Minggu, 01 Mei 2011

Mesothelioma may be caused by exposure to ultramafic rock

Everyday exposure to naturally occurring asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma, according to a study by UC Davis researchers. The study - the largest to examine the question - will be published this fall in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Exposure to asbestos in the workplace, particularly in shipyards, has long been recognized as a risk factor for mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer affecting the lining of the lung. But in the new study, researchers found a consistent and dose-dependent association between mesothelioma and residential proximity to ultramafic rock, the predominant source of naturally occurring asbestos. "Our findings indicate that the risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos, while low,...

Nanotech could cause mesothelioma

Carbon nanotubes3D model of three types of single-walled carbon nanotubes. (Wikipedia: Michael Stroeck, file photo)In the 1990s scientists found a way to roll carbon atoms into a cylinder, called a nanotube. Now US researchers have found that the lungs of mice respond to some fibres from nanotubes as they would to asbestos, forming lesions and becoming inflamed.Dr Andrew Maynard from the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars told AM nanotubes are excellent at conducting heat and electricity. They're already being used in sports equipment because of their strength."Almost like a miracle material. If only we could make it in large quantities...

Newest technique which can help diagnose mesothelioma

A new technique may help clinicians hone in on a diagnosis in patients presenting with a pleural effusion of unknown cause. The study will appear in the Sept. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. "Pleural effusion, or the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, can be maddeningly difficult to diagnose as a wide variety of malignant and benign causes exist," said Helen Davies, specialist registrar and research fellow at the Oxford Center for Respiratory Medicine and Oxford University, lead author of the study. "One of the causes, malignant pleural mesothelioma, is a relatively rare cancer, but its incidence is rapidly increasing on a global scale." Currently, the first-line test for mesothelioma in patients with a pleural effusion is pleural...

Sabtu, 16 April 2011

Causes of Cancer

Cancer is a class of disease characterized by out-of-control cell growth. With more than 200 different types of cancer, one can develop it in virtually any organ of the body. Research states that there are more than 60 different organs in the body where cancer can develop.Typically, one form of cancer will develop in certain areas of the body. However, since cancer can develop from almost any type of cell, it is also possible that more than one type of cancer can develop in any one part of the body. For example, one can develop pleural mesothelioma or pericardial mesothelioma, two different types of cancer, even though they both form in, and around, cardiac muscles.Ultimately, cancer is the result of cells that grow uncontrollably and do not die. Whereas normal cells in the body go through...

Cancer Myths and Misconceptions

Myths can cause hypochondriacs and the like to unnecessarily worry about their health. Frightening claims on the internet circulate daily about new products causing cancer. Besides most of the claims being bogus, many of these accusations cause people to worry about their health, and the health of their families for no reason. One should get all the facts before jumping to conclusions. Below is a list of common myths about cancer and whether or not there’s any truth to them. Myth: Deodorant can cause breast cancer.Fact: Although a few reports have suggested that some deodorant products contain harmful substances such as aluminum compounds and parabens that can be absorbed through the skin, there’s no conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants with breast cancer. According...

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. While men have been diagnosed with this cancer, women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer over men.Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the breast. It usually originates in the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) but it can also form in the lobules, the glands that produce milk. Most breast lumps are benign (not cancerous), however some may need to be sampled under a microscope to make certain that they are not cancer.Certain women are at higher risks of getting breast cancer than others. Age, family history and genetic makeup are not things that can be altered; however there are external risk factors that can be controlled. These risks include:Drinking more than two...

Cancer Overview

There are more than 100 diseases that fall under the broad umbrella of “cancer.” The uniting feature of these diseases is abnormal cell division – cancerous cells are those that grow out of control. Though cell division is an important bodily process that allows for growth and repairing injuries, when the DNA safeguards that control division rates fail, cancer develops. These cancerous cells often invade other, healthy tissues, something normal cells cannot do.Damage to a cell’s DNA may cause it to replicate instead of die when it is no longer needed, creating more cells with damaged DNA. A variety of factors can cause this damage, from genetic abnormalities to environmental causes like smoking or asbestos exposure. However, the cause is not always known. If cancerous cells spread to...

Asbestosis Symptoms

Like mesothelioma, another serious disease caused by asbestos exposure, asbestosis has a long latency period, meaning that symptoms do not appear for a long period of time, even after exposure has ceased. Once asbestos fibers have been introduced into the body, particularly into the lungs, they are nearly impossible to remove and cause severe health problems over time. In the case of asbestosis, the latency period may be 20 years or more.The primary symptoms of asbestosis are lung-related. Since accumulations of asbestos fibers in the lungs causes scar tissue to build up, decreased lung function is a key sign. Gradually increasing shortness of breath, dry cough, sporadic chest pain, and tightness in the chest are all pulmonary symptoms of asbestosis. These symptoms will get progressively...

Asbestosis Diagnosis

The first step in making a diagnosis of asbestosis, a disease caused by scar tissue in the lungs, is the medical and occupational history a doctor takes when first consulting with a patient. Since asbestosis is caused exclusively by inhalation of asbestos fibers, the doctor will want to know whether there is a chance that the patient’s current symptoms may be related to past asbestos exposure. Asbestosis can have a latency period of between 10 and 20 years, so the patient will likely need to give an occupational history that covers several decades.If the doctor suspects asbestosis, there are several tests that can determine the nature of the lung problem. Pulmonary function testing measures airflow and volume of air in the lungs, and requires the patient to perform various activities that...

Asbestosis Causes

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammation of the lungs caused exclusively by inhaling asbestos fibers. Though it is not a type of cancer, it is a serious health condition and can be fatal. Though asbestos was known to be a cause of serious lung problems even earlier, a pathologist named Dr. Cooke first used the term “asbestosis” to describe a 1927 case of a 33-year old man who had worked in a carding room where asbestos fibers were processed. As the name suggests, there were no doubts of the connection between the disease and its origins with asbestos.Asbestosis most often results from occupational exposure – coming into contact with asbestos in the course of one’s job. Anywhere that asbestos was mined or processed, or asbestos-containing materials were sawed, cut, or otherwise damaged posed...

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a breathing disorder that is developed from inhaling asbestos fibers. After several years, the inhalation of these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs and shortness of breath, among other symptoms. For many years, asbestos fibers were used in flooring materials and insulation. As a result, many people working in the construction industry contracted asbestosis after coming into contact with the asbestos fibers. Beginning in the 1970s, however, the government began to regulate the use of asbestos so fewer people would contract the disease. Today, the use of asbestos is highly regulated by the government to limit exposure to the substance.Symptoms of AsbestosisFor those exposed to asbestos, the symptoms may not become visible for up to 50 years. However, symptoms do increase...

Illnesses With Similar Symptoms

One of the reasons that mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose is that itssymptoms, particularly early on, can be confused with the symptoms of several other common illnesses. Quite frequently, patients who are eventually diagnosedwith mesothelioma first tend to think they have a cold, the flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Doctors will often prescribe antibiotics or other types of treatment that do not work for mesothelioma. This delayed treatment allows the disease to spread.The Common ColdCold symptoms can begin slowly with the onset of a sore throat, then nasal drainage that is clear and watery. This is followed by sneezing, fatigue and a slight fever, normally 100 F or less. Post-nasal drip can cause the coughing and sore throat to worsen.The cough is a fairly common symptom of a cold....

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that many people are not even aware they may have. The symptoms are very subtle in the beginning and may go unnoticed. Some people experience no symptoms at all. This can lead to mesothelioma being left undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for several years. It is imperative that a person seek out medical attention at the first signs of mesothelioma. If the mesothelioma is left undiagnosed and untreated, the cancer can spread throughout the body.Latency PeriodThis particular type of cancer can lay dormant for up to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. If a person knows they have been exposed to asbestos it is important to relay that information to a doctor. The doctor will most likely schedule regular mesothelioma screenings. Asbestos exposure is directly related...

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates from the mesothelium, a protective lining that sheaths the internal organs of the body. The different types of mesothelioma are terms used to differentiate where in the body the cancer exists.Pleural MesotheliomaPleural mesothelioma typically develops within the chest cavity and lungs. The most common type of malignant mesothelioma, it often spreads to numerous other organs and lymph nodes in the body. The difficulty in diagnosing and detecting pleural mesothelioma makes treatment tougher. Symptoms such as chest pains, weight loss and fever are far too common to be noticed as a precursor for...

Senin, 11 April 2011

Understanding Cancer

The word cancer refers to changes in the body's cells that allow these cells to grow out of control. These cells often grow very fast, crowding out normal cells in the area around the cancer. Cancer cells also have the ability to spread, ormetastasize, to other organs in the body, causing additional damage in areas of the body not connected with the original cancer site.Cancer can occur in almost any cell. It begins when the cell's DNA, or genetic information, becomes damaged. DNA controls all cell functions, including when to divide (reproduce) and when to die. When DNA is damaged, some cells become unstable, dividing more often than normal cells or failing to die when they should. Most of the time, the body's immune system finds these damaged cells and destroys them. However, if this normal...

Minggu, 03 April 2011

Mesotheloma : What You Need To Know About Mesotheloma

What Is Mesotheloma?Mesotheloma is a type of cancer that affects the inner lining of the lungs commonly referred as pleura. Mesotheloma is a rather rare type of cancer that affects only about one in every 50,000 of the general population on the average. Although mesotheloma is rare, it is often hard to diagnose in its early stages, and far too often medical practitional have overlooked its causes and symptoms as its symptoms that it shows are quite similar to other lung ailments such as pneumonia.Causes of MesothelomaWhat are the causes of mesotheloma? Mesotheloma is usually caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos where the tiny asbestos particles...

Sabtu, 02 April 2011

TIPS TO ELIMINATE STRESS

Almost everyone must have experienced stress, but would anyone be able to handle it well? Not necessarily. There are some people who already have the means to overcome the stress they experience, some others may be too protracted so that the impact of increasingly severe stress. Many of the experiences that offer a variety of ways to cope with stress, and of course that all is not necessarily suitable for everyone. Basically we have to maintain a balance ourselves in many ways to avoid stress, here are some tips that maybe you can try when you start feeling signs of stress and a sense of "emptiness" in living your activity. These tips my friend...

Page 1 of 8123Next