Asbestos And Mesothelioma: 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Naturally Occurring Asbestos Linked To Lung Cancer

The study - the largest to examine the question - will be published this fall in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Exposure to asbestos in the workplace, particularly in shipyards, has long been recognized as a risk factor for mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer affecting the lining of the lung. But in the new study, researchers found a consistent and dose-dependent association between mesothelioma and residential proximity to ultramafic rock, the predominant source of naturally occurring asbestos.

"Our findings indicate that the risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos, while low, are real and should be taken seriously," said Marc Schenker, professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and the study's senior author. "This study provides important supportive evidence that naturally occurring asbestos causes mesothelioma - and public efforts should now shift to understanding the risk and how we can protect people from this preventable malignancy."

To put the mesothelioma risk in perspective, the disease kills about the same number of Americans each year as passive smoking. About 2,500 people a year die from mesothelioma in the United States, according to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health statistics. About 3,000 deaths a year are attributed to exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics.

Ultramafic rock is distributed throughout the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains in Northern and Central California, and has been a source of increasing concern as new housing developments cut through these areas. Of most concern are the areas of ultramafic rock associated with tremolite asbestos.

In their ambitious study, Schenker and his colleagues used California Cancer Registry data to identify 2,908 cases of malignant mesothelioma diagnosed between 1988 and 1997 in adults ages 35 and older. In most cases, the registry also provided occupational history. As a control group, an equal number of age- and gender-matched pancreatic cancer cases was selected (since pancreatic cancer has no known association to asbestos exposure). For both the mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer cases, the researchers employed sophisticated geographic information system mapping to pinpoint home or street addresses for every diagnosed individual. A map from the California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, served as the reference for ultramafic rock deposits. Finally, statistical adjustments were made for sex, occupational asbestos exposure and age at diagnosis.

The researchers found that the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma was directly related to residential proximity to a source of ultramafic rock. Specifically, the odds of having mesothelioma fell by 6.3 percent for every 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) farther a person lived from the nearest asbestos source. The association was strongest in men, but was also seen in women. No such association showed up in the pancreatic cancer group. The study was not designed to determine the "ground zero" risk for those living closest to an asbestos source - only to test for a relationship between proximity and risk.

"This is very creative, painstaking epidemiology," said Jerrold L. Abraham, professor and director of environmental and occupational pathology at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, and a leading authority on mesothelioma. "The UC Davis researchers have shown a significant association between living near deposits of naturally occurring asbestos and mesothelioma. This is the strongest evidence possible without conducting one-on-one interviews with each diagnosed mesothelioma patient or his or her family."

Laurel Beckett, professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and a study co-author, said the findings are important. "We showed that breathing asbestos in your community is not magically different from breathing asbestos in an industrial setting. It would have been a surprise to find otherwise."

Similarly, she said, it was no real surprise to scientists when passive smoking was found to cause lung cancer. "Like smoking, exposure to asbestos appears to be very dose-dependent," Beckett said. "Day-in, day-out occupational exposures are more dangerous than intermittent exposures in the community. But the more you can do to reduce your personal exposure, the safer you will be."

While the overall mesothelioma rate was about one case per 100,000 people per year in the California study, the rate varied markedly by gender and age. For white males, the rate was 2.29 cases per 100,000. For white females, it was 0.49. People over age 60 had ten times the rate of those ages 40 to 59.

Worldwide, epidemiological studies of mesothelioma have found occupational causes for most but not all cases of the disease. In some undeveloped areas of the world, including parts of Greece and Turkey, mesothelioma cases have been linked to use of naturally occurring asbestos in household materials such as whitewash. The UC Davis study suggests naturally occurring asbestos also causes mesothelioma in developed countries, through incidental, non-occupational exposures.

California has required statewide cancer reporting since 1985 and established the California Cancer Registry in 1988. One of the largest cancer databases in the world, the registry is responsible for collecting cancer incidence and mortality statistics for more than one tenth of the United States population. An estimated 98.9 percent of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed in California are reported to the registry.

The registry's size enabled researchers to identify an association that might not have been apparent in a smaller study.

Needed now are field studies to more accurately characterize determinants of exposure to asbestos fibers among residents in areas with naturally occurring asbestos, Schenker said. In addition, he said more must be learned about the types and size of fibers in asbestos deposits, the types of human activities that disturb asbestos fibers and the determinants of cancer risk in exposed populations.

"Because mesothelioma takes 20 to 30 years to develop, what we learn today will allow us to protect Californians from this preventable cancer decades into the future," Schenker said.

Asbestos Contamination: Health Impacts Of One Of The Nation's Largest Environmental Disasters

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, leading a team of investigators from four institutions, are now launching three investigations into disease pathology in the town and to determine recommended cleanup efforts.

The Principal Investigator of the project is Stephen Levin, MD, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a nationally known expert in occupational medicine and asbestos-related diseases who has also served as PI of the nationwide World Trade Center Medical Monitoring & Treatment Program, coordinated by Mount Sinai since 2002.

"The asbestos-related disease in Libby is far more aggressive and rapidly progressive than what's seen in most asbestos-exposed workers, with high rates of cancers and severe effects on respiratory function," said Dr. Levin. "For that reason alone, the health problems in Libby are important to study and understand."

The first of the three programs will focus on particular risks of exposure to Libby asbestos during childhood, when lungs are still developing and maturing. This research may determine the level of environmental cleanup necessary in Libby to protect children, who are a particularly sensitive target population.

A second study will compare lung scarring among Libby residents who were exposed to asbestos only in their environment (and not at their place of employment) with lung scarring seen in workers with historically long-term, heavy exposure to common commercial forms of asbestos. Researchers hope to discover why Libby residents have advanced rates of lung scarring. They will also investigate the mechanism for asbestos-related scar formation and approaches to preventing scar formation after exposure has already occurred.

The third investigation will examine the relationships between autoimmune disorders, autoimmune antibody abnormalities, and CT-scan evidence of scarring lung disease in the context of exposure to Libby asbestos. Auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have been found to occur more frequently in Libby, and antibody levels to the body's own tissues are found in Libby residents more frequently and at higher concentrations.

Mount Sinai researchers will collaborate on the research effort, to be known as the Libby Epidemiology Research Program, with Libby's Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD), investigators from the University of Montana and Idaho State University, and a national scientific advisory group. The research will be supported by a grant of over $4.8 million from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The crisis in Libby, a mining town whose history has been shaped by vermiculite-producing corporations since the 1920s, is the result of community-wide occupational and environmental exposure to Libby's naturally occurring vermiculite, contaminated with asbestos and asbestos-like silicate fibers up to 26% by weight.

Health effects have been detected not just in mine and processing plant workers, area lumber mill workers and loggers (from asbestos dusting of forests) and their families, but also among other Libby residents and their children. Many were exposed through ambient air or to mine tailings and other contaminated materials provided to the town by mining companies for the construction of ball fields, school running tracks, playgrounds, public buildings and facilities, as well as for private gardens and house and business insulation.

There is evidence that even relatively low-level exposures to Libby asbestos can cause serious scarring lung diseases, which markedly impair respiratory function, as well as asbestos-related cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma, which occur at higher rates among the Libby population than elsewhere in the United States.

The health crisis potentially extends far beyond the borders of Libby, since millions of homes and businesses in North America have used vermiculite from Libby as attic insulation, fireproofing and soil conditioner. The ore from Libby was shipped by rail to 49 plant locations throughout North America and the Caribbean for processing, exposing many more workers and communities to the hazardous dust.

CARD Director Brad Black, MD, said, "The pattern of asbestos disease caused by exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos has led to excessive morbidity and mortality for the Libby population, and has been exceedingly challenging for the medical community. The severity of nonmalignant pulmonary disease in non-occupational exposure has been very unusual, raising question as to the potency of the unique amphibole mixture. We look forward to working with Dr. Levin and Mount Sinai to find some of these answers."

Asbestos Disease Projections Too Low

The analysis by Dr Mark Clements, from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, and colleagues shows that the peak number of cases of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos, will occur four years later and the future total incidence may be in excess of 35 per cent higher than existing models would have predicted. The pattern for mesothelioma reflects changes in asbestos exposure and therefore reflects predictions for all asbestos-related diseases, Dr Clements said.

These early results have important implications for asbestos-related disease liability schemes, Dr Clements said, although more detailed work is needed to properly integrate other factors related to the actuarial implications.

According to the research, an existing model developed by the auditing firm KPMG gave the peak of mesothelioma cases as occurring in 2010, with 3530 cases in New South Wales men. However, Dr Clements said their own epidemiological model showed that the peak could occur as late as 2017 and see 6430 cases of the deadly disease in NSW men.

“There is reasonable evidence that the peak of mesothelioma incidence is later than 2010. This has far reaching consequences for actuarial predictions, where the number of cases out to 2060 may be in excess of 35 per cent higher than the number predicted by KPMG’s model,” he said.

“It is unclear why the two models give different results. The KPMG modeling may have been influenced by a common belief that peak incidence would be in 2010; in contrast, our epidemiological model is able to predict the peak for incidence.

“Although these results have implications for liability, there are several steps between predicting mesothelioma incidence and calculating liability,” he said. “Moreover, modelling would be required for other asbestos-related diseases.

“I can’t speculate as to the revised level of liability. However based on our modelling of future mesothelioma incidence it’s worrying that the liability may have been substantially under-estimated,” Dr Clements said.

Dr Clements presented this paper at the Accident Compensation Seminar, hosted by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Workers Exposed To Libby Vermiculite Ore Have High Rate Of Chest Wall Abnormalities

Researchers examined recent chest X-rays of 236 people who worked at a plant in Marysville, Ohio, that until 1980 used vermiculite ore mined in Libby, Mont., that contained asbestos fibers.

Of the 236 workers tested, 62 (26.3 percent) showed pleural plaques, or scarring of the chest wall lining. The occurrence was as high as 44.1 percent in workers with the largest and heaviest exposure to the vermiculite ore. The percentage of workers with pleural plaques was 5.1 percent in those with the lowest levels of exposure.

Pleural plaques are usually considered markers of previous exposure to asbestos fibers. Because of the previous exposure to asbestos, there is a potential increased risk for other asbestos-related lung changes, including scar tissue within the lungs and certain types of cancer such as mesothelioma.

Preliminary results of the study were presented in San Diego May 24, 2005, at the annual International Conference of the American Thoracic Society.

"Our study shows that cumulative exposure to vermiculite from Libby is associated with a significant increase in pleural changes," said study leader James Lockey, MD, professor of occupational and pulmonary medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

"There is clearly a relationship with increasing exposure, but the pleural changes also were seen in the low-exposed workers," said co-author Amy Rohs, MD, a fellow in occupational and pulmonary medicine at University of Cincinnati.

About 0.2 percent of the general population with minimal history of exposure to respiratory hazards shows signs of pleural plaques, Dr. Lockey noted. "I was surprised at the significant increase in overall pleural changes in this working population from 2 percent in 1980 to 26 percent, based on these preliminary results," he added.

"The public health implications of these preliminary findings are important in view of the national distribution of the Libby vermiculite ore," the authors concluded.

Until 1990, more than 200 sites around the country received shipments of vermiculite from the Libby mine.

Vermiculite is a group of minerals with a flaky, mica-like structure. Vermiculite ore from Libby has been shown to contain high levels of asbestos, which could have become airborne and inhaled when used in manufacturing. Vermiculite is widely used in a variety of applications, including insulation, packing materials, construction materials and gardening products. The Libby mine closed in 1990 and vermiculite ore used now comes from other sources and is not known to contain asbestos.

The X-rays were taken during the past two years, and each was reviewed independently by three board-certified radiologists. Spirometry tests, which measure lung function, and health histories also were taken. Although these were not assessed for this study, they will be reported later when the complete study findings are reviewed and published.

The workers were among a group of 513 employees at the Ohio plant exposed to vermiculite and who took part in a 1980 study. Of these 513 workers, 433 (84 percent) are currently alive. That original study, published by Dr. Lockey in the June 1984 issue of American Review of Respiratory Disease, initially showed that exposure to vermiculite containing asbestos fibers could cause pleural plaques.

How Asbestos Fibers Trigger Cancer In Human Cells

Though any clinical application is years away, the researchers hope their findings could aid in drug development efforts targeting illnesses caused by excessive exposure to asbestos, including the deadly cancer called mesothelioma.

The researchers use atomic force microscopy to observe how a single asbestos fiber binds with a specific receptor protein on cell surfaces. They suspect that at least one of the more lethal forms of asbestos triggers a cascade of events inside cells that eventually lead to illness, sometimes decades later.

The conditions most commonly associated with long-term exposure to airborne asbestos are lung cancer; asbestosis, a chronic respiratory disease; and mesothelioma, a cancer that forms in the membrane lining most internal organs of the body, including the lungs.

Eric Taylor, a doctoral candidate in earth sciences at Ohio State and a coauthor of the study, describes atomic force microscopy as “Braille on a molecular level,” meaning it allows scientists to feel and observe what’s happening on molecular surfaces.

“We’re looking at what molecules are involved in the chain of events when the fiber touches the cell. Does the binding occur over minutes, or hours? And what processes are triggered?” said Taylor, who presented the research at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

Asbestos comprises six different minerals that naturally occur in both fragment and fibrous forms. Because of its high durability and heat resistance, the fibrous form has been used in many manufacturing products since the late 1800s. Though its use is now highly regulated, asbestos is still present in many materials. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 1.3 million employees face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Environmental exposure is also possible because asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in soils and exposed bedrock.

Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, is part of the amphibole group of asbestos minerals, which were banned in most of the Western world by the mid-1980s. Before that, they were used in such products as ceiling tiles and thermal insulation.

Ohio State researchers have focused so far on the crocidolite form of asbestos, but eventually hope to study how all six forms of asbestos interact with certain proteins on cell surfaces. Some forms of asbestos can dissolve in the lungs if they are inhaled, but others are believed to essentially “stick” to cells, especially at high concentrations, and eventually cause lung diseases.

“For the first time, this will give us data on biological activity that should help policymakers determine which forms of asbestos are the most dangerous,” said Steven Lower, associate professor of earth sciences at Ohio State and a coauthor on the study.

“The hypothesis we’re testing is that binding of cell surface receptors to asbestos fibers triggers a signal event, which initiates the cancer,” said Lower, also a faculty member in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. “There seems to be something intrinsic about certain types of asbestos, blue asbestos in particular, that elicits a unique signal, and it triggers inflammation, the formation of pre-malignant cells and, ultimately, cancer.”

The first protein to be studied is epidermal growth factor receptor, which is present on the surface of every human cell. Understanding the intricacies of the binding process between the mineral and one or more proteins will provide an index of the biological activity of a particular type of asbestos, and might lead the researchers to figure out how to prevent or undo that interaction, Lower said.

Taylor said the driving motivation behind the research is the potential to find a way to intervene and prevent illness even after someone is exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma symptoms don’t typically appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure. After diagnosis, however, the cancer is difficult to control, and there is no cure.

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation.

Taylor and Lower conducted the research with Ann Wylie of the University of Maryland and Brooke Mossman of the University of Vermont.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Mesothelioma Cancer - You Deserve Compensation

The mesothelioma is a dreaded cancer affecting the mesothelium of lungs, abdomen, and heart. The causative factor determined is the asbestos exposure that leads to death in several workers related to asbestos industry every year. The sad part is that the appearance of the symptoms occurs at very late stage after around 3 to 4 decades of asbestos exposure. That's the reason why there is so much difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma cancer in early stages.

No doubt the employers who made this exposure for these workers are guilty. It is employers' duty to protect their employees at any cost while they work for them and give them hefty profits. Failing to do this is an offense and horrific suffering of mesothelioma certainly demands huge compensation from these careless employers. However, due to lots of years elapsed between exposure and occurrence of symptoms, the sufferer and his family needs an expert lawyer who can seek compensation from the guilty employers.

What can be done to seek compensation?

• Firstly taking a decision to approach a mesothelioma attorney is very crucial. Yes, in the tricky times while juggling between hospital visits, bearing terrible pains, breathlessness, and hiring a legal support system may sound weird. Even the relatives are in fizzy as to what to do. But as is said mesothelioma patient needs quite a lot financial support to go through the huge investigation schedules, treatment patterns, and clinical trials. So, decide first to seek justice and everything else will run smoothly.

• Today mesothelioma attorney is a special faculty altogether and one can secure help from lawyers even online.

• The patient and/or his relative can consult the attorney online and call him to know the status of his case. In cases where the causative factor can be traced perfectly, there are very few hurdles in securing compensation.

• The mesothelioma lawyers will tell you the procedures and he will work on your behalf. Most patients can get compensation by completing legal work online itself and they need not visit courts.

• Just giving all the information correctly and as accurately as possible helps one get through the case easily and no doubt the compensations got are huge.

Apart from legal help the mesothelioma cancer patients need a psychological counseling too. Going through this tragedy is certainly not easy. But with apt support system, the journey becomes bit easy. Also the patients' nutritional needs should be maintained in order to improve treatment compliance.

It is rightly said that mesothelioma must be handled with utmost care while considering all these points and only then this life battle may be won. Even if the patient dies, the family can file a lawsuit for the compensation, because it is the family that undergoes huge financial and mental burden due to the entire scenario. Hope, we understand fast the effectiveness of preventive attitude while working enthusiastically during our tenure and our employers understand the importance of employee safety, so that we will never have to see the day when we will lie helplessly struggling with mesothelioma!

How Lung Cancer Affects Other Organs and Body Parts

Every human being wants to be fit and health till the time they live. But, with population increasing and competition rising, people are adopting unfair means to reach higher position and earn more money. This is not only affecting their health but also harming the society. The stress of work is making them to adopt short comfort intakes be it cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, life staking steroids, drugs and so on.

The rate at which people are dying is on rising scale. Due these habits, people are getting affected by the most dreadful disease named "Lung Cancer". The lung cancer survival rate is basically low as this disease spreads at a faster rate compared to other cancers.

Today, we have many lung cancer treatment centers that are exclusively specialized in curing this ailment. Research has shown that Lung cancer is counted under the most life-threatening disease as the cancer in the lungs spreads typically at the high ratio than other cancers like kidney cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer and so on. The most particular body organs that are affected by this cancer are liver, brains, adrenal glands and bone.

And, to know this, one of the best ways is assessing the extent to which the lungs are being affected, known as lung cancer staging. Through this examination we can know the stage of the cancer that a person is affected. It helps in curing the disease easily to an extent. Many methods are available for conducting this test.

Most of the nations both developed and under developed have hospitals that conduct the lung cancer surgery. But, the pitfall here is, not every patient is fit for this operation. Some of the limiting factors or reasons are the stage of cancer, the number of cells affected and the place of cancer.

The Author "Tom Schavo" is an expert Health adviser who worked for several multinational Companies. Although a professional with rich experience, he quit his position in these companies to finally open up his own Health consulting forum. He also provides free advise on all the latest health developments in market and runs a site on Health Care

Get the Right Asbestos Lawsuit Lawyer For Your Compensation Claim

An asbestos lawsuit is often the only way for victims of asbestos induced diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and certain kinds of lung cancer, to recover monetary compensation for what has been done to them and their families. The defendants in mesothelioma asbestos law suits are typically employing companies of the building supply and production industry.

The purpose of an asbestos litigation is to prove that your employer can be held responsible for the damage that was caused to your health as a result of not providing you with the adequate safety measures while you were at your working place. The goal is to get compensated for things like lost wages, medical expenses related to the asbestos induced disease, etc.

It goes without saying that it is of paramount importance to team up with a top mesothelioma asbestos lawyer. He will not only be able to help you to answer all the questions you may have, but also represent and speak in your behalf, either in a court procedure or by dealing with the insurance company of the defendant, in the event that a compensation settlement can be agreed upon before trial.

It might be a good idea to do some research on asbestos lawyers to check if they can provide you with a proven track record of cases that they were able to handle successfully for their clients. Some asbestos lawsuit attorneys publish their cases on their websites.

But there is also another critical point that you should take into consideration. Make sure that you are comfortable with your lawyer on a personal level, too. An asbestos law suit can last for quite a while, especially if the plaintiff denies his responsibility for your health condition.

Therefore, you need to keep in mind that you might have to work with your lawyer for an extended period of time until your case can be closed.

Removing Asbestos

During the 1950s to the 1970s, asbestos was a very popular material in the building and construction industry, nowadays, many people are removing asbestos from their homes and workplaces as people have become more aware of the potential health risks and dangers associated with the substance.

Asbestos history shows it being used as a brilliant insulator and the fact that it was fireproof was a great bonus to its list of features. Little to their knowledge, the material is actually deadly to living beings and, today, people are spending a lot of money and time removing asbestos from their properties so as to meet health and safety standards as well as providing a healthy living environment for themselves and their families.

Removing asbestos needs to be done by professionals as it is a highly hazardous substance which is volatile and lethal for humans. The fibers need to be disposed of correctly and the procedure must be performed with precision and care so that there are no fibers remaining on the site after the contractors are finished with the work. Construction that was built before 1986 now needs to be inspected for asbestos so that they are sure all the substance has been cleared from any home or building which is being inhabited by humans. The cost for removing it is far better than the cost of life which can be caused by simply ignoring the problem and leaving the asbestos on the site.

The first thing you must do before removing asbestos in a building is to ascertain exactly where it is located. Since it was traditionally used for insulation purposes, it is generally found in attics, roof spaces, walls and basements. You also need to know how much of it there is and make sure that an expert comes in and checks the rest of the house for anymore areas which contain asbestos and might have been overlooked. Once you are sure you have found all the asbestos in the building and are aware of where is it then you can think of the best way in which to remove it safely.

It is vital that any asbestos removal be performed by people who have undertaken specific asbestos removal training courses are able to remove the material without jeopardizing the integrity of building, placing anyone's life in danger and also, by adhering to all the healthy sand safety standards and regulations which are required by the authorities and building agencies.

As well as asbestos removal being a sensitive and delicate process, the disposal of the material needs to be done with the utmost of care so that the fibers are not released into the atmosphere. The fibers need to be contained and protected from the elements before they are disposed of in a final and complete way by the team of professionals. The company who is hired to remove and dispose of any asbestos needs to hold all the necessary permits required for their proceedings and make sure that the authorities are made aware of all the materials and where they have been removed from and their process following the start of removing asbestos, right up until their final disposal and destruction.

A Small Light is Flickering at the End of the Lung Cancer Tunnel

Anyone who has read any of my articles or anything I've written knows by now that I enjoy a good book or movie. A way to escape for a short period of time, away from the worry of bills, money, cancer and the rest of the things in the world that demand so much of our attention. A very well written book or a well-produced and directed movie can really do the trick. Something that challenges your thought process or even your beliefs, makes you ask yourself "what would I do in that circumstance," would I make the right decision the right move what would I do different.

My case in point book is The Dead Zone by Stephen King. The Dead Zone was published in 1979 and made into a movie in 1983 starring Christopher Walken in the lead role of Johnny and Martin Sheen as politician Greg Stillson. The movie varies a little from the novel but holds the same tone. If you are not familiar with it, I'll give you the readers digest version. Man has auto accident, ends up in a coma, comes out of coma, finds out he has developed a form of extrasensory perception called Psycometry which is the ability to read objects by coming into contact with them causing him to have visions of events related to the object. He saves some lives, solves some crimes all the while becoming a little weaker. While attending a political rally, he comes into contact with nut job Stillson. Johnny grasps his hand and has a vision of Stillson becoming President of the United States and launching the world into a nuclear holocaust just because he can. He knows he must do something to alter Stillsons path and begins to formulate a plan.

Here comes the reason I'm telling you this story. The part that makes you think a little. In a very pivotal part of the book Johnny asks a World War One veteran who had lost his son during World War Two this question, "Knowing what you know today if you could go back in time to 1932, before the second war, before the holocaust and kill Hitler, would you do it."

What would you do?
Here's a question that I have asked myself a few times, "Knowing what I know now, would I have ever started smoking"? Or even better yet, if someone would have come to me ten years ago and said if you stop smoking and alter a few things about the way you take care of yourself you could avoid lung cancer a decade from now?

WHAT IF I COULD OFFER THAT TO YOU?

What if I told you that there is a test that has recently been developed and tested and that with a simple questioner, and a swab of the inside of your mouth,you will know your future as far as lung cancer is concerned. You could alter your own fate; spare your family and friends the anguish that is a part of treatment that comes along with lung cancer.

The test is called Respiragene it was developed from the research conducted by a Brilliant scientist from New Zealand named Dr. Robert P. Young.

Dr.Young has also provide us with extensive research regarding the use of statins and the positive effects shown as far as the anti-inflammatory effects in not only the arteries but also the lungs and therefore becomes a very viable treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Another exciting benefit of statin treatments is a reduced risk of lung cancer.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease die primarily from complications of smoking, specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), COPD related complications (respiratory failure with or without chest infection), lung cancer and stroke. Collectively these account for over 80% of deaths in COPD. CAD is the most common cause followed by lung cancer and then other COPD related complications.

Although smoking exposure has a central role in both COPD and Lung Cancer only approximately 10 to 15% of chronic smokers develop lung cancer while 20 to 30% develop COPD
Here's the kicker kids, Epidemiological studies show that smokers with COPD are at a considerably higher risk of lung cancer than smokers with normal lung function.

So the common theory is one of the which comes first the chicken, represented by COPD or the egg, represented by lung cancer. There is growing evidence that they both result from common pathological responses to inflammatory process in the lung and that the individual smoker's response to these processes are genetically determined.

Let me try and make this so easy even I can understand what I'm talking about. If you are a past or present smoker you run the risk of developing a lung disease that can steer you right into lung cancer and we all know that lung cancer is the leading killer among the cancer family.

We'll come back to our conversation regarding statin therapy and COPD in another article because what we really need to talk about, what is truly important today is your health.

In mid December I received e-mail from Tracy Sestili the CEO and Founder of the Beverly Fund a lung cancer organization doing great things from their base in California. I have a lot of respect for Tracy so when she was excited enough to get in touch with me immediately after hearing Dr.Young, I knew it had to be something special. I was right; it was my first introduction to the non-invasive early detection test called Respiragene.

Tracy then introduced me to Stephen Markscheid the CEO of Synergenz BioScience, Inc. the producers of the Respiragene test.

Stephen sent all the information including scientific background, studies anything I asked for in a very upfront, straightforward manner, which helped cement, the legitimacy of the product.

I met with Mr. Markscheid in Chicago in the early part of January and at the conclusion of that meeting had offered up my services to assist in spreading the word about this test. Keep in mind the GFLCCO has not supported any pharmaceutical company or endorsed any other product. We do not take these things lightly and will not knowingly do anything that would damage the reputation that we strive to uphold. That being said, I believe that this could provide some needed light at the end of the tunnel. Lung cancer will flat out kill the majority of people who contract it; there is no way around the facts of that matter. So if you know that a straight up fight does not provide you with the best odds of winning, you start looking for advantages. Well here it is, How do you beat cancer, you avoid it. You step out of the path of the moving bus before it gets anywhere near you. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that smoking causes approximately 440,000 premature deaths in the U.S. annually, at the same time reports show that if you quit smoking, in a ten-year time frame your lungs can be back to full health.

80% remember this number for me will you please, 80%; we'll get back to that in a moment.

Once again I ask, if you could alter your fate today for the sake of your family if not yourself, would you do it? Would you step back out of the street and onto the curb to avoid the bus that you can see two blocks away that is screaming out of control towards you, or will you stand in the street and die a needless and very preventable death.

Here is what is involved in a Respiragene test.
1) DNA is obtained by a simple mouth swab
2) You answer three questions in regards to non-genetic risk factors
3) Your physician receives your test results back about two weeks after your sample and questionnaire are received.
Your results will place you in a "moderate risk": smokers and ex-smokers in this category are 20 to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer then a non-smoker, "High" 4 times more likely then the average smoker to develop lung cancer or "Very high" Ten times more likely to develop lung cancer than the average smoker.

Respiragene is the only test of its type to help identify smokers and ex-smokers at greatest risk of lung cancer.

Ok, so you take the test and get the results now what?

Let me tell you. Options, you have now given yourself options, your future has been told and now you must decide if you're a very high risk what are you willing to do right then and there to change your fate. If your moderate risk you are still at a 20 to 30 times greater risk of lung cancer ending your life.

Talk to your physician about the test, contact your health insurance provider and ask about coverage for the Respiragene test. Talk to your employer about making sure that this test is available as a preventative procedure or covered as a part of a smoking Cessation program.

Read and do some research. Be proactive when it comes to your health and your life.

There are so many programs to help you quit even if you have tried and failed before, treatments that can help you heal your lungs over time. All you need to do is take the first step, look for the light at the end of the tunnel it's there and it's called Respiragene.

One last thing, what was that number I asked you to remember? Oh yeah, 80%

80% of those diagnosed with lung cancer are dead within two years. I was diagnosed in the spring of 2007; whatever time I have remaining is dedicated to fighting and beating lung cancer.

The Deceiving Symptoms of Asbestos Poisoning

Asbestos is a material with a few distinctive characteristics. It is extraordinarily resistant to heat, fire, chemicals and wear. This is explains its popularity and why it was used widely in the building and construction industries up until the 1980s, before all of a sudden the downfall of the material began, caused by alarmingly high numbers of newly diagnosed patients suffering from asbestos induced diseases.

The product itself is actually harmless. However, if asbestos is being processed in any way or damaged, microscopically toxic dust particles gets airborne and that poses a significant health risk to anybody in close proximity who is likely to breathe in the contaminated air. Dry cough, chest pain and shortness of breath are the most commonly known symptoms of asbestos poisoning.

And unfortunately, all of the aforementioned manifestations are not exclusively associated with an asbestos intoxication, but also account for numerous other and less severe health conditions. In addition to that, all asbestos induced diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, as well as certain forms of lung cancers, have a long latency period that can sometimes span over several decades. As a result, a conclusive diagnosis is often made when the disease has already progressed to and advanced stage, which makes the prognosis less optimistic.

Homeowners of houses built before 1980 might be at risk to live in an environment that contains asbestos products, such as ceilings, shingles, siding, pipe insulations, floor tiles and areas that had to meet fireproof requirements. If you are concerned about your living conditions and the potential risk of asbestos poisoning, it is recommendable to reach out to an asbestos testing and removal company.

It might be less expensive at first glance, however, it bears a significant health risk. A professional business has the gear and expertise to carry out the job safely and also deals with all aspects of having the material environmentally friendly removed.

Pre Determination of Risk, Building a Strong Defense Against Lung Cancer

In the ongoing fight to find a cure for lung cancer in the future, we can never lose sight of the fact that we need to constantly be looking for ways to fight it today.

There are so many things out there that can assist you in your fight with cancer, starting with proper and timely diagnoses, proper treatment choices, diet, vitamins, exercise, alternative medicine and probably the most important thing the will to live and to fight for your life.

Although there continue to be improvements in treatments and applications the end result is still the same at this point and time, lung cancer is a very aggressive and dangerous disease with an extremely high mortality rate, 1 out of every 3-cancer fatality is contributed to lung cancer. So how do we slow it down? When do we turn the corner from mourning the victims of lung cancer to reducing the risk of lung cancer? In the case of lung cancer, let me share with all of you my simple but somewhat educated thought. The best defense to protect yourself from becoming a victim of lung cancer is to take offensive measures prior to being diagnosed.

Want to be guaranteed to survive the fight? Simple avoid the fight. How do you avoid the fight? Your first step, simply take a test. Among smokers, many individuals are at a higher than average risk of developing lung cancer due to their genetic make-up. By testing with Respiragene, you will receive a personalized risk score.

With that knowledge you can see your risk level for lung cancer and make some sound decisions on how you wish your life to play out.

I want to take this time to tell you that I generally do not engage in a conversation about smoking unless someone directly asks me my opinion on the matter. Many people have fought and died to ensure that we as individuals have the right to make those type of decisions for ourselves therefore I don't feel I have the right to force my opinion on you. That being said, I will offer you the facts that I know, thoughts from my personal experience of fighting it out with lung cancer and will offer you my advice. Being the great country that it is, you have the choice to stop reading, reject my thoughts for being one of a man who has seen a little too much radiation in his time and you can completely shun the advice I offer. The wise thing, (in my opinion), would be to keep an open mind. But this isn't about my opinion; it's about your health. Here are the facts you need to know;

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable premature death in all developed and developing countries.

85% of all cases of lung cancer have been related to cigarette smoking
50% of lung cancer cases are found in ex-smokers

"The big three", Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) those are the leading three causes of death attributed directly with cigarette smoking.

It is very true that you can be a non-smoker and end up with lung cancer; sometimes life is just a crap shoot. But that would refer to 15% of lung cancer patients.

Here is my experience, I could easily be dead, right now, I am pushing three years, and roughly 80 % of people diagnosed will lose the fight within the first two years. I played host to a 6cm small cell lung cancer tumor in my right lung that wrapped itself around my esophagus in conjunction with some serious COPD issues that cost me half of my left lung. I went through chemotherapy and radiation treatments twice a day. When your treated as aggressively as I have been, it leaves its mark long after the treatments are done. Part of that tumor is still there laying in wait and I now live my life, as do other lung cancer current survivors, three months at a time. Three months between CT scans. I use the term current because the chance of me living past five years could be slim. I know this to be a fact and I accept it. For some reason that I cannot quite comprehend, I have survived, maybe a mixture of treatments combined with my own genetic makeup and doing the right things at the right time, I really don't know. I am currently one of the very fortunate. So I feel that I am in a position to offer you some advice.

Here is my advice to you, If I had the opportunity to change something in my life, I would have never started smoking or stopped smoking years before I did, instead of 6 months prior to me being diagnosed with lung cancer. Even with that, there was still a good chance that I could have ended up in the same position.

If your anything like me you were or are under the impression that when you quit smoking, you automatically reduce your risk of lung cancer, I know from experience that that is not necessarily true. Over time you can greatly reduce your chances by doing the right things. I have also already given you the fact that 50% of lung cancer occurs in ex-smokers.

You have the opportunity to test for the likelihood of lung cancer and then work with your physician on lowering that risk dramatically. My advice to you is that if you are a current smoker or an ex-smoker or if you are concerned about the health of someone you love you check into the Respiragene test.

Read the information on line, http://www.respiragene.com. Print it off, and when you talk to your Doctor give them a copy of it so they have the same information you have. Talk to your insurance company about coverage for the test since it is a preventative measure. Talk with your employer about what types of smoking cessation programs are covered under your health plan.

Take the test, make the proper adjustments in your life so that you don't have to lie awake wondering if you will see your son graduate from high school, or who will walk your daughter down the aisle at her wedding. I never dreamed that I would face those thoughts before my 40th birthday.

Then do this for me, thirty or forty years from now when your sitting around with your grandchildren reflecting on your life, thank a man by the name of Dr. Robert Young for doing the research that led to the development of the Respiragene test.

Tim Giardina is the co-founder and President of the GFLCCO as well as a current small cell lung cancer survivor. The GFLCCO is developing a World Wide network of supporters with facts and information regarding lung cancer, lung cancer treatment, proper diets and exercise and alternative medicines and treatments as well as valuable links to a deep pool of resources for patients and their families.

The Link Between Kidney Cancer and Asbestos

While many people know of the connection between asbestos exposure and lung cancer, you may not realize that ingesting or inhaling asbestos has also been linked to kidney, or renal, cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 12,980 Americans die of renal cancer each year. Although you cannot protect yourself from everything that may cause kidney cancer, you can avoid asbestos to minimize that risk factor.

As well as asbestos, there are other risk factors that can increase your chance of developing kidney cancer. Other workplace hazards include cadmium, benzene, trichloroethylene, and some herbicides. Additionally, smoking and suffering from obesity can also increase your risk. Interestingly, however, the rates of kidney cancer have been rising since the 1970s. While this could be attributed to better cancer detection techniques, it could also be that people who were exposed to asbestos before it was banned are now developing this type of cancer.

The problem with asbestos is that it was a very popular material before doctors realized the dangers of the fibers. Although even the ancient Greek and Roman cultures utilized asbestos, it did not become widely-used until the Industrial Revolution. During that time, people noted the need for insulating materials for the engines and piping now in place in buildings and ships.

People turned to asbestos because it has amazing insulating abilities. Asbestos is part of the silicate family of minerals. Silicates are known for their ability to resist heat, flame, chemicals, and biodegradation. Besides these useful characteristics, asbestos was also helpful because it has high tensile strength and flexibility.

Due to these helpful properties, it is no surprise that asbestos became a staple for construction, automotive, shipping, and other industries. In building construction alone, asbestos could be found in the insulation, vinyl flooring, counter tops, roofing tar, and roofing tiles. Ships were built using asbestos insulation as well. Lastly, the automotive industry utilized this material for brake pads, brake shoes, clutch pads, and gaskets.

Asbestos can cause renal cancer because your body is unable to process the fibers. When asbestos particles are released into the air or water, you can inhale or ingest the fibers. Once in your body, they can become lodged in your organs or cycle around the bloodstream since your body cannot break them down. If they are in the blood, they can get caught in the filtering area of the kidneys. From here, they can become stuck in the kidneys and cause malignant tumors.

Kidney cancer can be especially dangerous because it is so close to the bloodstream. If the tumor in the kidney is malignant, it can break off and flow through the blood to another part of the body.

Treatment Options For Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that is primarily caused by asbestos exposure. It attacks the specialized cells that line the different areas of your body, such as lungs, abdominal cavity, heart, and even testes. Peritoneal mesothelioma, or the type that attacks the lining of the abdomen, is especially dangerous because it is so close to a number of important organs. Although little is known about peritoneal mesothelioma, there are several different treatment options to help you with this disease.

The reason why little is known about this type of cancer is that it is relatively rare-less than 30% of mesothelioma cases each year are peritoneal. There are two parts of the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdomen. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs as well as makes up the outside of the intestinal tract. The parietal peritoneum lines the inside of the abdominal cavity itself. These two linings work to secrete special mucus that lubricates the organs so that they do not suffer adverse effects from friction. When cancer strikes, it can cause the mucus-producing cells to overproduce the lubrication, filling the abdominal cavity with fluid that puts pressure on your organs.

If you suspect that you have abdominal mesothelioma, you should speak to a doctor right away since early detection can increase your chance of survival. However, symptoms of this problem include weight gain or loss, pain or swelling in the abdomen, indigestion, nausea, bowel obstruction, and fever.

Doctors will use an MRI machine, CT scan, or x-rays to check for tumors and abnormal nodules in your abdomen. If there is a tumor or mass, your physician will probably take a sample of the tissue so that the lab can perform a biopsy. Additionally, your doctor may choose to perform a peritoneoscopy. During this process, a doctor will give you an anesthetic before making a small incision in your abdomen. He or she will insert a special scope into your body so that the doctor can look around the cavity for tumors.

If you do indeed have peritoneal mesothelioma, there are several processes that you can undergo for treatment. First, you have the normal cancer treatment methods of surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, and radiation, or a mix of the three. Researchers have found that a combination treatment of surgery and chemotherapy at the same time, sometimes with radiation, is most useful for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Sadly, though, doctors do not yet know the best ways to treat this disorder. Thus, you may want to consider participating in a clinical trial for your cancer.

Have You Been Exposed to Toxic Asbestos?

Although we now know that asbestos is a human carcinogen, it was once embraced as a wonderful insulating material that was added to a number of different materials. Thus, many people were exposed to the toxin without realizing it. Additionally, older buildings can still contain asbestos today despite the dangers. If you suspect that you have been exposed to toxic asbestos, you may want to talk to a doctor about tests for early cancer detection.

The reason why some asbestos is considered toxic is that not all asbestos is friable. Friable means that the asbestos is able to flake off into microscopic pieces that you can inhale or ingest. Some asbestos is non-friable, meaning that it is so bound up into another material that it cannot escape and permeate your body.

Once you inhale or ingest asbestos, the problem is that your body is unable to break down and process the fibers to get rid of them. The fibers can become lodged in your throat, esophagus, lungs, digestive system, and even kidneys. Here, your body may form nodules of tissue around the fibers. These nodules can turn into cancerous tumors or scar tissue.

There are some people who are more at risk than others for suffering from asbestos exposure. People who worked in the construction industry, including plumbers and electricians, were probably surrounded by asbestos since it was utilized in everything from insulation to vinyl flooring to ceiling tiles. Additionally, automotive workers are especially at risk for asbestos inhalation and ingestion because it is a component in brake pads and shoes. Brake friction can cause the asbestos to become friable, so that when the auto technician changes the brake pads or shoes, they release clouds of asbestos fibers into the air.

Also, those who worked in the shipping industry or shipyard construction may have been exposed to this toxin. Veterans, especially those who spent time on ships, are prone to developing asbestos-related diseases. Interestingly, teachers are also at risk for developing lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-caused disorders. This is because older school buildings were often built using asbestos. When teachers spend almost every day in the building, they can gradually take in more and more asbestos.

Sadly, some people are more affected by asbestos than others. This explains why women or families whose provider worked in careers that exposed them to asbestos can also develop asbestos-related diseases. Even the particles left over on clothing can trigger cancer.

Thursday, January 28, 2010