May 31
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium; the protective sac that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. The mesothelium has two layers, one, which covers the organ, and a second, which forms a sac around it. The mesothelium has different names depending on the location in the body. The pleura is the name for the mesothelial tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. The peritoneum covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity, while the pericardium covers and protects the heart.
The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that allows organs within it to move and glide easily. The fluid allows the lungs to breathe and the heart to expand and contract without creating any type of internal friction.
Like other forms of cancer, mesothelioma occurs when cells become abnormal and divide or grow out of control. When someone has mesothelioma, the helpful lubricating fluid described above may be over-produced. This excess fluid encases the organs with a thick layer of tumor tissue, described as a rind type of layer. In advanced cases of mesothelioma, cells metastasize, or grow and invade other organs and spread to other areas of the body.
The majority of individuals suffering from mesothelioma have cancer in the lining of the lung. Sometimes, mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
The symptoms of mesothelioma are common to a number of illnesses which means that mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. Unique types of treatment for mesothelioma are still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a general rule, mesothelioma does not respond well to most treatments that are currently being offered.
Mesothelioma is caused by breathing or ingesting asbestos fibers. The coarse fibers cause scarring of the mesothelial tissue which can cause asbestosis or pleural plaques. Unfortunately, the scarring can also lead to cancer known as mesothelioma.
It often takes 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before the symptoms of mesothelioma develop. This period of time is referred to as a latency period. Because of the latency period, the disease commonly affects men and women that are at least 50 years of age and that worked with asbestos between 20 and 50 years ago. Many workers working 20 to 50 years ago did not use any type of protection in the workplace while they were exposed to the dust or fibers from asbestos. At the same time, however, many of the companies employing the workers had full knowledge that asbestos was dangerous and that exposure to asbestos would harm the health of many of the workers. Insulators, plasterers, electricians, pipefitters, mechanics, ironworkers, ship builders, ship workers, brick layers, carpenters, and other tradesmen are just a few examples of workers that were likely to work with asbestos on a day-to-day basis. Also at risk are the families of these workers, as the asbestos fibers may be brought into the home from the clothes, skin, or hair of the worker.
If the mesothelioma is detected in the earlier stages and treated aggressively, studies have shown that half will survive two years and 20 percent will survive five years. However, if the diagnosis is for Advanced Mesothelioma, only 10 percent have a three-year survival rate and only 5 percent have a life expectancy of five years.
Keep in mind that these statistics should only be used as general guidelines, and not as a definitive idea of an individual patient’s survival rate. Patients are encouraged to speak with their physicians about their individual prognosis.
Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace.
As with other cancers, a speedy diagnosis is important to effective treatment of mesothelioma. If you believe that you may have mesothelioma and that you worked with asbestos in the past, you may wish to inform your doctor of this fact.
WHAT ARE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS?
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last five years, you may wish to meet with an attorney to discuss your legal rights. Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma should consider this option. If you have a loved one who is deceased because of mesothelioma, their spouse or an executor of the estate should also consider legal representation.
There are different avenues to consider regarding representation and the possibilities of obtaining compensation. We believe it is important that you choose representation by a firm that is exclusively devoted to mesothelioma claims. We believe you should choose a firm that has years of experience and a proven track record with mesothelioma claims.
Patricia Hughes works for an eplusm.com Internet marketing firm ePlus Marketing
For more information contact: Maune Raichle Law firm 1-800-358-5922.
The firm specializes in mesothelioma cases. Or go to:
May 30
Sarcoma Sarcoma is a rare type of cancers which arises from normal body cells called as connective tissues. Broadly, sarcomas are classified as bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas. Further sub-classification is based upon the type of particular cell where cancer arises. The different names sarcomas have are derived from cells where they originate.
Sarcoma – Epidemiology Sarcomas can attack people without differentiating the age; however they occur very rarely, accounting for just about a percentage all cases of cancers put together. Although, close to a half of occurrences are in the limbs, generally sarcomas are really unusual and that they can appear in any place of our bodies with a few examples being muscle, skin, cartilage, bones, nerves and any of the internal organs.
Differentiating sarcomatoid mesothelioma from other timorous cells is quite difficult even with the use of light microscopy. This is particularly so because Mesotheliomas generally boil down to two following types.
1. Epitheloid - Counting up to about 50-70 percentage of the total incidences; Epitheloid Sarcoma has the best chance for survival
2. Sarcomatoid - Counting up to about 7-20 percentage of all the incidences, but unfortunately this has the worst chance for survival.
Distinguishing between Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma and other types of Sarcoma is not always possible due to the fact that it is characteristically always cytokeratin-negative. In this background, experts studying the case have undertaken a study to investigate the usefulness and applicability of diagnostic immunohistochemistry for distinguishing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma from its histological slickers such as
1. High-grade Sarcoma
2. Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma
Advanced Studies on Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma The researchers, for the purpose of comparative study, have stained the mesothelioma tissues with components of sarcomatoidal tissues. Then they carried out a comparative study between the immunophenotypic profiles of these stained tumors with other 24 high grade sarcomas. Further, to evaluate the thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), the researchers stained the sarcomatoid carcinomas also. The study showed that the sarcomatoids hardly had any stains while Cytokeratin 5/6 had stained epithelioids almost entirely. In the meanwhile, thrombomodulin and Calretinin have each stained 70% of the Sarcomatoidal cells.
This and other studies have evidenced that chondrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), which essentially are soft tissue sarcomas, have relatively higher incidences of occurrences in adults as opposed to children.
Sarcoma - A Few More Examples Unlike the healthgenie.org/Mesothelioma/mesotheliomaCR.html” target=”_blank mesothelioma cancer, Sarcomas are named after the tissues they originate from, and here are a few more examples of the disease.
1. osteosarcoma – tissue of origin - bone
2. chondrosarcoma – tissue of origin - cartilage
3. leiomyosarcoma – tissue of origin - smooth muscles
Even occupational exposures may lead to angiosarcoma which arises from liver cells. These are common in persons who are exposed to vinyl chloride.
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May 30
This article is the fifth and final installment of a series on Natural Health Therapies and Cancer. The material presented is meant to inform you of complementary cancer therapies that are available in the medical community. These therapies are to be used in cooperation with other cancer treatment methods. They are not meant to replace your physician’s care.
So far, we have discussed the basics of cancer, looked at a list of causes, reviewed the various types and stages of cancer, and examined the use of nutrition and herbal supplements as forms of cancer therapy. We have also talked about various physical support therapies and their benefits for individuals with cancer. In this article, we will investigate the use of Energy Support Therapies for cancer. These methods include Electrodermal Screening, Magnetic Therapy, and Light Therapy.
‘Energy Medicine’ refers to any therapies or testing that use an energy field such as electrical, magnetic, sonic, microwave, infrared, or acoustic energy. We’ve all been exposed to energy medicine before. EKGs for heart activity, EMGs for muscle tests, EEGs for brain waves, and MRIs for scanning body parts are all examples of energy medicine techniques.
The basic principle in energy medicine is that a disease will show an energy change before it becomes a full-blown illness. The energy flow is based on acupuncture meridians known for thousands of years. These meridians are pathways for energy flow. The concept of energy flow in the meridians is similar to the flow of blood in the arteries and veins in our circulatory system. Studies done in Germany and at Stanford University verified that there is electrical conduction through the acupuncture meridians, that the energy changes at the traditional acupuncture points, and that the energy changes when health is poor.
Electrodermal Screening Testing the skin surface to determine if there are any imbalances in the energy flow is called electrodermal screening. It is done by touching a small probe to certain points on the hands and feet, which generates information on a computer. A point value on a scale of 0-100 is assigned to the various readings. Scores in the 45-55 range are considered normal. Readings below 45 indicate organ degeneration while scores above 55 suggest organ inflammation. Following the electrodermal screening, therapies are given according to the scores displayed at each of the various test sites.
Magnetic Therapy We are exposed to magnetic energy every day. Some is naturally generated by our body, by solar flares, by changes in the weather, and by the earth itself. Common electrical devices like radios, televisions, computers, microwave ovens, power wheelchairs, and commercial power lines also produce magnetic fields.
Magnetic therapy focuses on the use of external magnets and electromagnetic devices to relieving symptoms and reversing degenerative diseases. The negative poles of the magnets have shown benefits to health while the positive poles exhibit a harmful effect. It has been identified that cancer thrives in a high-acid, low-oxygen environment. Negative magnetic fields cause the cells to become more alkaline and to increase the oxygen level. The technique is called Magnetic Resonance Bio-oxidative Therapy and is still considered experimental even though there are reports of successful treatments of cancers of the prostate, brain, spine, skin and mouth.
Light Therapy Exposure to sunlight plays an important role in maintaining good health. Not only does it help the body produce Vitamin D; the sunlight also sends impulses to our brain’s regulatory system. The brain then generates signals to control everything from sleep cycles and body temperature to digestion and immune function. Because of the body’s need for light, poor lighting or minimal exposure to the sun can lead to health problems. Studies have linked poor lighting to fatigue, hostility, suppressed immune function, depression, hair loss, skin damage, strokes, and cancer.
‘Full-Spectrum Light Therapy’ has shown the ability to help with improving the overall health. Similar to exposure to sunlight, this therapy uses the entire range of light including ultraviolet. A study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School demonstrated a positive relationship between full-spectrum light and the prevention of breast, colon, and rectal cancers.
‘Ultraviolet Light Therapy’ is used both topically for skin lesions and through a process called hemo-irradiation for other cancers. Hemo-irradiation involves removing about a pint of blood, exposing it to ultraviolet light, and returning it to the patient’s bloodstream. This technique has been reported to increase oxygen levels, neutralize body toxins, and balance the body’s biochemicals.
‘Photodynamic Therapy’ or PDT is quite promising in handling some early stage cancers. This therapy involves injecting dyes or medications that are sensitive to light. These agents are absorbed by the cancer tumors which are then exposed to certain types of light. This technique has had a 90% success rate in Japan for the early stage cancers of the lung, stomach, esophagus, and cervix.
Further Information Most of you know that I am an advocate for learning more about your body and any illness for which you have been diagnosed. Education is a great tool in preventing disease. Here is a good book for Cancer and Alternative Medicine — A Definitive Guide to Cancer by W. John Diamond, M.D., W. Lee Cowden, M.D., and Burton Goldberg.
The Definitive Guide to Cancer is a must-read. I recommend this book to everyone because it provides a great historical and medical background for the increase of cancer in today’s society. It also describes 37 different alternative cancer treatments being used by physicians in the U.S. and around the world. The book is informative and eye-opening. I have used it as a reference many times while writing this series on Cancer.
If you would like more information on any topic discussed in this series or to suggest ideas for a future article, you can contact me through my website or email me at mailto:DoctorRyan@JerryRyanPhD.com” target=”_blank DoctorRyan@JerryRyanPhD.com.
Jerry Ryan, Ph.D. is a Natural Health Coach who teaches individuals and group classes on the scientifically documented benefits of natural health techniques. He is also an internationally published author and has been a guest speaker at such places as NIKE World Headquarters. For more information, his website is JerryRyanPhD.com JerryRyanPhD.com
