Archive for May, 2009

Treatment Options for Pleural Mesothelioma

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Nick Johnson asked:


Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that is directly attributed to asbestos exposure. There are three forms of mesothelioma. These forms are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. This devastating cancer attacks the mesothelium, or the protective lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart respectively.

Of the three forms of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is the most common. When asbestos is manufactured, mined or disturbed asbestos fibers are released into the air. Those working with or around asbestos inhale and ingest these fine particles. Over an extended period of time, mesothelioma can take 20 to 60 years to manifest, these asbestos particles can cause normal pleura in the lining of the chest to become abnormal, causing pleural mesothelioma.

Some of the most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are persistent cough, shortness of breath, bloody sputum, weight loss, fever, swelling of the face and neck, raspy voice and trouble swallowing. Due to the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma mimicking symptoms of other conditions it may go undiagnosed when the need to start mesothelioma treatment immediately is vital.

After a definitive diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma has been established there are several mesothelioma treatment options that can be undertaken. The type of mesothelioma treatment will depend on several key components. These factors are the extent of the disease, the patient’s history and age, and the location of the tumor.

The most common forms of mesothelioma treatment, for those with pleural mesothelioma, are a pneumonectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and palliative therapies. One form of mesothelioma treatment is a pneumonectomy, or the removal of the cancerous lung. Depending on the spread of the disease, parts of diaphragm may be removed as well. A pleurectomy may also be used to treat pleural mesothelioma by removing parts of the chest and surrounding tissue. The ability for these procedures to be performed are dependent on the patient’s overall health, spread of the disease, and the amount of asbestos exposure.

Radiation treatment is another form of mesothelioma treatment for those suffering from pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy works by placing a radioactive source in the area of disease. The use of radiation has the benefit of destroying cancerous tissue while not exposing healthy cells. This form of mesothelioma treatment can be performed in conjunction with surgery or alone if the individual is to ill for surgery.

Chemotherapy is another common form of mesothelioma treatment for those with pleural mesothelioma. This high toxicity drug is usually administered by injection or in pill form. Some side affects from chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue and weight loss. This form of mesothelioma treatment is not targeted to a particular area like radiation therapy. Therefore, the drugs used have to make their way through the body to the cancerous area or areas. Unfortunately, this has the disadvantage of exposing healthy tissue to the toxicity of the chemotherapy drugs.

Palliative therapies are also used as a form of mesothelioma treatment for those with pleural mesothelioma. This involves removing excess fluid by needle and suction from the affected areas. Drugs are also used in order to keep fluid accumulation under control.

As additional research is performed on pleural mesothelioma more treatment options may become available. Keeping informed of new mesothelioma treatments is paramount if diagnosed with this devastating disease.



mesothelioma

where can I learn about natural cancer treatments for animals (cats, specifically)?

Sunday, May 24th, 2009
answerer asked:


My cat has a cancerous leg lesion and I want to try to treat it naturally before i resort to surgery or radiation.

cancer treatment

Cancer STEM cells true cause of cancer and researchers missing the ball?

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
Nick P asked:


What do you think? 1994 Researchers discovered the cancer stem cell in AML (leukemia). Other researchers did not believe it. Since then, about 15 cancers have been found to have cancer stem cells. Now the cancer stem cell is the cell that produces the cancer cell. Treatments for the last 30-40 years target only the cancer cells, missing the stem cell altogether. This may be why you get complete remissions in cancer (no cancer cells), but then the cancer returns because the cancer stem cell remains to regrow the cancer cells. Research is proving this out at Stanford, U Toronto, U Mich. and Hopkins. Yet other research centers and doctors have not picked up on this idea. This is akin to malpractice perhaps. Clinical trials will be coming out to target the cancer stem cells, and if you get some cures, then there will be a complete shift in thinking. Too bad it has taken 40 years.

cancer treatment

Does anyone know of a good book about ****** Cancer?

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Tisa asked:


Ok i have this essay i need to write and its about ****** cancer…i need a book tht has quality info about ****** cancer treatments and anything else would be fine…so any books on ****** cancer would be greatly appreciated!!! :)

cancer treatment

Types of Mesothelioma Cancer

Monday, May 18th, 2009
Jennifer White asked:


Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects the serous membranes surrounding the major organs of the body i.e. the lungs, heart and the abdominal organs, causing these vital organs to inflate with excessive fluid. This fluid further causes the improper functioning of the organs. The only known cause of this cancerous tumor is asbestos exposure. In this disease, malignant cells are built up in the protective linings (serous membranes) of several internal organs known as mesothelium. Different organs in the abdomen cavity can get affected by mesothelioma because of the presence of the protective linings surrounding them. The most common types of mesothelioma include:

* Pleural Mesothelioma,

* Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and

* Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma is a tumor in which the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura, gets affected by malignant cells. The pleura is a soft protective tissue that surrounds the lungs in the chest cavity. It helps the lungs in breathing (respiration) by producing a serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces to avoid the teasing of the lungs against the chest wall. The malignant cells, once entered the pleura, begin to spread and affect the surrounding organs and tissues. This leads to further complications resulting pain and severe symptoms.

Mesothelioma affecting pleura is of two categories:

Diffused or Malignant (Cancerous):

It is the serious form of pleural mesothelioma that affects the pleural lining of the lungs and its surrounding organs.

Localized and Benign (Non-cancerous):

It is the non-cancerous form of mesothelioma, which does not affect all parts of the body except the pleura. However, it constricts the lung causing shortness of breath, and in some severe cases, pneumothorax (lung failure).

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a tumor of the peritoneum membrane or the abdomen lining, affecting many organs in the abdominal cavity including stomach. This form of mesothelioma cancer is less common than the pleural form but is more aggressive, resulting severe symptoms and short life expectancy. Like many other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma can also be either malignant or benign.

Pericardial Mesothelioma:

Pericardial or Pericardium Mesothelioma is the rarest form of cancer, counting less than 10% of mesothelioma cases. In this form of cancer, fluid gets accumulated in the sac that encloses the heart. The main cause of this disease is the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Due to the rarity of this disease, doctors and researchers have not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers enter the heart lining or pericardium. The only logical explanation so far about this form of cancer is the possibility of the asbestos fibers, converted into tiny pieces, transported from the lung into the heart by means of blood circulation. Once the asbestos fibers enter the heart, they expand the tissues in the chest cavity and the pericardium with excessive liquid, disrupting the working of the heart and causing chest pains with breathing disorders.

Each year, approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. At some point of their lives, the patients of mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos that later cause the hideous cancer of mesothelioma. If you, at some point of your life, have worked in an asbestos-rich environment or used any asbestos materials, you should contact a mesothelioma doctor for correct diagnosis and best treatment options available.



mesothelioma

Facts Concerning Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients in California

Monday, May 11th, 2009
Nick Johnson asked:


About 10% of all Mesothelioma cases that are diagnosed in the United States today are cases of Peritoneal Mesothelioma. There are nearly 3000 newly diagnosed cases of it diagnosed every year, which means that about 300 cases of Peritoneal Mesothelioma are diagnosed annually.

The human body has numerous protective linings which encase various internal organs. Mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer which attacks this protective lining, which is only known to be cause by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is used as a fire resistant, cost effective, building material which lingers in factories, the automotive industry, the construction industry, destroyed buildings, and some older, smaller building that have been converted into office buildings usually found in cities and house small business personally owned and operated by small business entrepreneurs.

Asbestos related diseases are a horrific scar on the humanity of our free commerce society. Business owners neglectfully and reprehensively allowed the continuous exposure of their employees to the cancer causing asbestos without regard for their welfare, future health, or the potential consequences. The effects of asbestos were known as early as the 1920s, although there have been reports which speculate that the hazards of asbestos were well known as early as the late 1890s. One of the greatest human tragedies of wrongful infliction is the fact that asbestos laws which restricted (not eliminated) the use of asbestos weren’t passed until 1980. Apparently the American government wasn’t all that concerned with the fate of its laborers.

Mesothelioma is known to attack the protective lining of various organs in three different areas of the body, the heart, the lungs, and the abdominal organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, and intestines. Mesothelioma that attacks the lining of the lungs, which is the most common type of Mesothelioma, is known as Pleural Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma which attacks the lining that protects the heart, is the rarest form of it, is known as Pericardial Mesothelioma. Pericardial Mesothelioma is also considered the deadliest form of it with the shortest life span after diagnosis. The form of Mesothelioma which attacks the lining which protects the abdominal organs is known as Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma in all forms if often very difficult to detect, and diagnosis is often made too late to effectively offer hope of life after it. Even the best Mesothelioma doctors typically can not offer hope of survival since it is typically diagnosed well after the onset of symptoms when the disease has progressed beyond the early, more treatable stages of it.

Regardless, patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma should seek out the best doctors available. Cutting edge technology and cancer research may still offer hope one day. Doctors are intimately involved with the progression of Mesothelioma as well as medical research progress and will be the first to be able to offer new and innovative treatments.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma often mimics other rare diseases, and without the information of previous long term asbestos exposure, many doctors who are not specialists are unaware that they should be considering the possibility of Mesothelioma when diagnosing the accompanying symptoms. Patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed Peritoneal Mesothelioma may experience symptoms which include abdominal swelling, bowel obstructions and other bowel issues, fever, weight loss, weakness, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients may choose to spend their time fighting the disease and undergoing treatments which may involve surgery, palliative therapies, chemotherapy, and radiation therapies. Treating Peritoneal Mesothelioma leads to great physical difficulty and challenges beyond the disease itself, and often patients who are treating Mesothelioma with conventional methods find the treatment process too exhaustive.

Other Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients find that they would rather spend their remaining time as comfortable as possible and with as much quality time with their families and friends as possible. It takes decades to expose itself after asbestos exposure, and sometimes there are legal avenues which patients decide to follow in an effort to hold the responsible company accountable for its neglectful attitudes on asbestos exposure.

Other patients decide that are filing Mesothelioma lawsuits are not a valuable way to spend their time. In some cases, the government has limited a Mesothelioma victim’s ability to decide whether or not filing a lawsuit is in their best interest.

Regardless of how a Mesothelioma victim decides to spend their time, the fact of the matter remains that it is a needless and horribly distressing disease that could by all reasonable means be prevented. There is simply no reasonable excuse for the continuation of diagnoses.



Connecticut Mesothelioma Lawyers: Spread the News About Asbestos

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
Wilmer Streed asked:


Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and if you have been diagnosed with it, then you need a good Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer. This illness is caused by the fibers getting into your lungs and causing cancer in the lining of the organs. Medical studies have made it possible to prolong life, but the people at fault for the disease are large corporate companies that used to make asbestos products. After visiting your physician you need to see about finding good Connecticut mesothelioma lawyers.

Maybe you’re wondering, what is mesothelioma? It is a kind of cancer that gets into the lining of your organs and will eventually kill the sufferer. It is caused because of breathing in asbestos particles in shipping yards or manufacturers of construction products. People that worked for this type of company, were never told that asbestos could kill them and that the particles could find their way into the lungs but would be difficult to remove and will cause tumors. This process can take years and even decade, so a mesothelioma victim may not even know he is a victim until 20 years later.

It is essential that you get good Connecticut mesothelioma lawyers for the lawsuit so that you get the right kind of compensation. These attorneys are qualified and find the facts they need to prove a case that is decades old. We all know that most mesothelioma lawsuits pay out, but the point is that you get a good settlement and no just an average one and for that you need the right mesothelioma attorneys.

Of course, the best thing you could have done was to not get exposed to asbestos in the first place, and even if you were, then you should have worn protective breathing equipment. The problem is that the American people were not told about the consequences of asbestos. This is probably the most important reason for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. Letting the corporate world know that we will not put up with any more mesothelioma victims in the next two generations.

Experienced Connecticut mesothelioma lawyers realize, that for a long time the detection of the disease and the connection between work environment was not made. It has taken a lot of research to understand the connection between mesothelioma and asbestos and that is why you should hire good mesothelioma attorneys. You wouldn’t go to a family practitioner for treatment of mesothelioma, so why would you hire any attorney, instead of an experienced Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer?

You need help! If you got sick and the company you worked for is at fault then that company needs to pay you. The fact that you are a mesothelioma victim cannot be changed. But we can ensure that no one else dies from this type of cancer. Get the compensation you need for those medical expenses. Leave your family security. Do this through the right Connecticut mesothelioma lawyers.

If you or a spouse has been affected by Mesothelioma or have been exposed to asbestos, you need to know your medical and legal options. Taking care of yourself and your family is the #1 priority when you’ve been exposed to cancer causing materials. Finding a Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer who can represent you and your family is an important decision. Connecticut mesothelioma lawyers can provide you with information about your options, please visit http://www.mesothelioma-center-inc.com.



What To Look For In A California Mesothelioma Lawyer

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Nick Johnson asked:


A Mesothelioma diagnosis is never something that you want to get. If you know anything about Mesothelioma at all, you know that it is a highly deadly form of lung cancer, mostly caused by Asbestos. If you know anything about Asbestos, you should know that not only is it deadly, but it is also illegal. What this means for you is that a Mesothelioma diagnosis is almost never no one’s fault.

It is certainly not your own fault, and a Mesothelioma lawyer will tell you that a Mesothelioma lawsuit and a Mesothelioma are very easy to win and very easy to accomplish. However, if you are looking for a Mesothelioma lawyer, you should be sure that you are looking at the right kind of lawyer. There are several things that you want to look for as you search for the right lawyer for Mesothelioma in California.

When you are looking for a Mesothelioma lawyer in California, they can provide you with many different services and are very knowledgeable about Mesothelioma in general and its causes as well as its costs.

The first thing that you have to find in a Mesothelioma lawyer in California is the idea that they know what they are talking about when it comes to Mesothelioma. This is something that a lot of lawyers overlook. The issue of Mesothelioma is one that is very tricky, because a lot of the cases of Mesothelioma don’t show up with Mesothelioma symptoms for many many years. This means that once you develop Mesothelioma symptoms it is very likely that whoever caused it is no longer living, or has disappeared.

Many people are getting Mesothelioma because of jobs they worked on 50 or more years ago, which means that the person responsible is often very hard to track. A Mesothelioma lawyer knows ways to find people years after the fact. You should ask the prospective lawyer some questions about Mesothelioma and see if they can answer them before you choose your Mesothelioma lawyer.

Another thing that you want to think about as you approach a Mesothelioma lawsuit is looking for a firm that is going to take care of your case so that you don’t have to do a lot for it. Whether you are the one with Mesothelioma or if it is a family member, you don’t want to spend this time in court. You want to work on getting better, or you want to nurse a family member, or you want to be with other members of your family and grieve for the person you have lost.

The bottom line is that you don’t want to spend countless hours dealing with the Mesothelioma lawsuit and working for the Mesothelioma settlement. This means that the Mesothelioma lawyer that you pick has to be a Mesothelioma attorney who can handle most of the work on their own, without you.

When you are dealing with Mesothelioma ,you are dealing with something that has a cause. This is a disease that is caused by an error somewhere. For you, this means that there is someone to blame, and somebody is at fault for your suffering. You shouldn’t have to go through it alone ,and you shouldn’t have to pay for it out of your pocket, when it is not your fault.

This is what the Mesothelioma attorneys in California are here for. They can help you get through this, and they can help you get the money that you need and deserve. Remember that since Mesothelioma affects not only the workers, but even the spouses that washed the asbestos filled clothing, it means that Mesothelioma lawsuits are not only for the ones who are directly affected by the cancer. If you have someone in your family that was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you are perhaps still entitled to a Mesothelioma lawsuit. This is important to know, because you shouldn’t have to worry about medical bills or anything else.



Contacting A Mesothelioma Lawyer

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Nick Johnson asked:


Many people who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma have no idea what it is and have never heard of it before. Mesothelioma is cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure and to date, there are no other findings that suggest this cancer to be caused by any other source. Most of the victims of Mesothelioma were workers who worked with asbestos who were not warned of the dangers of working with this toxic product.

People who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma should contact a Rhode Island Mesothelioma lawyer to help them with a Mesothelioma lawsuit that can get compensation for them to help with the medical and financial bills that are a result of the diagnosis.

The cause of Mesothelioma is the inhalation or swallowing of asbestos fibers that become lodged in the body. These asbestos fibers are indestructible and the body’s immune system can not get rid of them or break them down. Mesothelioma is a progressive cancer that takes the lives of people who are diagnosed with in within one to two years. Mesothelioma attacks the immune system as well as the area in which the cancer has set in.

Most cases of Mesothelioma is in the pleura, the lining that surrounds the lungs, however Mesothelioma can also attack the lining of the heart or abdominal cavity. While Mesothelioma is relatively rare, 3,000 new cases are reported each year in the US.

Mesothelioma can be caused by any level of asbestos exposure, even infrequent exposure or para-occupational exposure. Para-occupational exposure is secondary exposure and is usually found in the families of people who worked with asbestos materials. The fibers easily cling to hair, skin, clothing and shoes and can become dislodged in the home, creating secondary exposure.

The vast majority of Mesothelioma cancer cases can be traced back to exposure to asbestos in the work place. 20 years ago, products that contained asbestos and asbestos materials were in high demand and used frequently in construction and manufacturing. At that time it was known that asbestos exposure could lead to progressive health disorders such as Mesothelioma.

In World War II, asbestos was used quite frequently in the manufacturing of ships for the war effort in naval ship yards throughout the country. Asbestos was used for building construction and the manufacturing of automobiles as well during this time. Until recently, asbestos products and processes that utilize asbestos were unregulated, although the high risk factors associated with asbestos exposure were known and few safety precautions were offered by companies, and these companies continued to freely use the product.

Most of the companies that used asbestos products or processes failed to provide safety precautions or education for their workers regarding the high risk of working with the product. Their ignorance and complacency however has left them on the hook for financial compensation for workers with Mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.

If you or someone you love has contracted Mesothelioma cancer, your best bet is to contact a Rhode Island Mesothelioma lawyer to find out if you have a Mesothelioma lawsuit case to build. The chief problem with Mesothelioma lawsuits is the length of time between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of Mesothelioma - which is usually approximately 20 years. This makes it quite difficult for Rhode Island Mesothelioma to find the company responsible for your exposure as well as for doctors to properly diagnose the disease.

Mesothelioma symptoms include:

- fluid in the chest,

- chest pains,

- difficulty breathing, and

- coughing.

The nature of Mesothelioma symptoms is easily mistaken for other conditions because they are so similar to other maladies, which in turn often delays the diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer. Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have little to no effect on Mesothelioma cancer’s progression.

Most Mesothelioma victims can help to pinpoint the company or company’s responsible for their asbestos exposure. Most of the companies knew the dangers of asbestos exposure and failed to take precautions or measures to protect their workers. Mesothelioma is devastating to people and families emotionally, physically and financially.

A Rhode Island Mesothelioma attorney can help you file a Mesothelioma lawsuit for yourself or a loved one against the company responsible for the exposure. A good Mesothelioma lawyer can easily track down the responsible party and fight to gain financial compensation. While finances are no replacement for a life lost to Mesothelioma, it can help with the financial burden the disease brings with it including funeral expenses, lost wages, medical costs and pain and suffering.



mesothelioma

bone cancer help. treatment options/chances of survival? this is the third time it is back?

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
? sienna ? asked:


i am fifteen and have ewing’s sarcoma. this is the third time i have had it, i was in remission for about nine months, but now it is back. both other times we have done chemo and radiation. i was diagnosed with it again, now it is in my lungs and bone marrow. right now my doctors are discussing treatment options, but don’t know what to recommend yet. what are more treatment options for me now, and what do you think my survival chances are? i am a sophomore, its the fourth quarter of school. i want to at least be able to graduate. any answers are appreciated.

cancer treatment