Exposure to asbestos, a known human carcinogen, is the direct cause of many diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Tens of thousands of individuals, especially working men and women, have died from mesothelioma in the last couple of decades and there are approximately 3 ,000 new diagnoses every year.
The dangers of asbestos were known to many companies that made asbestos-related products as early as the 1920s. However, asbestos continued to be used up until the 1980s — when most asbestos products were banned in the United States and other countries. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years. People exposed to asbestos in the 1950’s and 1960’s are just now showing signs of mesothelioma.
In a recent interview, Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP , a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, says, “getting to the cause of asbestos-related disease involves taking a thorough life history.” There are those who know automatically how they were exposed to asbestos, then there are other people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma who have no idea how or when they could have been exposed to asbestos.
Life History
For those patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who cannot pinpoint their asbestos exposure, Belluck will delve into their life to find a point where the toxic substance could have been inhaled into their system.
1. Occupation. Knowing all the occupations the patient held is critical. While mesothelioma is most closely associated to industrial workers including construction workers, insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, electricians and sheet metal workers, other jobs may have involved handling asbestos. Dentists that make casts for fillings, jewelers using crucibles, and laboratory technicians who have used Bunsen burners could all have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
2. Occupation of Household Members. Asbestos is so toxic that mesothelioma has been diagnosed in family members whose only exposure came from contact with stray fibers and particles that have built-up on the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as para-occupational exposure.
3. Home Renovations or Mechanic Work. The risk of developing mesothelioma can occur due to renovation or repair work in the home, as well as through mechanical work on car brakes or clutches. Many older homes contain insulation made from asbestos fibers, which once disturbed, can be inhaled creating a risk for mesothelioma. During brake and clutch maintenance, the pads and linings are often filed down, releasing asbestos dust.
4. Military Background. Military personnel may have been exposed to asbestos between the 1940s and 1970s. Some jobs required military workers to cut asbestos-laden materials, or work in enclosed spaces, such as ship interiors, where loose asbestos fibers circulated freely. Even occupants of base housing constructed prior to 1970 could be at risk.
Mesothelioma Prevention Tips
While doctors are not sure why some people exposed to asbestos contract mesothelioma and others do not, the best way to prevent mesothelioma is to limit or eliminate interaction with asbestos fibers. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos in your past, contact your doctor even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can significantly increase your survival rate.
If you are aware of a potential asbestos-exposure risk, bring it to the attention of the proper authorities, and do not attempt to dispose of the asbestos yourself. Improper handling of asbestos can put you and others at risk.
Stay informed on asbestos-related news, mesothelioma treatments, and risks and hazards pertaining to asbestos in your area. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to avoid potential risks.
Though knowledge and consciousness are the first steps towards prevention, taking precautionary measures and following these steps can help you prevent cervical cancer disease.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is one of the forms of cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Knowing that cervical cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in India and accepting that everyone is at risk is the first step towards effective prevention. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection which is present in 99.7% of cervical cancer cases, and thus prevention includes:
Having safe sex with a single partner, using condoms though not fool proof, is a practice.
Avoiding smoking
Having a healthy lifestyle
Diet rich in antioxidants, vegetables, fruits, fiber and whole wheat products
Physical activity & exercise.
Maintaining healthy weight
Controlling stress levels
Getting screened regularity and knowing about pap smear & HPV DNA tests.
It is appropriate that women above 30 have both HPV DNA test and a pap test at the time screening as this helps in early diagnosis.
For women above 30, if both the HPV DNA test and pap test are negative, pre-cancerous changes or cancer is highly unlikely and testing does not need to be repeated for three years. If the pap test is negative and the HR-HPV test is positive, both should be repeated in 6-12 months.
Vaccination against specific types of HPV is another way to reduce infection rates and thereby reducing incidence of cervical cancer.
Vaccines provide protection against two low-risk and two high-risk types and is expected to provide protection against 90 percent of genital warts and 70 percent of cervical cancers.
Did you know that mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure can be prevented at home?
Mesothelioma is a violent, rare cancer that can affect the lungs, the heart or the abdomen. Caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, mesothelioma is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year. If you are not aware about how to prevent mesothelioma, below is the list of tips that can help you to live mesothelioma free life.
Mesothelioma is a disease characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the penetration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Current laws restrict the use of asbestos, but many industries used it in the past. Therefore, exposure occurred, and may still occur, in various jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Materials such as cement, clothing brake linings, vinyl asbestos tile, shingles, and fireproof paint, and filters all contained asbestos at one time, and many of these materials are still in existence. Additional diseases related to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.
Frequency Cases increase in the US
Statistical reports show that more than 2,000 Americans are affected with mesothelioma every year. However, even if most cases occur at work, many are still affected right at their own home. This does not necessarily mean homeowners use asbestos at home. Surveys reveal that cases of mesothelioma at home are commonly caused by asbestos dust brought at home.
People who work at industrial companies or construction sites, or simply those who have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos may unconsciously bring asbestos dust at home. Asbestos dust may stick to clothes, hair, skin, cars, or even in their tools. Hence, to avoid Mesothelioma, learn the prevention asbestos at home tips.
Tips to prevent mesothelioma disease:
1. Learn to recognize asbestos
The problem with most people who get sick with mesothelioma, even if they are not working in an industrial company or construction field, is that they do not know how to recognize asbestos or asbestos-containing products right at their own home.
The government has already passed laws and is now implementing full restrictions and control on the use of asbestos in home products. Asbestos containing products are considered as one of the primary factors for developing mesothelioma.
Hence, if you are planning to buy tools for your home, try to check if they contain asbestos. Some of the products that normally contain asbestos are floor adhesives, door gaskets, boilers, furnace ducts, vinyl floor tiles, textured paint, fireproof gloves, asbestos cement roofing, etc.
2. Buy quality materials
The use of asbestos cannot simply be ignored considering the fact that they have high resistance to fire. However, it is best that you check on the quality of the asbestos containing product you are about to buy. Low quality or damaged products may tend to emit asbestos dust, which can infiltrate your lungs and may develop mesothelioma.
3. Dispose asbestos dust before going home
Workers at an asbestos infested environment must try to eliminate any signs of asbestos dust from his clothing or tools. Before going home, it is best that the employee must take a bath thoroughly and wash his clothes carefully to eradicate asbestos dust.
4. Health Screenings.
Contact a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can significantly increase your survival rate.
5. Question asbestos risks.
If you are aware of a potential asbestos-exposure risk, bring it to the attention of the proper authorities.
6. Be wary on floors that contain asbestos
If you have used asbestos containing products in your home, such as the flooring, it is best not to wax or brush the floor. Brushing or waxing the asbestos containing flooring may discharge “microscopic fibers” into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos dust.
7. Do not sweep suspected asbestos dust
If you think you are about to sweep asbestos dust, leave it alone. Dust particles may only infiltrate the lungs once inhaled. This can be prevented by leaving asbestos dust alone. Do not let them fly into the air.
Prevention is better than cure. Hence, to avoid mesothelioma, it is best to learn the prevention asbestos at home tips and start a life away from health hazard.
People from all over the world come to India for cancer treatments. There are several cancer institutes in India that are inventing various new methods in treatment of cancer. The cancer centers hospitals of India provide treatment to abroad patients at a very less price as compared to the cost of abroad cancer surgery hospitals. In India medical treatment centers for cancer treatment are at Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Cancer surgeries have produced 85% of successful results in India by completely curing the patients.
The development of advanced cancer surgery procedures lead to higher survival rate and improve the quality of life. The cancer survival patients are able to get back to their work normally as before they were. Because of low cost of cancer treatment and availability of experienced surgeons in India, cancer surgery institute of India are gaining more popularity and many abroad patients are attracted to India for getting their cancer treatment done at low cost.
People come to India not only for cancer treatments but for other types of treatment too. India has world class bone and joint institute that offer effective treatment and have faster recovery rates. Indian doctors are also qualified and very well known for their skills. Indian medical industry is booming and new and advanced technologies are being employed at different hospitals in the country.
Medical tourism is a new and growing concept worldwide many countries invite patients from other countries and provide low cost packages to abroad patients for their treatment. Medical tourism of India provides different low cost packages to abroad patients for their treatment in India. For comfortable stay of abroad patients they arrange very good accommodation, their tickets and provision of good treatment facilities is also taken care by them. Many abroad patients are getting attracted to India for their treatment.
If you have been the regular with your news channel, then you must be knowing that people from all over the globe are being fouled with H1N1 virus or better known as Swine Flu. It is also known as influenza H1N1 which has spread out to the other various countries majorly by travelling from one another country.
Influenza H1N1 is a virus that originated from pigs which was initially discovered in April, 2009. H1N1 virus has been found infecting the people and is spreading extensively. Due to this reason, it is very essential that people take all the sanitary and health precautions. Till now, this major virus has taken away a lot of lives not only in India or Asia, but it has spread its wings in all the parts of world.
H1N1 virus spreads just like the other seasonal virus that is through sneeze and cough. Although it spreads very easily like the other virus but it does not get away like them. It needs proper medication and alertness. With a lot of research, the vaccination and proper medication has been developed by the scientist who can now save the lives of the affected people.
A proper care has to be taken in order to beat this epidemic. Regular washing of hands is very essential. It is also important that if you are infected with the H1N1 virus, then you get cut off from the rest of the world so that others do not suffer from the same Influenza H1N1. Proper exercise, food and a healthy living can beat this life taking diseases which has already claimed a lot of lives in all over the world.
Bird Flu is becoming a dreadful terror for the countries especially in Asia. This epidemic has been growing drastically and has become a matter of major concern. According to a recent update and statistic, the bird flu has claimed lives of more than 50 people in the Southeast Asia and has also caused the death of the millions of the poultry. This virus of bird flu can become a major serious if it keep spreading with the same intensity and develops the ability of very easy transmission from person to person.
Due to this reason, it has now become very essential that people start taking the bird flu prevention so that this deadly flu does not spread and comes to an end.
The present bird flu is resistant to the older flu medications. But, the medicines remain susceptible to the new medicines or drugs such as Relenza or Ramiflu. But, the supplies of such drugs are really very less. The Antiviral drugs may also be used for the bird flu prevention and treatment against such influenza.
The vaccination is also a good idea to get away from the bird flu as you get immune and do not get affected by the attack of the virus.
Bird Flu has been claiming many lives since it’s on set and now it has become very essential that it is curbed down or else it might result in a pandemic. Other than the deaths, this diseases causes a lot more heath problems which includes respiratory illness, chest pains, sore throat, headaches, fever, conjunctivitis, breathing problems and a lot more health issues. Thus, taking a proper care and adopting bird flu prevention measures is a must.
Even as questions are being raised about whether the swine flu scare was blown up to benefit pharma companies, evidence has surfaced that several members of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) vaccine board which pushed countries to buy the H1N1 vaccine have had significant ties with pharma companies.
This fact, which is bound to raise issues of conflict of interest, was exposed by Danish daily ‘Information’ last month. TOI attempted to get WHO’s response, but several emails sent to the office of the WHO director-general on January 9 met with no response.
Documents acquired through the Danish Freedom of Information Act revealed that Prof Juhani Eskola, a Finnish member of the WHO board on vaccines, ‘Strategic Advisory Group of Experts’ (SAGE), received almost 6.3 million euros in 2009 for his vaccine research programme, THL, from the vaccine manufacturers, GSK, qualifying GSK as THL’s main source of income. SAGE advises WHO chief Margaret Chan and recommends which vaccines and how much of it member countries should purchase, pointed out the Danish newspaper.
Apart from Prof Juhani Eskola, who received almost 6.3 million euros for his vaccine research programme, Danish journalists reported on six other members of ‘Strategic Advisory Group of Experts’ (SAGE) with financial ties to various pharmaceutical companies. These include Dr Peter Figueroa, Dr Neil Ferguson, Prof Malik Peiris, Dr Arnold Monto, Dr Friedrich Hayden and Dr Albert Osterhaus. Barring Dr Figuero, who revealed that he had accepted a research grant from Merck, none of the others made any disclosures.
Many of the pharmaceutical companies with which the vaccine board members had ties, are also the manufacturers of vaccines including the H1N1 vaccine like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis, Solvay, Baxter, MedImmune and Sanofi Aventis. None of the WHO members on the vaccine board, barring one, declared any conflict of interest despite having extensive financial ties with the pharmaceutical companies in the form of research grants and consultancies.
In a statement issued on December 3, 2009, WHO claims that numerous safeguards are in place to manage possible conflicts of interest or their perception. “Members of SAGE are required to declare all professional and financial interests, including funding received from pharmaceutical companies or consultancies or other forms of professional engagement with pharmaceutical companies.
The names and affiliations of members of SAGE and of SAGE working groups are published on the WHO web site, together with meeting reports and declarations of interest submitted by the experts. Allegations of undeclared conflicts of interest are taken very seriously by WHO, and are immediately investigated,” says the statement. However, there is no such disclosure by these SAGE members on the WHO website.
Massachusetts, the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has recently published an article on the various roles played by a pathologist throughout the mesothelioma diagnostic and treatment process. The article defines the importance of the pathologist not only in the diagnostic stage, but also in the treatment stage as well.
According to the authors of the article, “The pathologist provides crucial input to the determination of many prognostic factors including histologic subtype, extent of local disease progression, resection margins, and nodal status. They discuss with the clinical care team at multiple points along the treatment spectrum, preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Lastly, they are increasingly called on to guide selection of chemotherapy and measure treatment response.”
Treatment for malignant mesothelioma is completely dependent upon perfect diagnosis and staging of the cancer. For example, Epithelioid Mesothelioma is treated slightly differently than sarcomatoid or biphasic mesothelioma. The stage of the mesothelioma disease upon diagnosis can heavily affect what treatment procedures will be effective for the patient. Therefore, the overall prognosis of a mesothelioma patient is established from information gathered by the pathologist.
Hence, the pathologist plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant mesothelioma. As all we know that there is no cure for mesothelioma, thus it is important to use the appropriate treatments for each individual patient to improve their personal prognosis. That’s why the pathologist becomes so important, helping to fine-tune treatment options for each patient’s particular diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is a disease which only affects men. The prostate cancer affects the bladder of the body – hence its name is prostate. Generally, the prostate cancer starts in the gland cells which are called adenocarcinoma.
Prostate cancer is mostly a very slow progressing disease. In fact, many men die of old age, without ever knowing they had prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can only be known only when an autopsy is done. According to the several researchers about 80% of all men in their eighties had prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer starts with tiny alterations in the shape and size of the prostate gland cells. According to Medilexicon`s medical dictionary, Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia means “dysplastic changes involving glands and ducts of the prostate that may be a precursor of adenocarcinoma; low grade (PIN 1), mild dysplasia with cell crowding, variation in nuclear size and shape, and irregular cell spacing; high grade (PIN 2 and 3), moderate to severe dysplasia with cell crowding, nucleomegaly and nucleolomegaly, and irregular cell spacing.”
Cancer specialists say that nearly 50% of all 50-year-old men have PIN. The cells are still in place – they do not seem to have moved elsewhere – but the changes can be seen under a microscope. Cancer cells would have moved into other parts of the prostate. Doctors describe these prostate gland cell changes as low-grade or high-grade; high grade is abnormal while low-grade is more-or-less normal.
It has been seen that if any patient who was found to have high-grade PIN after a prostate biopsy, has a greater risk of having cancer cells in his prostate. In this case, doctors will monitor this type of patients carefully and possibly carry out another biopsy later on.
Type of prostate cancer
Before taking any step for the prostate cancer treatment, it is important to know the stage of the cancer, or how far it has spread. Doctors will go for which therapies will be used for removing the tumor only after knowing the cancer stage. TNM (Tumor/Nodes/Metastases) is the most common system of determining the stage of the cancer. There are many factors involve with this TNM such as the size of the tumor, how many lymph nodes are involved, and whether there are any other metastases.
It is very difficult to distinguish with the TNM system that the cancers that are still restricted just to the prostate, and those that have spread elsewhere. Clinical T1 and T2 cancers are found only in the prostate, and nowhere else, while T3 and T4 have spread outside the prostate.
There are many ways to find out whether the cancer has spread. Computer tomography will check for spread inside the pelvis, bone scans will decide whether the cancer has spread to the bones, and endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging will evaluate the prostatic capsule and the seminal vesicles.
The Gleason Score
A pathologist will look at the biopsy samples under a microscope. If cancer tissue is detected, the pathologist then grades the tumor. The Gleason System of grading goes from 2 to 10. The higher the number, the more abnormal the tissues are compared to normal prostate tissue.
Two numbers are added up to get a Gleason score:
1. A number from 1 to 5 for the most common pattern observed under the microscope. This is the predominant grade and must be more than 51% of the sample.
2. A number from 1 to 5 for the second most common pattern. This is the secondary grade and must make up more than 5% but less than 50% of the sample.
A Gleason score of 7 can have two meanings. Look at these two examples below:
1. If the predominant grade is 3 and the secondary grade is 4, the Gleason score is 7.
2. If the predominant grade is 4 and the secondary grade is 3, the Gleason score is also 7.
However, the first example, with a predominant score of 3, has a less aggressive cancer than the second example, with a predominant score of 4.
It is crucial that the tumor is graded properly, as this decides what treatments should be recommended.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
In the beginning of the prostate cancer there are many ways to find out symptoms of prostate cancer. Most men at this stage find out they have prostate cancer after a routine check up or blood test. The most important symptoms of the prostate cancer are as follows:
• The patient urinates more often
• The patient gets up at night more often to urinate
• He may find it hard to start urinating
• He may find it hard to keep urinating once he has started
• There may be blood in the urine
• Urination might be painful
• Ejaculation may be painful (less common)
• Achieving or maintaining an erection may be difficult (less common)
If the cancer is advanced the following symptoms are also possible
• Bone pain, often in the spine (vertebrae), pelvis, or ribs
• The proximal part of the femur can be painful
• Leg weakness (if cancer has spread to the spine and compressed the spinal cord)
• Urinary incontinence (if cancer has spread to the spine and compressed the spinal cord)
• Fecal incontinence (if cancer has spread to the spine and compressed the spinal cord)
What are the causes of prostate cancer?
The specific cause of prostate cancer is yet to find. There are so many possible factors, including age, race, lifestyle, medications, and genetics, to name a few.
• Age
Age is considered as the primary risk factor. The older a man is, the higher is his risk. Prostate cancer is rare among men under the age of 45, but much more common after the age of 50.
• Genetics
Statistics indicate that genetics is definitely a factor in prostate cancer risk. It is more common among certain racial groups – in the USA prostate cancer is significantly more common and also more deadly among Afro-Americans than White-Americans. A man has a much higher risk of developing cancer if his identical twin has it. A man whose brother or father had/had prostate cancer runs twice the risk of developing it, compared to other men. Studies indicate that the two genes – BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 – which are important risk factors for breast cancer and ovarian cancer have also been implicated in prostate cancer.
In a study scientists found seven new sites in the human genome that are linked to men’s risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Diet
A review of diets indicated that the Mediterranean diet may reduce a person’s chances of developing prostate cancer. Another study indicates that soy, selenium and green tea, offer additional possibilities for disease prevention – however, a more recent study indicated that combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostate cancer. A diet high in vegetable consumption was found in a study to be beneficial.
A US pilot study on men with low risk prostate cancer found that following an intensive healthy diet and lifestyle regime focusing on low meat and high vegetable and fruit intake, regular exercise, yoga stretching, meditation and support group participation, can alter the way that genes behave and change the progress of cancer, for instance by switching on tumor killers and turning down tumor promoters.
Other studies have indicated that lack of vitamin D, a diet high in red meat may raise a person’s chances of developing prostate cancer.
• Medication
Some studies say there might be a link between the daily use of anti-inflammatory medicines and prostate cancer risk. A study found that statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels, may lower a person’s risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Obesity
A study found a clear link between obesity and raised prostate cancer risk, as well as a higher risk of metastasis and death among obese people who develop prostate cancer.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Men who have had gonorrhea have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer, according to research from the University of Michigan Health System.
• Agent Orange
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have a 48% higher risk of prostate cancer recurrence following surgery than their unexposed peers, and when the disease comes back, it seems more aggressive, researchers say. Another study found that Vietnam War veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange have significantly increased risks of prostate cancer and even greater risks of getting the most aggressive form of the disease as compared to those who were not exposed.
What are the treatments for prostate cancer?
If the cancer is in the early stage that means the size of tumor is small then there are some treatment factors which we can follow:
• Watchful waiting – not immediate treatment is carried out. PSA blood levels are regularly monitored.
• Radical prostatectomy – the prostate is surgically removed.
• Brachytherapy – radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate.
• Conformal radiotherapy – the radiation beams are shaped so that the region where they overlap is as close to the same shape as the organ or region that requires treatment, thus minimizing healthy tissue exposure to radiation.
• Intensity modulated radiotherapy – beams with variable intensity are used. An advanced form of conformal radiotherapy usually delivered by a computer-controlled linear accelerator.
Treatments for prostate cancer are really recommended on individual cases. However, doctors are the best person who can give you the needful treatments. So before taking any step please consult with your doctor.
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Exposure to asbestos, a known human carcinogen, is the direct cause of many diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Tens of thousands of individuals, especially working men and women, have died from mesothelioma in the last couple of decades and there are approximately 3 ,000 new diagnoses every year.
