen.com