Sunday, October 9, 2011

Asbestos and Lung Cancer

While lung cancer isn't as specific of an asbestos-related cancer as mesothelioma, it can still be caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. An estimated 161,840 people died of lung cancer in 2008, and this number could climb as more and more people develop the disorder even years after they were exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos was a popular substance in the 19th and most of the 20th centuries that was used in everything from vinyl floor tiles to car brake pads. Asbestos is actually fairly beneficial when utilized correctly, because it insulates against heat, flame, chemicals, and degradation. Additionally, it is flexible and has high tensile strength. Despite all these, asbestos has been mostly outlawed because it breaks down into microscopic fibers as it gets older. These fibers can become lodged in your lungs if inhaled, then they contribute to lung cancer.
Lung cancer, like mesothelioma, is like every other cancer that is caused by the spread of improperly dividing cells. Normally, your body's cells know when they should die and replace themselves, and when they should stop dividing and producing new cells. However, the cause of all cancers is cells that do not know when to stop dividing. They keep reproducing and making more cells, which exponentially increases your amount of cells. This mass growth is called a tumor.
However, while people sometimes mistakenly associate mesothelioma with lung cancer, they are not the same disorder. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, as well as the lining of the abdomen and even testes. Lung cancer occurs when tumors proliferate throughout the inner lung tissue itself.
This type of abnormal cell growth typically arises in the epithelial cells. These are the cells that line the airways of the lungs, helping protect your breathing organ from particles that you might inhale. However, asbestos easily shreds into microscopic fibers that can get lodged in the epithelial cells and form nodules, which can grow into cancerous masses. Because epithelial cells line the bronchi and bronchioles, lung cancer is occasionally called bronchogenic carcinomas or bronchogenic cancers.
What makes cancerous growths dangerous is there ability to metastasize. This is in contrast to benign tumors, which are masses of cells that do not spread to other parts of the body. Tumors that metastasize mean that they have the ability to break off into smaller pieces, float through the blood stream, then later anchor themselves somewhere else in the body, where they settle and grow. This is what causes cancer to spread.
Because of the lungs' close contact with the bloodstream, tumors in these organs can easily spread to the rest of your body. Thus, lung cancer is an extremely deadly form of cancer. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer, you may need financial help to aid in your treatment process or make up for loss of wages. For more information, talk to an asbestos lawyer at Williams Kherkher today.
Joseph Devine


The Claim For Lung Cancer Compensation And Its Procedure

Claim for lung cancer compensation process admits a small number of phases. However, let be familiar with this term as well as process. The asbestos fibers provide pain to the lungs and thus it turns out to be the basis of scar plus coagulate of the lungs-tissues. This one reason shows the way to numerous respiratory organ connected illnesses and even cancer. The illness can increase life risk which may perhaps be a cause of death such as lung cancer. Such patients suffer Lung cancer, could claim for their medical compensation. There are a small number of websites which will help you to get some ideas and these also help out to you for taking the specific decision from first to last for the compensation claiming. The course of action comprises more than a few stages which must be followed at any rate. If you experience that you require help for getting this compensation claim then you need to go through a professional's proposals.
The initial point of the claim for lung cancer compensation process includes legal liability and in keeping with this observation, you have to draw attention to indicate that person who is accurately liable for that particular fault. An inclusive report will be taken from the particular patient and the witnesses associated with work in addition to further contacts. In severe circumstances, you also necessitate to superior engineering evidences. The difficult task among all is to find the exact people or company who or which is guilty for that situation. As well, plenteous claims can be taken on such persons or organizations those do not exist or valid in any case right now.
After that, the next point of claim for lung cancer compensation is your possibilities of winning the case which you filed to the court. After all, it will be examined whether the people or company is liable for the patients' severe situation. Subsequent to the opening inquiry and process, all the evidences will be convened like from the reports of x-rays to the reports of scans. A lawfully adequate clinical fitness report will be specially made as well as a specific in the domain of sickness would be occupied for processing the case systematically.
In the last phase of claim for lung cancer compensation procedure, the inquiry team will start to work on the sources of your claim. The legal representative, whom you engaged for fighting your case, will observe all the information that may fit with your claim over and above economic losses that took place as a consequence of the manual mistake. If you are not competent to get hold of the invested money throughout mutual understanding then the case will be fought in the court back and forth.
Vijay K Shetty, Get more information on: Lung Cancer Claim
For more information visit: Pleural Plaque Compensation


Lung Cancer Prevention - Facts You Should Know

The Steps To Lung Cancer Prevention Involve Changes To Your Lifestyle Or Location.
It is certainly no secret that there is a direct link between cigarette smoking and the development of cancer formations in the lungs, as individuals who smoke have a considerably higher chance of developing cancerous tumors in their lungs, while non-smokers who live in a smoking environment also suffer from the same fate.  With the amount of exposure in the media to the ills and evils of tobacco, it is no secret that lung cancer prevention should start with quitting a smoking habit -- or never starting one to begin with.  A smoker who quits for as little as twenty four hours experiences far greater circulation efficiency, and a smoker who quits for a month sees their risk of developing tumors cut in half.
Of course, smoking is not the end all of developing cancer, and the unfortunate reality is that countless cancer victims have never been in close contact with a cigarette in their life.  There are numerous other conditions which have even greater impact upon lung health than tobacco, most of which involve the physical location in which a patient lives or works.  Environmental conditions account for some twenty percent of cancer developments in lung tissue, with some areas producing a level of lung tumors that approaches one hundred percent.
Simple dirt in the air can be enough to irritate lung tissue to the point where basic immunities can no longer fight off cancer developments.  Air quality is lowest in high pollution areas, with few areas worse than open air mines.  Coal mines in particular produce ten times more dust in the air than normal levels, while distances of up to ten miles away can be affected.  Lung cancer prevention may involve drastic measures of moving to new areas where air pollution is lessened; major cities especially see higher rates of cancer developments in their citizens.  Simple building materials may be a cause, most notably radon gas, an invisible and scentless gas released in processed stone.  Simple tests can detect whether or not your home or business has radon gas; with nearly one in ten buildings seeping the dangerous material, it is well worth the investigation.
I for one know there's a ton of lung cancer information scattered all around the web, and I know it can be somewhat depressing to go through much of it. I have compiled all that researched so it might benefit others. I put many months of research into a useful guide. There's no charge of course and I think you'll appreciate the simplicity of it. Its at MyLungCancerGuide.com. While you are there, you'll find this article about Lung Cancer Prevention and many other very straight forward, helpful articles.

Four Stages of Lung Cancer

In order to know the kind of treatment that a cancer patient must undergo, the medical team must first identify the stage of lung cancer being experienced by the patient. Once a person undergoes the clinical staging of cancer, diagnosis is being done.
Staging is the process of describing the extent of the disease. Cancer staging is based on the pathology report coming from a series of diagnostic examinations.
One of the most common forms of diagnostic exam is bronchoscopy which uses a small device allowing the surgeon to view both lungs in order to identify how far the cancer has metastasized.
Below are the four stages of lung cancer which are evident in people who are affected with the disease.
Stage 1 Lung Cancer
Here, the cancer is still localized which means that the disease concentrates mainly on the area where it started to grow. There is absence of cancer on the adjacent lymph nodes and it has not reached any kind of metastasis to other parts of the body.
The first stage of lung cancer can be divided into two stages namely Stage IA and Stage IB.
Stage IA manifests that the tumor is sized to about three centimeters, even less and is fairly small.
Stage IB displays that the tumor will be larger than three centimeters and to be specific, it is growing within the bronchus. In this stage, the cancer may cause the lungs to partially collapse.
Stage 2
Here, the stage is divided into two: Stage IIA and Stage IIB.
In Stage IIA, the cancer is small although it is starting to spread to the adjacent lymph nodes. While in Stage IIB, the disease is at least three centimeters wherein there could either be an apparent metastasis to the lymph nodes or, instead of affecting the lymph nodes, it has spread to the surrounding tissue.
Stage 3
In Stage 3 lung cancer, it could either be IIIA or IIIB.
Stage IIIA indicates that the cancer has spread further to the lymph nodes from the lung being affected or the cancer is apparent in the nodes that is near the affected lung and has spread to the tissue surrounding it.
In Stage IIIB, the cancer will occur if there is a spread to the adjacent lymph nodes that is located on the other side of the chest or even above the clavicle or collarbone. Stage IIIB can also happen if the disease has spread to a different structure within the chest like the heart.
Stage 4
This is considered as the most advanced stage of the disease. Here, the lung cancer has affected another lung lobe or has already reached another part of the body, like the brain, aside from the inside of the chest like the stomach and even the liver.
In order to treat lung cancer, a variety of methods can be used which is just similar to the different kinds of cancers which may occur in the body, although, in order to find the appropriate treatment, one should be diagnosed first with the correct staging based on the four stages of lung cancer. Some of the treatments include surgical removal of the cancer-affected lung, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The percentage of success in treating the cancer will depend on the extent that the cancer has affected a person's lung.
Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about health related stuffs. Click on the link to learn more about Four Stages of Lung Cancer [http://www.lung-cancer-answers.info/What-are-the-4-stages-of-lung-cancer.html]


Lung Cancer Treatment

The treatment of lung cancer depends on stage of cancer, type of cancer and the age of the patient. The general condition of the patient also have a great effect on the choice of treatment for him. For example if a person is suffering from asthma along with cancer he is not a candidate for surgery. Sometimes the side effects of the treatment are so serious that a physician prefers to treat the patient only symptomatically. For example the physician pays attention to the pain and difficult breathing rather than on the cancer itself.
There are two types of lung cancer small cell and non small cell. Small cell lung cancer is often treated by chemotherapy alone or with combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery is not performed in this type of cancer as this type of cancer always spreads beyond the boundaries of the lung.
The chemotherapy is used to stop the dividing cancer cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs are always used in combinations. The disadvantage of chemotherapy is their hazardous side effects. Chemotherapeutic drugs have a effect on fast dividing cells in the body for example digestive tract and hair cells because of this we often see digestive tract disturbances and falling of hair in the patients taking chemotherapeutic drugs.
There are two types of radiation therapy which are used to treat lung cancer. First one is external and second one is internal. The external one is given in the form of radiations and internal one in the form of injections in the area around the tissue of tumor. Side effects can be redness in the area of skin which received the radiation. Difficulty in swallowing if esophagus is included in the area of radiation therapy. The radiotherapy can be used with chemotherapy or after the chemotherapy.
In the case of non small cell lung cancer surgery is the treatment of choice. Surgery is performed to remove small portion of the lung sometimes lobe and even whole lung is removed it completely depends on the stage of the disease.
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


What Are The Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer takes time to produce chronic and severe symptoms. Therefore, it is important that one knows the different early symptoms of lung cancer in order to recognize the disease early and prompt treatment can be given. All of these signs and symptoms which appear on the early stages of cancer should be noticed in no time so that treatment can be given at once. Once these signs and symptoms are experienced, it is best to consult with a medical specialist or your physician.
According to statistical reports, lung cancer ranks first in the majority death rate in either male or female. This is one main reason why medical practitioners and people involved in maintaining the stability of people's health are eager to lessen the occurrence of the disease by manipulating the environment. Usually, cancer becomes evident from the age of 40 going to 70. In fact, women are now also being affected with the disease and is gaining in number in terms of affectation compared to men.
The moment cancer cells becomes malignant, it is termed as lung cancer in the primary stage. If a person gets lung cancer and he or she is not a smoker nor is exposed long-term to chemicals and lung irritants, it is deemed that the cancer may have come some place else from the body. This means that aside from that affected side, it has also reached the lung which is known as metastasis. The spread on the lungs commonly comes from the bone, stomach, lymph nodes, breast, kidneys, skin, colon, cervix and even testis.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of cancer are: nagging cough which doesn't go away in weeks or month's time, chest pain, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia problems, hemoptysis or coughing blood-stained sputum, easily fatigued, weight loss which is caused by anorexia or loss of appetite, and lung manifestations like Dyspnea, hoarseness and wheezing.
Cancer can be quite hard to diagnose because the earliest symptoms can often become tolerable that makes the person think he or she is just experiencing a simple cough or a normal chest pain. Once the early signs and symptoms occur, oftentimes the cancer is diagnosed as severe or has metastasized to a nearby body part like the lymph nodes. Once the diagnosis of this metastasis happens, it is too late because of the advancement the disease has become.
Some evident symptoms seen in patients having lung cancer are:
• Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing - which is considered as one of the serious symptoms of lung cancer for it may not allow the cancer patient to ingest food and even liquid. Sometimes, this leads to asphyxiation.
• Abnormalities affecting the fingers or the fingernails like overgrowth of tissues in fingertips that result to clubbing
• Gynecomastia or the development of breasts in men
• Atrophy or shrinkage of the muscles
Above all, the three main symptoms related to lung cancer that must not be set aside are the following:
• Chest pain that is a result from persistent coughing or even at the extent of abnormal breathing.
• Hemoptysis or coughing out of blood-streaked sputum which may indicate that trauma is now being experienced by the respiratory system.
• Shortness of breath can happen if there is a blockage in the bronchioles or tubes which serves as a passageway for oxygen.
If more than one of these early symptoms of lung cancer are now occurring on you, it is best that you consult your doctor immediately most especially if you are aged 40 and above.
Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about health related stuffs. Click on the link to learn more about Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer [http://www.lung-cancer-answers.info/What-are-the-early-symptoms-of-lung-cancer.html].


What Causes Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide. It is the most common cause of cancer related deaths among men and second most common among women. Unfortunately the deaths are increasing not decreasing.
1. Smoking
No surprise here, smoking is the leading cause. Almost 90% of this disease is caused by smoking in the developed world. The risk of developing it for male smokers is 17.2% and 11.6% for female smokers. So the risk factor is very high. If you are a nonsmoker then the risk of having lung cancer is 1.3% for men and 1.4% in women. The changes of developing it is influenced by the time a person smokes and also by the rate a person smokes. And if a person stops smoking then the risk of cancer will steadily decrease because damage to the lungs is repaired slowly. Passive smoking is also a cause of cancer among nonsmokers. Someone living or working with smoker(s) is considered a passive smoker. If you live with a smoker, you have 2 to 3 times the risk of developing this disease compared with a person who lives in a nonsmoking environment.
2. Radon Gas
Radon exposure is the second major cause, after smoking. Radon is a gas that is generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, it is colorless and odorless. This process of breaking down radium can cause mutations that sometimes can turn cancerous. The levels of radon gas vary by the composition of underlying soil and rocks. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one in 15 homes in the United States has radon levels that are above the recommended guideline.
3. Asbestos
Asbestos is a material that is used in construction. In the UK, asbestos accounts for 2-3% of male lung cancer deaths. Asbestos can enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed. Contact with asbestos over time has been linked with the disease. Most contact with asbestos is work-related. There is also a synergistic effect between smoking tobacco and asbestos in the formation of lthe disease.
4. Viruses
Viruses are known to cause this disease among animals and recent evidence has shown the there is a similar potential in humans as well. Implicated viruses include human papillomavirus, JC virus, simian virus 40, BK virus, and cytomegalovirus. These viruses may affect the cell cycle and inhibit apoptosis, allowing uncontrolled cell division.
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Smoking Greatly Increases The Risk For Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most deadly of all cancers. It is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, according to the American Cancer society (ACS). More people die of this than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The ACS predicts that in 2007 there will be about 213,380 new cases. Of this number, about 160,390 people will die.
Sadly, this can be prevented if people would stop smoking. Smoking is the root cause of eight out of 10 lung cancer cases diagnosed in the United States. The risk for getting this increases if a person has been smoking more than a pack of day for several years.
The risk is lowered if the person stops smoking before lung cancer is developed. Stopping smoking will allow the tissue to slowly return to normal.
And it is not just cigarettes that increase the risk. Cigar and pipes are also likely to increase the risks. Second hand smoke is just as dangerous. If your husband or wife smokes, you have a 30 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer than a person with a husband or wife that does not smoke.
However there are other risk factors, according to the AMS. They are:
* Exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma, another type of cancer that can begin in the lining of the lungs, is also linked to asbestos.
* Arsenic, which is often found in drinking water.
* Exposure to radon, which is found in the soil. Radon is odorless, colorless and is invisible to the naked eye.
* If you smoke marijuana, you may not know that marijuana cigarettes have more tar than regular cigarettes.
* If you have had a family member who has suffered from lung cancer, you are at a higher risk for being diagnosed yourself.
* Follow your mom's advice and eat your fruits and vegetables. A diet that is low in fruits and vegetables may increase your risk.
Most often people do not know they have it until it has spread. Early diagnosis increases your chance of surviving. According to the ACS, the most common symptoms are:
* A cough that does not go away
* Chest pain, often made worse by deep breathing
* Hoarseness
* Weight loss and loss of appetite
* Bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
* Shortness of breath
* Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that keep coming back
* Wheezing
According to the ACS, there are two types of lung cancer. Non-small cell is the most common type, accounting for about 85 percent. Both types of usually begin on the bronchi, even though in some cases tumors may being elsewhere in the lungs.
Treatment for lung cancer can include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Your personal physician can advise you on the best treatments.
For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on lung cancer.


Facts About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is an often silent and deadly killer. It is the number one disease killing Americans. And more people die from this type of cancer than any other kind of cancer; breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma, combined. So far, this year, there are already 215 thousand new cases. One of the big problems with this disease is that in most cases it is not diagnosed at their earliest, most curable stage. Most people are diagnosed so late that it's of no help to the patient, who often dies from it within a year.
The Lung Cancer Alliance tells us that it begins in the tissues of the lungs, most usually in the cells lining or the air passages and that the two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
There are several factors believed to lead to this type of cancer:
1. Increasing age - it doesn't strike as frequently in people under age 40. The numbers are slightly higher after age 45, then there is a larger jump in people over the age of 65.
2. Smoking - the most important risk factor in the development of lung cancer. Cigarettes expose the body to more than 4-thousand different dangerous chemicals. The Centers for Disease Control says that about 85-percent of all lung cancers in the U.S. are in people who currently smoke or who have smoked in the past. They note that even if you have quit smoking, the risk does not decrease the longer ago you quit and it never returns to zero.
3. Extended exposure to second-hand or passive smoke - the CDC reports that there are over 3-thousand lung cancer deaths a year attributable to second-hand smoke.
4. Exposure to radon - an invisible, tasteless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in earth and rocks. This is the second leading cause in the United States.
5. Environmental carcinogens - including arsenic, asbestos, uranium, and diesel fuel.
6. Radiation therapy to the chest - if you have too many chest X-rays when you have a cough or are sick, they can add up.
7. Previous lung diseases like emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or tuberculosis can leave scars on the lungs.
8. Genetics or a family history of lung cancer - new U.S. research reveals that adults who are biologically related to someone who had lung cancer, especially if it was diagnosed before age 50, have an increased risk.
In its early stages, lung cancer has no symptoms. But the signs to watch for include a chronic cough, hoarseness, coughing up blood, weight loss and/or loss of appetite, shortness of breath, a high fever with no known reason, wheezing, repeated episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia, and chest pain.
Among the current approved treatments for lung cancer are Surgery, if used in the early stages of the tumor, it can be taken out, Radiation therapy, a form of high energy X-rays that kills the cancer cells, and Chemotherapy or drugs effective against cancer cells, injected directly into a vein, or taken by pill.
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Lung Cancer Facts and Survival Rates

Many elements impact lung cancer survival rates. Lung cancer, the phase it is at once diagnosed, and the general status of the affected person altogether represent a function in determines lung cancer survival rate. Generally in term of statistic, lung cancer survival is generally could survive up to a five year, which is the percent of affected people with cancer who live at the least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.
Have you heard of people spending Five-hundred-thousand dollars of prior medical treatments and yet had not cured lung cancer? Although some verbalized that chemo treatment was reported to be 90-95% successful in the initial stage of diagnosis for survival rates, but the amount of cell been destroyed of normal healthy immune system and been exposed to toxic carcinogens yet to be disclosed accurately.
Too many people put blind faith in their doctors, and they are ending up dying as a result. We need to learn to take responsibility for our own health, and not allow the medical community to force us to go along with their money-making schemes. Life is precious, and should never be sacrificed so others can profit blindly. I am not saying not to be treated by doctor but you have your right to benefit your healthy immune system as well.
Have you ever heard of apricot seed which contain natural B17 (laetrile), other enzymes, vitamins and beneficial minerals?
B17 will definitely attack a cancer cell, if it is present in your body.
Many top scientists claim that when consumed, the B17 would make it 100% impossible to develop cancer.
More details are describe over here at Survival Rate.
Steven Saw has researched into lung cancer cases and would like to share his experience here. He is recommending this website for further research and news for Lung Cancer Patients Lung Cancer Survival Rate.


Be Aware That Advanced Lung Cancer Can Be Treated

Forms of Advanced Lung Cancer
A diagnosis of advanced lung cancer means the patient has a large tumor or the cancer has spread. This metastasizing process grows throughout the main body of the lungs, the respiratory airways or into the squamous cell of the lung lining. Advanced stage cancer patients have a lower survival rate, but can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.
Metastasizing
Metastatic cancer in the lungs is the action of malignant cells growing uncontrollably. It is important to receive aggressive treatment to slow the progress of the disease. Left uncontrolled, these same cells may spread the disease to other parts of the body and cause a secondary cancer. Symptoms in this advanced stage may include swelling of the lymph nodes and pain in the liver area. Painful headaches and disorientation may result if it spreads to the brain.
Cures and Treatment
To retard the spread of the metastasizing cells, doctors can implement chemo and radiation therapy, biological, hormone or cryosurgery. Doctors will also employ a combination of these protocols for better results. Biological treatment increases the body's ability to fight the malignant cells, or to assist the immune system during chemo or radiation treatments.
Hormone treatments add, remove or block certain hormones. Patients at risk from low hormone levels benefit from this therapy as it brings these levels back to normal. In some cases, glands are taken out to prevent production of a particular hormone. Another form of this treatment is called endocrine therapy.
Cryosurgery is a form of ablation used to kill the metastasizing cells. This surgery uses liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide for freezing infected tissue.
Classification
'The International Staging System' classifies advanced lung carcinomas based on two situations. If there is a primary tumor it is labeled T1 through T4, with T4 being a larger tumor. A metastasized or multiple tumor disease is labeled M1, M1a or M1b. Determining the stage is important for developing the treatment protocol and providing a prognosis.
Doctors determine the stage through physical examinations, x-rays, biopsy samples and blood tests. Although surgery is the preferred treatment for many cancers of the lung, advanced stages may require additional measures to prevent further spread and prolong the patient's life.
I for one know there's a ton of lung cancer information scattered all around the web, and I know it can be somewhat depressing to go through much of it. I have compiled all that researched so it might benefit others. I put many months of research into a useful guide. There's no charge of course and I think you'll appreciate the simplicity of it. Its at MyLungCancerGuide.com. While you are there, you'll find this article about Advanced Lung Cancer and many other very straight forward, helpful articles.


Is There a Lung Cancer Cure?

About 13 percent of all lung cancer is curable, meaning that those diagnosed with it survive for at least five years. Regardless, all patients with lung cancer can benefit from targeted treatments that can expand lifespan and improve quality of life.
Treatment options for a specific lung cancer cure depends upon the type and stage of the cancer. While a non-small cell cancer in an early stage may find a cure with surgery alone, a small cell cancer in a similar stage may require a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, and sometimes surgery as well. In both small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, an early stage indicates that the cancer is still localized and has not spread from where it originated, while a later stage signifies that the cancer has spread to other organs.
Surgery has the potential to cure lung cancer, but only in early stages in which the cancer has not spread outside the chest. Among the procedures employed to surgically remove cancer are: wedge resection, in which a small section of the lung, including the tumor, is removed; segmental resection, in which a larger section of the lung is removed; lobectomy, in which an entire lobe of one lung is removed; and pneumonectomy, in which the entire lung is removed. However, these procedures are only possible if the patient can tolerate the surgery and does not have additional complications such as severe bronchitis or heart disease.
Many small cell lung cancers are treated with chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with surgery. This therapy involves taking drugs that kill cancer cells. The drugs may be taken either orally, as a pill, or intravenously, through a vein in the arm, and involve multiple treatments over several weeks or months. Patients on chemotherapy need to take breaks from the therapy occasionally to allow their bodies to recover. Though chemotherapy has side effects like nausea, vomiting, and hair loss, it undoubtedly prolongs lifespan and improves quality of life for patients with lung cancer.
Radiation therapy is similar to chemotherapy in that it targets and kills cancer cells. But unlike chemotherapy, radiation therapy can work from outside the body, using high-powered radiation like X-rays to kill the disease. Another option is to use needles, seeds, or catheters inside the body to channel the radiation near the cancer cells. It is sometimes used at the same time as chemotherapy.
Certain drugs also exist on the market for curing or managing lung cancer. These products work by exploiting abnormalities in cancer cells.
A less conventional path to take for treatment of lung cancer is clinical trials. Patients can enroll in these studies and receive experimental treatments, a good option for those whose current treatment isn't working or who have limited treatment options. Each year, hundreds of lung cancer patients enroll in clinical trials; the data collected through this method of research is put to use in creating new therapies and treatments for the disease. Often, the goal of a clinical trial is simply to determine the benefit of one treatment over another.
If all these treatments fail or are not available for a treatment, the patient may opt for supportive care rather than searching for a cure. Instead of harsh or experimental treatments, supportive care can ease symptoms and comfort patients, allowing them to make the most of their remaining time without the burden of treatment side effects.
Adam Bradley is a book publisher of How-To and information books. While researching a lung cancer cure, he was shocked by the tremendous amount of bad information, scams, and bogus agencies. He felt that having to spend countless hours sorting articles and web pages just to find help during a period when time is of the essence was absurd. To help the victims and families of those exposed to asbestos, he and his research team compiled this information and offer a free 15 part Info-Course at: Asbestos Cancer Resources.com


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Lung Cancer Survival Rates

The prognosis for lung cancer survival varies in each individual. The treatments prescribed may affect each person differently, and the physical health of the patient can alter the predicted outcome. Current defenses against non small-cell (NSCLC) and small-cell (SCLC) include a broad range of chemotherapy drugs. Post-operative chemo is used after surgical resection of the malignant tissue to prevent recurrence.
Prognosis
The five and ten year cancer survival percentages represent cancer-free patients. The numbers vary, but SCLC cases have the highest mortality rate, while NSCLC cases have favorable outcomes more often. While these numbers make for convenient data references, they do little to help patients and doctors cope with the realities of treating the disease.
Surviving a bout of lung cancer has to do with the patient's age, health, pre-existing medical conditions and the stage the disease is in. Proper diagnosis and treatment improve the chances of survival. A staging system is used to classify the progression of NSCLC. This system indicates tumor size, the degree of metastasis (spreading) if any and if the lymph nodes are being affected.
Stage 1a and 1b indicate a localized tumor which can be removed with surgery. Stage 2a and 2b mean the tumor is larger than 3 centimeters and may be present in the lymph nodes. Advanced stages are considered stage 3b to 4b where the tumor is affecting vital organs or structures, or the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body. Depending on the size of the infected area, the surgeon will remove a triangular section of lung, a lobe or an entire lung. Chemotherapy typically follows the surgery.
In advanced stage SCLC, doctors reduce pain using brachytherapy or radiation to shrink tumors. Because metastasis is a high probability, the medical community does not use this staging system to give the SCLC patient a prognosis. It is either 'extensive' or 'limited.'
After Surgery
Doctors will work with patients to monitor their health after treatment. A checkup every few months will determine whether the individual is still cancer free, or if further therapy is necessary. If no signs of cancer are present after five years, the disease is said to be in remission.
I for one know there's a ton of lung cancer information scattered all around the web, and I know it can be somewhat depressing to go through much of it. I have compiled all that researched so it might benefit others. I put many months of research into a useful guide. There's no charge of course and I think you'll appreciate the simplicity of it. Its at MyLungCancerGuide.com. While you are there, you'll find this article about Lung Cancer Survival Rates and many other very straight forward, helpful articles.

Lung Cancer Info - Be Aware

Important Lung Cancer Info
Having the right lung cancer info can make it easier for patients and their families to deal with this disease. The knowledge can empower decisions and help those involved throughout the treatment process.
Definition
Lung cancer begins in the lung tissue, the lining of the airways (squamous cell), or in the spaces between organs in the chest cavity. It is grouped into non small cell and small cell types (NSCLC and SCLC, resp.) Doctors diagnose the type and stage of the disease based on test results from throat culture samples, chest imaging and biopsies. This disease is the biggest cancer-related killer of both men and women worldwide.
Risk Factors
Certain conditions and lifestyle habits increase the chances of developing either NSCLC or SCLC. Smokers are at greatest risk, as cigarette smoke contains about sixty carcinogenic compounds. Being around second hand smoke is also dangerous. Additional contributing factors include obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and pipe and chewing tobacco use.
Many chemicals found in the environment and the air we breathe are carcinogenic as well. Exposure to asbestos can cause a form of cancer called mesothelioma which often begins in the protective lining around the lungs. Radon gas, arsenic, nickel and chromium are also cancer-causing agents. Radon is specifically addressed by the National Institute of Health as it is odorless, invisible and can be found in the home.
Prevention
Everyone can take steps to prevent this deadly disease. Smokers who quit decrease their risk exponentially for every year they stay smoke-free. People who are around smokers can avoid them while they smoke. People living in heavily polluted areas can wear face masks when walking in the city. To avoid radon, find out how to test for this gas in the home and make sure the levels are safe.
Learn about avoiding other environmental risks, such as asbestos. This agent is often present in older buildings. Besides avoiding carcinogens, exercise regularly and eat fruits and vegetables with antioxidants. These lifestyle changes have been shown to decrease cancer risks.
Learning about cancer is the best way to prevent it, and defeat it. Regular check-ups will help identify abnormalities early on.
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Treatments of Lung Cancer

Treatments of lung cancer depends on a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer (non-small or small cell lung cancer), the size, location, and extent of the tumor, and the general health of the patient. Different treatments and combinations of treatments may be used to reduce severe symptoms to improve quality of life and to control this cancer.
Surgery Options for Lung Cancer Segmental or wedge resection: An operation to remove a small part or wedge of the affected lung.
Lobectomy: The surgeon removes an entire lobe of the affected lung.
Pneumonectomy: The surgeon removes the entire lung.
Some patients are unable to undergo surgery for other health reasons and some tumors are inoperable (cannot be removed by surgery) because of the size or location. For now, surgery is the only treatment that offers an ultimate cure. However, only half of patients with this cancer in lungs are strong enough to be considered surgical candidates.
Medications Used For Lung Cancer Chemotherapy: An anticancer drug that is used to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used to control cancer growth or to relieve symptoms. If it is used just to control symptoms, it is a palliative treatment. Even after the cancer has been removed from the lung, the cancer cells might still be present in nearby tissue or somewhere else in the body.
Radiation or Radiotherapy Therapy: High-energy rays to exterminate the cancer cells to a limited area and only affect cancer cells within that area. Radiation treatment can also be used before undergoing surgery to minimize the tumor, or after surgery to wipe out any cancer cells remaining in the treated area.
Radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy is often used as a primary or first treatment instead of surgery. Radiation treatment can also be used to relieve other symptoms such as shortness of breath or pain.
Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI): This treatment is given to prevent secondary tumors from forming in the brain. Some patients may have this radiation treatment to the brain even though cancer may not have yet been found.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Laser therapy involving a specific chemical injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells in the tissues and organs of the body. The chemical quickly disperses from normal cells but stay longer in the cancer cells. A laser is then aimed at the cancer, which activates the chemical into killing the cancer cells.
When the cancer cannot be removed through surgery, photodynamic therapy might be used to decrease symptoms of lung cancer such as controlling bleeding or relieving breathing problems due to clogged-up airways. Photodynamic therapy can also treat smaller tumors in those patients whom usual treatments for lung cancer are not suitable.
Clinical trials: Evaluations of new ways to treat cancer. Sometimes trials are an option for many lung cancer patients to receive treatment not yet in the open market - treatments of lung cancer.
I for one know there's a ton of lung cancer information scattered all around the web, and I know it can be somewhat depressing to go through much of it. I have compiled all that researched so it might benefit others. I put many months of research into a useful guide. There's no charge of course and I think you'll appreciate the simplicity of it. Its at MyLungCancerGuide.com. While you are there, you'll find this article about Treatments For Lung Cancer and many other very straight forward, helpful articles.


First Signs of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a major killer of men and women across the country. Air pollutants, secondhand smoke, cigarette smoking especially, and other causative factors contribute to the disease.
Most of us think that the lung cancer is mostly common among the cigarette smokers and it is true that the vast majority of cases are or were smokers. But there are non-smokers do get lung cancer and smokers who don't get it.
Signs of lung cancer are often not apparent in the early stages. However it is better to identify lung cancer as possible.
The most common early symptom of lung cancer is haemoptysis (coughing up blood). Consider this early symptom a warning sign of a cancer, which may be curable.
If you find that you are coughing up blood, you should immediately contact your doctor , especially if you are 40 years of age, or older, with a long-term smoking habit.
Some of the primary signs include:
* Hacking, persistent cough
* Coughing up blood
* Shortness of breath
* Wheezing
* Chest pain
* Lost appetite
* Lost weight
* Recurring bronchitis or pneumonia
The above symptoms also being the symptoms of many other lung problems, so it is always advisable to see a physician to ascertain the cause
Secondary signs of simple cell lung cancer include:
* Weakness
* Difficulty swallowing
* Changes in nails
* Hoarse or raspy voice
* High fever
* Swelling of facial features
It's true that most symptoms of lung cancer do not show themselves until the disease is in its advanced stages.
However, sometimes people exhibit signs early in the disease's development. It is imperative that the first notice of symptoms or concern sends you straight to the doctor.
The sooner treatment is begun, the better. A cure is possible if caught early enough and, if not, then a better quality of life and more of it.
When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, organs and bones, referred to as 'metastasizing', signs and symptoms include:
* Aching and sharp bone pain
* Changes in the brain that exhibit themselves through weakness, numbness, dizziness, and seizure
* Jaundice (whites of eyes, nails, and skin yellow
* Masses near the skin's surface
* Headaches
* Numbness and loss of sensation in your extremities
All of these signs and symptoms of lung cancer may be caused by other health problems. The only way to know for sure is to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Learn More About Smoking and Lung Cancer [http://www.4HealthConcerns.com/lungcancer/smoking-and-lung-cancer.html] and Other Causes