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By Mary Mumford, September 2, 2010 5:44 pm

The possibility of lung cancer (LC) is frightening because the disease can spread quickly. Survival rates are closely tied to its metastasis. For example, if the condition is caught while it is in Stage 1, the 5-year survival rate rises to eighty percent. By the time it has reached Stage 2 (i.e. the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes), the rate drops to fifty percent. By Stage 4, only one in ten patients can expect to live more than five years.

The problem is that most cases of lung cancer are identified after the disease has reached its later stages. The patient typically remains unaware there is a problem until she experiences chest pain or a blood-tinged cough. During a routine examination, her doctor takes x-rays that reveal the abnormality present in her lungs. Further testing is needed to confirm whether the abnormality represents lung cancer.

Below, we’ll describe the tests that are done to diagnose the disease. Some are slightly invasive while others are not. Your physician will decide which of the following tests are appropriate.

Medical History, Physical Exam, And Chest X-rays

If your doctor identifies an abnormality, and suspects it could be LC, he or she will examine your medical history. This is done to determine whether any preconditions or risk factors exist that increase your likelihood of getting the disease. A physical examination is also done to check for signs that suggest the presence of cancerous cells. These include strange sounds in the lungs and swollen lymph nodes. Lastly, chest x-rays are taken to provide a better view of the lungs, and expose abnormal masses.

CT And MRI Scans

A computerized tomography scan (also known as a CT scan) is done to build a 3-dimensional image of your lungs. A scanner rotates around your body as you lie on a table, and takes multiple x-rays of your chest. These x-rays are clearer than those ordered for the preliminary workup.

In contrast to a CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses no radiation. Instead, it employs magnets and radio waves. By using magnets to arrange your body’s hydrogen atoms, and bouncing radio waves off them, a MRI scanner can produce relatively clear images of your lungs.

Neither CT or MRI scans can confirm the presence of lung cancer. They can, however, support a case for further testing.

PET Scan

CTs and MRIs look at the structures within your body (e.g. lungs, bones, etc.). PET scans look at your body’s activity. A radioactive solution containing glucose is injected and allowed to flow through your bloodstream. Active cells use glucose, which causes them to illuminate in 3-dimensional images. Because cancerous cells are very active, your doctor can often use the results of a PET scan to identify lung cancer.

Bronchoscopy

During this procedure, a flexible tube called a bronchoscope is inserted in your nose or mouth, and advanced into your major airways. This allows your physician to view the area. If a tumor is present in your airways, the bronchoscope can be used to extract a small sample. The sample is then sent to a lab for further study.

Needle And Open Biopsy

A biopsy is the removal of tissue or cells for examination. There are two approaches: fine needle aspiration and open biopsy. With the first approach, a doctor inserts a needle directly into the tumor, and extracts a portion of it. This portion is studied by a pathologist, who can identify cancer.

The second approach is used when a tumor exists, but cannot be easily reached with a needle. Your physician must make an incision between your ribs, and advance instruments to the diseased tissue to take a sample. One of the drawbacks to this approach is that it poses a risk of bleeding.

If you suspect you may have lung cancer, ask your doctor to check for abnormalities. The earlier the disease can be diagnosed, the better the odds it can be treated successfully.

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By Greg. Gardner,

The cause of mesothelioma cancer:

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos without sufficient protection over one’s mouth and nose. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral which was discovered in the 1860s but not properly used until the 1930s. Asbestos was used hugely in construction due to its property of being fireproof even at high temperatures. It was not until the 1960s that it became clear that asbestos was causing a number of diseases. These diseases include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma:

When exposed to asbestos without sufficient protection, a person will inhale many tiny asbestos fibres that are suspended in the air. These will pass into the respiratory system and get most probably get lodged in the lining of the lungs. An accumulation of these fibres can cause the cells around it to become abnormal and this can lead to mesothelioma. Through the lymphatic system, asbestos fibres can become lodged in the lining of the abdomen or in the lining of the heart.

The suffering endured by patients of mesothelioma:

The symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on what type of mesothelioma a patient has. However, there are several common symptoms of all types. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, coughing up blood, weight loss and loss of appetite. These symptoms usually take affect only when the mesothelioma cancer has fully matured and developed. Due to the fact that these symptoms are frequent for a number of more common diseases such as pneumonia, mesothelioma is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages.

The treatments available for mesothelioma:

As yet, all treatments for mesothelioma have a low success rate. The effectiveness of treatment depends largely on how aggressively and early the cancer is treated. If treated in its later stages when it has fully developed, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible to cure. Treatments include surgery which comes in two forms, aggressive surgery and palliative procedures, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and dual therapy which is a combination of all three main treatments combined. Dual therapy has shown the most promising signs so far as a curer for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma research:

Research is being undertaken in numerous research labs all across the United States although so far no breakthroughs have been made. Many pharmaceutical companies are also endeavouring to find new drugs for chemotherapy. Researchers have recently predicted that a long awaited new treatment method for mesothelioma is on the way to being discovered.

I’m Greg. Gardner, I’m surviving from Abestos Mesothelioma Cancer, and still defeating it everyday! You can read more about my story here! Also visit my site to learn more about Mesothelioma Lawsuits.

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By Greg. Gardner,

Lately many people have been looking for mesothelioma fact and information. The startling mesothelioma fact is that Mesothelioma Cancer is a rare cancer but every year about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States and this number has been continuously increasing for the past 20 years. Initially mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. Later on, the doctors studied the fact linking mesothelioma cancers to asbestos exposure. J.C.Wagner wrote the first on mesothelioma by, and emphasized its linkage to asbestos exposure in about 32 cases of workers in the “Asbestos Hills” in South Africa.

Thereon the fact about relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure was confirmed in different research studies around the world. Mesothelioma is caused because of asbestos exposure and inhalation of asbestos particles. Asbestos was widely used in industrial and manufacturing processes and building materials. Construction materials such as cement, tiles, roofing shingles, pipes, insulating material and many more, contained asbestos materials. The shocking mesothelioma fact is that almost all American buildings constructed before 1970s contain asbestos material that could pose risk for the occupants.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has released a fact that, though since 1970s the protections against asbestos exposure have been in place, the mesothelioma would take 30 to 50 years to be noticed. This is because mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases have a high latency rate. The asbestos particles can lie dormant in the human body for 30-50 years before manifesting as mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma cancers are of two main types. In pleural mesothelioma, the cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest and the peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the lining of the abdominal cavity. There are rare instances of mesothelioma of the lining of hearts and testicles. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than in women.

Awareness about mesothelioma facts is also helpful in having awareness about symptoms of mesothelioma. This information helps in early detection and timely treatment of disease. Chest pain that is caused by cancer itself or shortness of breath, abdominal pain and swelling, cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss are some possible symptoms of mesothelioma cancers.

I’m Greg. Gardner, I’m surviving from Abestos Mesothelioma Cancer, and still defeating it everyday! You can read more about my story here! Also visit my site to learn more about Mesothelioma Lawsuits.

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By Greg. Gardner,

Mesothelioma and asbestos are so much linked that many people call it by the name of mesothelioma asbestos. While mesothelioma is a serious cancer, asbestos is its main cause. While one may approve of things that remain of use for a long time, their effect on the surroundings decides the worthiness of that product in the end. The same holds true with asbestos. The 1940s and 1950s saw a surge of ‘asbestos’ as the next best thing to happen after cement in the construction industry. Due to it’s high degree of stability and resistance to very high temperatures, asbestos was applied greatly in insulators and ceiling tiles in homes, schools and factories.

However, this product is a harmful contaminant. Asbestos has the tendency to break into small particles and remain suspended in the air for longer durations. Any individual that comes in contact or inhales it becomes vulnerable to serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer or the mesothelioma lung cancers.

Types of Mesothelioma:

Mesothelioma, asbestos related cancer, acquires it’s name from the mesothelium cells that are responsible for protecting and enabling easy movement of our vital organs such as lungs, heart and the abdomen in the body. Mesothelioma is generally of three types, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.

If a person is suffering from hoarseness, difficulty in breathing, loss in weight, coughing, blood in sputum, chest pain, weak muscles, reduced tactile sensitivity, he may be suffering from Pleural mesothelioma or the cancer of lining of the lungs. This is the most common type of mesothelioma and almost two-thirds of the mesothelioma patients suffer from pleural mesothelioma. The Peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the abdomen causes impaired bowel motion, bloating, swelling in feet, and nausea. This is less common among mesothelioma patients and it affects one-third of the mesothelioma patients. Pericardial mesothelioma is of the cancer of lining of the heart. It is also caused because of asbestos exposure. However, its prevalence is rare. Pericardial mesothelioma manifests in the form of chest pain, palpitations, cough and dyspnea.

Lawsuits Related to Mesothelioma and Asbestos:

The hazardous consequences of long term contact with asbestos and its linkage to mesothelioma cancers has led to several lawsuits against its manufacturers. The mesothelioma or asbestos attorneys claim that the asbestos manufacturers were aware of the harmful affects of asbestos exposure and yet persisted with its use for profit motives. This is the reason why juries have ordered stringent awards in many mesothelioma and asbestos related lawsuits.

I’m Greg. Gardner, I’m surviving from Abestos Mesothelioma Cancer, and still defeating it everyday! You can read more about my write-up about Mesothelioma here! Also visit my site to learn more about Abestos Settlement.

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By Greg. Gardner,

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium. Like most cancers, mesothelioma involves the abnormal dividing of cells of a particular part of the body — in this case, the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is so deadly simply because it remains dormant for many years and in that case begins to rapidly expand. The cancer in that case begins to invade and damage nearby tissue, including the vital organs.

What is the mesothelium?

Many of the internal organs of the body are protected by a membrane called the mesothelium. This membrane actually consists of two layers of cells. The inner layer surrounds the organs, and the second is a sac surrounding the inner layer. When organs within this membrane must move, expand or contract — like the heart, lungs, bladder, and so on, they are able to do so simply because the mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid between the two layers.

Mesothelioma usually begins in the pleura or peritoneum. The pleura surrounds the lungs and covers the chest cavity. The peritoneum covers most of the organs within the abdominal cavity. Other mesothelium tissue is at the same time vulnerable to mesothelioma. These include the pericardium that surrounds and protects the heart; the tunica vaginalis testic which surrounds the internal male reproductive organs; and the tunica serosa uteri which is the membrane covering the internal reproductive organs in ladies.

Who is at greatest risk to develop mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma has a extremely specific cause – exposure to asbestos. During the first half of the previous century, right up until the mid 1970s asbestos was an important material used to insulate buildings, machines, heavy equipment, and a broad range of commercial applications. Because it was plentiful and cheap to mine, asbestos was used in many building products such as home insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles. It was at the same time used in commonly found commercial products just like brake linings and pipe insulation.

This meant that millions of people were coming in contact with asbestos on a daily basis. And since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure, companies and health officials were slow to recognize the dangers of asbestos. As a result, shipyard workers, men and ladies working in asbestos mines and mills, workers producing asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and virtually every other tradespeople were exposed to asbestos fibres for extended periods of time.

Today it’s understood that anyone working with or near asbestos has an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, so you will find strictly controlled limits of exposure in the work place. Nevertheless since the dormancy period of mesothelioma can often be 30 or 40 years, you will find millions of workers who are at risk because of their exposure within the decades before the safety controls were put in place.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma – cancer of the pleura or lung lining – causes shortness of breath or chronic coughing. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can include chest pain, chronic coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss, or blood in the phlegm from the lungs when coughing.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines and is generally just as harmful. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain or swelling in the abdomen, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia, and fever.

Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma can easily be mistaken for allergies or a common cold. Mesothelioma is often discovered when patients think they have one of these other common illnesses.

How Serious is Mesothelioma?

By the time most infected people become aware they have mesothelioma, it is no longer dormant and becomes extremely aggressive. In its active phase, mesothelioma can travel quickly, and is almost impossible to stop. You will find treatments used to keep the patient comfortable, but there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. As many as 75% of those who develop the disease will lose their life within one year. The remainder might last for up to an additional six months.

This makes it extremely crucial to detect the disease before it enters its active phase.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage. This is due to its long dormancy period, and simply because once it becomes active the initial symptoms are similar to so much more common and less dangerous sicknesses just like colds or the flu. If a patient has a history of exposure to asbestos, in that case a complete physical examination is advised. This would normally include x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. It might at the same time include a CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI. Both of these tests give detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

If these tests indicate the probability of mesothelioma, subsequently it’s required to perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Doing a biopsy involves an oncology specialist taking a small sample of affected tissue and examining it under a microscope for signs of malignancy. Depending on the location of the affected tissue, doing a biopsy could be a relatively straightforward procedure. It normally involves the insertion of a small instrument into the suspect cavity. These surgical devices have both viewing and sample taking capabilities. So the oncologist or surgeon can evaluate the cavity from the inside, and in that case take tissue samples from different areas.

If mesothelioma is discovered, the initial tests are followed up with what is called “staging”. This involves more tests to determine how far the disease has spread.

How is mesothelioma treated?

Standard treatments include the regular options available to cancer patients: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. At times, these treatments are combined. When the mesothelioma is discovered at an early enough stage these treatments can at times be effective.

Among the treatments which might be used in order to reduce the effects of the disease are oxygen, postural drainage and pain killers. Many alternative treatment methods are also being tested, including attempts to strengthen the body’s immune system. Gene therapy is also being tested in an attempt to attack the problem at the DNA level. Other treatments being tried and tested include homeopathy, herbs and acupuncture. Unfortunately none of these have been found to be really effective once the disease reaches its aggressive stage.

As with all cancers, early detection is the best defense against mesothelioma. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos has to be alert for symptoms and contact a doctor immediately. Detecting mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible tremendously increases the odds of beating the disease.

I’m Greg. Gardner, I’m surviving from Abestos Mesothelioma Cancer, and still defeating it everyday! You can read more about my write-up about Mesothelioma here! Also visit my site to learn more about Abestos Settlement.