Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lung Cancer Mesothelioma: Slowly Spreading Its Tentacles

Mesothelioma Cancer

Lung cancer mesothelioma is the common name for malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is not very responsive to therapy. Lung cancer mesothelioma is the deadliest of all asbestos related diseases. Medically speaking, lung cancer mesothelioma is misnomer. Mesothelioma is not a cancer of the lungs; it generally affects the lining of the lungs.

Mesothelial cells are special cells found in cavities of certain internal organs. They form a covering tissue surrounding most of the vital organs. This tissue is known as pleura, peritoneum and pericardium and surrounds lungs, abdomen and heart respectively. This tissue produces a lubricant that allows the internal organs to move effectively. For example, it helps the lungs to move around in the chest during breathing. Lung cancer mesothelioma is the name given to cancer of the lining of the lungs. It is the most common of mesothelioma cancers and is known as pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelium tumors can be cancerous as well as non-cancerous. However, most mesothelial tumors are cancerous. The malignant mesothelioma cancer referred to as "mesothelioma". About 75% mesothelioma tumors start in the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma). About 10% to 20% occur in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Pericardial mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease and even rare is the incidence of mesothelioma in the lining surrounding the testicles.

Mesothelioma cancer was first recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700s. It was only in the 1960s that could this tumor be connected to exposure to asbestos and be described with detail. The first person to do so was J. C. Wagner, who cited examples from the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa and provided sufficient evidences to establish a link to mesothelioma cancer of the lung cavity to asbestos exposure. Further studies have confirmed the relationship between asbestos and the incidences of mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma cancers were a rarity in the United States. There were only 14 cases recorded per million people in a year. However, the number has tripled between 1970 and 1984 particularly among the males working in areas of asbestos production and shipbuilding facilities. Mesothelioma cancers are Mostly found in sexagenarian males and in some cases, it has also been discovered in women and children.

About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Malignant Mesothelioma: Places of Tumors of Malignant Mesothelioma and Type

Mesothelioma Cancer

Malignant mesothelioma: a cancer that starts in cells in the linings of the chest or abdomen. A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells forms a lining inside and outside of abdomen, chest and space around heart and this lining is called mesothelium. These cells make special lubricant fluid which is important for movement of organs inside the body.

Malignant mesothelioma: The cancerous tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma, though this is often simply shortened and referred as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma's cancer can start in 4 main areas in the body.
Pleural mesotheliomas: the chest cavity. They account for about 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas. Peritoneal mesotheliomas : the abdomen. They make most of the remaining cases. Pericardial mesotheliomas: the cavity around the heart and are very rare. Mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis: the covering layer of the testicles, which is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum are very rare tumor.

Malignant mesothelioma's cancer classified into types based on how the cells are arranged when they are looked at under a microscope. Malignant mesothelioma cancer is of three types and the prognosis of these three types:
Epithelioid: a better outlook or prognosis of about 50% to 60% of mesotheliomas cancer. It tends to be more then other types. Sarcomatoid (fibrous): About 10% to 20% of mesotheliomas are of this type. Mixed (biphasic): in this type there is finding of mesotheliomas that have both epithelioid and sarcomatoid areas. They make up about 30% to 40% of mesotheliomas cancer.
Malignant mesothelioma cancer is of three types with varying prognosis. Mesothelioma in cavity of heart and in covering layer of testicles.

About the Author
Alvis Walter is a cancer consultant and a guide for Malignant mesothelioma. To know more information about Pleural mesothelioma symptoms, Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms and Asbestos cancer mesothelioma visit www.cancery.com

Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Concept of Hope and Mesothelioma Survivors

Mesothelioma Cancer

I am a kidney cancer patient and my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer seven months before I learned about my disease. That doesn't make me a doctor or an expert, but I think it gives me some credibility and will put things into perspective as you read this article, especially when I talk about things like 'hope' and 'positive attitude'.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that comes with a very poor outlook on survival, if we solely look at the data and statistics. A cure is yet to be found. New promising treatment protocols have been introduced over the past few years; however, the associated costs are astronomical and therefore those options are out of reach to most mesothelioma cancer victims.

I was actually beating all odds, because given my age and overall health, chances where less than 2% that the blood I had encountered in my urine, would only a few weeks later lead to a kidney cancer diagnosis. By that time, I was able to deal with it fairly reasonable, because my family and I just went through the whole nightmare of coping with cancer news when my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. So I know how it feels to a newly diagnosed mesothelioma cancer patient and their families. And I also know how hard it is to absorb all the well intended advice that comes pouring in from all over the place, along with statements like: "Do not give up hope." And in retrospect I must admit that all those people were right, because eventually, it was hope and the belief that living a healthy lifestyle will help us surviving the cancer.

But let's go back to mesothelioma cancer. Celebrex is COX2 inhibitor which has shown remarkable results in a study that was recently conducted. I will purposely not go into numbers here, but they are available on the Internet.
However, the in general the picture is still the same. Malignant mesothelioma cancer remains one of the most difficult to treat forms of cancer and therefore comes with a rather poor prognosis. That leaves the majority of mesothelioma cancer patients often with only one weapon: their hope.

And yes, there are examples where mesothelioma survivors lived significantly longer than anyone could have ever predicted. Interestingly enough, all those individuals, who were able to do that, have one thing in common: they all kept emphasizing the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, that not only consists of pristine nutrition, usually a whole food and plant based diet, but also mental health. I actually prefer the term mental health over hope, because hope is commonly slightly connotated with desperation.

I'm no Pollyanna and I have good and bad days like everybody else. But I do know that our physical and emotional health helped my wife in going through all the turmoil with our cancers. And I am convinced that this principle is equally applicable to mesothelioma cancer patients, or anybody else who suffers from a severe health condition and wants to play in active role in getting healthy again.

The author Tony Ulrich was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. In his research on what his cancer could have been caused by, he came across with data that suggests a strong link to environmental toxins, such as asbestos. Please visit his Kidney Cancer and Asbestos Mesothelioma website for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Ulrich

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Mesothelioma Statistics - An Eye-opener

Mesothelioma Cancer

What are Mesothelioma Statistics?
Mesothelioma statistics are data about mesothelioma - a dangerous cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and the abdomen. In some cases, mesothelioma can affect the heart and reproductive organs too. It is a fatal disease with patients surviving for only one-two years after the diagnosis.

What have Mesothelioma Statistics Revealed?
Mesothelioma statistics have revealed that nearly seventy to eighty per cent of all cases of mesothelioma have been directly traced to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was a frequently used material in construction, railroad, factory, shipyard and automobile industries. Mesothelioma statistics were able to highlight the link between asbestos and cancer nearly sixty years ago. However, unscrupulous industries have chosen to continue using asbestos for profit motives. Mesothelioma statistics also portray mesothelioma to be a silent killer. This is because the disease lies dormant in the body for periods between ten to fifty years. It is usually diagnosed in patients when they are between fifty and seventy years of age. Normally the diagnosis of mesothelioma is only after the case has reached the last stage and there is very little hope for the survival of the patient.

Mesothelioma Statistics Related to Mesothelioma Treatment:
The sad reality is that mesothelioma has no cure. According to mesothelioma statistics, after diagnosis, the average survival rate is only 12-24 months. Even with early detection and treatment, the survival rate can be stretched out to five years. Mesothelioma treatments are very expensive and usually range - between four hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand dollars. This is the reason why most of the mesothelioma patients have to file lawsuits to recover medical and other costs related to this killer disease.

Is There Anything That Mesothelioma Statistics Is Not Able To Reveal?
Mesothelioma statistics reveal only the numbers of patients who have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma. This number is between two to three thousand new cases every year. However, mesothelioma statistics is not able to reveal or predict the numbers of people who continue to slowly develop the cancer inside them. There is no statistical data to provide the probable number of mesothelioma patients in the coming future.

How Can Mesothelioma Statistics Be Helpful?
Government regulations make mesothelioma patients eligible for compensation. Mesothelioma statistics can help in providing valuable information about the disease for compensation claims and lawsuits. Moreover, mesothelioma statistics can also help the mesothelioma victims and attorneys to gather valuable information for supporting their compensation claims.

About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

An Overview Of Mesothelioma Cancers

Mesothelioma Cancer
What are Mesothelioma Cancers?

Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers that spread in the mesothelium tissues. Mesothelium in general is the name of tissue that forms lining of different body organs such as heart, lungs, abdomen and reproductive organs. The lining around abdominal organs is known as peritoneal membrane. Lining around lungs is called pleural membrane while the lining around heart is called pericardium.

These linings perform two functions. They protect the internal organs by producing a lubricating fluid and to allow the smooth movement of the internal organs. Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers affecting these membranes. The names of the cancers depend on the tissue or linings they affect. Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma are the names of cancers of linings of abdomen, lungs and heart, respectively. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all mesothelioma cancers and is found in 70 % of the mesothelioma patients. Peritoneal mesothelioma constitutes 10% to 20% of the mesothelioma patients while third type pericardial mesothelioma, is rare.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancers

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancers are same as of other common diseases. It makes diagnosis mesothelioma cancers a difficult task. Pain and swelling in abdomen, weakness, loss of weight, loss of appetite and nausea are some symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, chest pains, lower back pains and difficulty in swallowing.

History

History of mesothelioma cancers goes back to as far back as 1900s. It took about 60 years to gather sufficient information about these mesothelioma cancers. By the end of sixth decade of last century, experts could conclude that exposure to asbestos particles is the reason behind the disease. J. C. Wagner was first researcher to report 32 cases of mesothelioma cancers and confirmed its association with asbestos exposure.
One alarming fact about the mesothelioma cancers is its extended latency period. These cancers may remain asymptomatic in the body for even up to 50 years. Chances of survival for mesothelioma patients are rare and the average survival period after diagnosis is not more than 12-24 months. Surgery if diagnosed early, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are some common treatments for all types of mesothelioma cancers. People suffering from mesothelioma cancers can file lawsuits to recover damages for medical expenses and other damages. They can file the lawsuits against the persons and companies responsible for causing asbestos exposure.

About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.