|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Article Navigation
|
Just How Dangerous is Asbestos?by: Mike Andrews With the increase in the number of lung cancer cases in recent years, it is vitally important to educate ourselves on the risks and consequences of asbestos exposure which accounts for over 80% of all mesothelioma cancer cases; a form of cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, that can affect the lungs (Pleural form), abdomen (Peritoneal form), and even the membrane around the heart.. A hefty 2000 new cases are being diagnosed every year according to the National Cancer Institute, and that number is on the rise. This leaves the question to be asked... Just how dangerous is asbestos exposure? Significant exposure to any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions. This is based on observations of these diseases in groups of workers with cumulative exposures ranging from about 5 to 1,200 fiber-year/mL. The conclusion is supported by results from animal and mechanistic studies. Tobacco smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a "far greater-than-additive" risk for lung cancer than do nonsmokers who have been exposed, meaning the risk is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together. The time between diagnosis of mesothelioma and the time of initial occupational exposure to asbestos commonly has been 30 years or more. Asbestos Facts: 1. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. Enough scarring and inflammation can affect breathing, leading to disease. 2. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often. 3. Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders. 4. Exposure to asbestos, including tremolite, can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the lung lining. 5. Changes in the lining of the lungs (pleura) such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs). 6. Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos. 7. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos. 8. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines. 9. Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped. 10. Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include: Shortness of breath which is the primary symptom A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus) Chest tightness Chest pain Loss of appetite A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your physician immediately and discuss your level of exposure. Early detection of mesothelioma increases your chances immeasurably. You can get more information about mesothelioma and find helpful information and resources here: http://rarereviews.com/mesothelioma-cancer Latest Cancer News:FDA panel votes against Xgeva for prostate cancer A panel of cancer experts voted against a new use for Amgen's Xgeva in prostate cancer on Wednesday, saying the drug's ability to slow the spread of the disease did not translate into meaningful benefits for patients Breast cancer kills older women more often NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Breast cancer is often considered more deadly among younger women, but a new study shows older women are actually more likely to die of the disease. Researchers found that among women who had been diagnosed with a certain type of breast cancer, those over 75 years old were 63 percent more likely to die of the cancer than women younger than 65. "I suspect it's ... Breast cancer charity chases Komen defectors As a prominent breast cancer researcher and activist, Susan Love is no stranger to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Love runs a breast cancer research foundation that bears her name, and she organized the Army of Women , more than 360,000 women to whom breast cancer researchers can blast out requests for subjects. But the Komen Foundation is so entrenched in the world of breast cancer fundraising ... A Better Way to Spend Breast Cancer Funds? We must move breast cancer advocacy to the next level, beyond screening for cancers that are already there, even beyond the cure, to finding the cause, writes Dr. Susan Love. Cancer-hit cricketer Yuvraj vows to return stronger India's cancer-stricken World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh has vowed to return "stronger than ever" to competitive cricket, saying he was responding well to treatment in the United States. Doxil/Caelyx (Ovarian Cancer) - Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Doxil/Caelyx (Ovarian Cancer) - Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 http://www.reportlinker.com/p0657184/Doxil/Caelyx-Ovarian-Cancer---Analysis-and-Forecasts-to-2020.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=PathologyDoxil/Caelyx ... Triple Analysis: Lung Cancer, Angiogenesis and Cancer Vaccines NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Triple Analysis: Lung Cancer, Angiogenesis and Cancer Vaccines http://www.reportlinker.com/p0284988/Triple-Analysis-Lung-Cancer-Angiogenesis-and-Cancer-Vaccines.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Drug_and_MedicationThis ... Marian Regional Medical Center Receives CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation The CEO Roundtable on Cancer recently accredited Marian Regional Medical Center with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard? recognizing the hospital?s efforts to reduce the risk of cancer f Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease appears to cause bone loss in some postmenopausal women, a new study finds. Marc Garnick Answers 6 Key Questions about Prostate Cancer Marc Garnick Answers 6 Key Questions about Prostate Cancer Breast cancer kills older women more often - Fox News
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 2006 CancerAdvice.org