A recent study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology has revealed that a drug which is commonly used for treating kidney cancer could help in making chemotherapy more effective for people suffering from mesothelioma, a rare but very dangerous type of cancer that is found within the lining of the lungs and abdomen.
According to Professor Walter Berger, PhD, of the Institute of Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna:
“Malignant mesothelioma is a severe human malignancy characterized by a very bad prognosis, with a mean patient survival time of less than one year.”
The drug in this [...]
As you may already know, Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. However, Mesothelioma sometimes reveals itself up to 30 to 50 years following exposure. Furthermore, the symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of less serious respiratory problems. This leads to the problem that diagnosis of Mesothelioma is very difficult and takes too long.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. It may surprise you to learn that every year this disease becomes the cause of an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 deaths all across the globe. It is usually fatal within [...]
Interesting thing about science: what is a ‘fact’ today may be downgraded tomorrow as a ‘possibility’. A recent example is of a 2011 study which suggested that certain genes may be responsible for making people susceptible to mesothelioma.
“This is the first study to demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma. People exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos or erionite, those with a strong family history of mesothelioma, or those who have been previously diagnosed with a rare tumor of the eye known as uveal melanoma, may benefit from this new discovery,” said Joseph R. Testa, [...]
From Asbestos to Mesothelioma
Sometimes the things that seem to make our life easier end up becoming a threat to our lives. Asbestos is one such example; it has been used for various purposes for over 2000 years. After a long period of relative obscurity, it started gaining popularity during the industrial revolution. However, scientists noticed a link between asbestos and ‘lung sickness’ prevalent in asbestos mining towns.
This sickness was no small matter; it was mesothelioma, which is a deadly form of cancer.
It takes a long time (up to 50 years) to develop the disease, but [...]
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelium is the name given to a protective, two-layered membrane which covers the internal organs of the body. These organs include the lungs and heart. Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs between the layers of this membrane. It is caused by exposure to Asbestos.
When was the first person diagnosed with this disease?
The first case of mesothelioma was diagnosed in 1962. The person was an Australian man who worked in asbestos mines for 2 years.
Are there any other causes of mesothelioma other than asbestos?
No, the only cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
How [...]
Having affordable and trustworthy healthcare is one of the top concerns for many Americans. A good insurance plan can improve your quality of life tremendously. The top health insurance providers in the country have packages that provide a variety of coverage plans to meet your needs. Good customer service is also an important quality for insurance providers to have, especially when helping their customers through stressful life events.
I personally know how important this is. Just last month I had to undergo some minor surgery to treat a condition that was negatively impacting my work and my life for several [...]
Cancer is a dreadful word regardless of its type. Mesothelioma is a relatively scarce type of cancer, which is very aggressive and often carries a fairly gloomy prognosis. About 2500 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually in the US.
One of the most common types of this disease is malignant pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs. There is no successful treatment at the moment because the cancer cells in this disease grow rapidly and they are very close to the vital organs. This makes the treatment extremely difficult.
What Treatment Options are there for Mesothelioma?
The following [...]
Just before Christmas, I met Sharmaine online through a blogger I’ve known for some time now because she had helped get a mom of five off the streets and into a hotel. Sharmaine knew another blogger who was involved in the Babblewhack-A-Thon group that does fundraisers. They immediately did two fundraisers for the family and I’m raising more money for them today offering marketing deals.
Through Sharmaine, I found out about a Telehealth service called Webdocs Network that has really helped her with her own health issues. I researched this company because a good friend of mine is 86 and has [...]
Although quite rare, Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive form of cancer which occurs in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. To be precise, it affects the thin layer of cells which are known as the mesothelium.
The only known cause of this rare but dangerous disease is being exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos: The Deadly Mineral Fiber
Anyone who has ever studied chemistry at a higher level may be able to recall asbestos. It’s basically a naturally occurring mineral fiber. Asbestos was once used extensively as an industrial insulation compound.
Most experts agree that all kinds of asbestos [...]
I don’t want to introduce this post by saying why smoking is bad. I was a smoker in the past. I quit only because I wanted to have a baby and I believed me smoking was harmful for my child. But I am still annoyed when people start educating me why smoking is bad.
I think that’s every person’s business and choice. So what I was looking at in the following anti-smoking campaigns is not the educative value (I personally doubt smokers aren’t aware of the risk already) but creativity and original idea (the way it was implemented).
Street campaigns: [...]
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