Mesothelioma, once a rare cancer, has become more prevalent in the past 50 years. The incidence of this aggressive disease, which has no cure, is expected to rise through 2015.
Until recently, mesothelioma was considered universally fatal. Patients treated with the best available therapy have survived 13 to 25 months in some studies, and with only supportive care the median survival is about 9 months. Studies investigating the diagnosis of mesothelioma have recently reported promising results, which may help reverse this tragic trend.
If caught before spreading beyond the lungs, there is a much greater chance of successfully treating the disease. Once mesothelioma has spread, the disease quickly overcomes its victim. With earlier detection, current treatments would be more effective, more aggressive treatment could be developed and life expectancy could rise dramatically.
One of the challenges of treatment for mesothelioma patients is the inability to detect the aggressive cancer in its early stages. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is very challenging to diagnose until the advanced stages. Because the onset of disease is delayed for as much as 30 years beyond exposure, symptoms are vague and the diagnostic tools are not efficient or specific, many cases are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced.
To date, screening through serial chest x-rays and pulmonary function testing has not been effective in detecting the disease in its earlier stages. While some asbestos related disease has been detected, these methods cannot differentiate between mesothelioma and benign lung disorders. Computer tomography (CT) can detect even small tumors, but also does not distinguish between malignant lesions and benign lung changes. Thus, the stumbling block to early diagnosis is distinguishing early stage cancer from other lung problems.
Biomarkers, or naturally occurring chemicals that can be detected in the blood have been linked to many specific cancers. Studies have shown a link between the substance TPA and mesothelioma, but this correlation had not yet been proven. Ca 125, a known marker for ovarian cancer has also shown promising but unconfirmed results in detecting early stage mesothelioma.
According to a recent article published in the December 2005 New England Journal of Medicine, a recent study of the protein osteopontin produced encouraging results. Comparing patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, patients exposed to asbestos but disease free and healthy control subjects, revealed clear differences in the patients with malignant disease. Although more research is needed to confirm the accuracy of this investigation, a strong correlation between osteopontin levels and mesothelioma was found.
A significantly higher concentration of osteopontin was detected in patients with diagnosed cases of mesothelioma compared to subjects with asbestos exposure. When compared, the levels of osteopontin were not significantly different in unexposed control subjects versus those subjects exposed to asbestos. Nearly 78% of mesothelioma patients showed elevated osteopontin levels. Levels were elevated in both patients with early stage disease (Stage I) and advanced disease. In over 85% of cases, osteopontin levels differentiated patients with mesothelioma versus benign lung conditions.
Definitive detection of mesothelioma in the earlier stages makes surgical removal of tumors possible before the disease has had a chance to spread. Once spread occurs, the effectiveness of surgical treatment drops dramatically. In end?stage disease, suurgery is simply a palliative measure to improve breathing capability with little of no curative value.
While it is not clear that this information will lead to longer survival, we do know that the earlier treatment can begin, the better chance for a prolonged life expectancy and with time, hopefully a cure.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Mesothelioma- treatment and side effects
Questions you may wish to ask about your treatment are:
How many treatments will I be given?
What drug or combination of drugs will I receive?
How will the drug/drugs be administered, i.e., pill, intravenous, etc.?
Where will I go for my treatment, i.e., doctor's office, hospital, etc.?
How long will each treatment last?
Questions you may wish to ask about side effects are:
What side effects are associated with the drug/drugs I will be given?
Which of these side effects are likely to occur?
What can I do to relieve these side effects?
Are there certain side effects I should report immediately?
How can I contact a health professional after hours if I need to call?
Once chemotherapy is completed, normal cells usually recover, so most side effects will gradually disappear after treatment ends. The amount of time it takes to get over side effects is dependent on many things, including your overall health and the type of chemotherapy you have been receiving.
Ask your doctor for more information about these medications. Contact us if you need more ideas about what to ask your doctor or to learn about clinical trials using these drugs.
How many treatments will I be given?
What drug or combination of drugs will I receive?
How will the drug/drugs be administered, i.e., pill, intravenous, etc.?
Where will I go for my treatment, i.e., doctor's office, hospital, etc.?
How long will each treatment last?
Questions you may wish to ask about side effects are:
What side effects are associated with the drug/drugs I will be given?
Which of these side effects are likely to occur?
What can I do to relieve these side effects?
Are there certain side effects I should report immediately?
How can I contact a health professional after hours if I need to call?
Once chemotherapy is completed, normal cells usually recover, so most side effects will gradually disappear after treatment ends. The amount of time it takes to get over side effects is dependent on many things, including your overall health and the type of chemotherapy you have been receiving.
Ask your doctor for more information about these medications. Contact us if you need more ideas about what to ask your doctor or to learn about clinical trials using these drugs.
The World's Most Deadly Disease Mesothelioma Cure Possible
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.
It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.
They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...
But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.
It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.
They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...
But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Arthritis and Joint Pains
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Despite lot of research and effort, an effective cure has still eluded us. All that can be offered are the anti inflammatory and pain killers like Aspirin. According to Ayurveda arthritis is primarily a vata (air) disease which is due to accumulation of toxins in the joints and is known as amavata.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is severe pain in the affected joints. The tissues in and around the joints become inflamed and movement of the joint becomes extremely painful. Untreated arthritis may lead to permanent deformity of the affected joints.
Causes
Causes include internal and external factors. It is more common in cold, damp and windy climates. Internally it is a condition which is related to low Agni (poor digestive fire) and poor digestion which leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama). The toxins (ama) produced in the colon are taken up by various parts of the body and depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata or arthritis.
Remedies
The first step in treatment is to burn up the accumulated toxins and this can be achieved by reviving the digestive fire.
Short fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama.
Eating habits should be regularized and heavy, damp, ama forming foods should be avoided.
Hot spicy herbs can be very useful like, cayenne, cinnamon, dry ginger and galangal.
Hot gemstones such as ruby or garnet set in gold can be used.
Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms.). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. Castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial.
Medicated oils used for massage are very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain in the joints, whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain.
Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application. They can be combined with herbs like ashwagandha in sesame oil for external applications.
Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound Triphala is recommended to cleanse the colon.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. It is most specific for cleaning and strengthening the bone tissue. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Taking 2gm turmeric powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is severe pain in the affected joints. The tissues in and around the joints become inflamed and movement of the joint becomes extremely painful. Untreated arthritis may lead to permanent deformity of the affected joints.
Causes
Causes include internal and external factors. It is more common in cold, damp and windy climates. Internally it is a condition which is related to low Agni (poor digestive fire) and poor digestion which leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama). The toxins (ama) produced in the colon are taken up by various parts of the body and depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata or arthritis.
Remedies
The first step in treatment is to burn up the accumulated toxins and this can be achieved by reviving the digestive fire.
Short fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama.
Eating habits should be regularized and heavy, damp, ama forming foods should be avoided.
Hot spicy herbs can be very useful like, cayenne, cinnamon, dry ginger and galangal.
Hot gemstones such as ruby or garnet set in gold can be used.
Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms.). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. Castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial.
Medicated oils used for massage are very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain in the joints, whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain.
Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application. They can be combined with herbs like ashwagandha in sesame oil for external applications.
Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound Triphala is recommended to cleanse the colon.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. It is most specific for cleaning and strengthening the bone tissue. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Taking 2gm turmeric powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.
Childcare
Being at a very small age, the child is not able to express his symptoms clearly and he is more prone to small diseases, so it is necessary to take the utmost care in choosing remedies for children. His diet should be both good in quality as well as adequate in quantity because it adversely affect his weight gain and body growth.
Ayurveda has a special focus on children. Ayurvedic preparations have been used to build healthy body and sharp intellect right from the time of infancy for thousands of years. A large chunk of the population is now turning towards herbal medicine to shield their children from unwanted chemicals.
Ayurveda has a special focus on children. Ayurvedic preparations have been used to build healthy body and sharp intellect right from the time of infancy for thousands of years. A large chunk of the population is now turning towards herbal medicine to shield their children from unwanted chemicals.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Asbestos Killed My Husband
When most people think of Asbestos , what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to Asbestos than just the basics.
He was lone a lamb when it begun - again he played as children do - in his yard shroud his toy cars and tip trucks But his sand was asbestos blue?
Rule December 1999, my husband again I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and really into when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I make-believe a doctor's capacity in that him the next day.
LINK
LINK2
He was lone a lamb when it begun - again he played as children do - in his yard shroud his toy cars and tip trucks But his sand was asbestos blue?
Rule December 1999, my husband again I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and really into when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I make-believe a doctor's capacity in that him the next day.
LINK
LINK2
Asbestos Related Diseases
The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage--at least it seems that way. If you've been thinking you need to know more about it, here's your opportunity.
Asbestos is used in over 3000 modern products and most people have suffered at least some degree of exposure to it at one point or another. Most asbestos exposure is dinky to minute portions of chipper maintained building materials such as concrete, insulation and siding. Regular maintenance of these materials is important for preventing asbestos from degenerating into airborne fibers.
Asbestos is used in over 3000 modern products and most people have suffered at least some degree of exposure to it at one point or another. Most asbestos exposure is dinky to minute portions of chipper maintained building materials such as concrete, insulation and siding. Regular maintenance of these materials is important for preventing asbestos from degenerating into airborne fibers.
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