Archive for the 'Cancer' Category

Mesothelioma Survival - A Difficult, But Sustainable Life

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is nearly always caused by getting exposed to asbestos. In this illness, malevolent cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers almost all of the body’s internal organs. Its commonest site is the pleura ( outer liner of the lungs and internal chest wall ), but it could also occur in the peritoneum ( the liner of the abdominal cavity ), the heart, the pericardium ( a sac that surrounds the heart ) or tunica vaginalis.

Mesothelioma survival relies upon a wide variety of factors - the level of cancer, age and general health of the patient etc. A five-year scale is used by the experienced persons in mesothelioma research and treatment to calculate survival. Mesothelioma survival is so difficult that only around ten percent of the total patients diagnosed have reached the five-year target so far.

The chances of mesothelioma survival can be enhanced by vigorous and continued treatment. Depending on the response of the patient to the treatment chances of survival also varies. The treatment success is controlled by various factors. The most important thing is that success depends upon the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. If the disease is detected early, the chances of survival and cure are more. The third and fourth stages have very little chances of survival, whereas the first and the second stages can be healed through chemotherapy and surgery.

The size of the tumor, the area in which it is formed, the level of excess fluid accumulated in the abdomen or chest, the age and general health level of the patient and the cell structure and type of cancer cells are the other important aspects that determine mesothelioma survival. There are mainly three types of mesothelioma cancer. While the first type, the pleural mesothelioma, affects the membranous sac lining the abdomen, the second, peritoneal cancer attacks the abdominal cavity and accounts to about seventy five percent and twenty percent respectively. But the third one, the pericardial, which is found in the area around the heart, is much more potent as a killer than the other two.

After analyzing the mesothelioma survival rates for the last few years, the medical community has arrived at the conclusion that this asbestos cancer is highly lethal and incidents of mesothelioma cancer infection is increasing around the world. It has also been found that chemotherapy is the most effective for most cases where surgery is not advisable for some reason. However, researchers are working on new and more effective treatment strategies to counter the frightening threat of this cancer, which has already ruined the lives of thousands amongst us.

If you liked this article about mesothelioma survival, then definitely check into this different internet site talking about mesothelioma treatment options.

Mushrooms Used as Medicines throughout History

Monday, March 1st, 2010

5,300 years ago, an injured and starving man from Val Venosta, Italy, fled across an Alpine glacier to escape pursuers. But his enemies caught up with him and with a practiced arrow-shot penetrated his shoulder blade and subclavian artery. Before long, he was dead from blood loss. “Oetzi the Iceman” was found mummified in 1991. On his person were pouches containing mushroom remedies, the oldest known proof in existence of medicinal mushrooms usage.

There is good reason to believe he carried both of these mushrooms along as natural remedies. Whipworm parasite eggs were found in Oetzi’s intestines. Birch polypore mushroom Piptoporus betulinus is a traditional de-worming remedy. The other mushroom in his possession, Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), may have been used to cauterize the wound on his right hand.

Both of these are polypores, so named because they have pores instead of gills underneath. No species of polypore is known to be poisonous. They usually grow on trees, dead or alive.

With a couple of notable exceptions, most polypores are inedible because they are woody and fibrous. But as natural remedies in the form of tea, extracts and poultices, they have been invaluable to people all across the globe for many millennia.

Oral traditions of Native Americans bear tale of many types of polypores being used to help against the diseases brought by the Europeans, including Birch polypore but also Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and the now almost vanished species Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).

And as though by no coincidence, Agarikon also holds the distinction as the oldest medicinal mushroom in historic European literature. In 65 B.C., Greek physician Dioscorides recorded it in Materia Medica as a remedy for tuberculosis. More recently, K. Grzywnowics in a 2001 article titled Medicinal Mushrooms in Polish Folk Medicine said Agarikon tea was traditionally considered an elixir for long life and listed historical uses to include lung conditions (coughing, asthma) and rheumatoid arthritis, but also infected wounds and open bleeding.

While mushrooms have been utilized medicinally in the West, it pales in comparison to the adulation they have received in the Orient. Next follows three species of medicinal mushrooms from Asia, which simply have to be included in any article on medicinal mushrooms.

First in this list has to be Reishi, a mushroom so revered throughout Asian history that it’s found in numerous ancient wood-carvings and temple engravings. It also owns the distinction as the oldest medicinal mushroom in Chinese literature, first encountered in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, 2,000 B.C. Often referred to as a “panacea, its acclaimed properties are too numerous to list.

Another Chinese medicinal mushroom known as Cordyceps was first described in the 200 A.D. book The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman. Cordyceps was, and still is, largely used as an aphrodisiac and to improve physical prowess in athletes, although modern research also indicates many other areas of potential usefulness.

Finally there is Shiitake, the number one gourmet mushroom of the Orient. Shiitake has been cultured in China for approximately 1,000 years as a food. What is less known is that it is also one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. A polysaccharide extracted from Shiitake is approved in Japan as an anti-cancer drug. Other qualities hinted at by research include antibiotic and immune enhancer.

Scientific research on medicinal mushrooms began in Japan in the late 1960’s. A ground-breaking study by Dr. Ikekawa found that mushroom growers and their families had lower cancer rates then the communities in which they lived. Today, medicinal research into mushrooms has expanded exponentially around the world and is still increasing. Medicinal mushrooms are still making history.

Note: This article is for informational purpose only. None of the mushrooms mentioned herein have been approved for medicinal use by the FDA. Never use any mushroom medicinally without consulting a licensed medical practitioner.

Dr. Rafael has worked in the natural health field since the mid-90’s as an author and researcher, now specializing in mycomedicinals. Click medicinal mushroom for more articles and mushroom products. The material for this article comes from several different sources. However, a significant portion comes from the literature of medicinal fungi expert Paul Stamets, who deserves special credit and thanks.

Mesothelioma Litigation A Route To Compensation

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Millions of asbestos cancer affected people find consolation in mesothelioma litigation. Though legal recourse such people can claim compensation from asbestos manufacturers for exposing them to the poisonous mineral for selfish purposes. There has been a spurt in the number of mesothelioma cases with the result that it has turned out to be a multi billion-dollar industry. This industry consists of specialist lawyers, law firms and attorneys working hard to provide financial compensation to the victims of this fatal type of cancer.

It is imperative that those looking for mesothelioma legal assistance should consider certain factors like the experience of the lawyer, his links and access to related resources and support groups and well versed with the laws in your state governing mesothelioma compensation. Usually, the time limits prescribed is one to two years since the diagnosis or if someone had passed away due to the cancer, his or her heirs can file mesothelioma litigation before the expiry of two years from the day of death.

The client and the lawyer should sit together to discuss the matter before filing the litigation. In order to prepare an irrefutable case, a lawyer needs ample time. Though there is no guarantee that every lawsuit wins, half the battle is won if the case is filed within the stipulated time along with having a frank discussion with the lawyer. Options are available in plenty, including the product liability, where people contract the disease by using flawed products containing asbestos. Many a times it happens that doctors misdiagnose the disease as a result of which the treatment is delayed resulting in death. Professional malpractice laws will assist the victims in this regard.

Whatever may be the case, most asbestos related cancers happen due to asbestos contact at workplaces. Such victims have the right to get compensation from the employer. Special federal laws are there to aid the victims even if the company goes bankrupt. Adding up to this, family members of the victims who are dead also can file mesothelioma litigation.

There are several law firms that have represented thousands of such victims and fought their cases to logical conclusions. It is always better to contract such people only, lest the case may die prematurely, and even if the case were won, the compensation awarded would be too little to meet the treatment and other expenses, or the time taken for the mesothelioma litigation to conclude would be too long. Both these situations can add to the already terrifying situation that a mesothelioma patient is in.

If you liked this article about asbestos lawyer mesothelioma, then most definitely check over this new website all about mesothelioma research.

Quit Smoking Forever Using CigArrest

Monday, January 4th, 2010

It is no secret that smoking is a completely unhealthy pastime. In the past you may have tried various different methods to try to break the habit but may not have had any success. If this is the case then you should give CigArrest a go.

Every time we light a cigarette and inhale the smoke we are breathing in a deadly concoction of toxic substances. It is a fact that millions of people around the world die each year from smoking related diseases. But it is not easy to give up smoking. You may not realize this, but nicotine is as addictive as illegal drugs such as heroin.

A quick search on the internet will pull up countless websites with anti smoking tips and advice. One of the most popular methods is to use nicotine replacement therapy. Gums and patches are easy to get hold of at any pharmacy but even though these can help to break the habit they are not so advantageous as you will still be feeling cravings for nicotine for a long time, especially once you stop the therapy.

Now a lot more smokers are exploring the option of giving up using CigArrest. This is a much easier method for the mind and body. CigArrest uses a selection of herbs put together in a homeopathic solution with no adverse effects. There are no chemicals or nicotine contained in the product.

A CigArrest package does not just contain one technique to help you give up, it actually contains many. The kit will provide you with homeopathic tablets and gums to lessen your cravings as well as vitamins to keep your strength up. Also there is a guide book and audio CD that contains important advice.

There are enough medications in the kit to cover a period of ninety days. To completely give up smoking for good takes time and determination. It cannot happen in just one or two weeks.

Have you heard about CigArrest? If you want to stop smoking for good, you deserve the best tool available to you. Quit smoking naturally with cigarrest! Find out how!

Chemotherapy Treatment And Hair Loss - LR

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

One of the most frequent side effect of cancer treatments is chemotherapy hair loss. Why does one lose hair during chemotherapy? Well, the drugs used in this type of cancer treatment are very strong, therefore very efficient in attacking the rapidly developing cancer cells. These medicines also attack other cells in the body that have a rapid growth; the cells in the digestive tract and the hair follicles are the main examples here.

The effects of chemotherapy on hair are not limited only to the scalp as the procedure affects the hair on the body, too. Thus, patients will experience the loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic and armpit hair.

The variety of the drugs used in chemotherapy is incredibly high with hundreds of medicines available. Some of these will trigger chemotherapy hair loss more quickly than others, but some may not even cause such a side effect. The difference in chemotherapy drug doses is another aspect to consider when hair loss is under discussion, as hair loss ranges from thinning to complete baldness. Thus, make sure to discuss all such details with your doctor, in order to be prepared to cope with hair loss psychologically.

Hair usually starts falling out after 10-14 days from the beginning of the treatment. It may happen quite fast, gradually or in clumps. Chemotherapy hair loss remains a problem throughout the entire period of the treatment and a month afterwards. Half of the hair can fall out before this is noticed by people around. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, chemotherapy hair loss represents a temporary effect. Hair will probably grow back within six months to one year from the end of the procedure. Although the regrowth of the hair occurs in most of the cases, the new hair could be of a different texture and shade temporarily.

It usually takes about four to six weeks for the hair to recover from chemotherapy, and the growth rate will be somewhere around a quarter inch per month. When the hair starts growing back again, it might be a little different from the hair that was lost because of therapy. The changes will be a first recovery sign and the hair will recover the look previous to the treatment the moment cellular pigmentation is functioning normally all over again. Unfortunately, one cannot prevent chemotherapy hair loss as there is no treatment which will guarantee that the hair will not fall out.

Lee writes about several subjects, including health and travel. Her latest is about locating Airline Tickets to Orlando.

How Effective Is Mesothelioma Treatment Presently

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Various factors like the level of infection, the area of infection, the extent of contamination, the condition of the affected cells, the patient’s age, his overall health etc have to be considered for mesothelioma treatment. The patient should be made aware of his treatment process before it is started.

Mesothelioma treatment methods are wide and varied. The common ones practiced are surgery, radiation and medication. Removal of cancer cells are done through surgery whereas use of powerful drugs is involved in medication or chemotherapy. Malicious cells of cancer are destroyed using high energy x-rays or other energy beams in the process of radiation. As the case demands, physicians sometimes use a combination of two or more of these techniques.

Mostly medical tests like blood analysis are not suitable for ascertaining the form of cancer. Special procedures for diagnosis like video assisted thoracic surgery, thorascocopy, laproscopy and mediastinoscopy are made use of in identifying the disease. It is only after proper diagnosis that the actual mesothelioma treatment starts.

For patients with comparatively mild infection, surgeries for removal of the cancer from its roots are resorted to. Palliative surgical procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitoneal shunt and pleurectomy treats the symptoms of the disease rather than the cancer itself. Chest tube drainage and pleurodesis is the most common palliative treatment, which removes the pleural effusion from the affected areas.

In order to eradicate the disease completely strong treatment procedures are undertaken. Decortication is the procedure used to remove tumor from patients without removing the lung. This is done in stage 1 and stage 2 patients. Pneumonectomy is the procedure for removing the tumor, by extracting the lung. These two procedures are done in pleural mesothelioma cases, which account for more than three-fourths of total cases. Surgery will be conducted only after appropriate tests and analysis.

Chemotherapy, which fights cancers through chemicals, tries to destroy the cancerous cells by preventing them to multiply. It helps to stop the spread, shrink existing tumors and remove remnants of the disease left after surgery. Palliative chemotherapy relieves symptoms like pain and is employed where odds of survival is bleak. Radiotherapy employs penetrating beams of extreme energy or particle streams. The process is called radiation and is usually used aggressively along with surgery. Mesothelioma treatment is thus a multifaceted strategy aimed to remove the cancer and alleviate distress.

If you enjoyed this content about mesothelioma litigation, then definitely look into this different site based on mesothelioma info.

Quit Smoking And Be Happier, Says Science

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Smokers have more fun. This is a common accepted fact, which recently have been busted as a myth by British scientists. More than 70% of the 879 ex-smokers who were interviewed in the survey, answered that they were happier as ex-smokers.

879 ex-smokers were interviewed, and almost 70% responded that they were happier after they had quit smoking, 26% answered that their mood was unchanged and less than 4% answered that they were less happier than before.

The result is obvious: it is difficult to find ex-smokers who are sorry they quit smoking, while it is pretty easy to find the opposite: many smokers regret that they started to begin with.

Quitting smoking might prolong your life, but loss of life quality is inevitable - at least this is a common myth. Rather, ex-smokers actually can have the cake AND eat it too: quitting smoking boosts self confidence and mental energy, and the ex-smokers receives widespread recognition for their achievement. Ex-smokers are on the winning team.

Focus on life quality rather than health

When trying to motivate people to quit smoking, focusing on the health benefits is far more efficient that pointing fingers and trying to scare people to quit.

Instead, we are developing new methods in which we don’t to focus on diseases and health, but rather on the improved life quality, which freedom from smoke brings. The methods were developed from experiments with advice on smoking cessation for cancer patients. They were excited, partly because they felt that with a smoking cessation they themselves made a difference. Rather than being part of the problem, they were now part of the solution instead.

Better in time

The increased satisfaction is more pronounced, the longer the time that has passed since they stopped smoking. But even with ex-smokers, where the smoking stop was quite new, it was still the majority who feel happier now. Younger ex-smokers was more excited after their cessation than older people. However it did not matter whether they were heavy smokers or only smoked a few cigarettes a day.

Quitting smoking is not easy, but Ingolf Ymer provides lots of tips on how to quit smoking - go to his website and download the free ebook: Quit Smoking Now.

Mesothelioma Settlement: An Easy Way Out

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Mesothelioma patients have two legal options to obtain reasonable mesothelioma compensation. The first one is filing a lawsuit and arguing it out before a jury, a process that involves endless court proceedings. But large corporate houses and some other defendants may agree to make a mesothelioma settlement with the plaintiff without involving a trial. There are some obvious advantages to a settlement over litigation. First of all, the involved company is able to escape with their reputation intact. Secondly, the amount to be paid to lawyers would be much less. Thirdly, it saves them manpower that can be put to use in other productive avenues.

The adverse manner in which courts respond to those greedy firms that pushed employees into hazardous atmosphere has also resulted in many companies eschewing the litigation process and resorting to independent Mesothelioma settlement. The company in question would invariably lose its face and as such, clients too. But the litigant should be armed with all the necessary documents proving the guilt of the defendant to force it into the negotiation table. Plaintiffs also stand to gain in the form of less time taken, less litigation expenses spent and less related headaches.

Bringing the defendant around your point requires thorough investigation into the case by the litigant’s attorneys. The company should feel after reading the documents that there is no way out other than a settlement or court proceedings. Medical and work history of the claimant should be clearly brought out along with other related documents.

The defendant firm may try to escape retrospective penalty by arguing that there were no laws governing environmental, health and legal aspects in practice when the litigant was said to be exposed to asbestos. However, it is not easy to formulate a reasonable settlement with companies that ceased to exist or those who have filed for bankruptcy.

The amount obtained through mesothelioma settlement varies depending on the state in which the suit was filed, the severity of the case etc. The process becomes more difficult for the attorneys representing the litigant because the latency factor or mesothelioma. The first symptoms of the disease may show only after the expiry of several decades, thereby creating an escape route for the accused to wriggle out. But a properly prepared and impermeable mesothelioma lawsuit would invariably fetch the litigant a fair amount through mesothelioma settlement.

If you enjoyed this piece about mesothelioma cancer treatment, then go over and see this new web site about mesothelioma prognosis.

Can You Use A Premium Electronic Cigarette To Stop Smoking?

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Ever since the public became aware about the dangers of smoking a few decades ago, many people have found quitting the tobacco habit hard. Companies have been innovating and manufacturing smoking cessation products for many years now. From nicotine patches to gum, nicotine addicts have been using them to quit their habit.

Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes and electric cigarettes)are the newest product on the market. They are designed to look and feel like real cigarettes, even down to emitting artificial smoke however they do not actually contain any tobacco. Users inhale nicotine vapor which looks like smoke without any of the carcinogens found in tobacco smoke which are harmful to the smoker and others around him.

While Electronic cigarettes look, feel and taste much like traditional cigarettes, they function very differently. You see, electronic cigarettes do not actually burn any tobacco, but rather, when you inhale from an e-cigarette, you activate a “flow censor” which releases a water vapor containing nicotine, propylene glycol, and a scent that simulates the flavor of tobacco. All of which simply means that electronic cigarettes allow you to get your nicotine fix while avoiding all of the cancer causing agents found in traditional cigarettes such as tar, glue, hundreds of additives, and hydrocarbons.

An electronic cigarette contains a taste of tobacco but none of the harmful substances found in normal cigarettes allowing smokers cravings to be satisfied without inhaling the many dangerous toxins. Is it all smoke and mirrors? Or can this item really be the saviour it wants to be?

The refillable cartridges come in a multitude of flavors as well as nicotine strengths. You can get regular, menthol, even apple and strawberry flavored cartridges and nicotine strengths come in full, medium, light, and none. While electronic cigarettes are technically a “smoking alternative” rather than a smoking cessation device, the range of nicotine strengths offers some obvious potential as an aid in the ones attempts to quit smoking and seems to be proving popular within that market.

The electronic cigarette is also beneficial from a financial perspective. A set of five nicotine cartridges costs around 8 and is equivalent to 500 cigarettes. Although the initial investment of an electronic cigarette kit of 50 may seem steep at first, users save money in the long run.

When you take a drag from n electronic cigarette you actually feel the your lungs fill with a warm tobacco flavored smoke and when you exhale the smoke billows out of your lungs just like regular smoking, however, as mentioned, that smoke is actually a much healthier water vapor that quickly evaporates and therefore does not offend anyone in the immediate vicinity.

Upon reflection the electronic cigarette is a healthier, cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to smoking and as the awareness and the market grows they have great potential to successfully replace the harmful cigarettes we have all come to know and many of us have come to dread and fear.

Looking to find the best deal on a Premium Electronic Cigarette, then visit www.premiumelectroniccigarette.com to find the best advice on Electronic Cigarette for you.

How To Quit Smoking And Improve Your Health

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Quitting smoking is not an easy task. It requires willpower, commitment, and hard work. Many people do successfully quit smoking every year. Data from the World Health Organisation has shown that annually up to four million deaths are caused by smoking, and around ten per cent of adults globally are affected by smoking related diseases.

When we understand the reality of the health problems that come with smoking it can help us to take steps to kick the habit. The good news is that millions of people do mange to quit smoking every year. More than half the number of people that smoke are able to give up in the long run.

With every puff of a cigarette you inhale numerous deadly chemicals. All smokers are aware of nicotine; it is the substance that makes cigarettes and tobacco smoking addictive. But how does it work? The moment you take a drag on a cigarette, nicotine is absorbed in to your bloodstream and races towards the brain. Within a few seconds your brain will release a chemical known as dopamine. It is dopamine that gives you the pleasurable feeling. But when you don’t have a cigarette your dopamine levels drop drastically giving you that craving that can cause irritation.

Tar is another poison that is present in tobacco smoke. It can cause cancer as it contains carcinogenic chemicals. Another toxin that is present is carbon monoxide. This compound attaches itself to red blood cells which lower their capacity to carry oxygen around the body. There are many other toxic substances also present in cigarette smoke. These can cause thickening of the blood and clotting in the arteries.

Due to public health campaigns and warnings that come with all tobacco products, every smoker is aware of the risks to a certain degree. On average a person that smokes their whole life will live ten years less than an average non-smoker. The number of ailments that are caused by smoking are vast. Lung cancer is just one form of cancer that has been shown to be caused through the consumption of cigarettes, other forms include: stomach, kidney, pancreas, throat, bladder, and also a type of leukemia.

Smoking is also known to cause damage to the lungs. Both pneumonia and COPD can occur in smokers. These are very painful and debilitating sicknesses caused by an inflammation to the respiratory system. Heart disease is also more common in smokers due to the damage caused to their arteries. Other illnesses that are linked to smoking are osteoporosis, angina, infertility, and impotence.

As you can see, stopping smoking can only be a positive step in your life. The earlier you quit the greater chance your body has of recovering. There are various methods and treatments available to people that want to quit.

Your first point of call should be your family doctor. They can offer you advice and medication that will lessen the withdrawal symptoms you are likely to experience. Possible treatments may include: nicotine replacement therapy (which comes in various forms), bupropion (a tablet), varenicline (also a tablet).

If you are serious about quitting smoking, then you can achieve your wish. There is plenty of help out there from people who understand exactly how you feel.

Quitting now can boost your immune system and cure breathing problems.