Lung Cancer

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2009-11-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

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The Truth Behind Metastatic Lung Cancer

2009-06-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

Unlike other forms of lung cancer, metastatic lung cancer is the result of a cancer from another part of the body spreading to the lungs. When a malignancy develops in the body (most often in the breasts, colon, prostate, or bladder, though almost all cancers have the ability to spread) it can sometimes spread through the blood stream. When these malignancies settle into the pulmonary tissues, such as the alveoli (the final vein-like branches of the respiratory system) and the supporting tissues of the respiratory structures, the cancer has metastasized to the lungs.
Unfortunately, treating metastatic lung cancer presents significant challenges.
Since the cancer has spread from another part of the body, treatment not only involves addressing the cancer in the lungs, but also the original cancer and any other areas of the body that may have also become affected. In some cases, if the primary tumor is successfully removed and if the spread of the tumor cells to the pulmonary regions is relatively localized, then the management of the cancer by surgical techniques may do the job. However, if the metastatic lung cancer is extensive, because so many areas of the body may be under the influence of the cancer, certain treatments (such as surgery, and in many cases, radiation therapy as well) may prove ineffective. Which leaves most patients with chemotherapy as the primary treatment of choice.
Chemotherapy often uses a combination of drugs (often referred to as "anti-cancer" drugs) to kill cancer cells, though a single drug may be used as well. While the aim of these drugs is to stop cancerous cells from multiplying, they also can damage healthy cells. This is what creates the side effects that are often associated with chemotherapy, such as the loss of hair, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue. The good news, however, is that the healthy cells will generally repair themselves once the chemotherapy process is over.
Chemotherapy can provide a cure (when the cancer disappears and does not return) or help to control the cancer (to keep it from spreading and perhaps kill cancerous cells that have already spread to other areas of the body, such as is the case in metastasized lung cancer) or relieve the symptoms of the cancer (to provide the patient with a better quality of life, even in the face of a poor prognosis). How it's used in any particular situation is dependent upon the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, the prognosis, and the plan as set out by the patient and his or her physician.
In addition, there are complementary and alternative treatments. These can include everything from proper nutrition to pain management, from spiritual approaches to natural herbs and supplements. Of course, such alternative plans will vary much the same as traditional treatments, depending on the location and size of the tumor, the age and general health of the patient, and other factors.
Metastatic lung cancer is certainly more challenging to overcome than other forms of lung cancer because the fight against the cancerous cells is not confined to the lungs. And while a cure is unlikely in most cases, in rare instances (usually when the primary tumor has been removed and the spread of the cancer has been limited), the lung metastases can be removed surgically, with a prognosis of long-term survival.
Please note that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. Such situations should always involve the expertise of a physician or health care provider.

Lung Cancer - One of the Most Fatal Illnesses in the World

2009-06-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is an ailment of unrestrained cell development in the lung tissues. This growth may lead to metastasis, spreading to the adjoining tissues and penetrating prematurely the lungs. It is the most popular cancer cause of death in men, and the second most common in women.
Frequent symptoms of lung cancer:
1. Continuous chest throbbing
2. Persistent coughs that become severe
3. Shortness of breath, puffing, or huskiness
4. Constant troubles with pneumonia or bronchitis
5. Coughing up blood
6. Inflammation of the neck and face
7. Loss of appetite or significant weight loss
8. Exhaustion
Types of Lung Cancers:
A. Small-cell lung cancer occurs when malignant cells form in the lung tissues.
Small lung cancer has three different types, classified according to the forms of cells developing as cancer. These are:
1. Small cell carcinoma
2. Union of small cell and large cell carcinoma.
3. Joint small cell carcinoma.
These three kinds may contain many different types of cells. The cancer cells of all types may grow and multiply in different ways.
Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Limited stage - cancer starts in the lung tissues, and in the adjacent lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are tiny, bean-shaped structures near the lungs.
Extensive Stage - cancer has propagated beyond the lungs to other parts of the body.
B. Large-cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the lungs.
Five types of large-cell lung cancer
The five types of large-cell lung cancer have differing varieties of cancer cells. The cancer cells of each category produce and multiply in unusual effects:
1. Squamous cell carcinoma - Cancer starts in the squamous cells, thin flat cells that appear like fish scales. It's called epidermoid carcinoma.
2. Large cell carcinoma - Cancer in which the cells are big and seem to be irregular when examined under a microscope.
3. Adenosquamous carcinoma - Cancer that begins in cells. Cancer cells appear to be firm when inspected under a microscope.
4. Adenocarcinoma - Cancer that begins in groups in glandular assets.
5. Undifferentiated carcinoma - Cancer cells that do not seem to be normal. They spread fast.
Treatment:
1. Surgery - Surgery is the ideal medication for lung cancer. The body is normally opened up for the lungs to be treated directly.
2. Radiation is a common treatment for lung cancer. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It distresses cells only in the treated area.
a. External radiation is the most common radiation treatment for people with lung cancer. Radiation comes from a huge apparatus outside your body. Mainly people go to the hospital or clinic for treatment. Treatments are typically 5 days a week for more than a few weeks.
b. Internal radiation is rare. Radiation is released from a seed, wire, or another device, to the body.
Treatment of Large-Cell Lung Cancer:
• Chemotherapy - This is cancer treatment making use of drugs to prevent the increase of cancer cells. Drugs are either taken by mouth or injected in the veins and muscles to destroy cancer cells. These drugs go into the bloodstream to treat cancer cells in the body. When chemotherapy is placed straight in the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity like the abdomen, these drugs generally distress cancer cells in those parts.
• Laser therapy - Laser is used to destroy cancer cells.

General Facts on Lung Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment For Lung Cancer

2009-06-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

Educating yourself about the general facts on lung cancer is essential to help prevent acquiring the disease. As the number one cause of death among men in America and one of the major causes of death cases throughout the world, health experts are furthering their efforts in trying to unearth general facts on lung cancer, and how this disease can be so deadly.
Among the various type of cancer deaths, this illness is responsible for 29 percent of that. In fact, there are more death cases for this sickness as compared to the data of deaths for prostate, breast, and colon cancers combined. Hence, you can begin protecting yourself now by arming yourself with the general facts on lung cancer before it's too late.
Causes Of Lung Cancer

When people think of lung cancer, they often associate it with cigarette smoking. Indeed, this is one of the leading causes of the disease. But it is not the only factor.
One of the major focus of research for health experts regarding this disease is the genetic factor. Most cancerous cells develop when there is an error in the mutation of DNA cells. That error in itself can be affected by other environmental factors as well, which has led health experts to go back to examining external factors that can contribute to the formation of cancerous cells.
Too much exposure to asbestos has been cited as one crucial environmental factor causing this sickness. Asbestos is a kind of mineral that is made up of bundled up fibers and naturally occurs in the environment. These fibers, when inhaled by a person exposed to them, can be trapped in one's lungs and accumulate until it causes an inflammation on the lungs.
Another crucial factor that could elicit the development of this illness is inhaling secondhand smoke. Although cigarette smoking can increase your chances of acquiring it, those who inhale cigarette smoke are at a higher risk. Secondhand smoke consists of two types of smoke: those that are produced by the burning of the tobacco product and those exhaled by the smoker.
Please pay very close attention to these general facts on lung cancer, so you can avoid the factors that could put you at risk in acquiring the disease.
Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
Since it affects your respiratory system, common symptoms associated with this disease are related to such conditions affecting the respiratory illness.
It is a rare case for this sickness to be diagnosed early, which is why awareness of the general facts on lung cancer is of extreme importance for early diagnosis.
• Prolonged cases of cough.
• Uncharacteristic wheezing.
• Pain on the back, chest, or shoulder.
• Coughing blood or mucus.
• Constant shortness of breath.
• Swollen neck or face.
• Pneumonia or other respiratory infections, etc
Treatment For Lung Cancer
Before a treatment option is to be determined for lung cancer patients, it is important to diagnose its type and stage first. Here are some of the more common types of treatment:
1) Surgery - This method of treatment is best only for patients who are diagnosed early due to the possibility of the cancer cells spreading to other parts of the body despite inability to detect it via scan.
2) Chemotherapy - This treatment is best used for individuals with small cell lung cancer. Oftentimes, this treatment is accompanied by radiotherapy. This treatment is known as chemoradiation.
3) Radiotherapy - This treatment is directed on the patient's head, in order to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to the brain. It is recommended only for individuals with small cell lung cancer and those who had their tumor removed via surgery.
Equipping yourself with general facts on lung cancer is your best weapon against the disease.

Do You Know These 5 Unusual Lung Cancer Symptoms?

2009-06-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is one of the top killers in developed and of late developing countries. More than a million deaths are reported worldwide. Smoking still remains the number one risk factor for lung cancer. Other risk factors include passive or second-hand smoke, Asbestos exposure, Radon exposure, and genetic mutations. Lung cancer remains one of the most preventive cancers and yet many people are falling prey to this deadly cancer.
Early diagnosis still remains the mainstay in helping people with lung cancer have a longer life expectancy. There are some unusual symptoms of lung cancer that you should be aware of to help in an early diagnosis.

1. Shoulder or upper back pain: Shoulder or upper back pain is an often unnoticed symptom of lung cancer caused by the tumour pressing on the lining of the lungs.
2. Swelling of the face and neck: The venous drainage of the upper part of the body is Superior Venacava. Pressure from the tumour can lead to impaired venous and lymphatic drainage leading to swelling of the face and neck.
3. Frequent pneumonia and other lung infections: The tumour cells can trap bacteria and this results in frequent lung infections and pneumonia.
4. Male breast development: Gynacomastia is the name for development of breasts in men. Breast growth is due to the presence of Oestrogen and some lung cancers can produce amounts of Oestrogen that stimulate breast development.
5. Hoarseness of voice: The tumour can press upon important organs like the voice box or nerves involved in speech and this results in hoarseness of voice.
If you know someone who has developed these symptoms then there is a possibility that they have lung cancer and it needs to be checked by a doctor.

What is Lung Cancer - Incidence, Signs, Symptoms, Causation, Prognosis and Treatment

2009-06-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer may also be the most tragic cancer because in most cases, it might have been prevented, 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Lung cancer has long been the most common cause of cancer death in men and since 1987 it has also become the most common cause of cancer death in women. Lung cancer is the second most commonly occurring form of cancer in most western countries and although the lung cancer incidence is less common in developing countries, the rapid increase in the popularity of smoking will see the number of lung cancer sufferers in those countries quickly catch up with the western world.

Lung cancers can arise in any part of the lung, and 90%-95% of cancers of the lung are thought to arise from the epithelial, or lining cells of the larger and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles); for this reason, lung cancers are sometimes called bronchogenic carcinomas or bronchogenic cancers.
The most common type of lung cancers are epidermoid carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Most experts agree that lung cancer is attributable to inhalation of carcinogenic pollutants by a susceptible host. Who is most susceptible? Any smoker over the age of 40, especially if they began smoking before the age of 15, have smoked 20 or more for 20 years, or worked with or near asbestos. Two other factors also increase susceptibility: exposure to carcinogenic industrial and air pollutants (asbestos, uranium, arsenic, nickel, iron oxides, chromium, radio active dust, and coal dust.) and familial susceptibility.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Because early lung cancer usually produces no symptoms, the disease is often in an advanced stage when first diagnosed. Late stage signs are: with epidermoid and small cell carcinoma; smokers cough, hoarseness, wheezing, dyspnea, hemoptysis and chest pain. With adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma; fever, weakness, weight loss, anorexia and shoulder pain. In addition, hormone production which regulates various body functions may also be affected.
DIAGNOSIS
Firm diagnosis requires chest x rays, sputum cytology, CT scanning, bronchoscopy the examination of pleural fluid and biopsies. Other tests to detect metastasis include bone scans, bone marrow biopsy and CT scans of the brain and abdomen.
METASTASES
Lung cancer most often spreads to the liver, the adrenal glands, the bones, and the brain. Lung cancer that has metastasized to the bone causes bone pain, usually in the backbone (vertebrae), the thighbones, and the ribs. Lung cancer that spreads to the brain can cause difficulties with vision and weakness on one side of the body.
Lung cancer may grow into certain nerves in the neck, causing a droopy eyelid, small pupil, sunken eye, and reduced perspiration on one side of the face; together these symptoms are called Horner's syndrome (see Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: Horner's Syndrome). Lung cancer may grow directly into the esophagus, or it may grow near it and put pressure on it, leading to difficulty in swallowing. Lung cancer may also spread through the bloodstream to the liver, brain, adrenal glands, spinal cord, and bone.
TREATMENT
Treatment for lung cancer depends on the cancer's specific cell type, how far it has spread, and the patient's performance status. If investigations confirm lung cancer, CT scan and often positron emission tomography (PET) are used to determine whether the disease is localised and amenable to surgery or whether it has spread to the point where it cannot be cured surgically. Treatment is usually a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Surgery is usually the first option. Chemotherapy can be used as a first line treatment for lung cancer or as additional treatment after surgery. Radiation therapy can be directed at your lung cancer from outside your body (external beam radiation) or it can be put inside needles, seeds or catheters and placed inside your body near the cancer (brachytherapy). Radiation therapy can be used alone or along with other lung cancer treatments. Radiation therapy can also be used to lessen side effects of lung cancer.
Treatment may not be as effective for patients with bone or liver metastases from lung cancer, excessive weight loss, ongoing cigarette use, or pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease or emphysema. At some point, if you and your oncologist or primary care physician agree that treatment no longer is advisable, hospice care can provide comfort.

Prognosis For Lung Cancer - Treatment Review

2009-06-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Can your cancer lung prognosis be improved? Cancer survivor, Karon Beattie, has compiled a cancer treatment reference book detailing over 350 alternative cancer treatments used by thousands of people who beat cancer. Although lung cancer is not always responsive to conventional cancer treatments, Beattie gives numerous accounts of people surviving lung cancer using alternative treatments. She states that these treatments are not covered by the FDA and usually not patentable by drug companies, resulting in poor knowledge among doctors.

Specifically in relation to lung cancer, Beattie's book, "Natural Cancer Treatments That Work", describes cases where a combination of nutritional supplements cured a patient's lung cancer. She gives an account of an across-the-counter supplement that nearly doubled the tumor response rate for non-small cell lung cancer in conjunction with chemotherapy.
Beattie goes on to describe how nine men with untreatable lung cancer experienced major improvements in their conditions after taking a common vitamin.
Beattie further describes a treatment that heats tumors without damaging surrounding tissue, resulting in survival rates of 91% at eighteen months after diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer for patients who had failed to respond to chemotherapy and radiation. This seems an astonishing outcome for a cancer given a poor prognosis by oncologists.
Beattie goes on to detail how a patented soup of cancer-fighting ingredients reversed a woman's stage IV non-small cell lung cancer and how a 54-year-old man eliminated a bean-sized tumor on his right lung after five weeks taking a mineral originally found in Lourdes, France, now more widely available. In addition, the author has collected first-hand accounts from 156 people who overcame lung cancer using natural and alternative treatments. It seems incredible that if stories like this are true, that they are not standard treatment for lung and other cancers.
Beattie says that the creators of the treatments detailed in her book, include respected Nobel Prize winners, biochemists, doctors, scientists and Ph.D.'s. She believes that many doctors may be unaware of these treatments because they only prescribe, and indeed are trained to prescribe treatments regulated by the FDA. Many of the alternative treatments she lists involve herbs and vitamins that are outside the jurisdiction of the FDA. Yet they are available.
Beattie does not advocate self-treatment and provides a detailed guide on where cancer patients can get these sorts of treatment and support.
Stories like these are hard to ignore for cancer sufferers and their loved ones who surely deserve the best available treatments.

Natural Cancer Treatments That Work is available from Alternative Medicine for Cancer Also available is a free guide on where to get treatment and support as well as free articles on cancer treatment options.
Prognosis For Lung Cancer

Finding Informative Articles on Lung Cancer

2009-06-14T02:02:00.000-07:00

Cancer is one of the most visible issues in our modern day world. I can’t help but be amazed that many individuals still smoke despite the dangers that it pose. In fact, I even saw individuals with holes in their necks that are still smoking. Anyway, most of us have probably read at least a few articles on lung cancer. This ailment is most often caused by smoking and being around those who smoke. If you are still sucking on cancer sticks, then maybe you just haven't read the right articles on lung cancer. Try to pop open your favorite search engine and punch in the word, "smoking." I’m sure that you will be surprised or further educated by the stuff that you will find.

I always liked hanging out at my friend's house when I was in middle school. After all, he was my closest buddy, and shooting pool with him was a blast. The problem with visiting him at home is that folks are always smoking in their house. This made the house reek so much that it was almost unbearable. They were totally imposing their bad habit on their son and two daughters. I’m sure that they would have realized the consequences of their bad influence if they read some articles on lung cancer.
They were also infusing their children with second hand smoke whether they intended it or not. Their habit can cause cancer and they may also pass their vice on their children. In fact, all three children smoke now that they are adults. Parents who use cigarettes usually have children who also use cigarettes. It's like the old cocaine commercial with the father who confronts his son about using drugs, only to find out that the son learned it from watching him.
It would be a good idea to read articles on lung cancer because this illness is becoming an epidemic. If you are a smoker of any kind, then I suggest you check out some of the more recent articles on lung cancer. You can also hop on your laptop today and find out a little more about cancer and its causes. You can choose from different articles on lung cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer and other types of this disease that are available online.

What is Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)?

2009-06-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

here are two types of lung cancer; small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC is believed to account for around 20% of all lung cancer diagnosis. This type of cancer develops when the small cells of the lung start to grow in a rapid and uncontrolled way. Eventually this leads to the formation of a malignant (cancerous) tumour in these cells. SCLC is often referred to as oat cell carcinoma because the small cells of the lung look similar to oats. In this article I will be discussing SCLC in greater detail.

There are actually three types of small cell lung cancer; carcinoma, mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma. In each type the cancer cells grow and spread in different ways.
1) SMALL CELL CARCINOMA:- This is the most common form of SCLC representing around 95% of all cases. This name is given when the cancer only affects the small cells of the lung.
2) MIXED SMALL CELL/LARGE CELL CARCINOMA:- This is a less common sub-type of SCLC accounting for 4%-6% of all cases. It occurs when the characteristics of both small cell lung carcinoma and large cell carcinoma (a type of NSCLC) are present. This sub-type is resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation.
3) COMBINED SMALL CELL CARCINOMA:- This is the least common sub-type of SCLC and accounts for approximately 1% of all cases. It occurs when the small cell carcinoma combines with either squamous cell carcinoma (a type of NSCLC that develops in the cells lining the airways) and/or adenocarcinoma (a type of NSCLC that develops in the mucus producing cells).
Smoking is the leading risk factor for this type of lung cancer and is thought to be responsible for over 90% of SCLC occurrences. However, exposure to other substances including asbestos, radon and uranium are also thought to increase your risk for this type of cancer.
Since SCLC affects your lungs the symptoms associated with this type of cancer are linked to this area of the body. Some of the most common lung cancer symptoms include a regular cough, breathlessness, chest pain and coughing up mucus or blood. If you notice any of these symptoms you should go see your doctor right away and explain your concerns. They will then be able to perform a number of tests and if necessary start you on a SCLC treatment plan.
Most people are unaware of the different types of lung cancer. Although small cell lung cancer is the less common of the two types it is still very dangerous and can prove fatal if ignored. I hope this article has given you a better understanding of small cell lung cancer. If you have any concerns regarding this condition then go and see your doctor right away. They will be able to provide you with their professional opinion and give you the best advice possible.
Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Small cell lung cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.
Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about small cell lung cancer and how improving your fitness can help you prevent cancer by visiting his Free Fitness Tips Blog

How Smoking Causes Lung Cancer

2009-06-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a global problem and it is the most frequent cancer in the world. Each year the incidences of lung cancer are unfortunately increasing. Although the use of tobacco has declined in many high income countries, it has become rapidly worse in developing and former socialist countries, where smoking rate is still high. Everyone knows that smoking causes lung cancer but how smoking causes lung cancer is a question that nobody really knows. In this article I will explain how smoking causes lung cancer.

A cigarette smoke is a very complicated mixture of different compounds. More than 4000 different compounds have been indentified in mainstream cigarette smoke. From these 4000 and a bit more compounds 60-70 are carciongens: heterocyclic hydrocarbons, N -heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), N -nitrosamines, aromatic amines, organic compounds, aldehydes, inorganic compounds like hydrazine and some metals and free radicals.
Tobacco contains a high amount of N-nitrosamines and PAH-s, which are which are strong carciogens. Other compounds seem to have lower carciogenic potential. Various studies have shown that PAH-s can induce tumors in laboratory animals. PAH- are formed by incomplete combustion of tobacco. Studies have also shown that PAH-s can interact with the DNA, forming mutagenic DNA adducts. And the formation of DNA adducts may be the primary initiating event of carciogenesis.
The concentration of N-nitrosamines in tobacco is relatively high and heavy smokers have the highest exposure to these compounds. The tobacco-specific N -nitrosamines (TSNA), principally the nicotine-derived NNK, are the strongest respiratory carcinogens identified in tobacco products. Both malignant and benign tumors are formed in mice, hamsters and rats have been induced by NNK. The concentration of NNK in mainstream smoke has increased while those of benzo( a ) pyrene have decreased since the 1960s.
The smoke of cigarettes also contains a large amount of free radicals and free radicals cause oxidative damage. Both the particulate and gas phase are highly oxidative and therefore damage the lung. Cigarette smoke also induces proinflammatory cytokines and recruits activated macrophages
and neutrophils to lung tissue.
Cigarettes contain a very high levels of metals. Somewhere around 30 metals have been found. Some evidence has shown that metals are effective initiators of the carcinogenic process, but can also be potential promoters during carcinogenesis. Cigarette smoke contains high levels of cadmium, chromium and also nickel. Chromium accumulates in the lung and tobacco smoking is the main source of cadmium exposure in humans. Unfortunately the complete contribution of these metals to lung cancer is poorly understood.

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Drinking Red Wine Associated With Reduced Lung Cancer Risk in Male Smokers

2009-06-14T01:57:00.001-07:00

In the October, 2008 issue of the American Association for Cancer research journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention¸ California Kaiser Permanente researchers report yet another benefit associated with drinking red wine: a lower risk of lung cancer.

Chun Chao, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente's Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, California, and colleagues analyzed data from the California Men's Health Study of 84,170 men aged 45 to 69. Surveys completed between 2000 and 2003 provided information concerning demographics and lifestyle characteristics, including type and frequency of alcoholic beverage consumption. Over the three year period, 210 cases of lung cancer were identified.

Among men who reported ever having smoked, drinking one or more glasses of red wine per day was associated with a 61 percent lower adjusted risk of lung cancer compared to the risk experienced by those who did not consume red wine. For each glass of red wine consumed per month, a 2 percent reduction in lung cancer risk was noted among those who had ever smoked, and for those who reported having been heavy smokers, a 4 percent reduction was observed. No effect for beer, liquor, or white wine was observed.

"An antioxidant component in red wine may be protective of lung cancer, particularly among smokers," Dr Chao stated. "Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants. There is a compound called resveratrol that is very rich in red wine because it is derived from the grape skin. This compound has shown significant health benefits in preclinical studies."

Although white wine also contains beneficial phytochemicals, their level and activity are much lower compared with those found in red wine. The authors observe that resveratrol, found in red wine, red grapes, and other plants, has been shown to alter the activation of carcinogenic substances in human lung cell cultures, induce programmed cell death in human lung cancer cell lines, and slow lung tumor growth in experiments with mice.

"This finding, if confirmed is of interest for lung cancer chemoprevention in current and former smokers," the authors write. They emphasize that not smoking is still the best way to avoid lung cancer, and that heavy alcohol consumption is not recommended.

Dayna Dye writes for Life Extension - a global authority on health, wellness and nutrition as well as a provider of scientific information on anti-aging therapies and nutritional supplements, including minerals, herbs, hormones and vitamins.

Urine Test Could Gauge Smokers Lung Cancer Risk

2009-06-13T06:03:00.001-07:00

Humans can often be stubborn, & ignorant. Smoking has short & long term health risks, yet we continue to light up the "ole cancer stick." Often, nothing can make us stop this nasty habit, believing it "won't happen to me."

Recently, evidence was produced at the American Association for Cancer Research that a warning test may be available in the next few years to be used as a "kick in the pants" for smokers.

Research has shown that when a risk of lung cancer is high, a person's urine shows an elevated percentage of 2 different chemicals.

Lung cancer is the most deadly of all tumors, with more than 215,020 new diagnosis being made in 2008. There are approximately 60 carcinogens found in tobacco smoke; identifying the byproducts or metabolites may help researchers determine which may lead to tumors.

Smokers with an advanced level of the metabolite NNAL have been recognized as having 2 times the likelihood of contracting lung cancer.

Cotinine has
also been recognized as a huge indicator of risk. It is a nicotine byproduct, & the presence of this metabolite in smokers has shown them to have 3 times the risk, as compared to smokers with lower levels.

The unfortunate patient who has elevated levels of both cotinine & NNAL are 8.5 times more destined to have lung cancer, than those smokers with lower levels of the two.

It has been found that these 2 factors mean more danger for smokers than even daily consumption, or length of smoking time.

What makes one smoker more likely to have concentrated levels of these byproducts than another one? No one knows. Metabolic systems, heredity and genes all play a definitive part.

Researchers under no circumstances want this to be a license for some smokers to continue their nasty habit even though their levels of the 2 byproducts may be low. Smoking has no value, it only has detriments for the body and for those inhaling their secondary smoke. Hopefully, the urine test, in the future, will provide a needed wake up call and save lives.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Lung Cancer - The Four Biggest Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

2009-06-13T06:01:00.001-07:00

The Internet is full of advice, facts and sometimes even misinformation about Mesothelioma and asbestos related cancer. Here are the important facts in a nutshell and the four mistakes you should avoid if there is any chance that you or a family member has ever been exposed to asbestos in any form.

1. The first big mistake people make when dealing with Mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer is that they don't take the time to learn the risk factors.

If you have worked around asbestos or asbestos dust, you could be at risk. People who have worked in shipyards, asbestos mines and mills or worked for companies who produce asbestos products or worked in the heating and construction industries are at increased risk.

Longer exposure or heavy exposure greatly increases the risk, but there are many cases where asbestos related cancer has developed in people who have only had brief exposure to asbestos. There is also a risk that family members and others living with asbestos workers could develop mesothelioma. This risk may be because asbestos dust was brought home on the workers clothes. Keep in mind that it could take up to 20 or 30 years or longer after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma symptoms to appear.

Bottom line: The number one mistake people who have been exposed to asbestos make is that they wait too long to find out if they have any symptoms of mesothelioma. If there is any chance that you may have been exposed to asbestos (even many years ago), you need to seek immediate medical attention because the earlier Mesothelioma can be detected the more treatment options you have. Don't wait until it is too late for effective medical treatment that could extend your life and improve the quality of your life.

2. The second big mistake people make is that they wait too long after being diagnosed to seek legal help.

You only have a short amount of time after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma to file a claim. A few states allow you two or three years to file a lawsuit, but some states only allow you one year to file your claim. Don't let an asbestos company lawyer string you along until it is too late for you to file your claim. If you go over the limit by even one day, you could risk losing thousands (and maybe even millions of dollars) in settlements for you and your family. If you have any symptoms of mesothelioma, immediately seek out a good attorney who specializes in asbestos related cancer cases.
3. The third mistake is to seek treatment from a doctor who is not experienced in treating Mesothelioma cases.

The length and quality of your life is at stake. Don't delay getting treated by a doctor who is up on the latest Mesothelioma treatment techniques.

4. Finally, the most common mistake Mesothelioma patients and their families make is not seeking an attorney who specializes in Mesothelioma and asbestos cancer cases.

Just like you need a doctor who specializes in the treatment of Mesothelioma and asbestos related cancers, you also need a lawyer who specializes in Mesothelioma and asbestos cases. Take steps now to protect yourself if there is any chance that you or a family member has ever been exposed to asbestos in any form.

Permission is hereby granted to reprint this article as long as proper credit is given including the information and links shown below.

Jerry Minchey is an engineer, author and researcher. He cuts through the hype and gets down to the bare facts to reveal secrets that are easy to understand using non-technical terms. He has written several books and produced DVDs as a results of his research.

You can get information on the latest up-to-date treatment methods for Mesothelioma at the Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Center site.

At the Mesothelioma Law Firms site you will find information about lawyers who specialize in Asbestos and Mesothelioma cases and you can find information about the attorneys who are getting the largest and fastest cash settlements.

Lung Cancer and Occupational Hazards Considered

2009-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

The chances are good that you have known someone during your lifetime that has had lung cancer and most likely you have met someone which has died from lung cancer as well. Someday hopefully there will be a perfect cure for lung cancer, but that someday is not here yet.

Lung cancer is very serious and something that can be deadly. In many cases surgery treatment is the only option, but once the cancer has spread surgery is no longer a viable option. Men are more likely to get lung cancer statistically, but recently the numbers are much closer.

Those who smoke are obviously at a much higher risk of lung cancer, and although everyone knows this heavy smokers continue to take risks and smoking. Smoking more than a pack a day severely increases the risks of lung cancer. But smoking is only one of the causes of lung cancer and it can greatly increase the risk if smoking is coupled with an occupational risk too.

According to the Cancer Reference Book; lung cancer tends to occur with those who work around chemicals and perhaps this is why OSHA now has "Right to Know" laws on the books so that workers know the risks of the chemical they work with. Some of the listed occupations at extreme risk are:

* Asbestos Workers
* Textile Workers
* Arsenic Smelter Workers
* Manufacturers of Insecticides (w/arsenic)
* Taxidermists
* Sheep Dip Workers
* Copper Smelter Workers
* Chrome Workers
* Miners of Radioactive Minerals
* Manufacturers of Isopropyl Alcohol
* Coke Oven Operators
* Paraffin Pressers
* Mule Spinners
* Petroleum Workers

Those in the highest age risks are between 50 to seventy years old. If you live in a high-air-pollution area like China's industrial cities you are at a huge risk, if you smoke you are at greater risk and if you work in one of those industries above on top of that, especially if there are not strict policies in place to protect you, many believe that you are doomed. So, please consider all this.

Important Facts About Lung Cancer

2009-06-12T19:33:00.001-07:00

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is still one of the most prevalent forms of cancer today. Even after all of the thousands of antismoking campaigns and a huge decrease in the number of smokers, it is expected that there will be more than 215,000 new cases diagnosed this year, and there will be nearly 162,000 deaths.

In 1991 (the latest year that I could find statistics for), 27% of Americans were smokers. That compares to 29% in 1987 and 44% in 1964. The decrease is because of more people quitting the smoking habit, and NOT because of fewer people starting the smoking habit. It's obvious that all of the efforts to prevent people from becoming smokers have not been successful.

Cigarette smoking is considered the number one cause of the disease. There are substances in smoke that cause damage to lung cells. Because of this, smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars does cause lung cancer, and this is why it is also true that secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. The more often a person is exposed to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of lung cancer.

However, cigarette smoking is not the only cause. Researchers have also determined that exposure to radon is a big risk factor for developing lung cancer. Radon is found in mines as well as in various parts of the country in the rock and soil. Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Exposure to asbestos is another cause of lung cancer. People who work at such jobs in the construction and chemical industries are most at risk for exposure to asbestos that can cause lung cancer.

A family history of lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked, also creates a higher risk for developing the disease.

Milos Pesic is a respected surgeon who specializes in treating all forms of cancer and runs a comprehensive Cancer Treatment web site. For more articles and resources on cancer symptoms and treatments, breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, prostate and colon cancer and much more, visit his site at:

=>http://cancer.need-to-know.net/

How Smoking Causes Lung Cancer

2009-06-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

It has been well known for the entire second half of the 20. century that smoking caused lung cancer. Smoking not only increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers, but the risk of esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, oral cavity cancer, kidney cancer and also laryngeal cancer is increased as well. These forms of cancers are expected to rise among women as a result of their increased levels of smoking.
The heavy use of tobacco not only causes different types of cancer, but it also increases the risk of many cardiovascular diseases. In eastern and also central europe more than 400 000 premature deaths are caused by tobacco smoking each year. The current levels of lung cancer among young men in eastern and central europe is greater than ever before. Cigarette smoking is unfortunately still going up in central and eastern europe and also in China, where tobacco related deaths are increasing very rapidly. Lung cancer is the major tobacco-related tumor and the leading cause of cancer death in men in almost all developed countries. Since lung cancer is frequently fatal, mortality rates are high, and consequently so are the social costs.

Cigarette smoking among women has also increased dramatically. More and more women take up cigarette smoking all over the world. For many years it appeared that the rates of lung cancer where low and that tobacco was not having the same effect for women as it has for men. But this has now turned out to be false and there is no evidence that the risk of lung cancer because of smoking is greater in men than in women. It takes a long time between the exposure and the effect. Lung cancer now exceeds breast cancer as the leading cancer cause of death in women in Canada, the USA, Scotland, and many other countries.
Cigarette smoking kills half of all those who adopt the habit, with half of the death occurring in middle age and each losing about 20 years of non-smoker's life expectancy. Lung cancer is of course the most common cause of death but cigarette smoking can cause death in 24 different ways. Cigarette smoking in men has been declining while it has been increasing in women. And also the lung cancer rates have increased among women and decreased among men. Tobacco is a addictive drug, there is no such thing as a "safe" cigarette, young adults should be convinced not to smoke and smokers should be helped and urged to stop. Hopefully some day in the future we can say "how smoking caused lung cancer" not "how smoking causes lung cancer."

Are You At Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer?

2009-06-12T19:29:00.001-07:00

It is estimated that a non-smoker's lifetime risk of lung cancer is 1 in 100 while a smoker's risk is 1 in 12. Among which group of people do you belong? Are you worried that your risk of developing lung cancer is high?

Lung cancer like any other forms of cancer is a much-dreaded disease. Because it doesn't have visible symptoms during the early stage, it is often diagnosed during the later stage of the disease when the cancer has already spread to other organs and when treatment becomes difficult and survival rate is low.

People who are likely to develop lung cancer are those who have one or more of the following risk factors.

1. Women are more prone to develop lung cancer than men are. One study shows that a gene associate with abnormal cell growth was found to be more active in women than in men whether these women smoked or not. Some research also shows that smoking women are more susceptible to the cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes than their male counterparts.

2. Smoking is one of the greatest risk factor of lung cancer. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. A person's risk of developing lung cancer increases with the number of years he or she has smoked. The longer the person has been smoking, the higher is his or her risk of developing lung cancer.

3. Sad news for people who have not even puffed a single cigarette but are continually exposed to cigarette smoke; your risk of developing lung cancer rises as much as 30 percent especially if you are exposed daily to second-hand smoking.

4. Exposure to radon, an odorless gas found in water and the ground, increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is considered to be the second most common cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

5. Our workplace can sometimes increase our risk of developing lung cancer. People who are exposed to carcinogens like arsenic, asbestos, chloromethyl ether and chromium compounds in their workplaces have higher risk of developing lung cancer. It is estimated that about 9,000 men and 900 women develop lung cancer annually due to workplace exposure of known carcinogenic compounds. The risk becomes even greater for people who smoke.

6. Women who undergo estrogen replacement may be at higher risk of developing lung cancer. According to researchers from the University of Pittsburg, the growth of non-small-cell lung cancer may be fueled by estrogen.

It is important that lung cancer be detected early. The symptomless early stages often mislead lung cancer patients into believing that there is nothing wrong with his or her health. Often it is already late and cancer has already spread to other areas before diagnosis is being made. Those who are well informed about the possibility and the level of their risk of developing lung cancer will be able to seek for medical check-up and professional opinion early before the disease can even spread.

Detecting Lung Cancer the Easy Way

2009-06-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a serious killer and unless it is detected in its early stages it can spread quickly to other parts of the body like the heart, chest cavity and into the bloodstream. Apparently and according to a recent study there are now cancer sniffing-smelling dogs that can detect cancer in the breath. These dogs once trained can detect cancer 90 plus percent of the time, often in the very high 90 percentiles.
Training special dogs to do this is a rigorous routine and it takes a few weeks. Dogs are given treats as reward for their work. There is a very good scientific report on all this in the Journal of Integrative Cancer Therapies that is very much worth your time in reading if this concept interests you or if you deal with cancer patients.

How is this even possible you ask? Well, it seems that cancer cells work differently than other healthy cells and they have a by-product odor from metabolic waste or "bio-chemical" gases which can be distinguished by dogs with an acute sense of smell. Man's best friend indeed, dogs just became one step closer to man in helping him deal with the serious health care issues.
These gases can be sniffed by the dogs even at the beginning stages of lung cancer, which makes this discovery even greater. It would make sense for workers in industries that are at high risk of cancer to use these dogs for routine check-ups as it could end up saving 1,000s of lives each year. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

2009-06-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is probably one of the most unfortunate types of cancers, and it can be one of the most painful as well. Generally, it starts with a tumor in the windpipes or bronchial tube and then spreads. You need to know the symptoms, as that is very important to catching it early on.
According to the; Cancer Reference Book, the symptoms of lung cancer are:
An ever present cough is one symptom of lung cancer. But a cough does not necessarily mean you have cancer obviously. It is the chronic nature of the cough that you need to watch for, one that is not part of a cold or the flu. Folks that smoke and cannot stop coughing all the time are already at high risk and they must get looked at soon if not sooner. These are the first sign or symptoms attributed to lung cancer.
In the next stages of lung cancer you can expect someone to show such symptoms trouble in breathing or shortness of breath. They will have blood in their saliva as well. They may also get pneumonia. In the more severe stages they will have pain in their chest and it will be relatively constant, sometimes overbearing.
Also in later stages the lung cancer victim will lose body mass, have an extreme shortness of breath and may not be able to swallow either. Fluid will also be ever present in the chest cavity, and it is really a tough go.
One thing that all doctors who see lung patients would like to tell folks is; Stop Smoking Now!

Symptoms of Lung Cancer - Things You Need to Know

2009-06-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

One vital aspect of recognizing the symptoms of lung cancer is knowing your body and listening to it. Once you are in tuned with your body you will know when to take action. Symptoms of lung cancer usually will occur in the breathing part of your body also known as the respiratory system. If you experience any or all symptoms; you should schedule an appointment to see your doctor right away.
If you have a persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks. This is usually indicative of a respiratory infection or early stages of lung cancer which requires immediate attention from your doctor. If you smoke you may have what is referred to as the smoker's cough.
This cough alone will cause a persistent cough so if you smoke; regular visits to your doctor is imperative because the cough can convert into cancer without you knowing it; and that is because you are so accustomed to coughing. So don't take that for granted. If you smoke; quit. Smoking is like puffing on cancer sticks.
What if you don't smoke and you have a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks. You may have been around people who smoke constantly or exposed to an area where there was constant smoke.
Another symptom of lung cancer is blood or brown tinged colored sputum. Sputum is mucus that you cough up when you have a cold. If you do not have a cold and you cough this up in the morning or during the day pay attention to the color.
The normal color for sputum is clear white or clear pale. Being more lethargic than usual is another sign to look out for. We all experience times when we have less energy; but if you see yourself tiring more often than usual then you may need to take action. Knowing your body ;paying attention to it and taking action can destroy lung cancer in its tracks before it gets out of hand.

Alternative Lung Cancer Treatments - Dr Clark's Treatment

2009-06-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately one out of every 14 men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lifetime. Over 70% of people who are diagnosed with this disease are over 65 years old. Only 5-10% of patients are still alive after 5 years of the diagnosis using chemo, radiation therapy and surgery.

But the survival rate with alternative treatments is much higher even up to 90%. It really doesn´t even matter what type of cancer you have. The problem is that all alternative treatments are ignored by the conventional medicine for several reasons. But in this article I will tell you more about a cancer cure that has really been very successful. It is called Dr. Clark's Treatment.

Dr. Hulda Clark is an independent research scientist specializing in cell physiology, biology and biophysics. In 1979 Dr. Clark began private consulting and in 1985 developed a radio electronic technique for scanning the human body called the Syncrometer. Which tests for bacteria, viruses, fungi, solvents, parasites and toxins. That gave her some clues about the causes of HIV, cancer and other diseases.

According to Dr. Clark there are only health problems. 1) Pollutants or toxins which make it difficult for the organs to do their work. 2) Parasites (amoeba, protozoa and worms that utilize the food we eat and leave us with their wastes).

All the viruses, bacteria, roundworms, flatworms and protozoas are killed with a mixture of an electronic device called the 'zapper' and a herbal parasite killing program. This can benefit almost every illness according to Dr. Clark. The zapper is a (9V) frequency generator that is hand held and battery operated. It uses a positively offset square wave to electrocute the parasites. It should not be used by people wearing pacemakers, or by women who are pregnant.

The herbal treatment kills the remaining stages throughout the body where the electric current can´t reach. It is made of black walnut hull tincture, cloves and wormwood capsules taken over 3 weeks. Dr. Clark recommends unprocessed foods, homemade products and some amount of tested supplements.

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Effects of Lung Cancer Treatments - The Terrible Side Effects of Lung Cancer Therapies

2009-06-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

The effects of lung cancer on the patient's body can differ according to the type and stage of the disease. However, studies are now focused towards the impact of treatments intended to cure the disease in patients. Although these have been recognized as temporary effects only, it still does produce enough good to the health of the patients.

What Are The Effects of Lung Cancer Treatments?

Since the treatment for the disease is essential to keep the cancer cells under control, several patients have overlooked the possible harm it can bring to their health. These are some of the more common treatment options for lung cancer.

1) Surgical Treatment

Effects of lung cancer treatment such as surgeries can often bring in more harm to the patient. Since it is a major operation, it exposes your chest area into the possibility of collecting air and fluid into it.

Among the side effects known for lung cancer patients who have recently undergone surgery is difficulty in turning over, deep breathing, or even coughing. Since patients typically go through these activities, recovery might be slow.

Activities such as deep breathing or coughing are essential elements in recovery since they enable extra air or fluid out of your lung area.

Among the most common conditions cited shortly after undergoing lung cancer surgery include pain in your chest area or arms, and shortness of breath. It might need a week or two before a patient can find relief from such side effects.

2) Chemotherapy

When it comes to the side effects produced by this type of treatment for lung cancer, it varies according to the type and amount of drugs given the patient.

The hazard comes in since chemotherapy does not solely target cancer cells, but also affect normal cells as well. Below are common side effects experienced by patients treated with chemotherapy:

• vomiting/nausea
• feeling of fatigue
• presence of mouth sores
• hair loss

3) Radiation Therapy

The effects of lung cancer treatments such as radiation therapy stems from the fact that, like chemotherapy, it affects your normal cells. As opposed to the type of drug used in chemotherapy, this one depends on the particular part of the body being treated and the amount of dosage.

Common side effects include the following: sore or dry throat, hard time swallowing, changes in the skin of the area of treatment, appetite loss, headaches, problems with memory retention, etc.

4) Photodynamic Therapy

This particular therapy sets its limits on the normal routine activities of a patient who has undergone this treatment. For six weeks or more proceeding the treatment, the patient's skin and eyes becomes hypersensitive to light.

Therefore, direct contact with sunlight must be avoided if possible, even indoors. Hence, protective clothing must be worn if the patient were to go outside.

Other entailing conditions of photodynamic therapy include difficulty swallowing, coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

Although the conditions cited above are often considered temporary, they must not be taken lightly. Instead, you need to see your doctor if you notice some of the side effects of lung cancer treatments continue to persist.

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Lung Cancer Symptoms

2009-06-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

Most of the cases of this disease are asymptomatic - the disease is revealed as a result of routine radiological examination of the chest, but some patients also show symptoms and signs. The main symptoms include cough, dyspnea, wheeze, stridor and sometimes pneumonia due to bronchial obstruction.

If the tumour grows within the lung tissue it can cause pain. Sometimes patient can demonstrate symptoms of abscess formation due to tumour caviation. The spreading of tumour regionally can also result in dysphagia due to esophageal compression, hoarseness due to laryngeal nerve paralysis, dyspnea due to phrenic nerve paralysis and horner syndrome due to sympathetic nerve paralysis. Pancoasts syndrome is result of extension of tumour in the apex of the lungs which involves last cervical and first and second thoracic nerves compression of the nerves results in shoulder pain.

Cancer can spread in practically all organs. This type of cancer can spread in brain causing some neurological problems, in bones causing pain and fractures, bone marrow invasion causing cytopenias, liver metastases resulting in biochemical imbalance, adrenal metastases is also common but it does not results in insufficiency. systemic symptoms like anorexia, cachexia, suppressed immunity, weight loss, fever are general symptoms practically found in all patients in the later stages.

In some patients we can find hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia due to ectopic parathyroid hormone releasing tumours.

Skeletal-connective tissue syndrome that is clubbing of fingers can also be seen in some patients. Some times retinal blindness is seen in patients suffering from small cell cancer.

Dermatological manifestations like dermatomyositis and acanthosis nigricans are also seen in some patients but very rarely.

Did you know that Lung Cancer can be Treated. If you want to know more about the treatment then feel free to visit Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung Mesothelioma - Treatment Procedures

2009-06-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

In this article, we will see the procedures for the treatment of a person if he or she was diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma lung.

The doctor is usually in the lungs, with a specific cavity thoracoscopy. A cut in the chest and the device is in the breast between the two coasts. This procedure is considered Thorakoskopie. Local anesthesia is, in this patient. There is

usually quite experienced, but some significant pressure by the patient.

If the doctor finds abnormal growth of tissue, then the doctor cut a few pieces of fabric. These are then observed under a microscope to see the growth of cancer cells as possible. This process is called a biopsy. Biopsy in all forms of cancer, not the lungs of mesothelioma.

The treatment of lung disease can take three forms.

The first mode of treatment is the operation. This is the main treatment method. The doctor in the town of coating the lungs and surrounding tissue. Lung itself may also be deleted - this process is known as Pneumonektomie. Sometimes, part of the membrane of a muscle under the lungs, can also be removed.

The second is the treatment by radiation. This treatment uses x-rays of high energy to destroy cancer cells. The radiation source can be internal or external. If the radiation from a machine, if it is known as external radiotherapy. If Radioisotopes produce radiation are thin plastic tubes in the lungs, then it is also the internal radiation therapy.

While some fluid in the lungs, the breathing process, the doctor may decide to drain the fluid with a needle to stir in the chest. Suction can then be used for the liquid. The process of removing fluid from the chest is known as thoracentesis. The doctor may take a drug pipe in the lung to prevent further accumulation of fluids.

Common Causes of Lung Cancer

2009-06-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

There are a various risk factors that are linked to lung cancer. The most common known causes are as follows:

Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking is probably the most closely related link to developing lung cancer. A person who smokes two packs or more of cigarettes per day has a one in seven chance of developing lung cancer. Those that smoke one pack of cigarettes per day have a twenty-five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker. In addition, those people that smoke a pipe or cigar have a five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker.

The risk of developing lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over your lifetime. Cigarette smoking damages the cells in your lungs. The moment you stop smoking, your lungs begin healing themselves, replacing damaged cells with healthy, normal cells. Your risk of developing lung cancer begins decreasing almost immediately when you quit smoking. Every year that you do not smoke, your chances of developing lung cancer drop further. By the fifteenth year, your chances of developing lung cancer are about the same as those of a person who has never smoked.

Secondhand Smoke

Also known as passive smoking, people exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis will have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, even if they do not smoke themselves. Studies have shown that those who live with a smoker have a 24% greater risk of developing lung cancer than most non-smokers. Doctors estimate that about 3000 lung cancer deaths a year are related to secondhand smoke.

Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos is another well-known cause of lung cancer and mesothelioma - cancer of the pleural lining of the lungs. Asbestos was widely used in construction and everyday products in the late 1800s through the 1960s. Asbestos separates into fine silica fibers that become trapped in the tissues of the lungs. Mesothelioma is inextricably linked to asbestos exposure. There are no reported cases of mesothelioma in people who were not exposed to asbestos either in the workplace or through their environment. A non-smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a five times greater risk of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker who was not exposed. Smoking increases the risk dramatically - a smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a risk of developing lung cancer that is 50 to 90 times greater than that of a non-smoker.

Radon Gas

It is estimated that about 12% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to radon gas, a colorless, odorless gas that is a natural byproduct of the decay of uranium. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 15% of homes in the United States have unsafe levels of radon gas, which will account for 15,000 to 22,000 deaths from lung cancer annually.

Air Pollution

Scientists estimate that as many as 1% of all lung cancer deaths are attributable to air pollution. They believe that prolonged exposure to very polluted air can raise the risks of developing lung cancer to about the levels of a passive smoker.

Asbestos - Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer

2009-06-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

Asbestos has many appealing qualities for builders. It is strong, flexible and corrosion resistant. It is also burn resistant and a good insulator. There are not many substances with these qualities and may explain why it was so widely used. It becomes hazardous when asbestos containing materials are disturbed or damaged. Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers. When the materials become disturbed or damaged, these fibers separate and may become airborne. These fibers may get into the lungs and that may lead to serious and even fatal diseases. Some of these diseases include:

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers for an extended period of time causes it. This disease takes twenty five to forty years to develop. As asbestos fibers become trapped in your lungs, the body will produce an acid to try to eliminate these fibers. The continued production of the acid can eventually scar the tissues in your lungs. An excessive amount of scarring may cause the lungs to function improperly. This can lead to serious breathing difficulties. If asbestosis is left untreated, it may cause cardiac failure. At this time, there is no effective treatment for this disease. People who renovate or demolish buildings that contain asbestos have the greatest risk of getting asbestosis. The chances of getting this disease through physical contact with a person who works with asbestos are minimal. People who worked in naval shipyards were the first ones diagnosed with asbestosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the pleura (the outer membrane that encloses the lung and chest cavity) and/ or the peritoneum (the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity). In the United States, there are only about 3000 new cases of this disease annually. Exposure to asbestos has been the cause in all of the cases. The exposure in these cases lasted anywhere from fifteen to thirty years. Unlike other forms of cancer, there is only one known cause of mesothelioma. Studies indicate that people who work in areas that contain asbestos, such as mines, mills, factories, or shipyards, or who manufacture and install asbestos installation are at the greatest risk of getting mesothelioma. You are also at risk if you live with a worker exposed to asbestos or near any area containing asbestos. Studies also indicate that younger people are more likely to contract mesothelioma when they inhale asbestos. This is the reason why people are going to great lengths to protect school children from asbestos exposure.

Many cases of lung cancer can also be attributed to asbestos exposure. Lung cancer is actually the leading cause of death among all of the illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. You can aggravate the effects of lung cancer by about fifty percent if you start smoking. People who work in occupations where they are directly involved in the handling of asbestos are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer. Exposure to both asbestos and another carcinogen, such as cigarette smoke, puts you at greater risk of contracting lung cancer than exposure to asbestos alone. There was a study that indicated that exposure to asbestos and smoke makes you ninety times more likely to contract lung cancer than a person who is not exposed to either. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, breathing irregularities, chest pains and anemia. It usually takes fifteen to thirty years of exposure to asbestos to contract lung cancer.

Learn How To Prevent Lung Cancer

2009-06-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a malignant disease commonly associated with people who smoke heavily. It is estimated that a higher number of men are suffering from this form of cancer. Lately however, the number of women affected with lung cancer is steadily catching up with the number of men affected with the disease.

Diet is an important measure in preventing lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer for smokers and non-smokers alike are lowered when they eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Among the most important fruits and vegetables that should be included in your diet are apples, tomatoes, melons, mangoes, dark leafy greens and onions. Apple and onion are rich in cancer-fighting flavonoids. According to a study conducted in Finland, people who consume more apples are 58 percent less likely to develop lung cancer than those who do not eat apples at all.

Try to add some tomato sauce in your cooking. Research shows that tomatoes, especially cooked ones, seem to exhibit protective properties against lung cancer.

Taking in high amounts of beta-carotenes can also lower the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Carotenoid compounds are found in certain produce like peaches, mangoes, melon, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and green leafy vegetables. Beta-carotene supplement however should be avoided. A study conducted by a Finnish group indicated that an 18 percent rise in lung cancer cases was seen in heavy smokers who were taking beta-carotene supplements. Moreover, the National Cancer Institute researchers also stopped their study on the effects of vitamin A and beta-carotene after smokers who were taking the supplements showed 28 percent more lung cancer than those taking placebos.

Another important measure in the prevention of lung cancer is a routine medical check-up. This should also be accompanied with prophylactic medicines and supplements. An x-ray is necessary especially for those people who smoke and are at the age of 50 and above. A yearly chest x-ray will be especially beneficial for those people who are at high risk of developing lung cancer. A chest x-ray is a preventive measure done to screen for lung cancer. A routine chest x-ray will enable doctors to diagnose lung cancer early so that proper treatment procedures will be implemented.

Aspirin has been shown to ward off lung cancer especially when a dosage of 81 to 325 mg is taken daily. However, you should consult your doctor about the prophylactic advantage of taking aspirin since this form of therapy comes with known side effects.

Selenium that is often found in multivitamin and mineral supplements also shows properties that ward off cancer especially when taken over a long period of time. Some studies show that those who are taking selenium supplements exhibit about 46 percent lower lung cancer rate.

Vitamin C is also good in the prevention of lung cancer. Some studies suggest that people who regularly take 140 mg or more of vitamin C have lower risk of developing lung cancer than those who only get 90 mg or less of vitamin C dosage.

Lifestyle change is also vital in the prevention of lung cancer. People who smoke should consider quitting the habit. When a person stops smoking, his lung cancer risk is lowered by almost half in 10 years.

Finally, the second most common cause of lung cancer is exposure to radon, a colorless gas found in the ground. Test your home for any presence of radon. You can either buy a do-it yourself kit to check for radon which is available in your home supply stores or you can hire a professional to do it for you.

The 4 Stages of Lung Cancer

2009-06-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a disease that is very hard to cure with conventional medicine. About 80% of all cases of newly diagnosed lung cancer are the non-small cell type (NSCLC). A majority of these patients will
have inoperable disease on the basis of distant metastases or locally advanced disease. For the remaining patients with early stage disease as well as selected patients with locally advanced disease, surgery remains the best hope for cure.

Less than 15% of all patients can presently be expected to be cured of their disease. The changes that a patient has of being cured depends of the stage he/she is at. There are 4 stages of lung cancer and each stages requires different treatments, although none of these treatments unfortunately is very effective. Doctors may use several tests to accurately stage a lung cancer, including laboratory tests, X-rays, CT scans, bone scans, and MRI scans.

The 4 stages of lung cancer are

1) Stage 1 disease - Patients that have this early stage typically have no symptoms and most are cured with primary surgical excision. The tumors are mostly found on a routine chest radiograph. Nowadays many tumors are detected while they are still very small with computed tomography (CT). Morbidity and mortality increase with higher stages of disease and extended resections. The overall five-year survival for patients with completely resected stage I NSCLC is approximately 75%.

2) Stage 2 disease - Patients with T1-2N1 represent a small subset in the spectrum of this disease, usually comprising less than 10% of patients coming to surgery. The overall five-year survival of patients with Stage 2 tumors is approximately 50-60%. In this stage the tumors also start to invade the mediastinal pleura, fat, nerves, and pericardium, but not the major mediastinal vessels or organs.

3) Stage 3 disease - The preffered treatment for for patients in Stage 3 A is complete resection via lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Patients with left upper lobe tumors. have the best prognosis of all, with five-year survival rates as high as 42% when completely resected. Computed Tomography (CT) scanning 5 year survival rate is approximately 30% following complete surgical resection. Patients with Stage 3 B are considered inoperable. The five-year survival for patients with
T4 (carina) N0 tumors undergoing tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy has been reported to approach 20%.

4) Stage 4 disease - Surgery for this stage is only limited for young, healthy patients with a solitary site of metastatic disease, and an easily resectable primary tumor contained within the chest. Five-year survival in these patients should approach 20%. Even if a cure is not obtained, survival is prolonged and quality of life improved.

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First Symptoms of Lung Cancer

2009-06-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is the most lethal of malignant diseases worldwide and is still the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the USA. Although the overall deaths in Western Europe and United Stated have decreased since 1991, global lung cancer rates are expected to rise because of ongoing tobacco use.

For the majority of the time lung cancer is clinically silent because they grow from a single malignant
cell to a potentially detectable lesion. The majority of people already have the symptoms of lung cancer at the time of diagnosis. In only about 10% of cases is lung cancer discovered incidentally in an asymptomatic patient.

One of the first symptoms of lung cancer is cough, which occurs in 45-75% of patients. Cancer types with a predilection for central airway involvement may cause cough earlier in their course. But peripherally located tumors may only cause cough as a late symptom. A change in the character of a chronic cough, such as new hemoptysis or co-existent chills and fever, should raise suspicion of an additional process such as lung cancer.

Tumor involvement of the chest wall, parietal pleura, and mediastinum leads to chest pain as an initial symptom or complaint in 25-50% of patients. Other causes of pain include postobstructive pneumonitis, pulmonary embolism, and rib cage metastases.

5-8% of lung cancer patients experience hoarseness which is usually attributable to unilateral left vocal
paralysis resulting from damage to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve anywhere along its intrathoracic course.

Physical exam is a vital component of the lung cancer evaluation as it may provide important prognostic, diagnostic, and staging clues. The outside appearance may look normal or it may reveal debilitation, cachexia, lethargy, pallor, jaundice, fever, or significant comorbidities. Blood pressure irregularities can be seen in conjunction with neurologic or adrenal paraneoplastic phenomena.

A thorough nervous system examination is crucial, especially in patients with headache, sensorimotor complaints, and back pain. Unilateral lower extremity swelling, tenderness, and erythema may accompany deep venous thromboses.

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Cure Lung Cancer - Is Lung Cancer Curable?

2009-06-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

As you know, our lungs are the most vital organs of our body. It absorbs oxygen from the air and distributes it to different parts of our body; it also expels carbon dioxide from our body into the air. When however, malignant cells develop in our lungs, we suffer from lung cancer.In this article I will tell you whether lung cancer is curable or not.

Needless to say, the primary cause behind lung cancer is smoking. It is sad that even after a lot of government-sponsored propaganda against smoking and its ill-effects, people continue their smoking habits, without realizing how much they are damaging their bodies. And if you think that you only need to stop smoking in order to cure lung cancer, you are dead wrong! Along with abstaining from smoking yourself, you should also try to live and work in a smoke-free environment. This is because passive smoking can also affect your lungs as much as active smoking does.

There are many different symptoms of lung cancer. If you are coughing frequently, with so much pressure that blood is coming out of your lungs, then in all probability you are suffering from lung cancer. Also, if you are having difficulty in breathing, then too it is possible that you are suffering from lung cancer. However, mere occurrence of these symptoms should not lead you to believe that you have lung cancer. I'd suggest you consult with a professional doctor because only a qualified doctor can tell you whether you are suffering from lung cancer or not.

In order to diagnose lung cancer, your doctor will ask you to go through different types of tests. The common tests that are used to diagnose lung cancer are x-ray, sputum test, CT scans and biopsies.

And it is really easy to cure lung cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the two ways to cure lung cancer. Mostly, doctors use a combination of both the therapies in order to cure lung cancer. In some cases, surgery maybe used instead of radiation, especially if cancer has not spread beyond the lungs of the patient. However, these treatments are quite costly. So if you are not yet a lung cancer sufferer I'd recommend that you take immediate steps to prevent it. And the first step to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking.

Lycopene Lung Cancer Treatment

2009-06-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

Lycopene is what gives tomatoes, and several other fruits, their deep red color. But lycopene is also a powerful antioxidant that has shown remarkable effect on degenerative diseases. Tomatoes are the only major dietary source of lycopene. According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), tomatoes may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Lycopene is present naturally in human plasma in greater amounts than beta carotene and other essential dietary carotenoids. This may indicates its greater biological significance in the human defense system. The researchers in P&S and Harlem Hospital evaluated the association between lung cancer and lycopene.

Investigators collected blood samples from 93 individuals with non-small cell lung cancer and also from 102 matched controls, in a case-control study. They tested tested the samples for levels of certain micronutrients, including retinol, lycopene and beta-carotene.

The researchers found no significant differences between control subjects and subjects with lung cancer. in most of the micronutrients for which they did the tests. But they did find that lung cancer patients had significantly lower concentrations of lycopene.

After adjusting for age, race, sex, drinking, smoking, vitamin supplements, occupational exposure and season, the investigators found that the group with the lowest levels of lycopene, had almost a three-fold increased risk for cancer compared with the group with the highest lycopene levels.

When the investigators evaluated current smokers, they found that the group with the lowest lycopene blood levels had four times the risk of cancer than the group with the highest lycopene levels. According to Dr. Jean G. Ford, assistant professor of medicine and principal investigator:

"We concluded from our findings that low intake of lycopene may be a risk factor for lung cancer, especially for smokers. Even though our findings are preliminary, they add to the growing body of evidence that diets rich in tomatoes and tomato products are strongly linked to a reduced risk of certain types of cancer."

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Causes of Lung Cancer Are Mainly Due to Cigarette Smoking

2009-06-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a respiratory disease. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the United States with more than 170,000 cases being diagnosed each year. The level of occurrences for women is rising rapidly. Unfortunately, early treatment for the disease is rare because early detection is rare.

Risks factors: What are the causes. Facts about this disease. How do you get it?

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of this disease and is believed to be responsible for over 80% of the occurrences. Cigarette smoking is not only the chief cause of this cancerous growth in the lung, it is also the single biggest cause of cancer deaths. Ironically, it is one of the most preventable causes of cancer deaths in our society.
Other causes of malignancy in the lung include over exposure to asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, coal products, ionizing radiation, iron oxide, nickel, petroleum, uranium, and various other chemicals.

Detecting lung cancer early is difficult. The symptoms of this malignancy include:

Persistent cough
Breathing difficulty
Wheezing and fatigue
Chronic upper respiratory tract infections
Pus or blood-streaked sputum
Chest tightness or chest pain
Repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia

Dealing with the effects of lung cancer and finding a cure for it is rather illusive especially given the fact that early detection is difficult.

Traditional treatment

Surgery Surgery is the most effective treatment, but only one-half of the cases can be treated by surgery by the time the disease is detected. Surgery is not performed if cancer cells are found in nearby lymph nodes.
Drugs
Radiation and chemotherapy Radiation is used to treat localized lesions and malignancies not treatable by surgery. Chemotherapy is especially prescribed for oat-cell carcinoma.

Prevention and recommendation

Early detection of the symptoms is rare. Even though it is highly recommended that proper screening for cancer symptoms be done regularly because early recognition of their symptoms is crucial for successful treatment and recovery, generally, by the time lung cancer symptoms are evident, metastasis has already taken place.

The symptoms for this disease, unfortunately, are usually detected when the disease is already advanced. It is of absolute importance, therefore, that serious efforts at prevention be undertaken.

Preventative efforts that should be undertaken include the following:

Quit smoking. Since cigarette smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer deaths and the most preventable cause of cancer death in our society, cessation of smoking is the single biggest preventive action in combating this lung disease.
Another good practice is to start getting educated about the dangers of not only cigarette smoking but also about the dangers of over exposure to asbestos and environmental irritants.
Adopt a healthy life style

In reiteration, prevention is one's best defense against this disease. By the time the symptoms are noticed, the prognosis is usually poor and the long term survival rate is not good. The statistics for this malignancy are not promising. Even if the disease is localized, the survival rate is only 35% and the overall average survival rate for all persons afflicted with the disease is only 13%.

More detailed information on this topic can be found at Lung Cancer symptoms

What is Mesothelioma Lung Cancer and What Should You Do If You Have It

2009-06-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

Since the mining days, the workers on the mining sites especially the ones with asbestos, suffered sooner or later from a form of cancer which is known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which affects people due to prolonged exposure to asbestos dust, fiber etc.

This form of cancer affects the lining along the walls of the internal organs which is known as mesothelium. It mainly is prominent in the lungs and the chest walls. Working with asbestos is said to be the main cause of mesothelioma lung cancer and is believed to be more prominent in men than in women.

If a person who is suffering form mesothelioma lung cancer and believes that the onset of the disease is due to his past working experience in an asbestos mining site, then the affected person can file a lawsuit against the mining company. By filing a lawsuit the affected person cannot improve his health conditions but can definitely hope to provide sufficient compensation for his hospitalization and care and his family benefits.

In order to file a lawsuit, an mesothelioma affected person can do so individually or in a group of similarly affected people. If a group of people file a lawsuit, then its known as a class action lawsuit and will have to have certain benefits for the affected persons. This is because, class action lawsuits will have to have a deadline set for settlement and the group can be represented by an mesothelioma class action lawyer.

Howsoever you go for a lawsuit, your lawyer and law firm should have the required expertise in the field of mesothelioma compensation. A good lawyer can derive from his past experience and help you to decide what should be the right form of action and procedures.

You should always be in touch with your lawyer about the case and the status of the lawsuit so that if any information is required from your side, it can be communicated as soon as is possible. When you retain your mesothelioma lawyer you should check out what their payment terms and conditions are. Most of the mesothelioma lawyers do not charge their mesothelioma affected clients with any form of fees till the case is settled.

When the case is lost, the mesothelioma lawyer does not charge the client any compensation for his item and effort. On the other hand , if the affected client has won the compensation , then the lawyer will get a percentage of the winnings. This ensures that the lawyer will be putting 100% in the case and there will be no fraudulent scenarios. So these conditions can be reviewed by the client at the onset of a new case so that there is no confusion regarding the lawyer's fees and other charges later on.

If you are in doubt as to whether to consult a mesothelioma lawyer, do proceed towards a reputed law firm, as most of the mesothelioma lawyers do not charge for a consultation. After the free consultation if you decide not to go through with a mesothelioma lawsuit, you will have no obligations towards the lawyers.

Misdiagnosis of Lung Cancer

2009-06-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

A frequently diagnosed cancer is that of the lung. It is second to cancer of the breast in women and of the prostate in men. Every year lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form. There is no cure for it and depending on how early the diagnosis and the treatments given will determine the outcome of the disease.

Early diagnosis is important. A misdiagnosis can be overwhelming to a patient and the consequences are heartbreaking. Representing individuals and families are medical malpractice attorneys. They will evaluate your claim free of charge.

How Misdiagnosis of Lung Cancer Occur

A missed or wrong diagnosis can lead to delays in treatment, wrong treatments or no treatments at all. Many factors can cause a doctor's mistake. Some include:

Mistaking the lung cancer as another condition - bronchitis or tuberculosis, for example
Failing to perform necessary tests such as x-rays, biopsies and/or MRIs
Misinterpreting test results
Failing to obtain full medical history - for instance, whether a patient suffered toxic exposure such as asbestos or is a smoker
Mistaking symptoms of another condition for cancer when no cancer is present
Identifying a tumor as benign when it's malignant, or vice versa

There are various types that can be misdiagnosed including primary, secondary, small cell, non-small cell and mesothelioma.

What Happens When Lung Cancer Is Misdiagnosed

If this is not diagnosed correctly or early enough the patient may go through the following:

No treatment is started
The wrong treatment is given
Needless treatment is initiated

A misdiagnosis of any cancer can dramatically decrease the survival rate of a patient. It can also lead to a sudden death.

Victims of Misdiagnosis Have Legal Rights

There is a standard of care a doctor must succumb to that an individual is entitled to. When a doctor or other medical staff does not provide this level of care, they are acting negligently and they may be subjected to a lawsuit if an error occurs. Victims have legal rights in all situations regarding health and medical care. One right is the right to compensation for the damages they endured. Every case is different depending on the situation. Compensation can include:

Treatment expenses
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of a loved one
Loss of financial support

Are You Eligible for Compensation?

If you were a victim of a misdiagnosis of lung cancer, a medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case at no cost to determine if you are eligible for some compensation. If they determine you do have a claim, they will advise you of your legal options.

Human Genome Project For Lung Cancer

2009-06-05T02:37:00.000-07:00

The human genome project was started to map the human genome right until the nucleotide level and then identify all the human genes. The genome of human beings is the human genome. A Genome is a full set of chromosomes. Studying this genome can result in a lot of findings that can be applied to cure diseases. One of the primary beneficiaries of this is that the biological changes due to any disease in the genome can be found out and hence therapy can be formulated to battle against cancer due to results from the human genome project for lung cancer.

A study which was the human genome Project for lung cancer was recently conducted by a group of international scientists to study the underlying effects on genes when you have lung cancer. They were effectively trying to map the genetic changes to the lung cancer. The results of this study indicate the presence of a number of undiscovered genes in the lung cancer cells. Apart from this the scientists discovered a critical gene alteration. This provides more targets for therapy. Apart from the increased potential to formulate new strategies for therapy, this increases the knowledge of the biology of lung cancer and thus will be able to answer the question "how does lung cancer begin?" It has served to find the missing pieces of the puzzle and this research is beneficial for other types of cancers too. This is because the findings from this series of tests indicate a general procedure that should be followed for other types of cancer as well.

It is known that lung cancer arises from changes in the DNA that accrue throughout a person's life. Hence studying the human genes and mapping the changes to lung cancer allows the researchers to find out the specific changes that occur in the genes that contribute to lung cancer. It is because of the lack of this knowledge that researchers are not able to find better treatment for cancer. The Human Genome Project for Lung Cancer attempts to bridge this divide and thus make discoveries that can be translated to effective therapy for lung cancer patients. The study conducted by these international scientists has managed to pinpoint the exact gene that regulates the activity of cancer cells. This is a huge step towards understanding the genetic alterations and the effect it has on the cancer. The key goal is to identify vulnerabilities in the cancer cells so that it can be taken advantage of while trying to remove cancer cells from the body. This is possible only by learning as much as possible about the cancer by pinpointing specific genetic changes in the lung. This helps in the drug formulations. With the knowledge that only a select group of cells control cancerous growth, drugs can formulated to specifically target those group of cells hence making the drug extremely effective in removing cancer cells.

This study was just a pilot project for the bigger study to follow. The next Human Genome Project for lung cancer study will try to unearth all the possible genetic causes of lung cancer. The results expected from the next project are expected to be comprehensive and to enhance the knowledge about the genetic causes of lung cancer. It can increase the number of general facts on lung cancer.

You can visit our website for more information about Cancer and Sarcoma. We have a lot of articles about Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Sarcoma Muscle Cancer, ...

Is Lung Cancer Really Caused By Smoking

2009-06-05T02:35:00.000-07:00

For many years, there has been a large debate going on as to whether or not lung cancer is caused by smoking. Naturally, tobacco and cigarette manufacturers maintain that they are not responsible for people getting the disease. But now, the scientific world can safely say that lung cancer is really caused by smoking after so many years of research, studies and tests.

As a result of their extensive research, scientists have found out that cancer-causing substances called “carcinogens” which are present in tobacco and cigarettes cause the breakdown and mutation of cells, making them grow and multiply at an abnormally fast rate. What this translates to is that the more you ingest these carcinogens for a prolonged period of time, the more that you become a high-risk candidate for cancer. It has been proven that the longer period of time you have smoked and the amount of cigarettes you’ve consumed in this timeframe directly relates to lung cancer being caused by smoking. And if you don’t stop, you up the ante even more. You’re really digging yourself an early grave and you’ll just be part of the statistics that show how lung cancer is caused by smoking.

Also, if you’re a non-smoker and you think that you’re home-free from the lung cancer caused by smoking, you better think again because you’re gravely mistaken. Second hand smokers, those who accidentally or incidentally inhale cigarette or tobacco smoke from smokers around them are also at risk for lung cancer. If you’re regularly exposed to people and places with a high incidence of smoking, like bars and such, you have to keep tabs on your health and visit your doctor if you ever experience symptoms like persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss and loss of appetite as these are the more common signs of lung cancer and other lung-related problems.

However, you don’t need to wait for the symptoms to show before you go and visit your doctor. These symptoms generally appear when the disease has already started. Although the statistics show very ominous figures about lung cancer caused by smoking, lung cancer is easily prevented. It is much better to prevent it by stopping yourself from smoking at the soonest possible time. If you leave it too late, the disease might have gone too far along to be considered treatable and curable.

Treatment of lung cancer will vary depending on the diagnosis of the patient – is the patient a high-risk candidate, what is his present health condition, how far along has the disease progressed. Doctors will almost always start with an action plan to quit smoking. No matter what treatments or medication they give you if you don’t stop smoking, then you’re not really killing the cause of your affliction. If a tumor is found during a regular biopsy, then surgery to remove the tumor might be recommended. However, not all tumors can be removed because of their size and location. In such cases, radiation therapy such as chemotherapy may be the next step. There are side effects to such a treatment and you should consult and discuss with your doctor about the extent of these.

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Mesothelioma Cancer and Surviving

2009-06-05T02:32:00.000-07:00

The cancer is rarely found in the United States, with less than 5000 victimized people. Generally, the older generation has been found to be the most affected.

Types of Treatment Available
Surgery is the first treatment that the majority of patients go through. The malignant tumor masses are easily removed during surgery. A rather dangerous treatment, sends drugs throughout the body to further reach the cancer areas. Another treatment is using radiation; x-rays in high form. Radiation kills the mesothelioma cells.

Treatment by Chemical is given as a pill to injected into a vein. It can also be injected into the muscle. It is primarily used to target the local area of the tumor. During treatment, patients experience extreme side effects: vomiting, hair loss, nausea, exhaustion, and anorexia. Side effects are harbored specifically with treatments.

Chemotherapy can use a one-pill treatment that has success. Patients have better experiences with this type, also referred to single-agent therapy. Specific agents used are as follows: doxorubicin, carboplatin, mitomucin, cyclophosphamide, Ifosdomide and cisplatin. The response rate to these drugs range depending upon the drug.

A list of the rates follows below along with the related drug:

15% response- doxorubicin, detrorubucin, pirarubicin, and epirubicin.
10%-20%- carboplatin, mitomucin, cyclophosphamide, Ifosdomide and cisplatin.
14%- listed again is cisplatin.
36%- cisplatin, a rare case that lasted two to eight months.

The response rates are proven to be extremely low when using single-agent chemotherapy. Scientists are driven to study a number of treatment combinations for mesothelioma cancer patients. They have increased the response rates up to 44%, but still lack effectiveness. The combination treatments are not being used often enough for dramatic changes, slimming the effects on patients to single-agent therapy. A newer combination showing a 47% response rate uses a more recent agent called gemcitabine. The agent is used in combination with cisplatin. This research was performed in Australia by Australian researchers and has proven survival results with Stage III and IV patients. The research ran for 25 weeks and given a chance for survival at 41%.

Given all the regimes for treating people, new research brings more treatments and the tools needed to perform. Doctors are getting many more patients and better at predicting the appropriate regime for specific patients. Patients are diagnosed based on their age and the cancer stage of Mesothelioma they are in.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Lung Cancer Away

2009-06-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

With a functional food that is available all year around, this is an excellent opportunity to discuss the beneficial properties of a popular fruit apple. Apples are composed with a very important source of phytochemical call phenolic compounds which are antioxidant and possess chemotherapy proprieties. Phytochemical are molecules with positive health properties. Furthermore, one apple (1/4 pound) has 1,500 milligram of vitamin C. No doubt, the regular consumption can have numerous health benefits.

A epidemiological study at the Brigham and Woman's Hospital and Harvard Medical School conducted among 125,000 American showed a reduced of 20% less chance of developing lung cancer for none smoker who regularly consumed one apple per day. A similar study was observed in Finland on elderly peoples.

However, it is important to note that the strong antioxidant activity depends on eating whole fruit (except the cork). You need to eat the fruit unpeeled.

The phytochemical of the apple are indeed in much higher concentration in the skin than in its flesh and peeling apples cuts in half their antioxidant potential. The reason is quit simple; the apple protects itself by chemical warfare against insects, bacteria and fungus. The first line of defense, since the apple can not run away is its peel where the fruit pack its defense. In addition to their strong antioxidant activity, multiple cancer research laboratories have shown that the apple phytochemical have the capacity to interfere with the 4 basic processes involved in the development of cancer.

Want to find more about the development of cancer go to cancer knowledge base.

Yanick Bertand PhD has a passion to educate people in the fight against cancer. Through his many years of research on biological impacts to cancer, Yanick Bertand has discovered that a reaction occurs when we fight cancer with nutritional elements - such as the food that we eat. In his research on the fight against cancer, Yanick has come across critical information that is not known by the general public. It is Yanick's desire to educate the public on how they can help fight cancer

Lung Cancer Symptoms - Disease and Treatment Options

2009-06-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

The picture of lung disease is that of no hope. Lung cancer affects millions of Americans and others around the world. Understanding the symptoms, treatments, causes such as smoking, and signs will help to increase awareness of this debilitating lung disease. This section of the website is devoted to helping to promote awareness of this disease.

Just what is Lung cancer? It's a condition in which cancerous cells grow uncontrollably and reproduce cause devastating effects on the lungs. Healthy cells are replaced by abnormal cells that turn into tumors that destroy the lungs.

There are tow main types of lung disease. They are non-small cell which current accounts for 80% of diagnosed cases, and small cell making up the remaining 20%. Lung cancer usually always starts in just one lung. If left untreated, it can spread to other vital organs of the body as well such as the lymph nodes, the brain, bones, and liver just to name a few.

Although over eighty percent of patients develop lung disease due to smoking, this is not the all-inclusive cause. Studies have shown that many environmental factors influence the probability of contracting lung cancer. Such factors include environmental pollution, toxic gas emissions, and exposure to carcinogens such as in asbestos and other toxic inhalants.

Small cell is most often caused by smoking tobacco. The early symptoms and signs of this form of lung disease may show up as persistent coughing that gradually increases over time, sputum changes in color and quantity, excessive wheezing, loss of appetite and chronic fatigue. Other related symptoms could include rapid weight loss, unexplained back pain, and swelling in the face and neck.

Like all cancers, early detection is the key to increasing the survival rate. Doctors may use a variety of tests to diagnose cancer cells in the lungs. These include a physical examination accompanied with advanced image scanning of the chest and lungs.

The following tests may be used to diagnose lung cancer: CT scans (takes 2 dimensional x-ray pictures of the lungs), chest x-rays of the lung cavity, MRI or magnetic Resonance Imaging, PET scan or Positron Emission Tomography which uses cellular reactivity to sugar, and a biopsy which is removing part of the tissue for further microscopic examination.

Other no so intrusive tests may incorporate the use of a bronchoscop where the physician is able see the lungs and surrounding areas through a small hollow tube that magnifies the images, and sputum cytology - where a sample phlegm is taken and analyzed with a high powered microscope for abnormal cell growth and tissue.

Doctors have a variety of methods in lung caner treatment. They include the use of various conventional medical practices such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiological therapy. Once a diagnosis of confirmed, only then will your doctor design a treatment plan that will be most effective. This all depends on your current health, how advanced the cancer is, and on whether the cancer has mastasized.

The way to protect yourself is to increase your awareness by visiting information sites that contain pictures, photos, and new articles about this disease. Prevention is the key, and if you are beyond that, then early detection holds the greatest chance of your survival rate. Your may want to look into alternative treatments as well which will be available from this site with promising results.

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Mesothelioma Treatment - How Does the Stage of Tumor Affect the Mode of Treatment For Mesothelioma

2009-06-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

The stage (extent) of a mesothelioma is an important factor in determining treatment options. Treatment option used is also based on the patients state of general health and individual preferences. The stage of the tumor most importantly helps to determine whether the tumor is resectable {operable} or not.

Mesotheliomas are very resistant to treatment irrespective of their stage and it is always very important for the patient to know the goal of his or her own treatment before it is commenced, the patient should know whether the aim of the treatment plan is curative or whether it is palliative. The patient must also be informed about the likely side effects and benefits of the treatment. All these will help the patient to make up his/her mind on the preferred mode of treatment.

Early Stage Mesothelioma

Most stage I and some stage II and III mesotheliomas are potentially resectable, but there are exceptions. Resectability is based not only on the size of the tumor, but also on the histological {cellular type} of the cancer with the epitheliod histological type been the most favorable for surgery. Also the location of the tumor and the general state of health of the victim are also considered before surgery is recommended.

Many patients with resectable pleural mesothelioma undergo pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy operations to surgically remove their tumors. Patients with peritoneal mesotheliomas in an early stage might also benefit from surgery. Surgery is more likely to result in long-term benefit in stage I cancers, where there is a better chance that most or all of the cancer can be removed. Some patients can have long remissions after extensive surgery by experts. Surgery may still be helpful for later stage cancers, but the benefits are often temporary.

The use of Chemotherapy and radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy to surgery is also very common, they may also be used as the main therapy in early stage of the tumor if the tumor is not operable due to a poor general state of health.

Other forms of surgery for palliative purposes like thorancentesis can also used to alleviate symptoms in the early stages of the cancer.

Finally a patient can also opt to take part in a clinical trial to help to discover new forms of treatment.

Late Stage Mesothelioma

Stage IV mesotheliomas, as well as many earlier stage mesotheliomas, are not resectable by surgery because of the extent of the disease or because a person may not be able to tolerate an operation. The main treatment options at these stage include chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the tumor mass and relieve some of the symptoms of the diseases. The aim of treatment at this stage is not curative and these modes of treatments have serious side effects which the patient must be aware of.
Patient should also consider taking part in available clinical trials as there is little hope of survival using the conventional methods of treatment.

Pain management is another important aspect of the care of terminally ill patients. Some minor operations and types of radiation therapy can help relieve pain if needed. Doctors can also prescribe strong pain-relieving drugs. Some people with cancer may hesitate to use opioid drugs (such as morphine) for fear of being sleepy all the time or becoming addicted to them. But many people get very effective pain relief from these medicines without serious side effects. It's very important to let your doctor know if you are having pain so that it can be treated effectively.

Recurrent mesotheliomas

Some mesotheliomas may recur (come back) after the initial treatment. If this happens, further treatment options depend on the location of the cancer and the kind of treatment that was previously prescribed for the patient. Most of the time treatment is limited only to palliative treatments. Chemotherapy could be used to shrink the tumor and provide relief for symptoms. Clinical trials should be highly considered as there is very little hope of any improvement with the use of traditional treatments.

Lung Cancer 101 What You Need to Know About

2009-06-03T02:24:00.002-07:00

Accounting about for 14% of all cancers and 28% of all cancer deaths, Lung Cancer is now the major cause of deaths (of both men and women) in the United States apart from being the most prevalent species of cancer. Lung Cancer is different from benign cancer tumours (which do not generally spread to other parts of the body affecting only the part which is hit by it) as Lung Cancer (having the ability to start anywhere in the respiratory systems or lungs) CAN spread to different organs of the body.

Concerned!! You have a reason to be and make yourself rest assured that a little information will not suffice and thus, you need to know more. This is where the website comes in; to make you more aware about the causes and the results of such a disease or rather we can call it such a life threatening disease. It is said ‘Prevention is better than Cure’ and we thereby to safeguard you against this deadly disease provide you with the best of information so that you can avoid being engulfed by it because we care.

For acquiring knowledge about anything I think one should start from the basics and that is precisely what is offered to you by the site as soon as you visit it. The very basics of the disease are provided so as to make it much simpler for the pursuer to comprehend and assimilate the information associated with the said disease and provided in the site further. The site here deals with the nature of the disease. The next information tab on the website is of the causes of the lung cancer followed by the symptoms of the disease. Here it provides material relating to the different factors which can cause the disease. The website further deals with the symptoms that can indicate and help identify the formulation of the preliminary stages of the disease (though difficult to be detected) so that adequate measures can be taken at the earliest possible opportunity. A basic question can arise now that what is the result of the disease? If you are worried about life, then yes it can take it away and this is precisely the reason the website promotes information on this disease in the interest of the masses so as reduce the number of the people affected by the killer disease. The site apart from the above also provides information of what kind of diagnosis will help, what treatment to be adopted and what surgery to be undergone. Quite handy!! Isn’t it?

Viewing the site on the whole, the site provides a perfect blend of information and warning about the disease. The material collected is very comprehensive and the mode of communicating with the viewer of the site is commendable. Looking at the way of depicting the information creates an impact on the viewer and gives an effect of the information to be reliable.

What are the Three Main Symptoms to Lung Cancer?

2009-06-03T02:24:00.001-07:00

The main three symptoms to lung cancer that should not be ignored are shortness of breath, pain when breathing or coughing, and existence of a persistent cough, especially if it is accompanied by expectoration of sputum streaked with blood. Additionally, loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual losses of weight are three symptoms, which are indicative of lung cancer.

Because of the non-specific nature of symptoms of Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma tests are imperative to rule out incidence of the disease when lung cancer symptoms show up. Early detection of Mesothelioma cancer substantiated by clear information of patient’s exposure to asbestos can help define the course of treatment.

Early Detection Of Mesothelioma Cancer In Long Term Health Prognosis

The length of time between asbestos exposure and onset of lung cancer symptoms can be between 15-50 years. Therefore a complete medical history and information of possible asbestos exposure are critical in identifying patients who are prone for developing Mesothelioma lung cancer.

During physical tests for Mesothelioma lung cancer, the doctor may check breath sounds to see whether there is any indication of fluid in the chest cavity. A variety of diagnostic procedures also help to determine whether a patient has Mesothelioma lung cancer.

Results from imaging scans, tissue biopsies, pulmonary function tests, and other diagnostic techniques, combined with the findings from a careful medical history help to define the course of treatment in Mesothelioma lung cancer.

There are less common but more uncomfortable symptoms of lung cancer, which are usually associated with advanced stages of the disease. Such lung cancer or Mesothelioma patients may exhibit symptoms like a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face or in the neck, pain or discomfort under the ribs, and shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs.

If you suspect that you or any of your family members have lung cancer symptoms– DO NOT DELAY – consult your physician right away.

Radon Gas -- The Cost of Saving 20,000 Lives

2009-06-03T02:18:00.000-07:00

20,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer caused by exposure to radon -- a preventable health hazard.

How much would it cost the U.S. government to save those lives? Let’s estimate.

The population of the United States is about 300,000,000.

Based on the most recent U.S. census, the average family size is slightly more than 3 people.

Discounting apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, and other similar forms of housing (in which “per person” costs of radon testing and radon repairs are lower than in single houses), let’s come to the assumption that every 3-person family in the United States lives in a single-family home.

That’s 100,000,000 homes.

Since a short-term radon test kit has an average cost of $20, testing every home in the United States would cost $2,000,000,000.

Of the tested homes, roughly 7% would have a dangerous concentration of radon.

This means that of the 100,000,000 households in the U.S. about 7,000,000 would require some sort of repairs to lower the radon concentration to a safe level.

Radon repairs run a gamut from $500 to $2500. But let’s assume a high standard cost of $2000, to be safe.

The cost of repairing each of these homes would add up to $14,000,000,000.

The combined cost of testing and repairing every home in the United States would therefore be $16,000,000,000.

Now, let’s put this number in perspective.

$1,000,000,000 is the cost of one B-2 stealth bomber.

$16,400,000,000 is the NASA budget for next year.

$196,996,000,000 is the current cost of the Iraq war.

So, how much does it cost to save 20,000 lives?

16 stealth bombers, a year’s work from NASA, or 8% of the Iraq war effort.

Crouton Verne runs Radon Kills, a blog about radon gas, its link to lung cancer, your risk, and what you can do about it.

Asbestos Health Concerns

2009-06-02T02:11:00.000-07:00

Asbestos was once used widely in commercial and residential building projects. It is a strong substance that is even stronger than steel. It also is unaffected by heat, chemicals and does not conduct electricity. This all combined made asbestos a great building material. However, throughout the years many health problems have been associated with asbestos. Health problems first showed up in people that worked closely with asbestos, but it was soon realized that even those who did not work closely with it, but were exposed to it may also suffer health problems.

There are a few different types of asbestos. Chrysotile, called white asbestos is the most common form of asbestos used in the United States. Amosite or brown asbestos is made from light gray or brown fibers. Crocidolite or blue asbestos is made of blue fibers. Chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite are forms of asbestos that were most commonly used to make products. Such products include building materials, sewage piping, roofing, siding, electrical wire casing, tiles, paints and other construction materials. Asbestos was also used in automobiles for clutch and brake parts. In industrial settings asbestos was used for filters in beverage machines, flooring and cigarette filters. Asbestos was used on a great level for a variety of products thus making the discovery of its health risks important for everyone.

Asbestos is dangerous when breathed in. It is very hard to determine if asbestos is present in the air as it does not cause immediate problems like coughing or itchiness. Symptoms may not appear for 10 to 40 years after being exposed. Diseases caused by asbestos are hard to treat and most often impossible to cure. Asbestosis is one common asbestos related disease. It causes an inflammation in the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare asbestos disease that is a cancer of the outside lining of the lungs and abdomen. Asbestos has also been associated with other forms of lung cancer. Asbestos related diseases are very painful.

Asbestos is no longer used due to the health concerns surrounding it. Asbestos is most dangerous when a product made from it is bothered and the dust is released into the air. The only way to safely handle and detect asbestos is through a professional trained to work with asbestos.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance author based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and contributes on a regular basis to FreeNetPublishing.com .

Stop Smoking Now!

2009-06-02T02:10:00.000-07:00

My wife just walked by and said, "What are you doing?"

I said, "I'm writing an article on smoking. I'm against it!"

Smoking is a habit that is hard to break. Some years ago I stood by with a man’s son and watched his father gasp for air as he passed on to the great beyond. He had quit smoking, but too late. His vital capacity was too far gone.

Vital Capacity is determined by measuring the amount of air you take in with each breath. In the test you take a deep breath and then blow it out into a device that tells your doctor the volume of air dispelled. The more you smoke, the lower your vital capacity. This limits your activity when your lungs no longer expand enough to take in sufficient vital oxygen from the air that has only about 19% to begin with. That’s why my friend’s father was breathing pure oxygen in the hospital. Still, he could not get enough oxygen to save his life. We had said our goodbyes to a good father and a good friend.

Cigarette smokers double their risk of heart attack. They are at even more risk from sudden cardiac death. Stroke kills more young smokers than nonsmokers.

The American Cancer Society said some years back that when you stop smoking:

Within 15 minutes: Blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature of hands and feet return to normal.

Within 8 hours: Carbon monoxide level drop to normal and oxygen level increase to normal. (Carbon monoxide is a deadly poison.)

Within 24 hours: Heart attack risk decreases. Now isn't that good to know? You will be able to say, "I quit smoking yesterday and I'm probably not going to have a heart attack today."

Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start regrowing and your ability to smell and taste increases. Did you know that cigarette smoking stops nerve growth? Neither did I.

Within 2 weeks to 3 months : Circulation improves, walking is easier and LUNG FUNCTION increases up to 30%. Now, that is a great benefit, isn't it?

Within 1 to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia regrow in the lungs with increased ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection. It takes a while if you've been smoking a long time, but the relief must be wonderful. My friends that have quit say it certainly is.

Within 1 year: Excess risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. That's good.

Within 5 years: Lung cancer death rate of a FORMER one-pack-a-day smoker decreases almost one-half. (Stoke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker after 5-15 years.) Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of smokers. I've had friends that had to speak with a device or from their stomach after cancer surgery on their throat and esophagus. It's very sad to see that in light of that it could have been prevented. Some comunities have stopped chewing tobacco companies from giving chewing tobacco away at rodeos where it easily can get into the hands of children. Can you think of anything worse than mouth cancer?

Within 10 years: The lung cancer death rate is the same as nonsmokers. Precancerous cells are replaced. Risk of death from cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Did you get that? Precancerous cells are replaced. With good cells, I presume.

Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker. So now you are back to normal.

The other night I saw a young woman on television who said that she stopped smoking for financial reasons.

Think about it.

If you put $600 dollars each year into a stock mutual fund, annuity, or other financial instrument that generates 5% annually, you will have over TWENTY GRAND after 20 years. That’s if you add it in one chunk each year. The $600 figure assumes that you are spending $50 each month on cigarettes. I know that many are spending a lot more.You will have more if you invest $50 monthly rather than saving until you get $600 at the end of the year.

Okay! I know human nature. You won’t save the money.

YOU WILL SAVE YOUR NECK!

I read on the internet that Phillip Morris® has licensed two Chinese companies to make their cigarette brands. The Third World Market is what the cigarette companies are after.

Don’t be taken in by the Phillip Morris® television ads that tell you to go to their site to learn how to quit smoking. Television ads are used for two purposes. They either sale product or they enhance brand name recognition. It is illegal for Phillip Morris® to sale product. So what are they doing with their ads? You guessed it!

The Link Between Asbestos Exposure and Smoking

2009-06-02T02:06:00.000-07:00

It is common knowledge that smoking is hazardous to one’s health. Additionally, many people know that exposure to asbestos is very dangerous and can lead to the development of the disease mesothelioma. What many people do not know, however, is that when smoking and asbestos exposure are combined, both of the harmful elements work together to create a much higher risk for the development of mesothelioma, or other types of cancers.

Cigarettes have many harmful chemicals that break down the lungs and can be leading causes in cancer. Asbestos exposure also exposes the lung to harmful chemicals that weaken your body’s defenses against cancers and other lung problems. Studies have found that cigarette smokers have a four to eleven times greater chance of getting lung cancer than non-smokers. If a person is a heavy smoker, than the number goes up to twenty-seven times as likely. Adding a heavy smoker to asbestos exposure sends the probabilities for lung cancer skyrocketing. In fact, heavy smokers with a history of asbestos exposure have a 50 to 90 times greater chance of having lung cancer. Needless to say, heavy smoking and large amounts of asbestos exposure will almost certainly lead to lung cancer.

Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos have higher occurrences of COPD than people who have not been exposed to asbestos. Some of the terrible effects of COPD are the inflammation and eventual destruction of small airways in the lung tissue. Once these tissues have been destroys, some people can be completely debilitated.

Studies have shown that people who quit smoking, but still had asbestos exposure are less likely to have lung cancer than those people who continue to smoke. Some say that COPD can be reversed the longer time is spent without smoking. Additionally, people who are able to quit smoking often feel healthier over time and significantly increase their life expectancy. Even though any amount of smoking or asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer, the sooner one quits, the better off he or she will be.

Asbestos exposure is very harmful for anyone. However if you know that you have been exposed to asbestos, and continue to smoke, you are playing with fate. The sooner someone stops smoking, the sooner his or her lungs can begin to heal. Mesothelioma and other cancers are very serious diseases that often end in death. In order to stay alive for loved ones, smokers should quit immediately.

Smoking and Cancer - Could You Be Killing Your Family?

2009-05-26T03:34:00.000-07:00

Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in the developed world. It is connected with some of the most serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Here we'll have a look at the effect of smoking on cancer.

Smoking and cancer - the facts

Thousands of cancer deaths a year are caused by smoking. It is estimated that 30% of all cancer deaths in the USA can be put down to smoking. When you look at cancers of the organs most affected by smoking the figures are even more shocking. About 87% of lung cancers are due to smoking. And even if you are a non-smoker you are not in the clear. It is thought that that 3,000 people a year die from lung cancer as a result of passive smoking - breathing in the smoke from other people's cigarettes. It's a sad thought that smokers could be killing the people closest to them; their friends, family and loved ones.

How does smoking cause cancer?

Cigarette smoke contains a mix of over 4,000 chemicals, of which at least 60 are known to be carcinogenic (cancer-forming). These include benzene, cadmium, chromium and polonium-210 (radon). Because smoking is highly addictive the body is exposed to these carcinogens on a repetitive basis. These substances cause the DNA in cells to alter and this can lead to cancer.

Will quitting help?

If you give up smoking you will reduce your chances of getting cancer or suffering other health related problems. The sooner you give up the better your chances of leading a healthier life. People that give up before the age of 50 are twice as likely to survive the next 15 years as people that continue to smoke.

What help is available to give up?

There's now more advice, help and products available to help you quit than ever before. The products that you can chose to help include nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches. You can either contact your doctor or buy nicotine gum over the counter. These products will help with the cravings. You are twice as likely to give up using a nicotine product than going 'cold-turkey'.

Other ways to help you quit include prescription drugs that you need to obtain from your doctor. These can help by reducing your desire for cigarettes. Some people have also found hypnotherapy to be of use to them.

Are You Thinking About Stopping Smoking?

2009-05-26T03:31:00.002-07:00

Many smokers are like me and go on for years before they finally decide to stop. This is not because they didn't want to stop, it's because they hadn't made the decision to stop smoking. Many, like me, made half-hearted attempts to stop and did not follow through. I can't tell you how many times I tried to stop smoking and then just started back up when the going got tough.

Make a Plan to Quit Smoking

To really succeed in not smoking cigarettes anymore you may need to make a plan like I did. This will be necessary particularly if you find it difficult to stop smoking. One essential part of the plan I had to look at was my commitment to not smoking. I had to look at my motivation and understand what really motivated me to stop. I also had to look at any doubts I had about not smoking because this would directly affect my commitment to not smoke cigarettes-ever again. One part of the plan I did not neglect to look at was how I was going to handle the withdrawals I would go through. I didn't want the anger and bitterness to surface like they did the last few times I tried to quit. And I did not want the loneliness and depression either. I had to have positive motivation to quit this time backed with a firm commitment.

I also think that part of the total commitment to quit was developed as I made my list of the reasons I wanted to quit this time. These reasons had to be important enough to make me want to succeed. I believe the number one reason, this time, was that my sister was dying of lung cancer and she was younger than me. There are other positive reasons I used, so if you are planning to quit also, put as many as you can think of on your list. I didn't forget to list the positive benefits of smoking this time either along side the negative benefits of smoking. And I had to look at the negative and positive aspects of not smoking also.

Part of the plan I had to think about was the difficulties I would face during my withdrawals. How was I going to work through these until they began to subside? I had to think about changing my thinking and behaviors from the old to the new. Then I had to list them on paper so they would be real to me. I really did not want to stop stopping after four or five weeks. This was now a life or death situation I had to go through.

Comparing Your Lists-The Pros and Cons of Smoking

When I was done with all this I compared the two lists. The one with the real reasons I wanted to quit and the one with the reasons to continue smoking. I compared the positive next to the negative and really looked at them. I had to look at the motivating factors on each side and decide which were more beneficial to me. Naturally I looked at the positive side of smoking simply because I had been smoking for 45 years. I really tried to place emphasis on the positive reasons for not smoking too. The lists were comparable in length and I knew that each one had permanent effects to stopping or continuing.

So, which did I want? I really did not want to become discouraged again. My commitment seemed to be stronger this time so I made the decision to quit smoking cigarettes. This was about 10 days before my sister died. Seeing and listening to what she was going through really helped me. I will not fail this time.

If you feel discouraged, do consider your options. It is, and always has been, your choice to smoke cigarettes or not. Your commitment to not smoking may be stronger if you do what I did. There are many more parts to making a plan-go through your attempts to quit and list the positive and negative. Then re-do the list and make a firmer commitment to stop smoking. Most successful non-smokers tried several times before they actually quit. Learn and do the same. Good luck to you.

The Flu Hysteria and Your Family

2009-05-26T03:31:00.001-07:00

In this flu season, America is faced with a dilemma: we are some fifty million flu shots short. Public health officials say that the vaccine should be reserved specifically for babies six months to two years old as well as adults over 65. They should also be reserved for women who are pregnant in their second or third trimester, health care workers who care for high-risk groups, patients afflicted with debilitating health issues such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and asthma.

It is the time to sit down with our families and face some hard facts. I live in a house with my wife who is in her 3rd trimester of pregnancy, my 8 year-old son and my 68 year old father who we have been taking care of for nearly two years. Unfortunately, my Dad has been suffering from lung cancer. When we heard about the potential shortage a number of months ago, my wife and I had a conversation about it and we decided that she and my father needed the vaccine the most. My son and I visited our family physician and she suggested some things we can do to prepare our bodies against the flu season.

In lieu of her advice, our whole family has become even more stringent about cleanliness and discouraging the spread of germs. We wash our hands often and keep hand sanitizers on around with the understanding that it is not a substitute for the real thing. Think of all the things we touch in the course of a day that we do not realize, everything from touching strange door knobs to using public computers. Instead of sneezing into our hands, we sneeze into a tissue or into the crooks of our arms.

We have all improved our diets by incorporating more fruits and vegetables and taking antioxidant supplements.

We have also added healthier foods to our usual diets like wheat germ and yogurt to support our immune systems'. We eat better balanced meals, which supply us with healthy amounts of protein and larger helpings of vegetables and fruits or whole grains. We have also cut down on sugar both in our drinks and our food. These types of foods help deliver some of those components essential for the body to build a strong immune system, hopefully improving our ability to fight the flu. We exercise more, try to keep the stress level in our house lower and are sure to get enough sleep. I feel quite confident about our ability to ward off the flu this season and if one of us happens to catch it, then hopefully it will not hang around for too long.

We again visited our doctor so as to be sure we were in good shape. My blood pressure has gone down and our overall family health is great. Our doctor thanked our family for making a decision for the good of society by choosing to take better care of ourselves, especially since my son and I are part of the high risk group for living with a pregnant woman and an elderly man.

Enjoying Life After You Quit Smoking Cigarettes

2009-05-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

You are aware of the consequences of smoking or continuing smoking cigarettes aren't you? Things like cancer of different types, emphysema, asthma, heart problems, and a host of other medical problems are yours for the taking, if you start smoking or continue smoking cigarettes.

And the nice part about these different medical problems is that you can give them to your family, or even people you don't even know just by smoking. Interestingly enough you can reduce the effects of smoking and not give any of the bad effects to others by just quitting. Sure, it takes time for your body to recover from years of abuse, but it can recover. Your body won't repair itself, but it won't have any more damage done to it by continued smoking either. You will give yourself a cleaner and fresher outlook on life.

One cleaner effect is that you will reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood stream. Within the first eight hours the carbon monoxide levels in your blood will be at normal levels. Smoking cigarettes increases the levels almost immediately.

Another benefit of not smoking is the lower risk of heart attack after the first 24 hours of quitting. After one year you cut your chances of heart attack in half. You do lower your risk of this and other heart diseases by stopping.

Your lungs will work easier and you will have better air flow. Your chances of getting lung cancer will decrease as time goes by. As you breathe you will notice the smell of things you thought you lost. And your taste will come back.

Another added benefit is the amount of money you will save. Just think, you won't have to spend up to 12 dollars a day, or more, to smoke. Put that money in a jar and save it and see how much you have in a months time. This may surprise you. You will find that you may have enough to replace those smoke stained clothes you don't want to wear anymore.

All in all you will enhance your life and those around you by quitting smoking. You will certainly make it better for your children. Everyone benefits. No more smoke filled air for everyone to breathe. You will reduce the bad effects of smoking over time and be much healthier. Do you think you could live with this?

The Cancer Research Industry

2009-05-25T02:48:00.000-07:00

Many volunteers world-wide commit themselves to raising funds for cancer research and cancer charities. Many hundreds of thousands more work in the industry as carers, or researching, prescribing, diagnosing and manufacturing drugs. Huge companies spend fortunes on cancer research. After so long and so many billions spent what exactly has cancer research revealed?

There have been regular breakthroughs in our understanding of cancer, but little progress in its treatment. Modern research into cancer began in the 1940’s and 50’s when scientists isolated substances that killed cancer cells growing in a petri dish, or leukaemia cells in laboratory mice. Early successes in chemotherapy set the pace and received much media exposure, even though they only applied to 5% of cancer treatments at most.

Serving humanity by solving its major diseases has a celebrity status, there is a lot of kudos and an air of Hollywood involved in such things. Cancer research is high profile activity and every now and then a scientific treatment is discovered that gains wide recognition, such as the HPV-16 trial, but it only applies itself to the treatment of a small percentage of cancers. Mass-media hype is part of the problem of how we see cancer. Early discoveries set up an expectation that there was a cure-all treatment, a ‘magic bullet’ that would make its discoverer famous by curing cancer across the world. The idea stems in part from aspirin, the original bullet that magically finds its way to the pain and diminishes it.

In the 1950’s and 60’s huge and expensive research projects were set up to test every known substance to see if it effected cancer cells. You might remember the discovery of the Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharansus Roseus), which revealed alkaloids (vinblastine and vincristine) that are still used in chemotherapy today. Taxol, a treatment for ovarian and breast cancer originally came from the Pacific Yew tree. A treatment for testicular cancer and small-cell lung cancer called ‘Etoposide’ was derived from the May apple. In ‘Plants Used Against Cancer’ by Jonathan Hartwell over 3,000 plants are identified from medical and folklore sources for treating cancer, about half of which have been shown to have some effect on cancer cells in a test tube.

When these plants are made into synthetic drugs, single chemicals are isolated and the rest of the plant is usually thrown away. The medicinally active molecules are extracted from the plant and modified until they are chemically unique. Then the compound is patented, given a brand name and tested.

In the first phase it will generally be tested on animals, the second phase will decide dosage levels and in phase 3 it is tested on people. By the time it is approved by the Federal Drugs Authority (in U.S.A.) or the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency (M.H.R.A.) in Britain, the development costs for a new drug can reach five hundred million dollars, which eventually has to be recouped from the consumer.

In addition to ‘treatment directed’ research such as finding chemicals that effect cancer cells, basic research continues apace, into differences between normal and cancerous cells. In the last 30 years this research has revealed much about our nature, but still no cure. Below are some current strands of scientific research into cancer.

Antibody-guided therapy: this is the original ‘magic bullet’. Cancer researchers use monoclonal antibodies to carry poisons directly to the cancer cells without harming others.

Chronobiology: much of what happens in our bodies is governed by cycles, from the female monthly cycle to the cycles of brainwaves. Human health depends on interacting cycles geared to acts of perception, breathing, reproduction and renewal. Chronobiology analyses these cycles in relation to different times, such as day and night. Hormones, including stress and growth hormones, have their own cycles. For example they may be at their highest activity in the morning and quieter at night. Cancer cells seem to no longer obey the same cycle rates as normal cells.

Anti-telomerase: one part of a cell, called the telomerase, governs the life cycle of a cell and how many times it may multiply. Some cancer cells escape this control and can increase the number of times they divide, becoming ‘immortal’. Researchers hope to gain control over cancer cells by stopping the action of telomerase.

Anti-angiogenesis: secondary tumours (metastasis) can persuade the cells around them to grow new blood vessels to feed the tumours, supplying oxygen and nutrients for the growing cancer. This process is called angiogenesis and research here is finding ways to stop the signals to normal cells that start the process.

Anti-adhesion molecules: Cancer cells form into clumps, unlike those in a petri dish which form into a flatter arrangement. When there are clumps of cells they seem to possess a quality that resists treatment. This strand of research looks at ways that can stop the cells clumping together, by dissolving the clumps for more effective treatment.

Anti-oncogene products: specific portions of D.N.A., called oncogenes, that have an important role in promoting cancer growth. Drugs that interfere with the production of oncogenes may be useful for the future treatment of cancer.

Gene therapy: research into the use of tumour suppressant genes is highlighted in the British National Cancer Plan as an important element. Essentially, bits of DNA are inserted to replace missing or damaged genes, possibly preventing the development of cancer in someone who might be ‘high risk’.

Vaccines: very quietly the search for a general cure for cancer is being put aside in preference to finding a vaccine. The whole idea of a cure or treatment that is ‘the same for everybody’ breaks down in the case of the specific, chaotic conditions that cause cancer in an individual person. After billions spent on research for the holy grail of a cancer cure, the search is now on to find a vaccine.

At a recent cancer immunology conference in the US top immunologists from 21 nations attended lectures on the latest immunology topics such as:cancer immunosurveillance, immunoediting, cancer antigen discovery, monitoring and analysing the immunological response to human cancer, cancer vaccine development.

The Cancer Vaccine Collaborative (CVC) was launched to much excitement. It is a unique research program that should improve how cancer vaccines are developed, based on a collaboration of six New York medical centres and one in Minnesota. The aim of their research is to find out how to effectively immunise against cancer using a vaccine, using ‘action research’.

Vaccines made from donor blood are proving to work for some cancers. Experiments with bone marrow transplants show there are about 40,000 different tissue types making it hard to find a match. Usually a perfect match can only be found within the patient’s direct family. Incorrect matches can create a host of secondary dis-eases. Scientist are finding ways to train Killer T cells taken either from the host or a donor, to more effectively attack cancer cells. They have noticed that donor Killer T cells that are already ‘primed’ for a particular cancer (e.g. the donor body cells ‘remember’ the disease) can be highly effective. It may take many years to prove validity, reliability, safety and efficacy for this treatment. Harvesting the natural immunity of our own, or donor cells with the aid of genetic engineering may well become a big player against modern immune attacking dis-eases.

Increased screening: this type of research looks at genetically identifying individuals who might be at high risk of certain types of cancer and is partly a preparation for possible vaccines. Genetic counselling is set to become a 21st century contributor to health care based on prevention of disease as much as cure.

Combinations: research from West Germany (Grossart-Maticek) argues that there is no single cause for cancer, similar to the pattern in most chronic illness. It shows there are environmental, psychological and spiritual dimensions to disease. The implication is that treatment should be on the same levels, and that no single treatment is likely to be effective because there is no single cause. This observation links with the position of many Holistic practitioners who often have a wider view of health than orthodox medical practitioners.

Dr. Robert Buckman is an experienced cancer researcher, and author of the informative book: ‘What You Really Need to Know About Cancer’. He summarises what he sees as the present position of scientific cancer research:

"We now have a very large number of ways of looking at cancer cells in the laboratory. We have thousands of different types of cancer cells growing in dishes, many of which can be grown and then cured in laboratory bred mice. We also have thousands of different ways of looking at and testing those cells. We can look at the cells’ growth, their abilities to produce different substances, their sensitivity to some chemotherapy drugs and their resistance to others, the way they respond to growth factors, their genetic material including oncogenes and substances controlled by oncogenes, their ability to effect other cells (of the immune system, for example), their ability to damage membranes and invade, their structure under the electron microscope and whether or not the cell surface has any of hundreds of different marker molecules on it. These are just a few examples of what can be done nowadays: the complete list of ways in which cancer cells can be tested would probably be longer than this entire book. But here is the snag: although this accumulation of experience is wonderful and commendable, cancer in human beings is far more complicated then any laboratory system can ever be (at least in the light of current knowledge)".

How to Get Out of Going to Your Own Funeral - Grave News

2009-05-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

A healthier outlook on life is the answer to prevent an early death.

If you continue to neglect your body then you may as well be digging an early grave for yourself. Family members will always feel pain if the inevitable happens, but having to feel it earlier than expected makes acceptance of their sad loss (you) unbearable. Aside from grieving, it is the hurt that hits the pocket from funeral costs. No doubt your loved ones will want to give you the best send off, but blurred vision from blood shot eyes has them forget that it is they who are left to foot the bill, is this what you want, to be remembered for unpaid bills or for the lovely person you were. Live as long as you can and die when you can't help it.

Sacrifice the causes that take life to live your life

Threatening concerns is an unhealthy diet, smoking and drinking, so threatening they kill. Over indulgence of what you believe is a good thing like puffing on a fag, guzzling a beer or scoffing a greasy king size burger is not a good thing at all. We associate cigarettes to lung cancer, the liver yellows with alcohol and the burger is a sure guarantee for no participation in running a marathon or sitting comfortably in a seat on an aeroplane, well one seat any way.

Death is a part of the cycle of life and comes to us all. We all have a designated time for passing on. Many deaths caused by accidents or illness could not be avoided, however premature deaths caused by self inflicted abuse of the body can be. Funeral arrangements are not to be taken likely nor is the cost for burying that special someone.

Keep to a budget. More fancy brass handles on the casket, more hymns sung at the service or the hiring of extra funeral cars will incur extra expense and all for what. The coffin is to be seen no more, the singing stops and the cars return to pick up yet another corpse to befall debt upon those left behind. Three reasons for you to consider keep funeral costs down.

Funeral arrangements will include the service, funeral cars, flowers and securing the actual burial/cemetery plot or mausoleum. Budget will determine grandeur. Never prepare a funeral to impress. Funerals depending on family background can start with a wake or viewing. Some families have the deceased in an open coffin for mourners to pay their last respects. Some folk place photos of the deceased around a closed the coffin.

Because of different cultures funerals can differ in how and where they are conducted i.e. funeral parlour, church, synagogue, or other places of worship like temples. Funerals can be personalized with readings. Poems or songs sung by the deceased favourite singer are commonly sanctioned at a mass. Cremation can burn a hole in your pocket; it is just as expensive as the 6 foot hole in the ground.

Official figures reveal that the death rate among women aged 35 to 54 from liver cirrhosis, stroke, coronary heart disease and pancreatitis linked to alcohol, doubled between 1991 and 2005.The death rate of 14 per 100,000 women was higher than for any other age group of women. More females die from alcohol than breast cancer, cervical cancer.

Around one in every 11 deaths in the UK is now linked to carrying excess fat - 50 per cent more than the rate in France. Obesity is a huge concern leaving people at high risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis

Deaths caused by obesity may soon, for the first time, exceed those caused by smoking,
Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer for both men and women, responsible for nearly a quarter (24%) of all male cancer deaths and nearly a fifth (19%) of all female cancer deaths.

If you have no intention of taking care of your self then for the pete's sake take care of those left behind and take out life insurance, this way they will remember you for the considerate and lovely person you were.

Effect of Smoking on the Lungs

2009-05-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Smoking has a wide variety of health effects and can affect just about every organ in the body. But one of the organs that is most directly affected is the lungs. This is maybe not surprising as this is the organ in direct contact with cigarette smoke.

The lungs are organs of respiration. They are designed to carry air that contains oxygen and pass this oxygen to the blood stream. Everybody has two lungs that are divided into lobes.

When somebody starts smoking this causes irritation of the cells lining the air tubes within the lungs (the bronchi and bronchioles). One of the body's basic responses to this is to produce mucus. This mucus can reduce the diameter of the airtubes making it more difficult to breathe. Have you heard of a 'smoker's cough'? This is when a smoker coughs up this mucus.

In a healthy person, there are cells lining the lungs and upper respiratory tract that have small hair-like projections called cilia present. These beat to move dust and debris out of the lungs. They are a bit like the lung's own broom sweeping team. Smoking kills these cells so that their cleaning function is no longer carried out. Dust and particles can then accumulate which is one of the reasons that smokers often complain of respiratory diseases.

One of the gases in cigarette smoke is carbon monoxide. This gas interferes with the process of oxygenation of blood in the lungs. In fact if you inhale too much carbon monoxide you will suffocate and die. This gas is present in car exhaust fumes and is responsible for the deaths of many people each year using this as a form of suicide.

The air sacs in your lungs where oxygen is passed to the blood are called alveoli. These have a very large surface area - about the size of a tennis court. Every time that you smoke you kill some of these alveoli. These structures can't grow back, so once they are destroyed, that's it. Is it any wonder that smokers find it difficult to breathe due to minor exertion, such as walking up stairs?

The long-term effect of smoking on the lungs is quite well documented. Cancer of the lungs is largely due to smoking. It is estimated that 87% of cases of lung cancer in the US are smoking related. Smoking is the primary cause behind a condition called COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Patients with this condition find it very difficult to breathe because their airways have become so obstructed.

Asbestos Related Lung Cancer - Facts You Should Know

2009-05-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

The link between asbestos and lung cancer is well established today. However, this was not always the case. For many decades, asbestos was considered to be a miracle mineral. It is an excellent insulator and this was one of its primary uses. Asbestos was also incorporated into a wide range of products manufactured.

Suspicions that asbestos exposure could cause serious health problems existed as far back as the last decade of the nineteenth century. It is thought that those interested in promoting asbestos consumption acted to discredit such reports.

By 1931, the British government had concluded that asbestos was possibly harmful to the body and took steps to ensure safety of those handling asbestos. The US government undertook similar actions during the 1970s.

Unfortunately, by that time, many thousands of people had their lives seriously affected by asbestos related lung cancer and other health problems. Asbestos was widely used in factories, homes and elsewhere.

Asbestos causes problems like scarring in the lungs, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques. It also causes a deadly, aggressive type of cancer called mesothelioma.

Unlike normal lung cancer which affects the tissues of the lung itself, mesothelioma affects the lining around the lungs called the pleura. This type of cancer arises almost only due to asbestos exposure.

Even a short exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Further, the cancer can show up several decades after the asbestos exposure.

As with most lung-related cancers, smoking increases the odds of contracting mesothelioma significantly. Some studies indicate that a smoker who has been exposed to asbestos has 50 to 90 times the chances of developing mesothelioma and other cancers of the lung, when compared to a non-smoker with similar asbestos exposure. A non-smoker who has been exposed to asbestos has about 5 times higher chance of developing mesothelioma compared to people who were never exposed to asbestos.

If you have had any exposure to asbestos either in the workplace or elsewhere, you should have regular screenings to detect any abnormalities in the lung. And this should be continued because lung cancer can show up as late as 50 years after the asbestos exposure. Early diagnosis of lung cancer offers the best hope for survival.

Diagnostic methods for detecting asbestos related lung cancers include going through a patient's medical history as well as performing chest x-rays, MRI scans, CAT scans, tissue sampling and biopsy.

The outlook for those diagnosed with mesothelioma (and other types of lung cancers) is generally not encouraging. In some cases, the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma may be as little as 2-3 months. Multi-treatment methods used in some clinical trials have managed to significantly enhance life expectancy -- one such trial achieved a 40% survival rate at five years.

Treatment for mesothelioma often combines chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In many cases though, surgery may be ruled out because the cancer is diagnosed at a late stage. There are new chemotherapy treatments available that seem promising.

The first drug developed specifically to treat mesothelioma was Alimta, which was approved by the Food and Drugs Administration in 2004. When Alimta is used in combination with Cisplatin, which is also a drug used to treat cancers, it was found to increase patients' life expectancy. There is intensive research going on to produce a cure for these aggressive asbestos related cancers and these efforts may eventually produce a reliable cure.

Linda Day is a researcher who has written about the types of lung cancer, the smoking lung cancer connection and other related topics. To learn more about this disease, visit the previous links.

Lung Cancer Screening - Do Chest X-Rays Help?

2009-05-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

There is one indisputable fact about lung cancer -- the earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances of curing it. This is why lung cancer screening is of prime importance.

Doctors point out that although the overall survival rate for lung cancer at the five-year mark is only 15%, the survival rate for those whose cancer was detected early and could be surgically treated is as high as 80%. For this reason, some doctors recommend periodic lung cancer screening with chest x-rays.

Once this disease has progressed somewhat, it will spread rapidly to other areas of the lung and to critical organs all over the body. At that stage, surgery is no longer a viable treatment method.

Unfortunately, the early stages of lung cancer do not give rise to any alarming symptoms. Common symptoms include a persistent cough, a tendency to get respiratory illnesses, etc. These symptoms are not linked to lung cancer alone. This is why lung cancer is rarely diagnosed till it is too late.

In this context, regular screening for lung cancer -- at least for those who are most at risk of developing it, like smokers -- seems like a sensible choice. However, unlike in the case of many other diseases (including other cancers), there is no truly effective screening test available for lung cancer.

In most cases, lung cancer is detected when doing tests like chest x-rays for other health problems. Because of the risks involved, most doctors do not recommend chest x-rays as a routine screening procedure. Many believed (till recently) that chest x-rays can be fairly misleading when it comes to detecting cancer.

This conclusion was based on studies conducted during the 1970s. Those studies showed that chest x-rays were not effective at detecting dangerous, fast-spreading tumors at the earliest stages. Further, those who were detected with relatively slow-growing tumors had to undergo surgery and other treatments that were not really needed.

However, many things have changed since the time those studies were done. Today, x-rays are far more sensitive than they were back then. In addition, there is a battery of refined tests available that can be used to follow up on any problems detected with the x-ray.

A new study is being conducted by the National Cancer Institute on a group of 150,000 healthy adults. This study, sponsored by the American government, divides these 150,000 people into two equal groups -- one group is screened annually with x-rays, while the other (forming the control group) does not receive such screening.

The preliminary results show that about doctors found something abnormal in almost 6,000 people. They were followed upon with CAT scans, more x-rays and other diagnostic tests. From among these people, 206 had biopsies done. Eventually, 126 people were diagnosed with cancer. This is only 2.1% of the original group of 6,000 with abnormalities in their x-rays.

The bad news is that the 6,000 represent a large number of false positives. It resulted in unnecessary follow up x-rays, CAT scans, etc. The good news is that out of those detected with cancer, fully 44% were at the earliest stages of the disease -- when the cancer is most treatable and the chances of survival highest.

The final results from this ongoing study will only be available some years from now. But based on the preliminary results, it appears that regular lung cancer screening with chest x-rays may help at early detection and a better cure-rate for this disease.

Linda Day is a researcher who has written articles about what is lung cancer, provides access to lung cancer pictures and more. For more information about this disease, check out the previous links.

Lung Cancer Prevention - What You Can Do

2009-05-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that the overall five-year survival rate from lung cancer is just 15%. Given this depressing statistic, it is obvious that lung cancer prevention should be of primary importance in dealing with this killer disease.

So what can you do to prevent lung cancer? Here are a few things you should guard against this disease.

* Avoid smoking / give up smoking

* Minimize your exposure to second hand tobacco smoke

* Eliminate exposure to radon, asbestos and other dangerous substances

* Cut down exposure to pollution

* Take steps to avoid falling prey to diseases like tuberculosis

Let's look at some of the above in more detail.

Smoking -- the big enemy
Smoking (and exposure to second hand tobacco smoke) is the number one cause of lung cancer by far. Those who have never smoked in their lives have a significantly lower risk of developing lung cancer than those who have smoked for at least some time. Also, the risk of contracting lung cancer goes down with time once you quit smoking.

Some research points out that the so-called low nicotine / low tar cigarettes do not really cut down the chances of getting lung cancer.

This goes contrary to all the advertising done by tobacco companies who are eager to push these "light" cigarettes on people as a "healthier" alternative to regular cigarettes.

Make no mistake about it -- the best path to lung cancer prevention is to give up smoking completely. Even better, avoid taking up this deadly habit in the first place. Your lungs, your body and your family will thank you for it.

Exposure to second-hand smoke is bad too
Second hand smoke is formally known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS. People who inhale second hand smoke are called passive smokers. And here is the shocker -- passive smoking can be even more dangerous than smoking a cigarette!

Why is this so? The reason is that tobacco smoke enters the lungs of passive smokers without any filtering at all. This makes it much more likely that passive smokers will develop lung cancer -- a bigger payload of dangerous carcinogens enters their lungs.

Many countries including America, Australia, the UK and others have sought to curb the menace of second hand smoke by banning smoking in public places like restaurants, buses, trains, aircrafts, etc. More and more countries around the world are taking similar steps. It is expected that these restrictions will gradually bring down the incidence of lung cancer (and many other health issues) from passive smoking.

Pollution can increase risks of cancer
Pollutants like automobile exhausts, industrial smoke, etc are known to cause several health problems. There is also some evidence that they may contribute to lung cancer. So part of your lung cancer prevention plan should be to minimize exposure to these pollutants.

Asbestos and radon exposure can lead to cancer
Both radon and asbestos are directly linked to lung cancer. They also cause other health issues. Use one of the radon detection kits available at hardware stores to measure the levels of radon in your home or office environment. If radon is present, enlist the services of an expert who can suggest corrective measures to get rid of the radon.

Similarly, it is a good idea to hire a licensed asbestos inspector to go over your home with a fine tooth comb to see if it contains any asbestos. If your home is asbestos-free he will issue a certificate stating this fact.

Taking sensible lung cancer prevention steps can go a long way towards ensuring that you remain free of this k

Publish Post

iller disease.

Linda Day is a researcher who has written about the symptoms of lung cancer, stage 4 lung cancer and other related topics. For more information about this disease, check out the previous links.

Lung Cancer - A Look at the Numbers

2009-05-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

It is a known fact that lung cancer is the second leading cause of death and the biggest cause of cancer deaths in both sexes in the West. It accounts for about 30% of all deaths from cancer.

The unfortunate reality is that many of those deaths could have been prevented -- fully 85% of all lung cancers are caused by smoking. This includes those who breathe in second-hand smoke from others in the vicinity. If everyone were to give up smoking, the incidence of lung cancer would drop dramatically.

After smoking, radon exposure is the second most common cause of lung cancer in America. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 21,000 deaths are caused every year by radon exposure.

Among various ethnic groups, the incidence of lung cancer is highest among African Americans. This is because of a high cultural propensity among this group to take up the smoking habit.

This is also one of the deadliest forms of cancer around. To give some comparative statistics, the five-year survival rate from colon cancer is 62% and that from breast cancer 87%. The corresponding figure for prostate cancer is 98%. In sharp contrast, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is a low 15%.

One reason for this low survival rate is that lung cancer tends to be diagnosed at a very late stage in its cycle -- typically during stage 3 or stage 4. By that time, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and has affected many vital organs. This significantly reduces the probability of survival.

There is a prevailing myth that a smoker's lungs will return to normal fifteen years after he stops smoking and at that point, his chances of developing lung cancer are the same as that for a non-smoker. The reality is that a smoker's lungs never become completely normal again. However, it is true that his chances of getting lung cancer drop off as time passes, although it probably never drops to the level of a person who has remained smoke-free all his life.

This is borne out by the fact that while existing smokers make up about 40% of all new cases of lung cancer, former smokers account for fully 50% of such cases.

Studies indicate that former smokers have about 9 times greater chances of dying from lung cancer as compared to those who never smoked. Current smokers are said to be 23 times more likely to die from this disease than people who never smoked.

The numbers are slightly lower for women -- former women smokers have 5 times the chances of dying from lung cancer when compared to never smokers. And current smokers are 13 times as likely to die of this illness.

It is obvious that prevention is the best policy when it comes to lung cancer. And the way to prevent this disease is to not smoke at all or at least, to give up smoking at the earliest.

Linda Day is a researcher who has written about lung cancer symptoms, lung cancer statistics and other related topics. For more information about this disease, check out the previous links.

Necessary Steps for Lung Cancer Prevention

2009-05-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Research continues to show that the most common cause for lung cancer is the use of tobacco. Lung cancer typically develops over a long period of time. The first pre-cancerous changes that form in the lungs mutate and produce chemicals that result in the formation of new blood vessels. These blood vessels nurture the cancer cells. The cancer cells grow together and form a tumor. These cancer cells have the ability to easily spread to other parts of our body even before the cancer is detected. This process is known as metastasis and is one of the main reasons why lung cancer is so fast moving and life-threatening.

Lung cancers are classified as small-cell lung cancers and non-small-cell lung cancers. Non-small-cell lung cancer is further divided into three types, known as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. In the United States alone, about 213,380 people are estimated to be suffering from lung cancer, with nearly 160,390 deaths occurring in the year 2007. Current data shows that lung cancer accounts for 29% of all cancer deaths. About one-third of cancer and 80% of lung cancer are caused by the usage of tobacco, either directly or indirectly.

Lung cancer prevention methods are very important because of the difficulty to detect lung cancer until it is in an advanced stage, when treatments are really not effective. A few simple steps have the potential to prevent the incidence of lung cancer. Smoking and the use of tobacco products should be completely avoided or stopped. Data reveals that long-term cessation of smoking reduces the incidence of lung cancer by over 50%. Exposure to radon gas and other carcinogens like petroleum products should be avoided.

A healthy diet consisting of more vegetables and fruits is highly recommended. Nowadays, many governments have initiated active anti-smoking programs and advertising campaigns because of the strain on the health care system that tobacco products add to it. Many of them also impose high taxes on tobacco products to discourage tobacco users. Several nations have enacted strict laws towards smoking in public places including workplaces and for restricting tobacco access to minors. Studies reveal that smoking bans in workplaces effectively reduce the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by 72%.

Mass media anti-tobacco campaigns reduce the initiation of new persons to tobacco, decrease tobacco consumption, and increase cessation of tobacco. A sustained multi-pronged approach alone could create mass awareness about lung cancer prevention. When more and more people realize the harm caused by tobacco, consumption would decline and the effects on lung cancer cases would be immense as well as other health concerns like heart disease, stroke and hypertension.

Darren Dunner is the author of this article on lung cancer prevention. Visit today http://www.facr.org for more information on the subject.

Asbestos and Lung Cancer - What's the Connection?

2009-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

The connection between lung cancer and asbestos is well recognized these days. But, this wasn't always so. For a lot of years, asbestos was believed to be a mineral phenomenon. It's a first-rate insulator, and this used to be one of its main applications. Asbestos was additionally integrated into a broad variety of manufactured products.

As long ago as the last part of the nineteenth century, suspicions existed that asbestos exposure could cause serious health problems. It's believed that the parties involved in encouraging asbestos use acted to bring into disrepute this information.

Not later than 1931, the British government had decided that asbestos was probably dangerous to the body and took action to guarantee the safety of people who handled asbestos. Then the US government carried out comparable measures in the 1970s.

Regrettably, by then, thousands of individuals had their lives gravely distressed by asbestos linked lung cancer along with additional health problems. Asbestos was extensively utilized in homes, factories, and other places.

Asbestos creates problems such as lung cancer, scarring in the lungs, pleural plaques and asbestosis. Additionally, it produces an aggressive, deadly form of cancer called mesothelioma.

Not like normal lung cancer that has an effect on the tissues of the lung itself, mesothelioma involves the lining surrounding the lungs termed the pleura. This form of cancer occurs nearly only because of asbestos contact.

Even brief contact with asbestos may produce mesothelioma. Moreover, this cancer can become evident a number of decades following the asbestos exposure.

Like with the majority of lung-related cancers, smoking significantly raises the likelihood of getting mesothelioma. A number of studies point out that a smoker who has been in contact with asbestos has fifty to ninety times the odds of getting mesothelioma and additional lung cancers forms, as contrasted with a non-smoker with comparable asbestos contact. Non-smokers who have been in contact with asbestos have around five times higher probability of getting mesothelioma in contrast to individuals who weren't ever in contact with asbestos.

You ought to have frequent screenings to discover any irregularities in the lung if you were exposed to asbestos either in your place of work or somewhere else. This must be repeated since lung cancer can become evident as late as fifty years following the asbestos exposure. The best chance for survival of lung cancer is early diagnosis.

Diagnostic techniques for discovering asbestos linked lung cancers consist of examining a patient's medical history in addition to doing MRI scans, chest x-rays, tissue sampling and biopsy, and CAT scans. The expectations for folks diagnosed with mesothelioma (as well as other forms of lung cancers) is normally not hopeful. In a number of cases, the life expectancy for somebody diagnosed with mesothelioma might be as small as two to three months. Multi treatment techniques utilized in a number of clinical trials have significantly raised life expectancy. Therapy for mesothelioma frequently blends radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Surgery could be ruled out since the cancer has been diagnosed at a late stage in many cases. There are some newer chemotherapy therapies existing that seem hopeful.

Alimta was the first drug designed specially to treat mesothelioma. It was approved by the FDA in 2004. While Alimta is given together with Cisplatin, (also a drug used to treat cancers), the findings indicated it could raise a patients' life expectancy. Intensive research is still going on to come up with a cure for these destructive asbestos associated cancers ,and the hard work could in time create a dependable cure.

To learn more about asbestos and lung cancer, try visiting http://headcancer-enzin.blogspot.com/, a health topics website where you can find all kinds of health related information including cancer mesothelioma treatment, heart disease, menopause and more.

Lung Cancer Symptoms - Disease and Treatment Options

2009-05-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

Long Term Effects Of Lung Cancer

2009-05-14T04:16:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer which has the potential to kill the person if they are not careful. The saddest part about this type of cancer is that it can very much be avoided because the single biggest reason for this type of cancer is tobacco and no one is doing anything about it.

Banning of the manufacture of tobacco is the only way through which lung cancer can be eradicated from the society. People who are suffering from lung cancer can be treated through surgery. However, the surgery for lung cancer might involve some long term and short term side effects for the patient.

Among the long term side effects; while treating lung cancer it has been noticed in patients that these develop long time after the patient has gone through surgery or treatment. However, none of these side effects can be of serious nature even after radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, it is impossible for the doctors to guarantee the possible occurrence of side effects and it actually varies from one patient to the next. Some patients never experience any side effects after treatment. Some of the noticeable side effects in patients after they have undergone treatment like radiation therapy are shortness of breath. This is caused due to the fibrosis in lungs of the patient. In some patients it has been noted that the food pipe has become narrow. In some patients side effects have been noticed related to the heart and the spinal cord.

Voices of Lung Cancer

2009-05-14T04:14:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in the country, killing more than 160,000 people a year. Yet the disease remains low on the list of cancer funding priorities. In 2006, the National Cancer Institute spent $1,518 for each new case of lung cancer and $1,630 for each lung cancer death. By comparison, the agency spent $13,452 per death on breast cancer, which takes 41,000 lives annually.

Patients with lung cancer are well aware of the disparity in spending and sympathy, an issue addressed in the latest Patient Voices series by my colleague Karen Barrow.

“Because lung cancer is associated with smoking, there’s a stigma that makes it a much less sympathetic disease,” said Dr. Lisa Woody of Guilford, Conn., who was diagnosed last year with late-stage lung cancer.

Part of the problem is that lung cancer is often so deadly, patients don’t have the opportunity to become activists for their disease, said Jerrold Dash, 35, a nonsmoker who received a double lung transplant after developing the illness.

“A lot of lung cancer survivors don’t make it past five years, so there aren’t many voices to speak up like the other cancers,” Mr. Dash said. “I find myself always having to answer the questions: Did you smoke? How long did you smoke? Did you work in a coal mine? Every answer I give them is no.”

Diet and Lung Cancer Prevention

2009-05-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Many studies have looked at the link between diet and cancer prevention. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recently reviewed all articles to date. Based on that review they estimate that 30 to 40% of cancers could be prevented based on a healthy diet and moderate exercise alone. For those already diagnosed with cancer, they recommend following the guidelines for prevention to help prevent recurrence.

AICR Recommendations for Cancer Prevention

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods. (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat.)
Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.
Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).
Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer. (Studies have found that those who take supplements of vitamin E and b-carotene actually have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.)

Diet and Exercise in Lung Cancer Prevention

Several studies have looked at diet and exercise specifically in the prevention of lung cancer. Highlights of these studies that looked at certain foods and exercise include:

Moderate exercise – even gardening 1 to 2 times per week – lowered the risk of lung cancer in several studies.
A high fat diet raised the risk of lung cancer.
Diets high in fruit are associated with a lower risk of lung cancer, and in fact, the National Cancer Institute has estimated that foods high in flavenoids, such as apples, can lower the risk of lung cancer by 50%.
In women, the intake of dairy products and vegetables has been linked with a lower risk of lung cancer in smokers, and black tea with a lower risk in non-smokers.
Foods high in lutein, such as collard greens, spinach, broccoli, and orange juice, are associated with a lower risk of lung cancer.
Foods high in lycopene, such as tomatoes and especially tomato sauces, are linked with a lower risk of lung cancer.
Smokers that drink green tea appear to have decreased oxidative DNA damage, a genetic change that predisposes to cancer.

Acrylamide and Lung Cancer - Put the News in Perspective Before Chomping Those Chips

2009-05-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

The headlines are screaming, “dietary acrylamide doesn’t raise the risk of lung cancer, and may even lower the risk for women.” Great news -- if lung cancer prevention is your only concern.

But first, what is acrylamide?

If the word acrylamide is new to you, you aren’t alone. Acrylamide is a chemical found in concrete and grout, that was only discovered as a food component in 2002. The World Health Organization subsequently labeled it as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2005. Acrylamide is produced when starchy foods are heated. Foods that contain high levels of acrylamide are, in general, not the healthiest choices, and include items such as potato chips, french fries, crackers, and cookies.

From this study, lung cancer now joins a list of cancers that don’t appear to be affected by the acrylamide content of our diets. Other cancers that have passed the acrylamide test include pre-menopausal breast cancer as well as cancers of the prostate, bladder, and gastrointestinal tract.

But wait. An increased risk of some cancers has been associated with dietary acrylamide. These include estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, postmenopausal uterine and ovarian cancers, and kidney cancer.

With confusing information like this, I like to look at the big picture. Foods high in acrylamide (such as potato chips) may not be a causative factor in some cancers, but can still be detrimental if they replace healthy calories in your diet. If you like the occasional bag of chips but worry about lung cancer, this study might alleviate some anxiety. On the other hand, these results shouldn't be construed as a green light for acrylamide loaded foods. With swimsuit season nearing, and weighing the calories in foods typically high in acrylamide, I think I'll go for the apple instead of the chips, thank you.

Pain Managment for Lung Cancer

2009-05-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Pain management for people with lung cancer has come a long way, but concerns about pain remain frightening to nearly everyone diagnosed with the disease. “Will I have pain? What if my pain medications stop working and can’t control my pain?” Pain can negatively affect your quality of life making you feel down and irritable, but there are many options available for treating pain. In 1986, the World Health Organization published guidelines for managing cancer pain. Using this approach, as well as newer techniques, the vast majority of people can experience good pain control throughout their lung cancer treatment.

How Common Is Pain With Lung Cancer?

Pain is very common with lung cancer, and 51% of people living with lung cancer experience some form of pain during their treatment. With advanced lung cancer, nearly everyone will require some type of treatment to relieve pain.

What Causes Pain With Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer can result in pain in several ways. Some of these include:

Pain from the tumor pressing on nerves, bones, or the pleura (lung lining)
Pain from lung cancer symptoms, such as coughing
Side effects of treatment for lung cancer, such as mouth sores during chemotherapy, or incision pain following surgery
Other diseases that are present along with lung cancer, such as arthritis or headaches

Importance of Treating Cancer Pain

Cancer pain can interfere with your quality of life by disrupting your sleeping, eating and exercise habits, and can even lead to depression. Proper treatment of pain can improve your ability to cope as you go through cancer treatment, and help you take part in normal activities that you enjoy. Adequate pain control is important physically as well, and is associated with a better response to treatment, such as improved healing after surgery.

How Can I Describe My Pain to My Doctor?

Your doctor will ask you to describe the nature of your pain. Is it sharp or dull, constant or does it come and go? What makes it better and what makes it worse? He will also ask you how severe your pain is. Doctors use several types of “pain scales” to help you describe the intensity of pain you are experiencing. The most common method is to ask you to describe your pain on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being barely noticeable pain, and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine.

Barriers to Adequate Pain Control

Studies suggest that pain is undertreated with lung cancer. Several factors can contribute to this:

Fear of addiction – People who take medications for cancer pain rarely become addicted.
Fear that pain medications will no longer work, and there will be nothing left to control pain if it gets worse – You will not become immune to pain medicines, and further options are available.
Fear of side effects from pain medications – Pain medications can have side effects, but many of these are fairly easy to control.
Inability to afford pain medications – If you cannot afford your pain medication, your oncologist may be able to change your prescription to one that is less expensive, or direct you to a program where you can receive financial help.

Treatments Used For Pain Control

Lung cancer can cause significant pain, and the majority of people will need medications to control pain at some point during their treatment. If pain becomes very severe, procedures such as nerve blocks can provide further relief. Some non-medication therapies may also help to control your pain.

Medications for Cancer Pain

Medications for control of cancer pain fall into 3 main categories:

Over-the counter medications – Over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with very mild pain.
Opioids – Opioids such as codeine and morphine are usually needed for moderate pain.
Other medications – Medications such as anti-depressants and anti-seizure drugs are sometimes used for burning/tingling pain, and steroids can be helpful with pain caused by swelling.

Interventional Pain Treatments

If a tumor is pressing on nerves or bones causing pain, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery may be used to decrease the size of the tumor and relieve pain. Nerve blocks, a procedure in which a medication is injected around a nerve or into the spine, can be helpful with severe pain. Neurosurgery may also be used for severe pain, to cut nerves that send pain signals to your brain.

Alternative/Complementary Approaches to Pain Control

Many cancer centers now offer complementary/alternative approaches to help with pain control. These are not a substitute for other pain treatments, but some have been shown to reduce the need for pain medications. Some of the methods that appear promising include massage therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, and therapeutic touch.

Coping With Lung Cancer Pain

The most important thing you can do is talk openly with your oncologist and your loved ones about any pain you are experiencing. Everyone experiences pain differently. None of us can read minds, and it is important to share how you are feeling so your health care team can take action to help. If you have fears about becoming addicted, or that the medicines will stop working, express those fears. If you are concerned about the cost of pain medications, tell your oncologist. If you feel you are burdening your loved ones talking about your pain, know that it is important for them to understand what you are going through. Your loved ones will be able to support you the best if they understand you aren’t feeling well – and can encourage you to seek out the pain relief you deserve.

Mayo Lung Project: After 20 Years, No Benefit from Chest X-rays

2009-05-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

After tracking smokers for 20 years, a large study indicates that screening for lung cancer with chest X-rays does not save lives. The new report reinforces original conclusions from the Mayo Lung Project, published in the mid-1980s, that X-rays at frequent intervals do not decrease the death rate from lung cancer. The analysis also points to a potential problem for any type of lung imaging: the detection of tumors that are not life threatening.

The study by Pamela Marcus, Ph.D., and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Md., and the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., appears in the Aug. 16, 2000, Journal of the National Cancer Institute*.

In their analysis, Marcus and colleagues present compelling evidence that a substantial number of tumors uncovered between 1971 and 1983 in the 9,211 participating men turned out never to cause serious illness or death. In the absence of screening, these tumors would not have been found. Such over-diagnosis can lead to unnecessary worry or, more seriously, to expensive and risky biopsies or surgery.

Marcus' findings arrive in the middle of a debate over a newer screening technology, spiral computed tomography (CT) scans, and could slow enthusiasm for the scans until they areproperly studied, she said. "A significant reduction in death rates is the gold standard for any cancer screening test. Our follow-up of the Mayo Lung Project shows that an intense regimen of chest X-rays in the 1970s and 1980s did not meet this standard. Likewise, until spiral CT scans are proven to save lives, they should not be recommended as a cancer screening test. The benefits of any screening test must outweigh the harm."

In the Mayo Lung Project, men were split into two groups: half received free chest X-rays and sputum tests three times yearly for six years; half received the Mayo's standard 1970 recommendation to receive the same tests annually. At the end of 1996, with an averagefollow-up of more than 20 years, the number of deaths from lung cancer was statistically identical for each group: 337 men in the screening arm had died from the disease, compared with 303 in the so-called "usual care" arm. If effective, the screening would have significantly reduced the number of deaths in the screening arm. Instead, the mortality rates were indistinguishable (4.4 per 1,000 person-years in the screening arm vs. 3.9 in the usual care arm not statistically significant).

After publication in 1986, the Mayo Lung Project generated controversy among the medical community. Some researchers argued that the study did not include enough volunteers to detect a small benefit for X-ray screening. As designed with the knowledge and resources available, the study had the statistical power to detect a 50 percent or larger reduction in mortality.

Though such a large decrease was not seen, the possibility of X-ray screening achieving a smaller benefit perhaps a 10 percent to 20 percent reduction in death rates still lingers. A much larger NCI-funded study, the Prostate, Lung, Colon, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, is expected to answer this question by 2015. (Unlike the Mayo Lung Project, PLCO includes women.)

But another criticism of the Mayo Lung Project remained after publication in 1986: it did not track participants long enough to show a true benefit. Some lung tumors grow slowly, and the short follow-up time after screening (three years, on average) may have been inadequate to see a true mortality reduction, asserted the critics.

To test whether they were right, Marcus and her team matched medical files from the project with death records from the Mayo Clinic and the National Death Index, housed at the National Center for Health Statistics. If no death certificate was found for a participant, theresearchers assumed he was still alive. If the participant was reported dead, the researchers recorded the cause and date. This process led to the primary finding and to the conclusion that chest X-rays may lead to over-diagnosis of lung cancer.

While the men in the screening arm did not experience a mortality benefit, they did have longer survival times, measured from diagnosis to death. Intuitively, this sounds like screening worked. However, according to the authors' analysis, something else happened: chest X-rays detected tumors that did not lead to death.

"We now have good evidence that lung cancer lesions with limited clinical relevance exist," said Marcus. "These lesions would never be diagnosed in the absence of screening, and would not cause death. The Mayo Lung Project picked them up with chest X-rays. Spiral CT is much more sensitive and will probably pick up even more of them." She added that high mortality rates, as seen with lung cancer, do not imply that all lung cancers are lethal. They simply imply that clinically diagnosed cancers are lethal.

Other cancers prostate and breast, for instance also appear in forms (prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast) that only sometimes progress to full-blown cancer. These conditions, virtually unknown before the advent of widespread screening, account for a substantial portion of all diagnosed prostate and breast tumors. How or if to treat them remains an open question.

Consequences of over-diagnosis of lung cancer include psychological stress and unnecessary biopsies or surgery. Biopsies are potentially risky procedures that remove a small amount of tissue, either through a scope fed down the windpipe (bronchoscopy) or with a needle through the rib cage (CT-directed needle biopsy). Possible complications from biopsies include bleeding, infection, and pain and discomfort. Depending on the size and location of the lesion, chest surgery (thoracotomy) to obtain a larger biopsy may be recommended. Thoracotomies are major surgical procedures that remove substantial amounts of tissue; the procedure can damage nerves in the chest and may lead to chronic pain.

Lung cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 164,100 people and claim 156,900 livesin the United States this year.

This research was supported by funds from NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention. Co-authors include Richard M. Fagerstrom, Ph.D., and Philip C. Prorok, Ph.D., from NCI; and Erik J. Bergstralh, M.S., William F. Taylor, Ph.D., David E. Williams, M.D., and Robert Fontana, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic.

Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial

2009-05-09T02:53:00.000-07:00

The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, or PLCO, is a large-scale clinical trial to determine whether certain cancer screening tests reduce deaths from prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer. The underlying rationale for the trial is that screening for cancer may enable doctors to discover and treat the disease earlier. Numerous epidemiologic and ancillary studies are included to answer related crucial questions, as noted in the About PLCO pages.

Together, these four cancers are estimated to account for about 42 percent of all diagnosed cancers in the United States and 46 percent of cancer deaths in 2007.

Sponsored and run by the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Prevention, in collaboration with the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, the PLCO trial is taking place at 10 Screening Centers across the country.

Between 1992, when the trial opened, and 2001, when enrollment ended, 155,000 women and men between the ages of 55 and 74 joined PLCO. At entry, participants were divided by chance into one of two study groups. One group received routine health care from their health providers. The other received a series of exams to screen for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancers. Screening of participants ended ahead of schedule in late 2006. Follow-up will continue for up to 10 more years to determine the benefits or harms of screening, with new data noted in the News Updates pages and the PLCO Publications pages (through the Program Administrative Resource site) as they are published.

The Etiology and Early Marker Studies (EEMS)is a component of the PLCO Trial. By collecting biologic materials and risk factor information from trial participants before the diagnosis of disease, PLCO EEMS adds substantial value to the trial, providing a resource for cancer research, focused, in particular, on cancer etiology and early markers.

Lung Cancer Screening May Not Reduce Deaths

2009-05-09T02:52:00.000-07:00

New research suggests that the use of computed tomography (CT) in lung cancer screening may not reduce deaths from the disease and may expose some individuals to invasive and unnecessary treatments.

CT technology has generated considerable interest as a screening tool because it can detect very small growths in the lungs of current and former smokers. Two large, ongoing randomized studies - the NCI-sponsored National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and the NELSON trial in the Netherlands - are evaluating whether CT scans can save lives by detecting cancers before they become incurable.

A study in the March 6, 2007, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) addresses this question using data from CT screening studies at the Mayo Clinic, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, and the Instituto Tumori in Italy. The analysis included more than 3,200 asymptomatic individuals who had smoked for an average of 39 years.

Because the studies lack control groups, Dr. Peter Bach of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and his colleagues used statistical modeling to create artificial control groups. They then compared the results from screening with what might have been expected in the absence of screening.

Screening led to a three-fold increase in the number of lung cancers diagnosed and a 10-fold increase in lung cancer surgeries compared with what was expected without screening. Screening did not save lives and led to additional testing and treatments for growths that may never have caused harm, the researchers found.

"CT screening is an experimental procedure with numerous potential downsides," says Dr. Bach. These include exposure to radiation, anxiety from false-positive results, and harms caused by detecting and treating an indolent (slow-growing) disease.

Participants in the study received an initial CT scan and at least three subsequent exams; they were followed for five years.

"The study found no decrease in the number of advanced cases of lung cancers or lung cancer deaths, and that's what is really alarming about the findings," notes Dr. William Black of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, who co-authored an editorial in JAMA.

The results will be compared with findings last October showing that CT screening resulted in a 10-year survival rate of 88 percent for patients with stage I disease. Reporting their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine, the investigators suggested that CT screening in high-risk individuals could prevent 80 percent of lung cancer deaths.

The huge contrast between the two studies reinforces the idea that randomized clinical trials are needed to understand what is going on, says Dr. Black. The most likely reason for the discrepancy was that the first study used survival as the primary measure of outcome while the second used mortality, he says.

"The new study is well done and critically important," says Dr. Christine Berg of the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Prevention, who is co-leader of NLST. "The findings underscore the importance of a prospective trial to address this question with mortality as an endpoint."

The editorial suggests that while rigorous cancer-screening trials are expensive and time-consuming, they are cost-effective compared with the broad adoption of expensive screening interventions that cause more harm than good.

Dr. Bach is awaiting the NLST results, but he went into the study hoping and expecting that CT was going to work. "We were all very disappointed because, like everyone else, we want to have a solution to this terrible disease," he says.

The Great American Smokeout Encourages Smoking Cessation for One Day

2009-05-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 20, 2008 was the 33rd Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society continues its legacy of providing free resources to help smoking cessation.

The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smoking cessation for one day. Now, 44.2 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted smoking cessation for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term smoking cessation plan.

With all the resources available to help smoking cessation, there has never been a better time to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society is here to help.
By calling the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 1-800-227-2345, people who plan to quit will be able to speak with a trained counselor and receive free, confidential counseling.

Studies have found that Quitline can more than double a person’s chances of successfull smoking cessation. Callers to Quitline can be connected with smoking cessation resources in their communities, social support groups, Internet resources, and medication assistance referrals. Since its inception in 2000, Quitline has provided counseling support to more than 380,000 smokers.

The American Cancer Society offers other free resources – through Quitline and at Cancer.org – that can increase a smoker’s chances of successful smoking cessation, including tips and tools for friends, family, and coworkers of potential quitters to help them be aware and supportive of the smoking cessation struggle. Studies show the importance of social support in smoking cessation, as people are most likely to quit smoking when their friends, family, and coworkers decide to quit smoking. Popular online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are also becoming support channels for people who want to quit smoking, and American Cancer Society Smokeout-related downloadable desktop applications are available on these networks to help people quit smoking or join the fight against tobacco.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that social networks are helpful in smoking cessation. Friends and family can help the most by being aware and supportive of the struggle to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society has resources to help them show support for their loved one who is trying to quit.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.

Also imperative in this effort to encourage people to quit smoking are smoke-free laws and higher tobacco taxes that make it harder for people to smoke, and protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke. The majority of U.S. communities are now covered by smoke-free laws, while forty-three states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have raised tobacco taxes since 2000. Smokers nationwide now face an average cost of $4.32 for one pack of cigarettes, not including all taxes. The rising cost of living is also affecting smokers, as the cost of cigarettes presents an even greater burden. Smoke-free workplace laws and other tobacco control legislation, supported by the Society and its nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), help protect Americans from secondhand smoke and encourage smoking cessation.

Noncalcified lung nodules: volumetric assessment with thoracic CT

2009-05-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

Lung nodule volumetry is used for nodule diagnosis, as well as for monitoring tumor response to therapy. Volume measurement precision and accuracy depend on a number of factors, including image-acquisition and reconstruction parameters, nodule characteristics, and the performance of algorithms for nodule segmentation and volume estimation. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of published studies relevant to the computed tomographic (CT) volumetric analysis of lung nodules. A number of underexamined areas of research regarding volumetric accuracy are identified, including the measurement of nonsolid nodules, the effects of pitch and section overlap, and the effect of respiratory motion. The need for public databases of phantom scans, as well as of clinical data, is discussed. The review points to the need for continued research to examine volumetric accuracy as a function of a multitude of interrelated variables involved in the assessment of lung nodules. Understanding and quantifying the sources of volumetric measurement error in the assessment of lung nodules with CT would be a first step toward the development of methods to minimize that error through system improvements and to correctly account for any remaining error.

Lung cancer: the importance of early intervention.

2009-05-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Fifteen percent of patients are asymptomatic at diagnosis. Symptoms usually indicate advanced disease. Signs include chronic cough, hemoptysis, wheezing, dyspnea, vague chest pain, hoarseness, pleural effusion, cardiac arrhythmias and bone pain. Significant surgical advances have reduced operational mortality rate. Early detection and surgery can increase survival rates for some patients.

Adjuvant Treatment Decision Making for Lung Cancer

2009-05-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

Approximately 173,770 people are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States in 2004, and another 160,440 are expected to die from the disease. Kentucky leads the nation in both lung cancer incidence and mortality, providing a unique but unfortunate laboratory to study this disease and its treatment.

Chemotherapy has not historically played a role in adjuvant care for surgically resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, recent data on platinum-based chemotherapy showed significantly increased 5-year survival from NSCLC, influencing the standard of care. While more individuals diagnosed with NSCLC will be offered adjuvant chemotherapy, experts caution that the modest benefits of chemotherapy should be weighed against the short and long-term treatment sequelae and that the data should be used to help patients make informed choices based on their own values and preferences.

Yet it is not clear that NSCLC patients have the capacity to interpret quantitative treatment benefit information. Among 120 individuals diagnosed with stages I–IIIA NSCLC, the proposed study will explore factors which may influence treatment decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy.

The primary aim is to examine the effects of different methods of communicating quantitative estimates of treatment benefit on adjuvant chemotherapy decisions among individuals diagnosed with NSCLC. Using an experimental design based on a hypothetical clinical scenario, this study will test the hypothesis that individuals diagnosed with NSCLC randomly assigned to receive relative risk reduction estimates will be more likely to choose adjuvant chemotherapy than individuals randomly assigned to receive absolute risk reduction information. This hypothesis is based on previous research which suggests that the method of describing treatment benefits plays an important role in treatment decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy.

The secondary aim is to examine sociodemographic, psychological, social, and health factors which influence adjuvant chemotherapy decisions among individuals diagnosed with NSCLC. It is hypothesized that individuals who are older, more distressed, have less social support, and have poorer health status are more likely to decline adjuvant chemotherapy.

With the expanding role of chemotherapy in NSCLC, it becomes even more important to understand the factors which influence treatment decisions and to identify the best methods of describing treatment benefits to patients. Only when patients understand the necessary information about the risks and benefits of each treatment option will they be able to make informed treatment decisions that are consistent with their values.

Understanding Lung Cancer

2009-05-03T21:53:00.001-07:00

Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. in both men and women, it is also one of the most preventable kinds of cancer. At least four out of five cases are associated with cigarette smoking, and the cause-and-effect relationship has been extensively documented. During the 1920s, large numbers of men began to smoke cigarettes, presumably in response to increased advertising. Twenty years later, the frequency of lung cancer in men climbed sharply. In the 1940s, significantly more women became smokers. Twenty years later, there was a similar dramatic increase in lung cancer among women.

Lung tumors almost always start in the spongy, pinkish gray walls of the bronchi -- the tubular, branching airways of the lungs. More than 20 types of malignant tumors that originate in the lung itself -- primary lung caner -- have been identified. The major types are small-cell lung cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. The more common non-small variety is further divided into squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma usually starts in cells of the central bronchi, the largest branches of the bronchial tree. It is the most common type of lung cancer in men and in smokers; it is the easiest to detect early, since its distinctive cells are likely to show up in tests of mucus samples. It also tends to be most curable if found early because it spreads relatively slowly.

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in women and nonsmokers -- tends to originate along the outer edges of the lungs in the smaller airways. Adenocarcinoma often spreads to spaces between the lungs and the chest wall, and its typical location makes early detection difficult.

Large-cell carcinomas are a group of cancers with large, abnormal-looking cells that tend to originate along the outer edges of the lungs. They are the least common of the non-small-cell lung cancers.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small-cell lung cancer is the most aggressive form of the disease; it is also called oat-cell cancer because, under a microscope, its cells resemble oat grains. Like squamous cell carcinoma, this cancer usually originates in the large, central bronchi. It spreads quickly, often before symptoms appear, making it particularly threatening. It frequently spreads (metastasizes) to the liver, bone, and brain. Although responsive to chemotherapy, small-cell lung cancer is rarely ever cured because it usually is not discovered before it has spread.

About 170,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, most between the ages of 40 and 70. Only 1% of lung cancer patients are younger than 30, and only 10% are older than 70. The number of people that survive five years or more is increasing and now stands at about 15%. An individual cancer sufferer's prognosis will vary according to the type of lung cancer involved, the person's overall health, and the status of the cancer at the time of diagnosis.

What Causes It?

Most lung cancer is caused by smoking and as with any cancer, each person's genetic pattern influences susceptibility. The fact that lung cancer runs in some families suggests that a predisposition can be inherited. Additionally, certain genetic traits have been identified that make some people more susceptible than others to cancer-causing substances like those found in tobacco smoke.

Nonetheless, anyone who smokes one pack of cigarettes daily is 20 times more likely than a nonsmoker to develop lung cancer. For people who smoke more than two packs a day, the risk more than triples. Breaking the smoking habit reduces risk significantly, yet former smokers are always slightly more susceptible than nonsmokers. Secondhand tobacco smoke can also cause lung cancer, giving nonsmokers who live or work with smokers a somewhat higher lung cancer risk than those in smoke-free environments.

Cancer-causing substances other than those found in tobacco or tobacco smoke can also cause lung cancer if inhaled in quantity over time. However, experts disagree about how much exposure to specific cancer-causing substances is dangerous. Workers who are exposed on a daily basis to asbestos, silica, mineral dusts, coal dust, arsenic, or the radioactive gas radon are much more likely than the average person to develop lung cancer, especially if they are smokers.

Lung tissue that has been scarred by disease or infection, such as scleroderma or tuberculosis, is more susceptible to tumor growth. Because of a high frequency of lung cancer among people who eat large amounts of fat and cholesterol, some researchers speculate that diet may also influence lung cancer risk.

Urine Test May Help Determine If a Smoker Is At Risk for Lung Cancer

2009-05-02T22:38:00.001-07:00

Researchers may have discovered why lung cancer afflicts some smokers and not others.

"A history of smoking has always been thought of as a predictor of lung cancer, but it is actually not very accurate," said Jian-Min Yuan, study author. "Smoking absolutely increases your risk, but why it does so in some people but not others is a big question."

The researchers hypothesized that the presence of the metabolite NNAL in a patient's urine might predict risk of lung cancer. This metabolite has been shown to induce lung cancer in laboratory animals, but the effect in humans had not yet been studied.

Data was collected from 18,244 men enrolled in the Shanghai Cohort Study and 63,257 men and women from the Singapore Chinese Health Study. In addition to in-person interviews to assess levels of cigarette smoking, dietary and other lifestyle factors, researchers collected blood and urine samples from more than 50,000 patients.

To evaluate the impact of NNAL, researchers identified 246 current smokers who later developed lung cancer and 245 smokers who did not develop lung cancer during the 10-year period following initial interview and collection of urine samples.

Levels of NNAL in the urine were divided into three groups. Compared to those with the lowest levels, patients with a mid-range level of NNAL had a 43 percent increased risk of lung cancer, while those at the highest level had a more than two-fold increased risk of lung cancer after taking into account the effect of number of cigarettes per day, number of years of smoking, and urinary levels of cotinine on lung cancer risk.

Levels of nicotine in the urine were also calculated. Those with the highest levels of nicotine and NNAL had an 8.5-fold increase in the risk of lung cancer compared with smokers who had the lowest levels after accounting for smoking history.

"Smoking leads to lung cancer, but there are about 60 possible carcinogens in tobacco smoke, and the more accurately we can identify the culprit, the better we will become at predicting risk," said Yuan.

Study Suggests Artificial Light and Prostate Cancer Link

2009-05-02T22:37:00.001-07:00

This discovery joins the findings of a previous study by the same researchers that found a connection between exposure to artificial light at night and the incidence of breast cancer.

Countries in which nighttime artificial lighting is used more intensively tend to have a higher risk of prostate cancer in men, concludes a new study that was carried out at the University of Haifa.

The study was intended to examine the influence of various factors, including the amount of artificial light at night, on the incidence of lung, large intestine, and prostate cancer in men around the world.

Data was collected from a database of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, on the incidence of lung, large intestine, and prostate cancer in men in 164 countries. Data on the levels of lighting at night were gathered from DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellite images. The nighttime illumination data were adjusted by the geographic distribution of the population of the country, in order to reach an accurate measure of "the amount of artificial light per night per person." The researchers also examined additional factors, such as electricity consumption, percentage of urban population, socioeconomic status, and other variables.

At the very first stage of the study, it already became clear that there is a marked link between the incidence of prostate cancer and levels of nighttime artificial illumination and electricity consumption. Several different methods of statistical analysis were used to arrive at this conclusion.

Next the researchers isolated the "amount of artificial light at night per person" variable in order to examine its particular effect. The countries were divided into three groups for this stage of the study: those with little exposure to lighting at night; those with medium exposure; and those with high exposure. The results demonstrated that the incidence of prostate cancer in those countries with low exposure was 66.77 prostate cancer patients to 100,000 inhabitants. An increase of 30% was found in those countries with medium exposure: 87.11 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. The countries with the highest level of exposure to artificial light at night demonstrated a jump of 80%: 157 patients per 100,000 inhabitants.

According to the researchers, there are a number of theories that could explain the increased incidence of prostate cancer due to exposure to lighting at night, such as suppression of melatonin production, suppression of the immune system, and an effect on the body's biological clock because of confusion between night and day. Whatever the cause, there is a definite link between the two.

Experts Predict That Lung Cancer Rates Will Drop By Nearly A Fifth

2009-05-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

According to new figures released today, experts at Cancer Research UK predict that lung cancer rates will drop by nearly a fifth over the next 20 years.

The number of smokers has continued to drop due to the tobacco-advertising ban and the public place smoke free legislation. 90 percent of lung cancer cases are caused from smoking, and as the rate of smoking decreases, so will the incidence of lung cancer.

Professor Max Parkin, co-author of the report, said: "These predictions are based on what we know to date about the current figures and trends for lung cancer. We can see that lung cancer rates should continue to drop but the number of cases will increase.”

"This increase will mostly be in women which reflects the peak rates of smoking among women back in the 1970s. Lung cancer is unique in that we can track the reduction in cases with a reduction in the number of people exposed to cigarette smoke. As fewer people smoke we should see a lower rate of the disease."

Although lung cancer rates will continue to fall, from around 50 people per 100,000 to around 40 by 2024, the overall number of people diagnosed with the disease looks set to increase.

People living longer, combined with the delay between smoking and the onset of lung cancer means cases in the UK are expected to rise from around 38,500 to more than 41,600 by 2024.

Because more men than women have smoked, more men have been diagnosed with lung cancer since records began. By 2024 women's lung cancer rate will drop, but the number of women diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK each year is expected to increase from around 15,500 today to more than 18,000 by 2024.

Men's lung cancer rates were highest in the early 1970s with more than 150 men in every 100,000 diagnosed with lung cancer. This reflected the peak in smoking rates in the 1940s and 50s. Even though the male lung cancer rate is set to drop by more than a quarter between now and 2024 the number of cases diagnosed in the future will remain similar to those diagnosed today, around 22,000.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco control, said: "These figures highlight just how effective tobacco control measures can be and how important it is for work to continue in this area. We know that smoking causes nine in ten cases of lung cancer but that one in five people still smoke, so it's vital we all work to protect future generations from this scourge.

"We want to see tobacco products put out of sight and out of mind in the upcoming tobacco control legislation. We would like a commitment from the government to introduce a comprehensive and well funded tobacco control strategy, one that stops young people from beginning an addiction that kills half of all long term smokers, and fully supports smokers to quit."

Study: Scan May Be Best Test for Lung Cancer

2009-05-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer kills more Americans than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. But unlike those other cancers, there's no agreed-upon screening test to catch lung cancer when it's early and can be curable. A study in this week's New England Journal of Medicine may help change that. But experts disagree about when the evidence will be strong enough to recommend that people at risk of lung cancer get the screening test, called spiral CT.

Spiral CT is a computerized X-ray scan that takes hundreds of detailed pictures of the chest in the space of three seconds. It can spot lung tumors smaller than a pea.

Seven years ago, a group at Cornell University published one of the first big studies suggesting that spiral CT might be used to screen the lungs of smokers and former smokers for signs of lung cancer, long before symptoms appear. Now the same group is publishing results on more than 31,000 patients from around the world.

Dr. Claudia Henschke, who heads the Cornell group, says spiral CT turned up nearly 500 lung cancers.

"The overall survival was 80 percent," says Henschke, "which is quite dramatic compared to what the rates are in the U.S. ... Only about five percent of the people who are diagnosed with lung cancer eventually are cured of it. So that's a tremendous improvement."

The results look even better among the great majority of patients in the study diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer. Based on results so far, an impressive 92 percent of them are projected to be alive ten years after diagnosis.

"I think our study gives compelling evidence that screening is useful and can be done responsibly now," Henschke says.

Henschke is the most prominent enthusiast for lung cancer screening. Others in the medical community are just as enthusiastic. Dr. James Mulshine of Rush University in Chicago, a veteran cancer-prevention expert who sits on Henschke's advisory board, calls the new results a landmark.

"In one fell swoop, you go from 15 percent, five-year survival to 92 percent, 10-year survival," Mulshine says. "That's amazing. Claudia's result is spectacular. The question is, is it generalizable? And should it be the basis of public health policy changes?"

Mulshine says the new results should force a public debate on that question.

"This is a very strong suggestion that lung cancer screening can conform to the kind of experience we've had with colon cancer and breast cancer and cervical cancer," Mulshine says.

Other experts urge caution.

"This study basically demonstrates that those individuals who have a lesion detected by CT, who are then diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, do fairly well, which we've known for over 40 years," says Dr. Ned Patz, a radiologist at Duke University.

He says the study hasn't resolved whether individuals who are screened for lung cancer will fare better in the long run than individuals who aren't.

That's exactly the question that Dr. Denise Aberle of UCLA Medical Center is trying to answer. She heads a giant, federally financed study that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It has enrolled 53,000 smokers and former smokers. Half are getting annual CT scans, and half are getting annual chest X-rays.

Aberle says the study published this week can't determine whether spiral CT actually reduces lung cancer deaths in the long run because there was no comparison group that didn't get spiral CT.

"We know it prolongs survival," Aberle says. "We absolutely need to know whether or not the screening intervention reduces lung cancer mortality."

She says prolonging individual patients' survival isn't the same thing as making a big dent in the overall lung cancer death rate, and only studies like hers and others under way in Europe can nail down that question.

But results from those studies won't be available for at least three years. In that time, 480,000 Americans will die from lung cancer, and some experts think spiral CT might save some of those lives.

Still, there's not likely to be an official recommendation until further big studies are concluded.

For the 80 million Americans at risk of lung cancer who choose to seek a spiral CT test in the meantime, the American Cancer Society warns that there are risks from spiral CT. A positive result can lead to lung biopsies and major surgery for findings that may turn out not to be lung cancer.

The Cornell group found ways to reduce those risks. But everyone agrees that American doctors in general are a long way from being ready to deal with the complicated issues that arise from screening for lung cancer.

Test May Determine Smokers' Lung Cancer Risk

2009-05-02T03:32:00.001-07:00

A new urine test appears to distinguish which smokers are likely to get lung cancer and which are not, by detecting whether smokers have a particular chemical in their urine that's been linked to lung cancer.

The risk of lung cancer was 8.5 times higher in those who had the highest levels of this chemical, NNAL, and the highest nicotine levels.

The test was studied in about 500 men and women in Shanghai and Singapore. The results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"A history of smoking has always been thought of as a predictor of lung cancer, but it is actually not very accurate," said Dr. Jian-Min Yuan, associate professor of public health at the University of Minnesota. "Smoking absolutely increases your risk, but why it does so in some people but not others is a big question."

NNAL is created as the body metabolizes tobacco. The chemical has been shown to induce lung cancer in lab animals, but the effect in humans had not been studied until now. Researchers suspect that for genetic reasons, some people produce more NNAL than others, thereby increasing their risk of lung cancer.

Researchers say this test is no license to smoke; tobacco causes other health problems, such as emphysema, heart disease and other types of cancer.

But the test could be used as a signal that people with high levels of NNAL should be screened more frequently for lung cancer, says Tyler Jacks, the incoming head of the American Association for Cancer Research and a lung cancer researcher with MIT. That way, cancers can be detected early, when they're more treatable.

Initially, researchers collected data from 18,244 men in the Shanghai Cohort Study and 63,257 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

To evaluate the effect of NNAL, researchers looked at 246 current smokers who later developed lung cancer and compared them with 245 smokers who did not develop lung cancer. People were followed for 10 years during the study.

Patients who had a medium-level NNAL test had a 43 percent increased risk of lung cancer, while those at the highest level had a risk that was more than twofold higher than those with the lowest levels.

This held true even after researchers considered the number of cigarettes a person smoked per day, the number of years of smoking, and urinary levels of another chemical, cotinine, on lung cancer risk.

Lung Cancer Patients May Soon Have New Drug Option

2009-04-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

A drug temporarily withdrawn from the Food and Drug Administration for approval in non-small cell lung cancer will still likely get the green light when it’s resubmitted, Alan Sandler, MD, told a group of medical professionals at the Practical Applications of New Agents in Oncology conference in March in San Antonio, Texas.

Are Cigarettes More Hazardous Than Ever?

2009-04-30T22:48:00.000-07:00

A new study presented today suggests that the risk of getting lung cancer from smoking has increased over time due to changes in cigarette design.

Up to one half of current lung cancer occurrence could be attributable to cigarette design, according to David Burns and Christy Anderson of the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. Consequently, the study concludes, lung cancer rates could be reduced by up to 50 percent through more regulatory control of cigarette composition

Lung Cancer Lottery

2009-04-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

IT is the most deadly cancer in the UK – and your chance of surviving it could be wrecked by GEOGRAPHY.

Shocking differences in lung cancer care across the country are exposed in a damning report released yesterday.

The National Lung Cancer Audit reveals half of all patients with the disease receive NO treatment aimed at halting its spread.

Alimta gets OK for new lung cancer use

2009-04-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

ndianapolis Eli Lilly and Co. on Monday said its Alimta injection was approved by U.S. regulators as a first-line treatment against lung cancer when used with a chemotherapy drug.

Alimta, already approved for two other lung cancer uses, may now be used as a first treatment with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin for advanced and metastatic nonsmall-cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, Indianapolis-based Lilly said in a statement.

Lung cancer rates rise despite smoking decline

2009-04-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

The number of lung cancer deaths in Australia continues to rise, despite a drop in smoking rates.

Trachea and lung cancer remains the third leading cause of death in Australia behind heart disease and strokes.

But while the top two are decreasing, there is a rising number of deaths due to lung cancer

According to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were more than 7,600 deaths from trachea and lung cancer in 2007, up by about 900 on the number recorded in 1998.

Continued Smoking Increases Pain from Lung Cancer

2009-04-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Smokers who still refuse to kick the habit after being diagnosed with lung cancer experience higher levels of pain from the disease than nonsmokers and former smokers, according to research reported in The Journal of Pain, http://www.jpain.org, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org.Duke University researchers surveyed some 900 lung cancer patients and classified 17 percent of them as persistent smokers. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship of smoking status after a diagnosis of lung cancer with ratings of usual pain. Several studies have examined the effects of continued smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis and found that it impairs healing, lowers efficacy of cancer treatments, hampers overall quality of life, increases risk for recurrence and secondary tumors, and decreases survival.

Nailing the Message from Lung Cancer Foundation of America

2009-04-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation applauds Lori Monroe and LCFA for their extraordinary work in bringing much-needed attention to our common cause.

BREATHE LIFE CAMPAIGN: This spring, LCFA is honored to be joining forces with OPI, the well-known nail polish company to introduce a new nail polish called Breathe Life. OPI created Breathe Life especially for LCFA, in order to raise awareness of the difficult fight against Lung Cancer. Not only will OPI be distributing Breathe Life to thousands of its customers nationwide, but the company made a generous donation to LCFA, too.

Please, ask your favorite salons in your area to hold SALON DAYS to bring awareness to Lung Cancer. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. Some call to action ideas:
1) Salons can advertise LUNG CANCER SALON DAYS and display the OPI Lung Cancer display case with the BREATHE LIFE nail lacquer. The displays from OPI brings attention to the disparities surrounding Lung Cancer.
2) Salons can agree to give a percentage to sales from customers who use the BREATHE LIFE color with their manicure to Lung Cancer Foundation of America

3) Salons can agree to ask customers if they would like to donate $1.00 extra to Lung Cancer research with each purchase of a bottle of BREATHE LIFE to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.
4) Salons can offer manicures and/or pedicures for lung cancer patients at 50% off when using the BREATHE LIFE nail lacquer, asking for a donation to be made to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

About the Lung Cancer Foundation of America A couple of years ago, two Lung Cancer survivors (Lori Monroe and David Sturges) and a Lung Cancer widow (Kim Norris) discovered that even though Lung Cancer killed more Americans each year than the next six cancers combined, the vast majority of funding for Lung Cancer was going to prevention. Not detection. Not treatment. And not a cure. Together, Lori, David and Kim spoke with America’s top Lung Cancer researchers, members of Congress, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and other cancer advocacy groups. After careful study they decided to form a new organization, committed to raising money to support Lung Cancer research.

LCFA’s goal is simple: to provide the necessary and critical funding for creative and leading edge Lung Cancer research programs to help find early detection, treatment, and ultimately a cure for this deadly disease. LCFA is a national organization, and raises money throughout the United States, often from the private sector.

At the same time, Lori, David and Kim and their colleagues at LCFA were thrilled to learn that there are now a number of other organizations also fighting Lung Cancer. As far as LCFA is concerned, these other groups are not competitors, but sister organizations, all joined in a battle against the same enemy. LCFA is flattered and very grateful that so many other Lung Cancer organizations are supporting the Breathe Life campaign, and posting the information on their websites and to their own supporters.

BJALCF Sponsors Powerful Lung Cancer Genetics Research

2009-04-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

Lung Cancer research at UCSF is poised to leap forward, thanks to a big bank. No, not some teetering financial institution down the street. What UCSF has is an invaluable tissue bank.

When it comes to lung tumors, the quantity and quality of UCSF’s chilly-vault holdings are hard to beat. They’re a treasure trove that will help researchers determine how cancer survival odds and responses to treatments are affected by specific genetic abnormalities within tumors - and even by normally inherited variations in genes.

The Lung Cancer tissue bank now enables researchers at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center to explore more deeply the role of specific genes in Lung Cancer, according to David Jablons, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at UCSF and leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program.

“There are so many genes that are interrelated that we never suspected had anything to do with one another,” Jablons says. “This systems genetics approach to cancer is a whole new frontier.”

The frozen samples were gathered from hundreds of Lung Cancer patients over more than a decade. For most patients, the tissue bank also holds matching normal lung and blood samples for comparison. Jablons and colleagues have annotated the tissue bank data with information on the clinical care and outcomes for patients.

Why so many samples? Tumors share distinctive features that set them apart from normal cells, but individual tumors differ from one another in how they look, and in how they grow and spread. They also differ from one another in how they act metabolically.

More to the point for the newest studies, tumors all have abnormal genes, but each tumor exhibits its own individual pattern of abnormal gene activity. It takes many samples to track down the impacts of these genetic differences.

The tumor cells contained in the samples within the UCSF bank will help researchers identify microscopic molecules that can be used to help guide treatment, and will help these scientists envision new treatment strategies for throwing a wrench into the gears that drive relentless tumor growth.

But a person’s normal genes, inherited from mom and dad, also can play a role in how well that person will fare when stricken with cancer. Relatively few researchers have explored the role of normal genetic variations in cancer. Most cancer scientists study the genetically abnormal tumor tissue. In any case, there is a shortage of normal, matching tissue from cancer patients for studying how one’s genetic background influences cancer.

Jablons has led several fruitful research collaborations with doctoral scientists in recent years. Recently, with postdoctoral fellow Dan Raz, MD, he demonstrated that analysis of a small group of genes is a better predictor of lung cancer survival than gauging clinical stage and tumor size among patients diagnosed at an early stage.

Jablons’ patient, long-term devotion to collecting normal as well as tumor tissue now might yield even bigger results through a new collaboration with fellow UCSF laboratory cancer researcher Allan Balmain, PhD. The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation is sponsoring the project.

Balmain has pioneered the exploration of genetic background in cancer. He introduced a new field mouse species to the lab to jump-start the field. Balmain has bred longstanding strains of genetically identical lab mice with the field mice, which are more cancer-resistant and genetically diverse. Balmain tracked genetic variations in the offspring and has successfully identified constellations of normal genetic variations that affect cancer risk.

There are no breeding experiments in humans, of course. Even so, Balmain is hopeful that the same sort of genetic analysis in the human tissue collected by Jablons’ surgical team will lead to breakthrough insights.

Balmain has a good track record in making important discoveries by looking at old problems from a new perspective. He most recently extended his successful record with Lung Cancer findings that he and colleagues Minh To, PhD, and Christine Wong, PhD, presented in the October 2008 issue of the scientific journal Nature Genetics.

Researchers have long known that within cancers, defects in the genetic code - mutations - frequently occur in a gene called Kras. These Kras mutations are believed to drive the growth of many tumors, including many Lung Cancers.

It turns out that cells have a couple of ways to splice together the genetic instructions for making the Kras protein. The cells use either a piece of genetic code called 4A, or a different piece of the gene, called 4B. In the past, researchers focused on the more common 4B form, known to contribute to cancer when it becomes mutated.

But in a clear demonstration that the activity of normal genes can indeed influence cancer risk, Balmain found that a normal form of 4A, when present in the cell at the same time as a mutant 4B, can suppress the cancer-associated mutant. This protective function may be important in stopping cancer, and might even be worth mimicking in developing new drugs to fight cancer, Balmain suggests.

On the other hand, the 4A form of Kras might give rise to the normal pool of cells from which common lung cancers, called adenocarcinomas, commonly arise, Balmain says. It’s only later that the 4B form of Kras becomes activated and triggers tumor growth from among the cells in this pool.

“4B may be responsible for proliferation and maintenance of tumor cells that arise,” Balmain says, “but 4A is responsible for the initial cell fate decision, because the mice with no 4A are completely resistant to cancer.”

Desperately Seeking a Cure For Lung Cancer

2009-04-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Meet Elyse Aussenberg, attorney by vocation, athlete by avocation and Lung Cancer patient – not by choice. Either way you see it, here’s her story of optimism and hope for ordering Lung Cancer out of her life – and the life of everyone else.

At 52, Elyse Aussenberg was a poster girl for healthy living. She loved whole grains, salmon and leafy greens; practiced yoga, hit the gym religiously, and had a travel passport to exotic places across the globe. She lived life passionately, committed to her profession as an attorney and helping others through difficult family law matters, and shared a love for her four dachshunds with her husband, John, and son, Brent.

In spring of 2008, the Atlanta resident refused to ignore a persistent cough. As she searched for help, the internists she consulted diagnosed a mold allergy, prescribed antibiotics for pneumonia and told her to drink Robitussin three times a day.

But, Elyse knew her body. She knew something was seriously wrong.

When this dedicated athlete collapsed following a bike ride, she refused to stay knocked down. After visiting doctor after doctor, she finally found an internist who ordered a CT scan.

On May 27, 2008, Elyse was diagnosed with “Bronchial Alveolar Carcinoma.” Translated: Lung Cancer.

“My story is not a pleasant one,” says Elyse, who recently joined the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation as our newest board member. “It is thankfully ongoing, but I have suffered greatly from not only the lack of early detection of the disease, but a conspicuous lack of knowledge about Lung Cancer.”

Elyse was forced by circumstances to smarten up about Lung Cancer and took it on like her fiercest legal challenge. In many ways, she feels like she needed a degree in cancer treatment to take on her own Lung Cancer case.

Now, she’s determined to take her own journey through cancer as the guiding force to help others through this troubled situation. For patients who aren’t Lung Cancer gurus, (and who is?) Elyse hopes to help make the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation the top crusader to end this killer cancer.

So how does Elyse stay so positive? She says she keeps on keepin’ on in large part because her friends have rallied to her side, and because together they are taking on Lung Cancer like they would any major challenge that they refuse to let shake their worlds.

“I have endured radiation, chemotherapy, the removal of a lung, targeted therapy, traveled to a major cancer center for help and have still not been “cured,” says Elyse. “I have and continue to spend many hours educating myself on this disease and treatment options. I enjoy bits and pieces of life in between doctor visits rehab and resting, but I am primarily consumed with the act of staying alive.”

Elyse’s friends have formed a “Team Dream 2010,” and plan to bike across the United States to raise awareness and funds for Lung Cancer research: “3,415 miles, 10 bikes, 7 weeks and 2 oceans, 1 cure,” is how they are billing the feat they currently are training for.

In the words of Elyse’s dream team, who already has raised more than $20,000: “We’re committed to KILLING Lung Cancer.”

With doctors recently saying that all signs of cancer are gone from her body, Elyse is optimistic. She’s also more committed than ever to increase the awareness of Lung Cancer and get the information others need to know about Lung Cancer into the hands of folks who may be unknowing patients.

“I am filled with hope,” says Elyse.

Visit Elyse’s Big Adventure Blog, now in the “Our Survivors” section.

Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Information

2009-04-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

What are the three main symptoms to lung cancer? by Jon Butt

The main three symptoms to lung cancer that should not be ignored are shortness of breath, pain when breathing or coughing, and existence of a persistent cough, especially if it is accompanied by expectoration of sputum streaked with blood. Additionally, loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual losses of weight are three symptoms, which are indicative of lung cancer.

Because of the non-specific nature of symptoms of Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma tests are imperative to rule out incidence of the disease when lung cancer symptoms show up. Early detection of Mesothelioma cancer substantiated by clear information of patient's exposure to asbestos can help define the course of treatment.

Early Detection Of Mesothelioma Cancer In Long Term Health Prognosis

The length of time between asbestos exposure and onset of lung cancer symptoms can be between 15-50 years. Therefore a complete medical history and information of possible asbestos exposure are critical in identifying patients who are prone for developing Mesothelioma lung cancer.

During physical tests for Mesothelioma lung cancer, the doctor may check breath sounds to see whether there is any indication of fluid in the chest cavity. A variety of diagnostic procedures also help to determine whether a patient has Mesothelioma lung cancer.

Results from imaging scans, tissue biopsies, pulmonary function tests, and other diagnostic techniques, combined with the findings from a careful medical history help to define the course of treatment in Mesothelioma lung cancer.

There are less common but more uncomfortable symptoms of lung cancer, which are usually associated with advanced stages of the disease. Such lung cancer or Mesothelioma patients may exhibit symptoms like a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face or in the neck, pain or discomfort under the ribs, and shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs.

If you suspect that you or any of your family members have lung cancer symptoms- DO NOT DELAY - consult your physician right away.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

2009-04-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

About 25% of people who suffer lung cancer don’t feel the symptom. The cancer is detected during screening or a routine physical examination. But, there are lung cancer symptoms warning.

Commonly, the patients feel the respiratory symptoms like shortness of breathing, wheezing, hoarseness and a persistent cough. Smokers usually have these symptoms, and other conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chest infections. If you have or feel one or all of the symptoms, it should be evaluated and consult it with doctors, as it may be a symptom of lung cancer.The patients may cough up blood; it means the cancer cells erode lung blood vessels. This cancer may spread to chest wall causing chest, shoulder and back pain. And mostly, the patients will have experiences such as fever, fatigue, appetite loss and weight lost.These experiences may be sign of lung cancer symptoms.

If the lung cancer grows, it may occur complications such as such as collection of fluid in the tissue lining the lungs (pleural effusion), lung collapse, airway obstruction, and repeated lung infections. This deadly disease may spread to other parts of body such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver and brain. Bone pain and abnormal liver or brain function may result.

Like the other type of cancer, the later lung cancer is diagnosed, the less effective treatment options are. About 15 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the early stages of disease. Because the lung cancer symptoms usually don’t feel by the patients, we should take the awareness by doing routine screening especially if we feel the symptoms.

What are three symptoms to lung cancer?

2009-04-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

An estimated 162,000 Americans died from lung cancer in 2006. That's more than the combined deaths from colon, prostate and breast cancer. And it's getting worse; the incidents of lung cancer in the United States have increased by nearly 60 percent over the past three decades. Although cigarette smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, there are other contributing factors, and lung cancers are generally extremely difficult to diagnose. Still, there are many symptoms to lung cancer to watch for.

Two Types of Lung Cancer

There are two major types of lung cancers: Non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Named for their respective appearance under a microscope, these abnormal masses of lung cancer cells, or tumors, are responsible for a wide range of symptoms and can lead to chronic pneumonia, bronchitis and even death. While non-small cell lung cancer is the more common type of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer is the more dangerous, as it grows more quickly and can spread rapidly to other parts of the body. The most common source of lung cancer is cigarette smoke, which causes tumors to grow in the lungs. Tumors generally form when cells begin to grow and multiply too rapidly, often as a result of DNA damage. DNA, the genetic blueprint that determines a cell's growth, can be damaged in a number of ways, generally by exposure to radiation or carcinogenic (cancer producing) substances.

Three Main Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The symptoms of lung cancer often vary widely from one patient to the next, sometimes resembling those of other common and less serious respiratory diseases, making it extremely difficult to diagnose. Three main symptoms are commonly seen in a majority of lung cancer patients: Shortness of breath, a persistent and painful cough, and painful breathing or coughing. Shortness of breath associated with lung cancer is often severe and chronic, while coughs related to lung cancer are often accompanied by discharges of blood, fluid or phlegm. Depending on the position of the tumor or tumors, lung cancer can cause pain throughout the body, frequently below the ribs and in the shoulders.

Other Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Other symptoms of lung cancer include nerve-related and blood vessel-related facial disorders, as well as chest pain, chest pressure, and coughing. Patients may exhibit symptoms collectively known as Horner's Syndrome, which include drooping of an eyelid and an inability to sweat on one side of the face. These symptoms are caused by lung cancer tumors called Pancoast tumors, which grow in the upper lungs, putting pressure on nerves that run up the neck and into the face.

Patients can also exhibit signs of Superior Vena Cava Obstruction, or SVCO, in which tumors squeeze against the superior vena cava, the large blood vessel that carries blood to the heart, creating a blockage that causes the face to fill with liquid and swell. Other symptoms of SVCO include swelling of the neck, arms and hands, swollen blue veins on the chest, breathlessness, headaches and dizziness.

A third condition associated with lung cancer is Pleural Effusion, in which the lungs are surrounded by excessive fluid, constricting a person's ability to breath. Common symptoms of Pleural Effusion include: Chest pain, chest pressure, labored breathing and coughing.

Other symptoms of lung cancer can include fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, blood clots (also known as thrombosis), swelling of the breasts in men, dizziness, confusion, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing.

Though all these symptoms aren't necessarily indications of lung cancer, it is still a good idea to go to your doctor if you experience them.

Lung Cancer Patients The Smoking Stigma

2009-04-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

People who have been diagnosed with lung cancer often feel stigmatized, due to the highly publicized fact that most lung cancers are directly caused by smoking. Many individuals will feel they brought lung cancer on themselves. And non-smokers who never used tobacco — but developed lung cancer due to contact with radon or secondhand smoke — will have to deal with the smoking stigma.

Lung Cancer: The Smoking Stigma

"The stigma associated with lung cancer is not deserved because of the fact that the drug [that causes lung cancer] is so heavily marketed by the tobacco companies," said Joan Schiller, MD, chief of the division of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, president and founder of the National Lung Cancer Partnership, and national spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

"Most people started smoking when they were teenagers and didn't know better. And the majority of people who smoke have tried to stop, but they were unable to do so because nicotine is a very addictive drug," she says.

The stigma felt by many people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer can even cause them to hide their disease from others. This is dangerous, since it might lead to delays in getting necessary medical care, and it can keep them from getting the emotional support that they might desperately need.

Caregivers Face Lung Cancer Stigma, Too

The stigma of lung cancer also affects family and friends of people with lung cancer and their primary caregiver in particular. If you have a loved one with lung cancer, you will probably be faced with questions about smoking, which can make you feel uncomfortable and angry, especially if the patient never smoked.

"People's first reaction [when hearing about her lung cancer diagnosis] is, 'Oh, was she a smoker?' It's like [they're] asking, did she deserve it?" says Karin Donnelly, whose grandmother, Barbara Fagan, never smoked but developed lung cancer and passed away in 2008.

Dealing With the Stigma of Lung Cancer

You and your loved one should be prepared for questions about smoking, so you will be better able to deal with them.

If patients are asked whether or not they smoked, Schiller advises them to respond that it doesn't matter. As a caregiver, you should do the same. You might point out that your main concern is helping them through their life-threatening ordeal.

If your loved one is experiencing feelings of guilt about smoking, reassure him or her that smoking is not merely a bad habit; it's an extremely hard to overcome addiction. "We tell people not to feel guilty, but instead to get mad about what the tobacco companies have done, and to use that energy to fight," says Schiller.

Support groups can help you and your loved one cope with the questions that go along with telling others about a lung cancer diagnosis. Talking about your feelings and the stigma of lung cancer with fellow patients and caregivers can remind you that you are not alone and provide new ideas for managing thoughtless questions.

Managing Holiday Stress for the Lung Cancer Caregiver

2009-04-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

If you add the usual chaos that comes along with the holiday season to caring for a loved one with a serious illness like lung cancer, it can be a recipe for stress. Don't fret. There are ways to manage your caregiving responsibilities and the holidays.

Holidays: Adding to Caregiver Stress

If you are caring for a loved one who has lung cancer, there are many reasons holidays might be particularly stressful for you.

Firs

t, the emotions you feel about your loved one's condition can be more pronounced during the holidays. If you have been feeling sad, scared, or angry about the lung cancer diagnosis, these emotions may heighten at every holiday and family occasion.
There are those images of happy family gatherings that bombard us during the holidays: You may feel resentment toward others who are not dealing with the worry of caring for someone with lung cancer, and even guilty about the resentment.
If you're responsible for most of your loved one's caregiving, you may find yourself feeling particularly bitter toward family members who aren't making an effort to help, especially during the holidays.
Most people's to-do lists multiply during the holidays. Combining that stress with obligations you have as a lung cancer caregiver can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Holiday Stress: How to Manage

Try reflecting on what you have, rather than on what you've lost. During the holidays, "you need to embrace where you are, what you've been through, and how you can appreciate what you've had versus what you are missing and

what you might lose," says Julie Walther Scheibel, MEd, a counselor at Concordia Seminary Counseling and Resource Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Here are some tips for navigating the holidays while caring for your loved one who has lung cancer:

Involve your loved one. Make an effort to involve the patient in holiday preparations or traditions.
Accept your emotions. There is nothing wrong with feeling sad, scared, or angry about what's happened to your loved one with lung cancer. Allow yourself to experience these emotions and talk with your loved one and other friends and family members about your feelings.
Maintain your routine. Just because the holidays are here doesn't mean your daily routine has to go by the wayside. Take the time you need to exercise and eat nutritious meals.
Indulge yourself. Give yourself a holiday treat and do activities you enjoy. Read a book, see a movie, eat at a favorite restaurant, listen to music, or treat yourself to a spa day.

Easing Holiday Stress: For the Lung Cancer Patient

Here are ways you can make the season more enjoyable for your loved one:

Ease your loved one's lung cancer-related symptoms. People with lung cancer often experience coughing and shortness of breath. If these symptoms are preventing your loved one from being able to enjoy the holidays, talk with the medical team. There are many ways to ease these symptoms, including oxygen therapy, medications, and counseling.
Make mealtimes more enjoyable. Lung cancer and its treatments can lead to loss of appetite, which may be particularly stressful during the holidays if your loved one doesn't want to eat the foods she once enjoyed. Talk with her about foods that sound appetizing, and avoid pressuring her to eat during mealtimes. Instead, play music, light candles, and decorate the table to make holiday meals as relaxed and festive as possible.
Plan early holiday activities. Organize breakfasts and brunches instead of big dinners. Often, lung cancer patients have a bigger appetite in the morning as well as more energy. Get-togethers earlier in the day will be more enjoyable, and the emphasis can be more on visiting than eating.

Most importantly, resist the temptation to make the holidays "perfect" — whatever your vision of perfection is. In the best of times, that's a tall order. When you are coping with tending to a lung cancer patient's needs, that tall order could be nearly impossible. Minimizing this self-imposed stress could be the best present you'll ever receive.

Lung Cancer: The Challenges of Caregiving

2009-04-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

Providing care for a loved one who has been diagnosed with lung cancer is daunting and you most likely have many questions: What is it like to live with someone who has lung cancer? What symptoms and side effects should you expect from lung cancer and its treatments? How will the diagnosis and treatment affect your loved one emotionally? Here's what you need to know.

Lung Cancer Symptoms: What to Expect

Symptoms will vary greatly from patient to patient. Some may be experienced daily, while others less frequently or not at all. Each patient is different, and so are his or her needs. Some fairly common symptoms and side effects of lung cancer and its treatment, however, include:

Chest or back pain
Coughing up mucus and/or blood
Breathing problems
Voice changes
Noisy breathing
Bronchitis or chronic cough
Pneumonia or an infection of the lung
Symptoms related to the spread of the cancer
Pain due to surgery

The patient undergoing chemotherapy may experience:

Hair loss
Infection
Bleeding
Mouth sores
Weight loss
Fatigue
Low blood counts

Radiation therapy side effects will depend on how large an area and which part of the body is irradiated. Some common side effects are:

Difficulty eating
Hair loss
Dry, sensitive, irritated skin

Working closely with your loved one's oncologist will help you know how best to help manage the patient's specific symptoms and side effects and how to prioritize your responsibilities so that they don't become overwhelming.

Lung Cancer Symptoms: A Caregiver's Story

"She was so tired," says Karin Donnelly of her grandmother, who died of lung cancer in 2008. Donnelly, a teacher in Delaware, says that that her grandmother experienced extreme fatigue leading up to her lung cancer diagnosis, and the fatigue got even worse when she was being treated with chemotherapy. "The simplest things, like going to church," were no longer possible, says Donnelly, who describes her grandmother as a devout Catholic who never would have missed church before she had lung cancer.

Donnelly says that her grandmother was often nauseated, lost a lot of weight during her treatment, and had little appetite. In addition, the coughing that comes with lung cancer can be severe. "She would cough a lot and sometimes throw up because of it," adds Donnelly.

Lung Cancer: The Emotional Side

Besides the symptoms and side effects that come with lung cancer and its treatment, your loved one will experience a range of emotions. Feelings of fear, sadness, and even guilt are common after a lung cancer diagnosis. You can help by encouraging him or her to talk about these feelings and being there to listen.

Caring for someone with lung cancer will be a difficult journey, and it is important to get the help you need. Talk with your loved one's medical team about the most crucial responsibilities and what to expect along the way. There might be practical matters to tend to, like replacing oxygen tanks and preparing the most nutritious meals possible, as well as providing emotional support and comfort.

And don't forget to care for yourself, too. Joining a support group where you can share your experiences with other caregivers and loved ones of lung cancer patients can help you cope during this stressful time.

Lung Cancer: Long-Distance Caregiving

2009-04-22T20:56:00.002-07:00

If you have a loved one with lung cancer who lives away from you, you are not alone. It is very common for friends and family members to be spread far and wide these days. In fact, it is estimated that about seven million adults provide caregiving from a distance. Fortunately, with the help of technology and a little creativity, you can let your loved one know you care, even if you don't live nearby.

For any caregiver, the most important part is to provide love and support. "Being there" doesn't necessarily mean physically, although it is a good idea to schedule visits to see your loved one when possible. Between visits, you can show your love by sending cards and letters, placing regular phone calls, and even spending time with your loved one over the Internet by using Web cams to your computers and allow you to see each other on your monitors or laptop screens.

Lung cancer patient Barbara Fagan’s out-of-state family members sent care packages to show their support, recalls Fagan's granddaughter Karin Donnelly. "Because they were so removed geographically from the situation, it made them feel sort of helpless," says Donnelly, whose grandmother lost her battle with lung cancer in 2008. "They would have their kids draw pictures or make cards for my grandmother."

Helping the Lung Cancer Caregiver

In addition to showing your concern for the patient, it's important to lend support to the primary caregiver — the one who might be there around the clock and at risk of burnout.

Here are some ways to help:

Coordinate the caregiving. Help coordinate the care of your loved one, especially during times of need, like right after lung cancer treatment. You can keep a schedule of close-by neighbors, friends, and community members who want to help. There are even programs you can use on the Internet that give all family members access.

Help manage the household. See if you can help with some of the daily household tasks that may become burdensome during lung cancer treatment, like paying bills or filling prescriptions. Many of these tasks can be performed over the phone or Internet.

Hire local help. As a special respite for your loved one’s primary caregiver, hire someone to help out with chores such as mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, or keeping the laundry clean and folded.

Keep the kitchen stocked. Send your loved one or the caregiver a package of his or her favorite foods, or contact a local company that can make regular deliveries of fresh or frozen meals. Remember that lung cancer and its treatments can interfere with appetite and food preferences, so talk with your loved one or a primary caregiver to find out what foods would be best tolerated.

Ask what you can do. If you are not sure what you should do, tell your loved one or nearby caregivers that you would like to help and ask what you can do to make life easier for the lung cancer patient.

With technology and a wealth of home services now available in communities across the country, you no longer have to stand idly by when a long-distance loved one is in need.

Caring for a Lung Cancer Patient

2009-04-22T20:56:00.001-07:00

Providing cancer care for a loved with lung cancer can be draining — both emotionally and physically. Many people who are providing lung cancer care are so busy and concerned with their loved one that they forget to care for themselves. In fact, some research shows that caregivers are at greater risk of having such health problems as infection or depression than those who are not caregivers.

Caring for yourself while you provide lung cancer care is important. Not only will you benefit, but you will also be able to provide higher-quality cancer care for your loved one for a longer period of time.

"Maintaining your own well-being is going to help you be a better caregiver," says Julie Walther Scheibel, MEd, a counselor at Concordia Seminary Counseling and Resource Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Cancer Care: Tend to Your Own Health

You should always practice good health habits, but it is particularly important to avoid neglecting your health when you are caring for a loved one with lung cancer.

Talk with your doctor and other health care providers about what immunizations, check-ups, and screenings you need to have, and make sure to adhere to the schedule your medical team recommends.
Get recommended vaccines, such as the pneumococcal and influenza (flu) vaccination. This can protect your loved one from contracting these infections from you, and keep you healthy enough to care for your loved one with lung cancer.
Don't skip your annual medical check-ups. You may think that missing one visit will not hurt, but yearly check-ups are particularly important because you are at higher risk for developing health problems while you are providing cancer care.
Make sure your doctor knows that you are a caregiver. If you have been feeling sad, irritable, or nervous, voice these concerns to your doctor, who can assess your mental health.

Cancer Care: Do What You Enjoy

While your job, social life, and hobbies may be on the back burner after learning your loved one has lung cancer, it is important to keep your life as normal as possible and participate in activities you enjoy while you are providing care for your loved one. Walther Scheibel recommends that lung cancer caregivers attempt to continue with their regular routine as best they can. "There is a balance between being a supportive caregiver and losing yourself in your loved one's illness," she says.

Here are some tips for caring for yourself while providing lung cancer care:

Schedule "me" time. Find a time each day when you can slip away from your caregiving responsibilities and do an activity you enjoy. This may just mean spending a bit of time reading a novel, listening to music, or calling a friend.
Stay healthy. Eat healthful foods and avoid skipping meals. It is also important to continue to get regular exercise as you are caring for your loved one.
Arrange for back-up. Ask neighbors, friends, family members, or members of the community to lend a hand when you need help.
Get support. Joining a support group for loved ones of people who have lung cancer can allow you to share stories with others who are in similar situations.

Letting yourself get run-down or emotionally spent won't help anybody, especially you.

Lung Cancer and Advance Directives

2009-04-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

Advance directives are documents people use to ensure that their medical care will be conducted according to their wishes, even if they cannot make their own decisions. Directives about medical care are a good idea for everyone to consider, but such documents become especially important if you are diagnosed with lung cancer or another serious illness.

"Advance directives are not only for people who are ill," says Joan Schiller, MD, chief of the division of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center in Dallas and a national spokeswoman for the American Lung Association. "An advance directive can tell your health care team who to talk to about health decisions in the event that you are no longer able to make them yourself."

Lung Cancer: Making a Living Will

A living will is an advance directive that details your wishes about what kind of medical care you will want if you become longer able to communicate or make decisions. "A living will specifies very precisely what you do or don't want done," says Dr. Schiller.

If you have lung cancer and are thinking about what you would want to happen should you become unable to voice your wishes, consider a living will. Particularly comforting to friends and family members, who can be sure medical decisions are being carried out according to your wishes, living wills can answer questions about your decisions regarding issues related to your lung cancer treatment or end-of-life care including:

The use of CPR
The use of medical equipment, such as a respirator, to keep you alive
The use of a feeding tube
Comfort care preferences
Organ and tissue donation

Living wills do have limitations, however. "The problem with a living will is that you can't think of everything," says Schiller. "It is so very specific and it can't outline all of the possibilities."

Lung Cancer: Picking a Durable Power of Attorney

"If you have someone whom you can trust, like a spouse for example, most people in [the field of oncology] recommend a power of attorney," says Schiller.

Like a living will, durable power of attorney for health care can be implemented if you are no longer able to make medical decisions. But instead of specifying the type of medical care, a durable power of attorney for health care names someone who will make medical decisions for you. This person is called a health care proxy, and should be someone who knows you well and whom you can rely on to make decisions with your best interests in mind.

When you decide on a durable power of attorney, the paperwork designating that person as such should be dated, signed by you, signed by a witness, and also notarized.

Lung Cancer: Getting Help With Advance Directives

To learn more about advance directives, talk with members of the medical team treating your lung cancer. Lawyers can assist with advance directives, but you can draft advance directives without the help of an attorney. If you do draft your own, make sure to get the proper forms from the local state health department or Office on Aging, and make sure you have met the legal requirements in your state. Once the living will and durable power of attorney are complete, make copies to share with your loved ones and health care providers.

While getting the advance directives in order, take time to create or review your last will and testament with the help of an attorney. Your will is the legal document that specifies how your assets will be distributed in the event of your death.

While it can be difficult emotionally to begin making end-of-life arrangements, it can ease pressure on your loved ones and give you much-needed peace of mind.

Easing the Pain of Lung Cancer

2009-04-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

For people experiencing significant pain from either their lung cancer itself or the side effects of lung cancer treatment, pain management is a very important part of the overall treatment plan. Fortunately, there are many options available to you, from medication to alternative therapies.

Lung Cancer: The Sources of Pain

People with lung cancer may experience different types of pain including:

Pain caused by the cancerous tumor itself. This may be because the tumor in your lungs is pressing on nerves in your spine, resulting in chest or back pain.
Pain caused by cancer that has spread to other places in the body. If your cancer has spread to your bones, you probably will experience bone pain; for instance. if the cancer has spread to the ribs or spine, it can cause chest or back pain. Cancer that has spread to the liver may cause pain in your abdomen. And cancer that spreads to the brain can result in headaches.
Pain due to your lung cancer treatment. After surgery, you're likely to experience pain and soreness that will last a few days or weeks as you recover. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for lung cancer may result in pain as well. This pain may be caused by the chemotherapy medications themselves, the radiation that is targeting your cancer, or vitamin deficiencies or other side effects that result from your lung cancer treatment.

Lung Cancer: Pain Management

How your pain is treated will largely depend on the extent and cause. Pain management strategies may include:

Medications. Some lung cancer–related pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin.) In cases of more severe pain, other medications such as opioids can help relieve pain. Because these require a prescription from your doctor, you shouldn't wait to discuss your pain level with him or her. You don't need to suffer, so if you're in pain, don't wait until your next office visit or treatment appointment. If you are unable to make the call yourself, ask your caregiver to do it for you.
Radiation. For pain that is caused by cancer that has spread to the bones, radiation therapy can be used to shrink the tumor and help reduce discomfort.
Surgery. In some cases, surgery to remove part or the whole tumor can be used to relieve your pain. Surgery can also be used to cut nerves and relieve pain.
Nerve blocks. Medications that target nerves can be given by injection to control pain.
Alternative strategies. Relaxation therapy, biofeedback, imagery, hypnosis, nerve stimulation, acupuncture, exercise, physical therapy, and counseling have all been shown to help manage pain that is related to cancer. While many of these approaches involve a health practitioner, you can do some of them, like relaxation therapy and imagery, at home and on your own.

If you are experiencing pain related to your lung cancer, alert your medical team. They can recommend strategies to help alleviate your pain so that it doesn't become a controlling factor in your life.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Your Rights

2009-04-21T04:28:00.000-07:00

After a lung cancer diagnosis, probably one of the last things on your mind will be whether — and how — to tell your employer about the diagnosis. But as the reality of your diagnosis sinks in and you begin to coordinate a lung cancer treatment, this is an issue you will have to face.

Lung Cancer: Learning the Law

When and whether you want to tell your employer about a lung cancer diagnosis is entirely up to you. You may be worried that you will be treated differently if your employer knows about the lung cancer. You may even be worried that the diagnosis could affect your job security. But there are laws in place to protect your rights when you have cancer. Some basic rights to keep in mind:

The law. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are in place to protect you.
Anti-Discrimination. The ADA stipulates that private employers with at least 15 employees, as well as local and state government employers, cannot discriminate against people with disabilities. A related law covers federal government workers as well. Cancer is often considered a disability under the ADA, especially when it limits the ability to participate in "major life activities."
Medical exams. According to the ADA, an employer cannot require you to take a medical exam to screen for a serious illness such as lung cancer before you are hired. The ADA also prohibits employers from asking questions about your health, unless the questions relate to your ability to do your job.
Confidentiality. If you do decide to tell your employer about the lung cancer, the ADA requires the employer to keep your medical information confidential from other employees. You also have the right to receive the accommodations you need, such as time to go to doctor's appointments, time to undergo and recover from treatment, breaks to rest or take medication, adjustments in your work schedule, and permission to work from home if applicable to the job.
Job security. The FMLA protects your job, even if you must take time off for lung cancer treatment. Under this act, employers must give employees up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave each year to deal with family and medical issues, including taking medical leave because of a serious illness. Businesses that employ at least 50 people for 20 or more work weeks a year are required to comply with the FMLA.

Lung Cancer: When and How to Tell Your Employer

Once you've decided to inform your employer about your condition, experts recommend not waiting too long. "In general, the recommendation would be that people would generally want to inform their employer up front," says Carolyn Messner, DSW, MSW, director of education and training for CancerCare and an oncology social worker in New York City.

This is especially the case if you will be taking a significant amount of time off work for lung cancer treatment and recovery. It might be good to explain your situation to your employer before treatment starts. "If you are suddenly taking lots of sick time with no reason, the employer might wonder what is wrong," Messner says.

Other tips to consider:

Devise a plan. Although you don't want to wait too long before telling your employer about the lung cancer, it's important to take some time, do some research, and think about how much you want to disclose. Before talking to your employer, have a discussion with your doctor about how the lung cancer and its treatments could affect your ability to work.
Get a doctor's note. Get a letter from your doctor — "a simple letter saying that Ms. Jones is under my care for cancer; she will be out of work for some time; she will be able to return to work; and it will be safe for her to return to work," says Messner. "Less is more. It really should be written very simply."
Read your benefits. Review your employee handbook and description of benefits to see if you have access to disability insurance, which covers some or most of a salary even when time is taken off for treatment.
Do your homework. Contact an organization such as CancerCare before meeting with your employer to review the doctor's note and talk with an oncology social worker about how the conversation is going to go. "I suggest that people do a dry run to practice what they are going to say," says Messner. "By the time you get to your employer, you should have a pretty scripted message that you are giving: 'Yes, this has happened. I need to take some time off, and I will be able to get back to work.' "
Be specific. Be clear about the work functions you can continue doing, and what you expect your limitations will be.

The most important thing to do right now is to focus on your health and getting better. Take this opportunity to let your employer know how the company can support you so that you will be able to concentrate on the treatment and recovery.