Pleural Mesothelioma

Is the most common form of mesothelioma accounting for roughly 70% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Pleural mesothelioma begins in the chest cavity and affects the lungs. The most common way for pleural mesothelioma to present itself is through pleural effusion. The initial symptoms that a patient will experience due to the pleural effusion are dyspnea (difficulty breathing), chest pain and/or persistent cough some patients show no symptoms at all. Less common symptoms include fever, night sweats and weight loss.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Is the second most common form of mesothelioma and begins in the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is sometimes referred to as “abdominal mesothelioma”. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma: may include pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia or swelling of the feet.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Is the rarest form of mesothelioma and affects the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is found in about 5% of all mesothelioma cases. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma: may include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations and chest pain.

Cell Types

Malignant mesotheliomas are divided into three main cell types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid or fibrous and mixed type or biphasic.

Although Cancer is primarily a disease of the elderly with more than 60% of deaths from cancer occurring in those over the age of 65, cancer can strike even the youngest of children.

Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too rapidly. Carcinomas can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.

The cause of Cancer is believed to be a combination of genetic factors and outside carcinogens such as tobacco, viruses, infection, asbestos, vinyl chloride, inappropriate diet.

Cancer often has no specific symptoms, so it is important that you limit your risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer screening. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is, the size of the tumor, and how much it affects the nearby organs or structures.

If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), then symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. As a tumour grows, it begins to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. If the cancer is in a critical area, such as certain parts of the brain, even the smallest tumor can cause early symptoms.

But sometimes cancers start in places where it does not cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown quite large. Pancreatic cancers, for example, do not usually grow large enough to be felt from the outside of the body.

By the time a pancreatic cancer causes these signs or symptoms, it has usually reached an advanced stage.

A cancer may also cause symptoms common to many other problems, such as; fever, fatigue and weight loss. This may be because the cancer uses up much of the body’s energy or it may cause the release of substances which affect metabolism.

Some lung cancers make hormone-like substances that affect blood calcium levels, affecting nerves and muscles and causing weakness and dizziness.

It is important to know what some of the general (non-specific) signs and symptoms of cancer are, but remember that having any of these does not mean that you have cancer.

Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. The earlier tumors are found, the better the prognosis.

Chemotherapy plays a few roles in the treatment of colon cancer. used to kill colon cancer cells that might have not been removed during surgical removal of the colon cancer:

* Reducing the size of the tumor before surgery is performed used to treat colon cancer by controlling the growth of the tumor.
* Used to relieve some of the symptoms of the colon cancer.
* Reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Chemotherapy is often used after surgery is performed to eliminate cancer cells that may have been left behind and not removed by surgery. The chemotherapy can be administered through an IV or in pill form. Once the chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream they can reach cancer cells in all parts of the body.

Some studies have shown that using a regimen of chemotherapy after surgery for colon cancer can increase the surivival rates for some stages of colon and rectal cancers. In patients with advanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy is often useful in relieving the symptoms of the cancer.

Who is given Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer?

The general opinion in the medical community differs on whether chemotherapy for
Stage II colon cancer will be beneficial to the patient after surgery. It is usually only
advisable in very high risk patients.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is the standard of care for patients with Stage III colorectal cancer. Also patients with Stage IV cancers of the colon or rectum can benefit from the use of chemotherapy as it often will help to shrink the tumor, increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy can produce some side effects. The type of side effects experiences depends upon the type of chemotherapy drugs used, how much of the drugs are given and the period of time they are administered. The side effects also depend on the individual.

I think its enough description. But I had to put it. Because only then I could emphasize how you can possibly avoid it. I use the word “possibly” because nothing in this world is foolproof. But then there are two foolproof things: one that we can not go away from “the moment of truth” and the other one we are going away from: nature. That’s the first tip: stay closer to nature.

Let us have an example. All medical journals talk: prolonged exposure leads to cancer. I am not categorizing any causes, there may be many. But consider this: Indian summer months often cross 120 degrees Fahrenheit, local populace don’t have enough clothes to cover their bodies, yet we don’t see considerable population affected by the prolonged exposure. The locals eat raw onion, chillies and other local fruits & vegetables and for them the Sun does not exist. Women breast-feed their children, continue feeding till the next baby arrives and never get breast cancer. Allow your organ to do what it is supposed to do and it never develops the unwanted: the same tip, stay close to nature helps prevent complications.

Have a headache? Pop in a pill. No mustache? Get hormone treatment. Going out in the Sun? Use sunscreen. What the heck! All are chemicals. Do not go by the research journals alone. They hide more than they reveal. There are commercial lobbies & interests to stub the findings. Do some research on your own. Fashion & lifestyles are necessary but should not be bounding. Use a hat to avoid the Sun. Try to bear some pain, indulge in other work and your brain will forget. Fantasize often, it works wonders, and that’s the second tip.

The doctors treat you for your disease, as it appears NOW. They don’t know how you spent your childhood, your teen & middle age. Whether you drank beer or coke (good for cleaning toilets) instead of water, or kept yourself hydrated well, you popped too many pills or slept in Oxygen nets (like late Michael Jackson). Too much of anything and it hurts, not today but later when you grow old. Mend your ways, it is never too late. This is the next quarter-tip.

Do you take a morning stroll or run daily? Well, running one or two miles is enough, excess is bad. Your body is not made for running. Walking is good, for any length. Walking provides good lubrication for joints, with zero stress. Rope climbing, skipping ropes, laughing are good for health. Those who fear exercising stand to lose on every front. Accidents, injuries & trauma are part of life. They will always make inroads in our lives, but you can prevent injuries and give accidents a slip. This is the tip number two and a half.

Remember, we spend more than 12 hours standing / walking / working and so, our shoes should be comfortable. Next 6-8 hours in bed, so even that should be comfortable. The food we eat provides all the energy hence it should be filling, nourishing and satisfying. Binging once or twice a week is okay, excess is bad. Eat good food is the next tip.

The brain controls our body. What do you do to nourish it? You may sleep but brain functions, like our heart. Smile, laugh, crack jokes that induce laughter, weep till tears flow and meditate often. Spirituality is good for your brain, it soothes your nerves, silently. Read a page or two everyday of any holy text, especially before retiring to bed. If you cannot stand, listen to cool music. This the last tip.

Many cancer prevention researches reveal that these naturally occurring substances can successfully slow the growth of tumors. Soy, also in the legume family, stands out in the prevention of prostate cancer, as well as cancers that inflict damage to endocrine system. Soy is readily available in many food products, including tofu, vegetable burgers, and milk substitutes. Select foods with fiber like whole grain products, vegetables, and fruits can be beneficial staple foods in a healthy diet for preventing cancer. Fiber can also be taken as a dietary supplement but fresh and natural is a better choice. Even though fiber does not prevent and fight cancer directly, fiber in these foods can lower the cholesterol and reduces the risk of coronary disease that contributes to the conditions that may trigger cancer.

Avoid the foods that are known to harm your health, especially if eaten more regularly. These foods are; saturated fats, alcohol, and processed foods with chemicals. In addition, also avoid foods that are rich in sugar and that are high in carbohydrates as they contribute to obesity. All of these foods increase risk of catching serious diseases and may contribute to developing cancer as well. Avoiding or limiting intake of these foods and mostly eating cancer preventing foods would make a huge difference in supporting your efforts for preventing cancer.

Colon cancer has five stages, and there are different treatment options for each level. The first stage, known as Stage 0, involves only the lining of the colon, which is also referred to as mucosa. At this stage, polyps, or benign tumors, can be removed when a colonoscopy takes place. Once they are removed, the chance of them recurring does not exist.

Stage I is present when the cancer spreads past the lining to the walls of the colon or rectum. The polyp that has not been treated becomes a tumor, and reaches the wall of the colon or rectum. Treatment options can include a surgical procedure to remove the cancerous part of the colon.

When the cancer reaches tissue that surrounds the colon, but does not reach the lymph nodes, there is a Stage II colon cancer present in the body. When cancer spreads from one part of the body to another like so, it is called metastasis. A resection surgery can be used for treatment at this stage. At this point, the five-year survival rate is dropped at a dramatic rate to 60 percent.

Next, there is Stage III colon cancer. This is when the cancer spreads to reach the lymph nodes, but not to other organs in the body. Treatment must be more aggressive than the earlier stages. This includes a surgical resection of the colon, chemotherapy and medical therapies.

When cancer spreads to other organs along with the lymph nodes, there is a Stage IV cancer of the colon. It can spread to the lungs and liver, among others. Treatment for this stage will include radiation, along with the other mentioned treatments. Recurrent cancer means the cancer comes back after treatment. Checkups are necessary to make sure the cancer does not come back, and to treat it early if it does.

Unfortunately it is not known what causes these polyps to become cancerous but there are a number of associated colon cancer risks. Age is a major risk factor with over three quarters of bowel cancers occurring in people who are over 60 years old. Diet is another significant bowel cancer risk factor with excessive consumption of red meats and alcohol and a low fibre intake all linked to the development of this cancer. Other factors that increase your risk of contracting this cancer include a family history of the disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, a lack of exercise and smoking.

If cancer does develop it is often accompanied by a number of symptoms. These colon cancer symptoms are often quite mild in the beginning but get worse as the cancer grows. Some of the symptoms are directly associated with the growth of the cancer and include abdominal pain, bloody stools, changing bowel movements and rectal bleeding. Rectal bleeding in particular is one of the most common symptoms so if you notice any bleeding from this area you should consult your doctor immediately. Other less obvious symptoms include unexplained tiredness and weight loss.

If you suspect that you have bowel cancer based on the above symptoms you should consult your doctor immediately. They will then be able to perform the necessary tests. The first test is usually a rectal exam where your doctor will feel for any lumps or swollen polyps using a gloved finger. Your doctor may then recommend a colonoscopy, which involves the passing of a small fibre optic camera into your anus, so that they can visual examine your colon.

Surgery is the most common treatment for bowel cancer with the procedure attempting to extract the cancerous cells from the colon and then stitch it back together. Chemotherapy (the use of anti-cancer medications) and radiotherapy (the use of high energy radiation beams) are sometimes used as colon cancer treatments but are more commonly used to help shrink the cancerous cells prior to surgery and then to reduce the risk of the cancer returning after surgery.

Although this cancer can be treated, prevention is a much more attractive and uncomplicated option, plus it is not that difficult It simply involves making a few positive lifestyle changes. Exercising regularly is believed to reduce your risk by as much as 40%. Reducing your red meat and alcohol intake whilst eating more fruits, vegetables and other fibre rich foods can also help prevent colon cancer. Giving up smoking is another important lifestyle change for the prevention of both bowel cancer and other cancers too.

You need to be understand of the fact that influenza is a killer disease that strikes thousands every year, even among developed countries. The few who don’t recover immediately from the flu are a serious risk. The 1918 flu outbreak, previously referred to as the Spanish flu, became a worldwide epidemic with a death toll ranging between 20 to 100 million. Outbreaks in the 50s and 60s also killed millions, though in lesser numbers.

More recent outbreaks like the bird flu pandemic and the current H1N1 outbreak were more capably restrained, thanks to development of the vaccine that starting at the 30s. The vaccine has proven effective in limiting the spread of seasonal flu, but not 100 %. This is because different strains of the flu come out every season, and the current vaccines aren’t able to cover every strain. People who get the vaccine can still get the flu, but will have a stronger resistance to it. Pharmaceutical companies are currently in a race to develop the first flu vaccine to cover all strains.

The people at strongest risk for influenza, and therefore the first who should receive flu vaccines, are older people, children, pregnant women, people with recurring medical conditions and people who work in medical care, especially in care of the abovementioned. People who should not get the vaccine include those allergic to the vaccine or to chicken eggs (since the vaccine is made in chicken eggs), susceptible to Guillain-Barre syndrome, or too weakened by prior medical conditions.

There are two forms of vaccine; the flu shot, which is made of dead flu cells, and the nasal spray, which really has a live, but weakened version of the virus. Neither will give you the flu, although nasal spray may give you flu-like symptoms. To be on the safe side, nasal spray is generally provided to people at lower risk.

Today, we have been able to successfully limit the spread of both seasonal and new strains of influenza. Continued use of flu vaccines is needed to maintain control of this disease, as well as to find a way to eventually eradicate it.

Most people nowadays have become apprehensive of the need for flu vaccines. You need to remain awareness of the fact that influenza is a killer disease. You can get the vaccine either through a flu shot, which provides dead flu cells, or nasal spray, which really has a live, but weakened version of the virus. You will not get the flu from either vaccine. Today, we have been able to successfully prevent the transmission of both seasonal and new strains of influenza.