Cancer
Research Reports - Latest Cancer Treatments, Discoveries, Industry
News & Lung Cancer Specific News
>>> Eat
Fruits & Vegetables Diet - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy -
Selections for Breakfast, Post-Breakfast Snack, Lunch and Dinner
(January 20th, 2010)
 It
is said that good diet & gardening can reduce your risk of developing
lung cancer by 40 - 46%! In this article, we explain how to set
up your diet so as to maximize the number of fruits and vegetables
you consume in any given day. The American Cancer Society suggests
that you eat 5 servings of these foods every day. Here is a sample
menu to incorporate to your diet each day without taking on extra
expenses... (Read
More)
>>> Boston
University Scientists Identify Another Molecule for Lung Cancer
Development - microRNA Molecule, Gene Tissues & Expressions
Study, Smoking Statistics
(January 15th, 2010)
Science students at the University of Boston, School of Medicine
are currently investigating a class of molecules known as microRNA
(miRNAs) that control gene expressions and changes in gene expressions
when smoking leads to lung cancer. This study appears on the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences Journal and may lead to a relatively
new non-invasive biomarker for lung cancers caused by smoking (smoking-related
lung diseases). The same group of Scientists previously discovered
a gene expression biomarker that was capable of differentiating
cytologically-normal bronchial epithelial cells in people with smoking-related
lung cancers and in people without smoking-related lung cancers...
(Read
Full)
>>> Carbon
Nanotubes & Development of Pleural Mesothelioma - Single-Walled
Carbon Nanotubes versus Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Products
& Applications, Chemical Properties & Diagrams
(December 29th, 2010)
Carbon nanotubes are tiny carbon molecules that have a nanostructure
and a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 10 million and as high
as 40 million. These carbon molecules are widely used in nanotechnology
science projects, optics, electronics and in the field of materials
science. They are so popular because of their resistance to heat
and heat conductor properties, extreme strengths, super light weight
and their applications in electricity. As the use of carbon nanotubes
grows, scientists are trying to study their uses and conduct tests
on them. Scientists think that current uses of Carbon nanotubes
can lead to the development of Pleural mesothelioma, which is a
Cancer of the pleura or linings of the lungs. Scientists ask the
public not to be too concerned about the effects of Carbon nanotubes
as yet, however, they think the increasing popularity of the substance
definitely warrants further research in to possible asbestos exposure
occuring naturally from the environment thanks to carbon nanotubes...
(Read
More)
>>> University
of Minnesota Science Students Launch Study to Investigate Why Iron
Range Miners have Higher Death Rates from Asbestos Exposure
(December 28th, 2010)
Mountain Iron, Minnesota - Science students at the University of
Minnesota have embarked on a new study that will research and collect
data on why Iron Range Miners die from Mesothelioma at higher rates
than occupational exposure from Asbestos for other types of workers
such as automotive workers, shipyard laborers, metal works laborers
and more. The study will be pioneered by the School's Public Health
department and is approved by the Scientific Review Board. The study
will examine health, job & personal records of over 68000 Iron
Range miners, from whom most are deceased. The study will also be
conducted on over 1200 current occupational Asbestos workers and
800 of their spouses. Study coordinators have said they have collectively
agreed on confidentiality contracts with several mining companies
to obtain historical work data of their mining workers, to determine
any relationships between taconite asbestos dust and asbestos related
diseases or lung cancers... (Read
More)
>>> How
Asbestos Fibers Generate Cancer in Human Cells - Study at the Ohio
State University Earth Sciences Department
(December 25th, 2010)
Ohio State University's Science division students believe they have
something big in hand when it comes to investigating the relationship
between asbestos fibers and cancer in human cells. The ongoing molecular
studies of Cancer cells will bring about a thesis and results in
the coming years, but the students hope to aid in development of
new cancer treatments, especially for those caused by exposure to
Asbestos. An example of such a disease is Mesothelioma lung cancer
and Asbestosis.
>>> Lung
Cancer & Computed Tomography Scans - Youtube Video from OPN
Broadcasting
(November 24th, 2010)
 This
week's news is about lung cancer & Computerized Tomography,
simply called CT scans. Lung cancer has the highest death rate amongst
those with Cancer; more than 164,000 individuals die each year off
lung cancer. Even among early Stage 1 lung cancer, the # of patients
surviving at 5 years is only 70%. When it reaches Stage 4 lung cancer,
the 5 year survival rate drops dramatically to only 5%! (Watch
Video)
>>> Hazardous
Careers - Factory Laborers @ Risk of Asbestos Exposure - Asbestos
Used in 3000 Consumer Products, Factory Buildings with Asbestos
Containing Products, Case Study of Kent Cigarettes Using Asbestos
in Micronite Filters
(November 10th, 2010)
Factory laborers represent a broad group of American workers totalling
11% of the country's workforce that do various jobs such as front
assembly line (in automotive plants), packaging lines (in clothing
factories), loading and unloading raw materials and finished products,
pack raw materials & package them into boxes, operate automatic
and semi-automatic machinery and tools e.g conveyor belts, clean
factory machinery and general working space, as well as other duties.
Thousands of American factory workers may have been exposed to Asbestos
on the job before the 1980s, and not aware of this. There is a slight
chance even today that factory workers may be exposed to Asbestos
fibers on the job, although Asbestos products were banned from industrial
& commercial use in the early 1980s by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)... (Read
More)
>>> Hazardous
Careers - Carpenters @ Risk of Asbestos Exposure - Carpentry as
Profession, Rough vs Finishing Carpenters, Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Case Study of Long Beach Naval Shipyard (World
War II)
(November 3rd, 2010)
Carpentry is one of the oldest professions mankind has ever done.
Carpentry comes from the Latin term carpentrius which stands for
'carriage maker.' Carpenters are highly skilled craftsmen that build
furniture, homes & buildings, sets for theatres & television
studios, docks & wharves, windows & cabinets, among other
things. Carpenters are classified as either rough carpenters or
finishing carpenters. Rough carpenters perform, as the name implies,
rough construction jobs such as framing residential & commercial
buildings, roofing, shipbuilding, etc. Finishing carpenters on the
other hand build & design furnitures of all sorts. How are carpenters
at risk of asbestos exposure? Through the 20th century, carpenters
worked with various different construction products that contained
asbestos. Because of the properties of asbestos as an insulation
agent against heat, fire and its durability, it was used in construction
products to prevent the breakout of fires... (Read
More)
>>> Hazardous
Careers - Welders at Risk of Asbestos Exposure - Welding Process,
Welding Tools, Application of Asbestos, Health Risks & Warnings
(October 26th, 2010)
Welding is a fabrication process that joins construction materials
such as metals or thermoplastics by using the process of Coalescence
(Coalescence is the term used to describe the process by which two
or more particles merge into 1). Workpieces that are to be joined
are melted and a filler material is added to form pools of molten
materials that cool down to create strong joints. And due to the
strong demand for metal joined parts in America, welders are employed
in many different industries including aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding
& manufacturing industries. The type of duties that welders
perform depends on their speciality, for example those in the automotive
industry are responsible for tasks such as fine-tuning automated
assembly systems while those in the aerospace industry are responsible
for functions such as repairing overhauled exhaust parts, shrouds,
and other hardware. This makes welders particularly vulnerable to
asbestos exposure in all work environments... (Read
More)
>>> Hazardous
Careers - Steel Mill Workers @ Risk of Asbestos Exposure - Time
Period (World War II), Use of Asbestos in Steel Mills, Case Study
(October 20th, 2010)
Certain groups of workers are at high risk of asbestos exposure
due to the surroundings or envinronment around which they work.
In the United States, the peak period when asbestos was very popular
started from the World War II to the early 1980s. Workers in the
construction, shipbuilding, railworks, and the steel manufacturing
industry were at great risk of asbestos exposure as they inhaled
the fibers that dissipitated into the air due to disturbance. This
puts steel mill workers at great risk of asbestos exposure as well,
especially those steel mills built before the 1980s. Steel mills
are work areas where laborers are required to work around extremely
hot areas that involve working with very hot substances (liquids,
solids), hot locations or hot machinery.
>>> 15
Year Shipbuilder Survives Mesothelioma Lung Cancer - Cancer Treated
with Precise Radiation & Advanced Surgery Techniques
(October 16th, 2010)
Houston, TX. - Former Navy shipyard worker (shipbuilder) John Ross
built ships for 15 years before coming to find out that he had inhaled
asbestos fibers that formed the deadly mesothelioma lung cancer
in his lungs. Mr. Ross lived and worked in Mississippi but has now
traveled to Houston for cancer treatment; accompanied by his son
John Ross Jr. and daughter Dorothy. The family says they have spent
tens of thousands of dollars for his treatment & checkup costs
as well as the 700 mile, 11 hour journey to Houston... (Read
More)
>>> Hazardous
Careers - Firefighters at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
(October 14th, 2010)
Firefighters are constantly at risk in their jobs, but one of the
most unique and dangerous risks they are exposed to is asbestos
exposure. Asbestos by definition is the name of several minerals
that naturally occur in the environment as bundles of fibers and
are separated into thin durable threads. Beginning the late 1800s,
asbestos was used across many industries including automotive, building
& construction, shipbuilding among other industries. Asbestos
is also known to cause diseases such as pleural effusions, asbestosis,
mesothelioma lung cancer and pleural fibrosis. Unlike many dangers
that firefighters face, there is nothing that warns them that they
could be exposed to this deadly substance called Asbestos. Even
in situations where firefighters are properly wearing their masks,
safety equipment and fireproof jackets, they could still be exposed
to Asbestos... (Read
More)
>>> Risks
of Mesothelioma Cancer Development & Asbestos Exposure Among
Women
(October 6th, 2010)
Mesothelioma lung cancer & asbestos exposure is commonly picturized
as a bunch of men working around metal works or shipyard industries
or in a vermiculite mine with asbestos products. While this is true
to some extent, women are also at equal risk of developing asbestos
related diseases including Asbestosis. Cases of women developing
mesothelioma are rising rapidly, and most of them occur through
second hand asbestos exposure. An instance of second-hand asbestos
exposure is when a husband who has worked around asbestos products
in his shipyard job comes home with asbestos fibers on his clothes
and his wife washes those clothes. The asbestos fibers could easily
diffuse from the husband's clothes and be inhaled by the wife. Second
hand asbestos exposure is not the only way women develop mesothelioma
or asbestos related diseases... (Read
More)
>>>
Pleural Effusions - Introduction, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis
Techniques, Types of Fluids & Draining Pleural Effusions
(September 21st, 2010)
Pleural Effusions is the accumulation of excess fluids in the pleural
cavity, which inhibits the normal expansion/contraction of the lungs
and can impair breathing. Normally, very small amounts of fluids
are present around the pleural spaces and are generally not detectable.
The Pleura is a Sac which houses the lungs, and consists of a thin
membrane called the 'mesothelium.' The mesothelium is a vital part
of the lungs because it enables them to expand and contract when
breathing by secreting a fluid. This fluid is located in the lungs
and inside of the rib cage. The official definition of pleural effusions
is that it occurs when the rate of fluid formation exceeds the rate
of fluid absorption, resulting in excess fluids clogging up the
lungs and causing pulmonary signs and symptoms. Normal human beings
have the capacity of 20-25ml of fluids in each pleural space. Fluids
enter the pleural space via the capillaries in the parietal pleura
or through the peritoneal cavity through small holes in the diaphragm.
Excess fluids that have not been absorbed are normally removed by
lymphatics in the parietal pleura that have the capacity to absorb
upto 20 times more fluid than is produced. When this capacity is
overwhelmed, pleural effusions develops... (Read
More)
>>> Symptoms
of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer - Pleural Effusions, Other Common Symptoms
& Previous Asbestos Exposure
(September 20th, 2010)
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not surface for upto 20 - 50
years after initial exposure, after which they do. This therefore
makes an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis almost impossible for medical
doctors. After symptoms start to surface, almost nothing can be
done to stop the progression of this disease because of the long
latency period, and advancement of malignant tumors into the lungs.
Symptoms of mesothelioma vary with where the malignant tumors are
located and the type of mesothelioma, examples include peritoneal,
pericardial & pleural mesothelioma. Overall health of the patient
as well as the age also plays an important role in what kinds of
symptoms appear. The biggest drawback for accurately diagnosing
mesothelioma is that its symptoms closely resemble symptoms of other
common diseases such as pneumonia, flu, heart diseases, bronchitis,
etc... (Read
More)
>>> Pain
Management for Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Patients - Types of
Pain, Pain Control, Side Effects of Pain Medicines & How to
Administer Pain Medicines
(August 26th, 2010)
Most lung cancer patients fear the pain resulting from it, rather
than the cancer itself. Pain management theories were developed
to help patients control or minimize their pain while undergoing
cancer treatments. About 80% - 90% of cancer patients control their
pain through a combination of pain medicines & other exercises.
In order to successfully control pain from cancer, it is important
to understand where that pain originally derives from. Cancer pain
occurs when malignant tumors slide or press on internal organs such
as bones, nerves and the lymph nodes. The extent of pain also depends
on the location of the tumor and what organ it is pressing on. For
example, a small tumor pressing on a vital organ of the body such
as the lungs can cause lots of pain, while a large tumor elsewhere
could cause little pain. Pain also derives from cancer treatments
including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Pain from
these cancer treatments has more chance of occuring in patients
whose immune system has been damaged as a result of these therapies.
The 3rd source of cancer pain derives from other common illnesses
such as headaches, pain in the kidneys, arthritis, muscle strains,
etc... (Read
More)
>>> Thoracic
Surgery - Thorax Definition, Types of Thoracic Surgery, The Society
for Thoracic Surgeons, Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), How
to Prepare & Risks Involved
(August 25th, 2010)
The term "Thoracic" derives form the word Thorax, which
stands for the breasts or chest from ancient Latin & Greek languages.
Thorax refers to the area of the body that is located between the
neck and the abdomen including organs such as the heart, the great
vessels, esophagus, lungs, trachea, pleura, mediastinum, the chest
wall and diaphragm.. Thoracic surgery is the use of medicine to
treat diseases of the chest including lung cancers, coronary artery
diseases, tumors contained in the chest cavity, heart & lung
transplants, and abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves.
Thoracic surgeons are some of the most highly educated surgeons
because after college and medical school, they have to spend 5 years
in a general surgical residency, another 2-3 years to thoracic surgery
residency and pass a tough examination set by the American Board
of Thoracic Surgery. The patient is placed under general anesthesia
and endotracheally intubated. The exact procedure varies on what
organ of the body is undergoing surgery but usually, a cut is made
to the chest allowing the surgeon to gain access to the thoracic
cavity. The incision (cut) is made beginning from the back under
the shoulders and extends under the arm to the front of the chest.
The ribs are spread with a retractor and the muscles are cut...
(Read More)
>>> Lung
Transplant for Mesothelioma Patients - How To, Risks Associated,
Symptoms & Prognosis
(August 3rd, 2010)
Lung transplants become a necessary survival option for mesothelioma
patients when a person's respiratory system has been damaged to
a level where he/she will not be able to live without a replacement
lung. For instance in a disease known as pulmonary fibrosis, the
lungs become so scarred such that their air sacs are replaced with
fibrotic tissues. These tissues accumulate in masses and lose the
lung's ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. It is of
utmost important that the lungs be able to transfer oxygen to the
rest of the body via the bloodstream and when this is interrupted,
the patient's life is threatened. Once the lungs become extremely
scarred, there is no reversal, meaning they cannot heal themselves;
thus a lung transplant will be necessary. A lung transplant surgery
is a complicated task and can only occur when the right donor is
available. The donor's lungs are carefully removed and immediately
transported to the hospital where the receiving patient is being
cared for. Since lungs can only be preserved for 5-6 hours, it is
important that once they are extracted from the donor's body, they
be immediately delivered to the receiving patient... (Read
More)
>>> Testicular
Mesothelioma - Symptoms, Development, Diagnosis & Treatment
Options for Testicular Mesothelioma
(August 1st, 2010)
Testicular mesothelioma is when malignant tumors invade the tunica
vaginalis; a membranous lining that surrounds, protects & insulates
the testicles. Since the testicles are the reproductive organs of
the human body, it can be very dangerous if they are damaged by
cancerous tumors. The tunica vaginalis is composed of mesothelial
cells, which are cells that line the body's serous cavities and
internal organs and provide protective, non-adhesive surfaces. Mesothelial
cells also help in transporting fluids and cells across the serous
cavities. The image on the left is of the tunica vaginalis composed
of 2 layers; parietal (outer) layer and visceral (inner) layer...
(Read
More)
>>> Classification
of Malignant Tumours (TNM) Cancer Staging System - Intro, Tumor
Classification & Parameters, Applications & Objectives
(July 30th, 2010)
The TNM (Classiciation of Malignant Tumors) Cancer staging system
was designed to gauge the extent of Cancer in a patient's body.
T stands for the size of the Tumor and if the tumor has invaded
nearby tissues, N stands for lymph nodes that may have become malignant,
and M stands for metastasis (spread of cancer from one organ of
the body to another). TNM was designed by the International Union
Against Cancer (UICC) and serves as a worldwide standard for determining
the extent of lung cancer in human body. It also works in conjunction
with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)... (Read
More)
>>>
Staging Extent of Tumor Development for Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
& A Look into Staging Systems
(July 28th, 2010)
Staging Mesothelioma cancer is finding out the extent of a patient's
Cancer and how far the primary tumor has spread in the body. Staging
is conducted to help identify any clinical trials the patient can
participate in, as well as estimate prognosis & plan treatment
options. There are 3 main staging systems, detailed below. They
are the Brigham System, Butchart System and the TNM system. All
3 of these systems have the following in common:
- They detect the primary location of the tumor
- They determine the size & number of tumors that have developed
- They determine whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
- They determine the type of cells involved & grade of the tumor
- They look for development of Metastatic cancer
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