Mesothelioma and smokers

hi
im really puzzled now after i know that no realtio between Mesothelioma and smokers
read this article

but please this not invitation to smoke

Have a great day/night

~Walid

Lung cancer, frontal chest X-ray

The red spot clear the infected are......more Xrays will be come

Close look to Causes of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is nearly always related to Asbestos exposure. Asbestos is an extremely dangerous material and low exposure levels can trigger Mesothelioma. This means that even family members of asbestos workers are at risk because of the asbestos fibers brought into the home on their clothing.

Scientists have known about asbestos's carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties since the 1930's, but asbestos was a cheap insulator and fire-proofing material. Corporations continued to put workers and their families at risk for decades after its lethality was discovered.
If you or a family member has worked at the following jobs or with the following materials before the 1980's, then you are at risk. Most victims are involved with asbestos product plants, insulation and shipbuilding. Below is a list of industrial sites, occupations, and products related to asbestos. In addition to workers, family members may be at risk and should be tested.
Industrial SitesOil Refineries Power Plant Railroad Residents of towns with former asbestos manufacturing plantsShipyardsSteel Mills
Workers in Old BuildingsContractors working on an old building can often stir up asbestos fibers that can poison the workers in the building.
Maritime occupationsLongshoremen Merchant Marines U.S. Navy Veterans

Construction Trades & Other Occupations
Automotive
Mechanics
Boilermakers
Bricklayers
Carpenters
Electricians
Insulators
Iron Workers
Laborers
Maintenance Workers
Millwrights
Plasterers
Plumbers
Sheet metal Workers
Steam Fitters
Tile Setters
Welders

Partial List of Dangerous Products
acoustical panels/plaster
brake linings
fireproof aprons
fire brick
floor tiles
gasket material
glass blower mitts
pipe covering
insulation

Blood Test May Allow for Early Detection of Mesotheliom

New York University and Wayne State University researchers have discovered that the protein Osteopontin may serve as a marker for the early stages of pleural mesothelioma. This suggests that blood tests for Osteopontin may be an early indicator of the disease, which currently cannot be detected in its early stages through blood testing. Although further studies are necessary to confirm the reliability of this protein as a marker, the study is certainly a step in the right direction for those exposed to asbestos.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a disease which affects the lung lining in the chest, that has been directly associated with asbestos exposure. Those that have been exposed to asbestos are encouraged to speak with their physicians about possible clinical trials.

Reference: mesothelioma-source.org

Mesothelioma Drugs

Alimta / Pemetrexed

Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine. Alimta works by blocking specific enzymes thought to play a role in the rapid growth of these lung tumors. While Alimta is not a cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma in clinical trials patients who were treated with Alimta and cisplatin had a median survival of 12.1 months compared to 9.3 months for patients treated with cisplatin alone.
Alimta is given intravenously (into a vein), about every 21 days. Cisplatin is then infused about 30 minutes after Alimta treatment. To lower the chances of side effects with Alimta, it is necessary to take folic acid and vitamin B12 before, during, and after treatment.
To help your doctor decide if Alimta is right for you, tell your doctor if you:
plan to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or do not use effective birth control, because Alimta may harm your unborn baby.
have kidney problems.
are taking other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor or health care provider if you are taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure, because there are many NSAID medicines.
Most patients treated with Alimta will experience some side effects. The most common side effects of Alimta are:
stomach upset, including nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea
a drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection
a drop in red blood cells (anemia), causing tiredness or shortness of breath
a drop in platelets that results in bruising or bleeding
tiredness
mouth, throat, or lip sores
loss of appetite
rash
You should contact your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever (temperature above 100.4F) chills, diarrhea, or mouth sores.
Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Alimta because Alimta may cause harm to an unborn baby.
Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 5 days before Alimta treatment, during the day of treatment, and for two days after treatment. If you are not sure if a drug you take is a NSAID, ask your doctor or pharmacist. There are many NSAID medicines that are prescription and over-the-counter.

Alimta®/Cisplatin Combination Approved for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Alimta® (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®) was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma. Alimta®/cisplatin is the first and only drug regimen proven to improve the duration of survival for patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma.
The trial that prompted FDA approval of the Alimta®/cisplatin regimen for patients with malignant mesothelioma who are not eligible for surgery involved the direct comparison of the addition of Alimta® to cisplatin, versus cisplatin alone. Patients treated with Alimta® also received daily vitamin B12 injections and folic acid supplements, in order to reduce side effects. The trial included nearly 450 patients from 19 countries who had inoperable mesothelioma and were treated with either Alimta®/cisplatin or cisplatin alone. Overall survival was increased by 30% in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin (21.1 months), compared to the group treated with cisplatin alone (9.3 months). Furthermore, one-year survival rates were 50.3% for patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin, compared with only 38% of patients treated with cisplatin alone. Lung function was also improved with in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin compared to those treated with cisplatin alone. Side effects associated with Alimta® included low levels of blood cells, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, skin rash and fatigue.

Onconase

Onconase is a new chemotherapy drug that is being tested for efficacy in the treatment of mesothelioma. The drug with widespread acceptance for use in treatment is Doxorubicin. The benefit of Onconase over Doxorubicin is that Onconase is relatively free of the crippling side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The clinical trials for this drug are being held at several sites around the country.

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine is a new chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. It is currently in clinical trials with many mesothelioma patients in combination with Cisplatin, Alimta and Epirubicin.
It is believed to be the most effective drug in treatment of pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma patients have shown good responses. Gemcitabine is a clear liquid administered by an infusion that usually takes no longer than half an hour. It may also be given through a central line into a vein near the collarbone.
The method and schedule by which this drug is administration is determined by the type and extent of the cancer and is a decision made by the medical oncologist. Generally, it is given once a week for as long as the patient responds to the drug. The degree and severity of the side effects depend largely on the dosage administered.

~~Side Effects ~~

Some patients develop a temporary reduction in bone marrow function. This is generally mild but can occasionally be more severe. If it does occur, it can result in anemia, risk of bruising or bleeding and an increased risk of infection. If a patient develops a temporary reduction in bone marrow function, it will typically begin about 7 days after the treatment has been given and will usually reach its lowest point at about 10-14 days after the chemotherapy. Afterwards, the patient's blood count will increase steadily and will usually return to normal within 21 days.
Some patients will experience illness a few hours after treatment, but generally the symptoms are not severe, are treatable by anti-sickness drugs and will dissipate after a day or so. If more severe symptoms are experienced the patient should get in touch with his or her doctor straight away. For instance, patients who develop a high temperature (above 100.5F), suffer unexplained bruising or bleeding, or suddenly feel unwell (regardless of their temperature), are advised to contact their doctor or hospital immediately.
Some patients will experience a reduction in appetite but generally this is mild and only lasts a day or so. Some patients will experience a temporary effect on their liver and/or kidney functions, but these effects are unlikely to be noticed by the patient, and both liver and kidney will generally return to normal at the end of treatment. Gemcitabine may cause a mild treatable rash in some patients but again this symptom is temporary.
Some patients will develop fluid retention that will appear in the form of swelling ankles or breathlessness. In these instances a doctor should be notified immediately.
Less commonly patients will develop mouth sores and ulcers which are easily treated by prescribed medicines. Diarrhea is developed by 19% of patients receiving Gemcitabine but can also be easily controlled with medicine. Hair loss is seen in about 15% of patients but more commonly the patients hair only thins temporarily returning to its natural fullness once treatment is finished. It is imperative that patients relay any side effects or problems to their medical oncologists.

some Info about Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Lung Lining

Pleural Mesothelioma, pleura mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer in the lining of the lungs. This is different from lung cancer, which refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs.
The pleura, is the tissues lining or covering that surrounds the lungs. There are two pleura. These can be called pleural membranes. The gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets. They help to protect the lungs. They produce a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the 2 pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma accounting for 80-90% of mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they are often caused by the cancer growing and pressing on a nerve or other body organ.
The symptoms of the 2 main types of mesothelioma are different.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath
A hoarse or husky voice
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Sweating and fevers
Difficulty swallowing
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the abdomen (stomach)
Swelling in the abdomen
Feeling or being sick
Poor appetite
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Diahrea or constipation
These symptoms are all more likely to be caused by some other illness, rather than by mesothelioma. But if you have these symptoms, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma cancer begins with a medical history to document the patient's symptoms and any possible asbestos exposure, followed by a complete physical examination. These steps generally are followed by a chest or abdominal X-ray or an MRI, which allows the doctor to assess the size, location and extent of the tumor in the chest or abdomen.
If fluid is present in the pleura or peritoneum, a thin needle may be used to collect a small sample of the fluid for examination. This procedure, called fine-needle aspiration, also may be used to drain the fluid to relieve symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath that can result from an effusion. Occasionally, mesothelioma cancer can be diagnosed with this fluid sample alone, but usually a tissue sample (biopsy) is required. The tissue sample can be obtained via thoracoscopy (for a pleural tumor) or via laparoscopy (for an abdominal tumor). In both procedures, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision allows the physician to view the tumor and collect a tissue sample. Patients suspected of having malignant pleural mesothelioma also may need a procedure called bronchoscopy.

Mesothelioma Causes & Risk Jobs

Exposure to asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma can result A potentially dangerous exposure can result from very small fibers or dust particles at low exposure levels. Most such exposure would likely have occurred prior to the 1980s, but the latency period can be up to 40 years for most lung cancer to develop.
Many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers via their jobs, or occupational exposure. There is also a risk to the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. Likewise, people who live near sites likely to have asbestos around the facility are also at risk: refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition are types of work sites that can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods.
At Risk Job Locations:
Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)
Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)
Construction/contractors
Maritime
Miners
Offshore rust removals
Oil refineries
Power plants
Railroads
Sand or abrasive manufacturers
Shipyards / ships / ship builders
Steel mills
Tile cutters
At Risk Occupations:
Auto Mechanics
Boiler makers
Bricklayers
Building Inspectors
Carpenters
Drywallers
Electricians
Floor Coverings
Furnace Workers
Glazers
Grinders
Hod carriers
Insulators
Iron workers
Laborers
Longshoremen
Maintenance workers
Merchant marines
Millwrights
Operating Engineers
Painters
Plasterers
Plumbers
Roofers
Sand blasters
Sheet metal workers
Steam fitters
Tile setters
Welders
U.S. Navy veterans
Welders
Many occupations have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing of lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is also increased in people who work in the manufacturing of certain industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments, plastics, and synthetic rubber. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the amount of exposure to the cancer-causing agent. For example, the risk of lung cancer in humans is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked. The risk of developing lung cancer is 8-20 times greater in smokers compared to people who have never smoked. A smaller, but real risk exists for cigar and pipe smokers. Some cancer causing agents react together to significantly worsen the risk of developing cancer. The combined exposure to asbestos and tobacco smoke clearly multiplies the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is greater for those living in urban areas. This risk is approximately 1.2 to 2.3 times that of people living in rural areas. There is also an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers whose close relatives have had lung cancer. Scarring in the lungs from previous infections or injury can be associated with and increased risk of cancer.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare disease caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is typically associated with exposure to asbestos which has been documented in as many as 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. This disease is very difficult to assess consistently due to the great variability in time before diagnosis and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma.
Even insignificant exposure to asbestos (commonly reported in such work environments as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or patients. homes) is known to result in mesothelioma, which in many cases does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing substance. In the recent years as many as 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma have been diagnosed per year. It is also known that family members of workers exposed to asbestos can contract this disease through exposure to the worker.s clothing. Smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma.
Some of the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma can often be mistaken for less serious illness and are commonly overlooked. Some patients do not show any signs of sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. Most commonly the symptoms include dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. However, these can not be easily attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined by their health care provider and necessary tests are done, which may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
This disease is not linked with patient's race; however it is more common in men. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow until it is treated.

Mesothelioma strikes over 3,000 people each year. The disease is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a known toxin that irresponsible companies continued to market for decades in the face of scientific evidence proving its danger. In such terrible circumstances.

Mesothelioma victims should seek legal help to make sure they are compensated. ( I will post some Details about that)