Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a dreaded cancer that is nearly always caused by just one factor: asbestos exposure. It's an unfortunate truth that millions of Americans and people all over the world have been poisoned by toxic levels of asbestos, putting them at risk for mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other deadly diseases that are directly caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Before the grave dangers of asbestos were known, and even for years after the dangers were known, asbestos was used in literally thousands of asbestos products that humans and animals encounter every day — particularly in building components such as ceiling and floor tiles, walls, bricks and stucco, and in automotive parts such as brakes and clutches.

People who worked in the asbestos industry or in fields in which asbestos is used as a component of a product are most at risk for mesothelioma. Many individuals who have mesothelioma labored for years or even decades in jobs that required frequent contact with asbestos. When this mineral is mined, processed, woven, sprayed or otherwise manipulated, its microscopic fibers can be released into the air, where they may be inhaled, initiating the development of mesothelioma.

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Why Vegetarian Nutrition Stands Out

A vegetarian diet is considered to be the best among all types of diets. Many studies can prove this claim. A Columbia University study has shown that the human body’s structure is actually not suited for animal meat consumption. It was found that the small and large intestines of carnivores are both short. Humans, however, have small and large intestines that are long.

When humans consume meat, especially in huge proportions, it stays in the intestines for longer periods, which can decay and lead to the formation of toxins. These toxins have been found to be trigger diseases such as colon and rectal cancer, liver and kidney problems and many others. Excessive consumption of meat can also increase saturated fat and cholesterol counts that can slow down the body’s metabolic functions, thus leading to cardiovascular problems.

Even when you think the meat has been inspected for cleanliness and safety, you can still never tell whether it is really free from disease carriers. Moreover, the presence of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs in animal produce can pose a serious threat to human health as well.

With a vegetarian diet, you may not have to worry about these possible health risks. Plant food is a direct source of more nutrients compared to animal food. Especially when vegetarian diets are well planned, you can be sure that you will be getting proper nutrition that you need, which is necessary for good health.

Too often, it has become a common misconception that nutrition from meat consumption is better than vegetarian nutrition, which may not always be the case. In fact, a study in Yale University showed that vegetarians have more endurance than those who eat meat. Vegetarians can still get adequate amounts of protein by increasing intake of wheat, whole grains and vegetables without ever resorting to meat.

Moreover, the nutrition that a vegetarian diet provides can give you a leaner physique, a healthier body, a sharper focus, which in totality can lead to a better quality of life. In fact, vegetarians are known to live longer lives than meat eaters. Of course, while modern science may have already introduced approaches to prolonging life, perhaps nothing can top up with the health benefits that a vegetarian diet can give.

Above all else, your health should be your topmost priority. Without it, you may never live your life at its best. Now that you know what vegetarian nutrition can give you and why it is the best option for your health, all you need to do is to make the switch

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mesothelioma prognosis

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. With rare exceptions, most mesothelioma cancers are considered malignant mesothelioma. The two major types of malignant mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, which concerns the mesothelium membrane that surrounds the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma which concerns the mesothelium layer that covers the organs in the abdominal cavity. The prognosis, therapy (including types of chemotherapy) and treatment choices are similar whether the cancer is pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatments and Therapies

Standard treatment for all but localized mesothelioma is generally not curative.1 Surgery and radiotherapy have a limited role in highly selected mesothelioma patients and chemotherapy is the only potential treatment option for the majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Sometimes, these mesothelioma therapies are combined. Despite activity of some chemotherapy, the results are still modest, with a median survival of approximately one year. For individual patients, treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. The only FDA approved chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (in combination with cisplatin) is pemetrexed (Alimta). In the key clinical trial that led to its approval for mesothelioma, Alimta was combined with another chemotherapy drug (cisplatin) and compared with cisplatin alone. The median survival for the patients who received both chemotherapy drugs was 12.1 months versus 9.3 months for mesothelioma patients who only received cisplatin.2

Mesothelioma Prognosis and Survival

In general the prognosis of mesothelioma is poor and most studies report median survival of less than a year. However, there are long term mesothelioma survivors (both pleural and peritoneal survivors) who have survived more than 10 years. In fact, in one mesothelioma study, doctors writing about the prognosis of mesothelioma explained that long-term mesothelioma survivors do exist and their prognosis may be independent of the treatment or therapies pursued.3 If this is true, it would suggest that mesothelioma prognosis and survival may be more dependent on individual differences among patients (and perhaps the non-conventional therapies they use) and less dependent upon conventional mesothelioma treatments.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms of mesothelioma may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history and a complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A biopsy is often used to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if the mesothelioma has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Incidence & Risk Factors

Over 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in the majority of cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney. There is evidence that family members and others living with people exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

New Directions for Treating Mesothelioma

Because conventional therapies are not curative for the overwhelming majority of mesothelioma patients, researchers are investigating new types of mesothelioma treatments and therapies. One approach that may yield promising results is anti-angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenesis is a form of therapy that uses drugs or other substances to stop tumors from making new blood vessels. Without a blood supply, the cancers cannot grow effectively. Today, there are several hundred clinical trials of anti-angiogenesis drugs under way. For example, Veglin is an anti-angiogenesis drug undergoing clinical trials at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. Under the supervision of Parkash S. Gill, M.D. and financed by grants from the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America, a Phase I study of Veglin has demonstrated some success in patients suffering from lymphoma, sarcoma, and colon and lung cancers. Phase II studies are on-going with the hope they will demonstrate continued clinical efficacy in mesothelioma and other cancers.

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Comedies Hitting Theaters in 2009

Comedies did well in 2008 with moviegoers looking to escape the harsh economic times by heading to theaters for a few laughs. Only time will tell if 2009's batch of comedy movies will go over just as big as last year's laffers, but there are a few on this list that should be box office hits due to their built-in audiences. Yes Funny People and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian I am talking about you...

So with hopes high for more winners than turkeys, here's the scoop on potentially funny films hitting theaters throughout 2009 (listed in order of their release).

Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston and Just About Everyone Else in Hollywood

The Scoop: Seriously, could you load a cast with more 'name' actors? In addition to Aniston and Barrymore, this one features Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, and Scarlett Johansson. That's not a bad list for a romantic comedy about relationships and how we don't always understand the signals put out by members of the opposite sex.

Hitting Theaters: February 6, 2009

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Body Image Versus The Media

No matter what shape, size or height you are there always seems to be a multitude of ways to "improve", "fix" or "change" your image.

The media bombards us with the latest diet trends, detox techniques and exercise regimes. It is very common to see pictures of a celebrity on the beach looking toned, tanned and happy with a caption next to it implying you too could be like that if you follow their simple food rules. It is continuously portrayed that if you have the "perfect" body you must have the "perfect" life.

The problem is, who decides what is considered "perfect"?.......

The same celebrity photographed on the beach one week, could be the same celebrity that was captured looking too thin or too fat previously, surrounded by cruel comments. It seems the acceptable way to look falls between extremely narrow boundaries.

The message that size 0 or size 00 is wrong has been rife for months, yet if someone's size increases from an 8 to a 10 they are called fat. Should we follow our favourite celebrities and make ourselves worryingly thin, or should we stay a bit bigger and face the risk of being criticised for being overweight, if just slightly?

The term "plus size" is one i detest due to it's highly negative connotations. It implies that people who are "plus size" should be ashamed that they are wearing larger sizes. This is completely ridiculous when considering "plus sized" applies to anyone who wears a UK size 14 and above. When considering the average size of ladies in England are a 16, people should not be made to feel bad.

It is, of course, important to eat well, stay healthy and exercise. However, many people also have different sized frames and so even if they had a skeletal frame would not be able to fit into a size 8. It can be very insulting when a celebrity is shown "at their fattest" accompanied by an insulting article, only to find out they have reached a clearly massive, size 12.

Many of the images used in the media portraying female beauty are simply unattainable for the majority. Many of the images have been altered and show backs which would be too weak to support the upper body and a body too narrow to contain more than half a liver and literally a couple of centimetres of intestine. In reality, if a lady had these dimensions she would suffer from chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition. Therefore, the images we often see, portray a false perception of reality. Beauty should not be judged, especially against material that does not represent real life.

It seems the media have gone mad when it comes to body image and so what are the possible repurcussions of such an image conscious society.

Eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia have been around for many years, however, with the ever increasing message that thin is in, is there any wonder as to why this problem is not going away. Fasting, skipping meals. excessive exercise, laxative abuse and self induced vomiting are all attempts to stay thin. Men and women are both affected by these issues, as are children as young as seven.

Pro-anorexia web sites have appeared on the internet. People spur each other on to eat less and help each other to become as thin as possible. These sights are clear evidence that people look up to thin celebrities, with Victoria Beckham being used for "thinspiration" on many occasions. Surely, it is therefore increasingly important to place more emphasis on positive body images rather than negative ones.

Amongst all the crazy media hype of what size we should all be there has been an increasing attempt to tell people they are beautiful no matter what size they are. Gok Wan as well as Trinny and Susannah, attempt to give the nation body confidence, telling them they do not need to always "correct" themselves, change or aspire to be like someone else. Instead they should feel good in their own skin. Dove's campaign for natural beauty is also a very positive step in the direction of helping people accept who they are. Things have even started to change in the modelling world with Milan banning size 0 models from the catwalk.

So, we can only hope that people will try not to aspire to be something that is more often than not unattainable. Many celebrities that are super toned have home gyms and time to work out. For the average Joe, juggling work and family life leaves very little time to focus solely on yourself. Furthermore, many of the images you see in magazines have been altered presenting a false image of beauty. Hopefully one day people will learn to love themselves regardless of their size.

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