How to Tell if You're at Risk for Mesothelioma

By Heidi Wingrain

You may have heard about Mesothelioma by listening to commercials on TV, but you may also be unaware that you could be at risk of developing this serious form of cancer that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Since a person may not develop any symptoms of the disease for as long as 20 to 50 years following exposure, if you were working prior to the mid 1970s, you could well have been exposed and still not show any signs of it. If you know that you worked in an industry that involved asbestos back before this time and are experiencing general chest or back pains, you should have it checked out. After all, people who worked in environments that exposed them to asbestos fibers need to watch for symptoms for the rest of their lives.

In cases of Mesothelioma, cancer cells can develop in the lining surrounding the lungs, inside the ribcage, and around the organs in the abdomen. It's possible that even limited exposure to asbestos, like in the home, could result in Mesothelioma, but usually people who were exposed for longer periods of time are more susceptible. You may not even realize that you were exposed. A lot of employers back then withheld the information about asbestos exposure from their employees. For example, if you worked in construction one summer, you might have been exposed. It's also very common for people who were in the Navy prior to the mid 70s to develop Mesothelioma.

Prior to the 1970s asbestos was widely-used in many different applications. Once the reports of the health risks involved in its use started to be made public, this use of asbestos was curtailed. Before that time, however, almost every type of insulation contained asbestos, such as that used to insulate pipes, do fire-proofing, and in boilers. Types of plasters, cements, and joint compounds that came in powdered form and were intended to insulate were also full of asbestos. Since the powders caused a lot of dust, employees who breathed the air while using them were particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

People who worked in the following occupations prior to the mid 1970s need to be alert for the symptoms of Mesothelioma: * Paper mills * Brake and clutch shoe manufacture * Boilermakers * Electrical and carpentry workers or bricklayers * Insulation - manufacture or installation * Steel refineries and other steel industries * Shipyard workers * Maintenance workers

Even if you know you worked in one of these industries and could have been exposed to asbestos, there's no need to panic. Since this exposure will place you at a higher risk for Mesothelioma, however, you'll want to make sure your doctor knows all the specifics. He may even want to run some tests just to make sure that you aren't showing any signs of the disease. Most likely he will want to do a complete physical if you haven't had one lately and have some x-rays taken of your chest and abdominal area. He might want you to take pulmonary function tests, a CT scan, or an MRI. If you show no symptoms, then you're clear for now, but you'll have to keep watch for the development of the condition all the rest of your life.

If you should happen to be diagnosed with Mesothelioma sometime in the future, you'll want to hire a lawyer who specializes in this type of litigation to file a claim against your employer. You may be eligible for restitution if it can be proven that your employer was in any way negligent in providing you with information or safety equipment that could have prevented your illness.

About the Author:

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What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer

By Mark Ardine

In the US, ovarian cancer is the fourth major cause of death from cancer for women and affects 1 in 57 women. This can be successfully treated if it is diagnosed early. However, only about 24% of ovarian cancer cases are detected early on, resulting in lower survival rates. Hence, it is highly essential for women to watch for early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

To help people recognize the signs of ovarian cancer, the American Cancer Society in 2007, published some guidelines. Early symptoms of ovarian cancer can be bloating, gas, a "full" feeling, tiredness, irregular periods, abdominal or pelvic pain, and intense or frequent urination. Having a hard time eating or feeling full too early after beginning to eat are also signs of the presence of ovarian cancer.

Women who are at risk for ovarian cancer should monitor and report suspected early symptoms of ovarian cancer to their doctor in order to have it diagnosed early. Right now, early ovarian cancer cannot be definitively detected by any one screening examination. Certain symptoms like menstrual irregularities or pelvic pain is not always indicative of ovarian cancer, but awareness of any early symptoms of ovarian cancer is helpful in saving lives.

In order to rule out ovarian cancer, it is essential to visit your doctor if you experience any sudden or out of the ordinary symptoms, and then follow it up with a bimanual pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Ca125 blood test. Women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, have never used birth control pills or have had no pregnancies and whom were diagnosed with breast cancer before they were 50 years old are more likely than most to develop ovarian cancer.

Some women are at more risk of developing ovarian cancer than others. Women who are Ashkenazi Jews, are over the age of 50, have 2 or more relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer, have been exposed to many fertility drugs are at higher risk. Regular monitoring for early symptoms of ovarian cancer are doubly important for these women.

Having regular gynecological check-ups are important for any woman's health. Immediate medical attention should be sought for symptoms that are present for greater than a few weeks. It is also important to realize that what may seem to be early symptoms of ovarian cancer may be something else entirely. These symptoms can also indicate ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, or another condition that a medical examination would be able to detect.

It is extremely critical to be aware of what the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are so this disease can be stopped before getting any worse. More than 6 percent of cases of cancer are fatal and women along with their physicians need to be aware of these symptoms and keep a close watch for them.

About the Author:

Find out what are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer and how to spot them. For more information on this disease are found by clicking this url: www.ovariancysts.us

A Glimpse Into The Shadowy World Of Breast Cancer

By Donald Saunders

Breast cancer is the commonest type of cancer that occurs in women and, after lung cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. In 2004 no fewer than 186,770 new cases of breast cancer were reported according to the American Cancer Society and this number appears to be rising year on year.

It is also worthy of note that breast cancer is not confined only to women and that 1,815 men contracted the disease in 2004 and that 362 men died of breast cancer that year.

The breasts in women are complicated pieces of machinery comprising glands, fat and connective fibrous tissue. Each breast has numerous lobes which are divided into lobules and end in the milk glands and there are also a large number of tiny ducts from the milk glands that join together and end in the nipple.

Eighty percent of breast cancer cases start in these ducts in a condition referred to as infiltrating ductal cancer. It is also reasonably common for breast cancer to develop in the lobules where it is referred to as lobular cancer. Other types of cancer are referred to as inflammatory breast cancer.

Pre-cancerous changes (referred to as 'in situ') are also common in women and are changes that have not spread from the place in the breast where they were originally spotted. When these changes occur within the ducts then the condition is called ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS and if changes occur in the lobules they are referred to as lobular carcinomas in situ or LCIS.

The most serious form of breast cancer is known as metastatic cancer which involves the spread of a cancer from the place where it began. Breast cancer most frequently metastasizes into the lymph nodes above the collarbone or under the arms on the same side of the body as the cancer which results in pain and swelling as the lymphatic drainage system is compromised. Other relatively common sites of breast cancer metastasis include the brain, liver and the bones.

Excluding the obvious factor of gender, age is a very important factor when looking at the risk of contracting breast cancer. In spite of the fact that breast cancer can and does occur at any age the risk of finding it increases with age. A healthy woman aged 30 will generally have a 1 in 280 chance of developing breast cancer during the next ten years of her life. However, this then rises to a probable 1 in 70 chance when that same women is in her forties.

Family history is also an important risk factor for breast cancer with the risk being at its highest when you have a close relative (like a mother or aunt) who has suffered from cancer of the breast at a young age.

About the Author:

Breast cancer touches all too many lives these days and for those of you with questions about breast cancer then there can be no better place than http://breastcancertreatmentinformation.com to find the answers you need.

An Examination Of The Prostate And The Effect It Can Have On Life

By Donald Saunders

The prostate gland is a reasonably small gland which is roughly the the same size as a walnut and sits under the bladder and just in front of the rectum. An important gland, the prostate makes the liquid which helps to carry sperm.

A significant problem that can and often does strike the prostate gland is prostate cancer which is a serious condition that presently strikes roughly one man in ten and is the second most common cause of cancer related death in men today.

Just how does this condition begin?

Prostate cancer starts as a malignant tumor in the prostate gland which, if not treated, can spread over time into neighboring tissue and organs and then into the lymph nodes and bone.

So what are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

Nearly three-quarters of those affected with with disease are over the age of 65.

Men who have family members such as a grandfather or father who have contracted cancer of the prostate are 11 times more likely to contract prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

The death rate from this condition rises with weight and is especially high in obese men.

Caucasian men are more than twice as likely to develop this disease than men of African decent.

Is there anything I can do to prevent myself from contracting prostate cancer?

There is really nothing which you can do to prevent yourself from contracting this condition although many people believe that eating a healthy diet can reduce the possibilities. At present there is very little evidence to support this.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

There are several tests available including the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, a digital rectal examination and a biopsy.

The PSA test is a blood test which measures the level of a prostate specific antigen in the bloodstream. High PSA levels are not an indication of prostate cancer but are an indication of a possible problem which should be investigated further.

The digital rectal examination requires your doctor to wear a glove and insert a lubricated finger into the anus to feel the prostate gland for signs of enlargement or irregularity.

A biopsy means the doctor will take several tissue samples from the prostate gland which will then be taken to a lab where they are checked under a microscope for signs of abnormal cells.

About the Author:

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