Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure and there are no findings to suggest that this cancer is caused by other sources. Many of the victims who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma were workers who were not forewarned of the dangers of working with asbestos. People who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma should contact a Rhode Island Mesothelioma lawyer to help them with a Mesothelioma lawsuit that can get compensation for them to help with the medical and financial bills that are a result of the diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is caused by a person inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers that then become lodged in the body. These fibers are virtually indestructible and the body's immune system can't break them down or get rid of them. Mesothelioma is a progressive disease and many people only live for one or two years after diagnosis. Mesothelioma cancer compromises the immune system as well as the area in which the cancer has set in.
In most cases, Mesothelioma is in the membrane that surrounds the lungs, called the pleura. However, Mesothelioma can also attack the lining of the heart or the abdomen. While this type of cancer is rare, approximately 3,000 new cases are reported each year in the United States.
Any level of exposure to asbestos can cause Mesothelioma, even infrequent exposure. Para-occupational exposure, which is secondary exposure, can also leave a risk for Mesothelioma to the families of workers who work with asbestos materials. The asbestos fibers easily cling to hair, clothing, shoes and skin and are brought home, dislodged and therefore create exposure in the home.
Most cases of Mesothelioma can be traced back to asbestos exposure directly in the work place. Approximatley 20 years ago, the products that contained asbestos and asbestos materials that were used in construction and manufacturing were in high demand and used frequently, even though it was known that asbestos exposure could lead to progressive diseases such as Mesothelioma.
Throughout the Second World War, naval ship yards were fabricating many ships for the war, using a lot of asbestos in the manufacturing process. The product was used for construction in buildings and for the manufacturing of automobiles as well. Until just recently, products and processes that use asbestos were unregulated, although the risk factors were known and safety precautions could be taken. Many companies still continued to utilize asbestos in their practices.
Many of the companies who used asbestos provided very little education or protection from asbestos exposure for their workers, leaving them now on the hook for compensating the victims of this dreadful and deadly cancer.
If you or someone you love has contracted Mesothelioma, it is important to contact a Rhode Island Mesothelioma attorney to find out if you have a case justifiable for a Mesothelioma lawsuit. The biggest problem with the onset of Mesothelioma symptoms and diagnosis and the exposure to asbestos is the long period of time, approximately 20 years, between the two. This makes it difficult to diagnose the cancer as well as find the company responsible for the exposure for your Rhode Island Mesothelioma lawyer.
The symptoms of Mesothelioma include fluid in the chest, chest pains, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Because of the nature of these symptoms and the fact that they are so similar to other medical problems, they are easily mistaken for other conditions, which can delay the diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer. For most people, the diagnosis comes much too late - conventional treatments for cancer such as radiation and chemotherapy prove to have little or no effect on the progression of Mesothelioma cancer.
The majority of victims of Mesothelioma can blame companies and bosses for whom they worked for their asbestos exposure, and many of the companies knew the dangers of working with asbestos, and still failed to take any safety measures or precautions to reduce the exposure to this toxic material for their workers. Mesothelioma is a devastating cancer to people who have it and to their families, physically, emotionally and certainly financially.
A Rhode Island Mesothelioma lawyer can help you with a Mesothelioma lawsuit for yourself or a loved one. A qualified Mesothelioma lawyer can track down those responsible for your exposure and illness and can fight with a Mesothelioma lawsuit to gain financial compensation. While the compensation is no replacement for a life, it can certainly help cover lost wages, funeral expenses, medical costs and pain and suffering that are caused by Mesothelioma.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit www.johnsonlawgroup.com
By Mary J. Hamilton
Wilm's tumor is a rare kidney cancer that usually occurs only in children and rarely happens after the age of eight. It is named for a 19th-century German surgeon who found the cause. It is now the most common form of kidney cancer in children, with an average 8 out of 1,000,000 people getting it. Wilm's tumor makes up about 6-7% of childhood cancer cases and only 2-5% are in both kidneys. The average age of a child with Wilm's tumor is 2-3 years old. There are signs that can be looked for to indicate if someone has Wilm's tumor.
Parents sometimes feel a lump or mass in the abdomen while they are dressing their child or a doctor might find it during an examination. The tumor can be firm and may be felt on both sides of the abdomen. A child with Wilm's tumor may seem fine and healthy for a while. The tumor can grow large without causing any pain or discomfort. Other than the mass, a child may have other symptoms. They could have a fever for unknown reasons, blood in the urine, a reduced appetite, weight loss, high blood pressure, constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and general discomfort. Most of the tumors aren't found until they have grown quite large, but most are also found before they metastasize. There are several ways that Wilm's tumor can be diagnosed.
A complete medical history and physical examination are needed, but an abdominal ultrasound may also be used. It creates images of blood vessels, tissues and organs. It can provide an outline of the kidneys and the tumor. An abdominal computed tomography scan, also called a CT or CAT scan, can also be used. A CAT scan uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of the body. This can be used to get a more detailed picture of the kidney to see if there are any unusual growths on it or if it is enlarged. A magnetic resonance imaging system, or MRI, can be used to determine if the tumor has metastasized, if there are any tumor cells in the lymph nodes, or if there are any other organs infected. Wilm's tumor, since it can grow quite large, can compress other organs. This may affect the ability of other organs to perform their function.A chest x-ray can be used to determine if there are metastases, or spreading, in the lungs. Looking at images of the internal organs isn't the only way to diagnose Wilm's tumor.
As stated earlier, one of the symptoms of Wilm's tumor is blood in the urine. A blood and urine test can help evaluate kidney and liver function. Sometimes more information is needed and surgery may be required. A biopsy may be performed to get a sample of tissue. It is then examined under the microscope to evaluate cells, the extent of the disease and the diagnosis. While a sample of tissue can give some information about the condition of the kidney and the tumor, sometimes more is needed. Wilm's tumor is usually only found on one kidney and people are able to live on one kidney alone. If needed, they may do surgery and remove the tumor and kidney. This is also know as a nephrectomy. This can give them a definitive diagnosis and can help them determine how far the cancer has gone. Once they have their diagnosis and have determined just how far it has gone, they can begin treatment.
The most common surgery for Wilm's Tumor is surgery and chemotherapy. Depending upon the stage the cancer is in, radiation therapy might also be used. There are various kinds of nephrectomy; simple nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, and radical nephrectomy. A simple nephrectomy is where the entire kidney is removed. The remaining kidney is able to take over the function of both by increasing its capacity. When the other kidney is damaged or has already been removed, a partial nephrectomy may be performed. It involves the removal of the tumor and part of the kidney tissue surrounding it. A radical nephrectomy is when the kidney is removed along with the surrounding tissues. The lymph nodes may be removed as well. Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells and comes in different forms; pill, an IV, or an injection. Chemotherapy enters the bloodstream and travels through the body, so it is considered systemic. As it travels through the body, it kills any cancer cells it may find. It also affects any other rapidly dividing cells, which also means it affects some healthy cells. Some of these cells include hair follicles, cells in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss and low white blood cell counts. When a high dosage of chemotherapy is received, which is not the usual practice, it can destroy bone marrow. A doctor may remove some of the bone marrow before the treatment and freeze it. It can then be returned by autologous bone marrow reinfusion, which is where the bone marrow is returned using an IV line. Chemotherapy isn't the only treatment with side effects.
Radiation therapy uses sources of high-energy rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells. It's usually done a few days after surgery. A sedative is sometimes given to the patient, usually very young children, to keep them still while they are receiving the treatment. The area to receive the treatment is marked with a special dye while the other areas are shielded. The side effects that can occur from radiation therapy include nausea, fatigue and skin irritation. They may also experience diarrhea and a sunscreen lotion should be applied after treatment to avoid sunburn. What type of treatment is received depends upon what stage the cancer is in.
Stage I or II cancer is where the cancer is only in or near the kidney and is not aggressive. A surgeon may perform a nephrectomy to remove the affected kidney. They may also remove the nearby tissues and some of the lymph nodes near the kidney if necessary. This treatment may also be followed up by chemotherapy to make sure any remaining cancer cells are killed. Some patients with stage II cancer also receive radiation therapy. Stage III or IV cancer is when the cancer has spread and can't be completely removed safely. Surgery will remove some of the cancer and chemotherapy may be done before to shrink it. After surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatment will be given. Stage V is the most advanced stage of the cancer. When the cancer has reached stage V, and if the tumor is in both kidneys, part of the cancer from both kidneys will be removed. Lymph nodes that are nearby will also be removed to see if they contain any tumor cells. Chemotherapy is then used to shrink the tumor and surgery is performed again. The surgeon will leave the functioning kidney tissue, but try to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This may be followed by more chemotherapy and radiation treatment. With the advances in modern medicine, the prognosis for people with Wilm's tumor has increased.
Thanks to multimodal therapy, the survival rate of people with a small-sized tumor, favorable cell type, are in an early stage of the cancer or are very young is 93%. Patients with an anaplasia have a survival rate of 43% and people with a sarcoma have a survival rate of 36%, according to HealthAtoZ. Only about 8 in 1,000,000 people get the tumor. Wilm, the surgeon who discovered one of the causes, noticed that it seemed to be caused my immature kidney cells.
These cells usually mature as the child ages, but can become mutated and turn into Wilm's tumor. Most occur by chance, but some can be caused by genetics. A small percentage of people with Wilm's tumor have WAGR syndrome, Denys-Drash syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. WAGR stands for the four diseases present, one of which is Wilm's tumor. The others are aniridia, genitourinary malformations and mental retardation. It can also be caused by birth defects like Hemihypertrophy, Cryptorchidism or Hypospadias. It is a good idea to screen any children with these birth defects or genetic diseases every three months until they are eight years old. It is important for both the doctors and the parents to be informed as possible.
They need to know the signs to look for, like the lump in the abdomen, fever and blood in the urine. While a non-invasive method like an MRI, CAT Scan or an X-ray may be used for diagnosis, it is important for parents to be prepared for a nephrectomy if needed. While surgery is hard on both the parents and the children, children tend to bounce back from surgery more easily. It is also important for parents to discuss the different treatment options with their doctor for whatever stage the cancer is in. Some parents might be wary of surgery and prefer to try chemotherapy or radiation therapy first. Families also have more hope now thanks to the advances in modern medicine that have been made. A 93% survival rate gives parents more hope when their child is first diagnosed. While there are no ways to prevent it yet, the more we learn about the causes like immature kidney cells, genetic disorders and birth defects, the better the future looks for children who suffer from Wilm's tumor.
Bibliography
Neighbors, M., Tannehill-Jones, R. (1st Ed.). (1999). Human Diseases. New York: Delmar.
Springhouse. (8th Ed.). (2005). Professional Guide to Diseases. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Beers, M. H., MD. (18th Ed.). (2005). Merck Manual. Merck Research Laboratories.
source:www.associatedcontent.com
There are several ways of giving radiation dosage to a cancerous tumor. The most common method is to deliver the required dosage from an external beam of radiation produced outside the body. In this case the source of radiation beam is located 80-100 cm from the body of the person receiving radiation. Sometimes placing the source of radiation within the tumor might have advantages over delivering radiation from an external source. This method of delivering required radiation from an internal source embedded within the tumor is called brachytherapy.
If you are aware of the inverse square law in physics you would know the dosage of radiation therapy delivery changes by a great proportion depending upon the distance of the radiation source to the intended target. In brachytherapy the source of radiation is within the tumor volume and the proper placement of these sources of radiation within the tumor is of crucial importance.
There are several radioactive isotopes used in the brachytherapy. These include radium-226, cesium-137, cobalt-60, iridium192, iodine-125, gold-198 and palladium-103. Radium has a longer half-life compared to some of the other radioactive isotopes. In the past radium was the primary isotope used in brachytherapy, but recently radium has been largely replaced by cesium, gold and iridium, which have relatively shorter half-life and lower energies and because of this the radiation from these isotopes can be easily shielded.
Brachytherapy can be delivered with devices known as implants. These devices may be in the form of needles or seeds or ribbons. Brachytherapy can be delivered with permanent or temporary implants. These implants might be temporary or permanent. Temporary implants usually have a longer half-life and higher energies compared to the permanent implants. All temporary implants are inserted into the tumor during surgery. The duration of treatment for the temporary implant is usually 1-3 days.
Interstitial low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy is usually used for cancers involving the mouth and oral cavity, pharynx. This mode of treatment is often used in the treatment of sarcomas. Prostate cancer treatment is the most common form of LDR brachytherapy using seeds. Uterine cancer is the most common application of intracavitary LDR treatment. These patients are often isolated to prevent radiation exposure to nursing and other supportive staff during the care of the person.
The most common uses of high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy includes treatment of esophageal cancer, lung cancer and recently breast cancer and prostate cancer. Most HDR treatments are done as outpatient procedures allowing the patients to return to home the same day as treatment. Patients who are receiving treatment for prostate cancer is an exception who may remain in the hospital for 2-3 days during the treatment.
Source: Free Articles
Author of this article is a freelance health information writer. Author contributes articles to various websites including Medicineworld. You may read more about prostate Prostate cancer at this webpage.
Read More......Aspergers is not actually a disease at all but more of a condition that many children have. The word disease itself can give the wrong impression of Aspergers and the many wonderful children who experience it. In this article I will give a simple explanation of some of the characteristics of Aspergers and then give some useful tips on how to manage challenging behaviours which are often associated with this condition.
Aspergers is a developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Aspergers typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics. Signs and symptoms of Aspergers include displaying unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures. People with Aspergers will often show an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects, such as baseball statistics, train schedules, weather or snakes. They will appear not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others' feelings and will have a hard time "reading" other people or understanding humor. When they speak it is often in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast. They will sometimes appear to move clumsily, with poor coordination and display an odd posture or a rigid gait
Children with Aspergers frequently display challenging behaviors as a response to a world which they cannot deal with effectively. Any attempt to discontinue the behaviors must first consider why the behavior is occurring. The best way to establish why the individual with Aspergers is displaying challenging behaviors is to complete an A-B-C analysis. This includes an analysis of the Antecedent, Behavior, and the Consequence. The antecedent is what happens before the behavior. The behavior is their response to the antecedent. The consequence, and this is the tricky one, is whatever immediately follows the behavior. Often the child with Aspergers will have limited ability to verbalize their needs; you can help them with this once you have identified the cause of the behavior. Remember it will be something that happens either before or after the behavior occurs. Once you have established the reason for the behavior, the child with Aspergers will need a consistent behavior program or method of intervention. Children with Aspergers crave consistency and routine and need to know what is coming, or you will simply create more challenging behaviors.
For children with Aspergers, the behavioral intervention should include consideration of environmental changes that may need to be made. This may include removing items that may be over-stimulating or providing things that they appear to need. For the child with Aspergers, the behavioral intervention should also plan to provide the individual with a replacement behavior. Remember, if you eliminate the behavior without meeting the need, they will find their own replacement behavior! Autism and Aspergers are difficult to diagnose especially in young children where language and cognitive skills are still developing. All children are different, and many toddlers show a sign or symptom of Aspergers at some point. It's natural for small children to be egocentric, and many little ones show a strong interest in a particular topic, such as dinosaurs or a favorite fictional character. These alone aren't reasons to be alarmed! However, if your child has frequent problems in school or seems unable to make friends, it's time to consult your pediatrician. These difficulties have many possible causes, but developmental disorders such as Aspergers shouldn't be ruled out. Hopefully this article will have provided you with some ideas of what to do next, where to seek help and how to manage your child's behaviors better.
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Dave Angel is a social worker with families who have children on the Autistic Spectrum and is the author of a new e-book that answers the 46 most asked questions by parents of children with Asperger’s. To claim your free 7 day Mini-Course for parents of children with Asperger’s Syndrome visit:
http://www.parentingaspergers.com today.
Varicose veins are an unsightly nuissance for one in two people over 50 who enjoy wearing warm weather clothing during summer months. For many people, the aesthetic benefit of getting treatment to clear up these bulging, ropy, or bruised looking veins offers enough incentive. However, few people are aware of the health dangers that can arise if varicose veins are left untreated.
Varicose Veins are englarged veins that are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin and are commonly found on the back of calves or on the inside of the leg. The cause of this condition is the weakening of veins pumping blood back to the heart that causes blood to leak back into the vein and collect there. Over time, varicose veins enlarge and severe pooling of blood in the veins can slow return of blood to the heart. The result is a increased possibility of blood clots that can travel from the legs to the lungs, where they can block the heart and lungs from functioning. Other problems associated with untreated varicose veins include sores, skin ulcers, ongoing irritation, swelling, and painful rashes of the legs.
"It's generally caused by venus valve dysfunction, and many people believe when they see the vein, they say 'well, this looks ugly', but they do not take care of them, especially men. And what happens over time, because of the venus congestion, you develope what is called stasis dermatitus around the ankle, and that can progress to the venus ulcer."
To address varicose veins, there are several medical procedures available. Sclerotherapy uses an injection of solution to irritate the lining of a blood vessel, causing it to swell and stick together. Over time, the vein fades into scar tissue. The venus closure technique utilizes the insertion of a catheter with an electrode tip into the vein to cause the inner lining of the vein to adhere to itself, and close off. A phlebectomy removes the varicose vein with tiny incisions in the skin overlying the vein. All of these procedures are done under local anasthesia and do not require the patient to be hospitalized over night.
Author: Empowered Doctor
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/
Medical experts, such as Dr. Brian A. Stone, say African-American men are exceedingly vulnerable to prostate cancer, but that symptoms usually associated with the disease can also be associated with other conditions.
Just in case you didn't know, prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. Over 200,000 cases are diagnosed and almost 30,000 men die from this disease annually. The bad news is that men of African descent in America die from prostate cancer three times the rate of Caucasians. Prostate cancer is typically a silent invader. The majority of cases are detected based on an abnormal blood test called PSA (prostate specific antigen). The normal range for PSA in a man between 40 and 60 years of age is 0 to 2.5. When this test is elevated, the diagnosis of prostate cancer is made based on a biopsy of the gland. Some patients with prostate cancer develop problems with urination--frequency, waking at night to urinate, a weak flow, severe urgency, hesitation of flow, incomplete emptying, deviated stream and difficulty postponing urination.
The good news is that there are other non-cancerous conditions that can affect the prostate and cause the same symptoms as prostate cancer. The prostate gland is a small, chestnut shaped organ, found only in the male. It is located beneath the bladder and acts as a conduit through which urine flows. The prostate is a part of the urethra, which is the tube that passes from the bladder to the penis. Conditions that affect the urethra can also cause symptoms that can be seen in prostate cancer.
The bladder is a muscular sack that store urine. When it fills with urine, a signal is sent to trigger urination. Conditions that irritate the bladder will cause frequency, urgent urination, waking a night to urinate, loss of control of urine, blood in the urine and burning. These conditions include (but are not limited to) bladder infections, bladder stones, bladder cancer, pelvic radiation, neurological diseases and prostate enlargement.
The prostate begins to enlarge annually when a man reaches his mid-30s. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) affects almost 40 million men in the U.S. This enlargement is a natural component of the aging process that affects more than 70 percent of men in their 70s. Normal cells of the prostate also produce PSA, which can become elevated due to this enlargement. The enlarging prostate compresses the urethra and base of the bladder. This enlargement can result in irritation of the bladder and blockage of the flow of urine. This results in irritation of the bladder with the previously described symptoms. But also weakened flow, dribbling, intermittent flow, hesitancy, incomplete emptying and deviated stream.
The prostate can also become inflamed, resulting in a condition known as prostatitis. This inflammation can be bacterial, viral or idiopathic. Bacterial and viral prostatitis can be the result of a sexually transmitted disease, a urine infection, or any condition that facilitates the entry of bacteria into the prostate gland. Idiopathic prostatitis is inflammation of unknown origin and is probably the most common. This condition can elevate PSA levels and result in irritative and obstructive urination symptoms.
The urethra, below the prostate, can be affected by scar tissue, which is also called stricture disease. This scarring results in narrowing of the urethra and obstruction of the flow of urine. The blockage of normal flow results in the same symptoms as seen in obstruction by an enlarged prostate.
There obviously are several conditions that can affect prostate and urinary tract in men. Black men can be very reluctant when it comes to health issues. All of these conditions are easily treated when identified early in their evolution. However, if untreated, these conditions often result in significant complications, including erectile dysfunction, inability to pass urine, severe infection and in rare cases, kidney failure. Please seek the consultation of a urologist or your primary physician. Ignore theses symptoms and you may find yourself in an emergency room.
Send questions or comments for this column to Talk To EBONY at www.ebonyjet.com, or mail them to HOUSE CALL, EBONY, 820 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. Answers to all questions are checked with a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for individual, professional medical treatment. Due to the volume of mail received, we cannot give personal replies.
Bibliography for "'It's not always prostate cancer.'"
Brian A. Stone "'It's not always prostate cancer.'". Ebony. Sept 2007. FindArticles.com. 03 Oct. 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_11_62/ai_n19480187
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