Archive for the 'Lung Cancer' Category

When many people consider treatment for lung cancer, they initially think of surgery. While a wedge resection, partial or full lobectomy, or pneumonectomy may be necessary, there are other approaches that can be taken to help eliminate cancerous cells. They include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and various targeted therapies. In many cases, doctors will suggest a multi-pronged approach that combines surgical and non-surgical forms of treatment.

Below, we’ll focus primarily on non-surgical paths toward removing lung cancer. We’ll describe when each approach is used, how it is administered, and how it works to help eliminate cancerous cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is administered (usually intravenously or orally) when lung cancer has spread to other sites throughout your body. It is considered a systemic approach because it kills diseased cells wherever they exist. Doctors will also rely upon chemotherapy to help reduce the size of a tumor prior to surgically removing it. By itself, chemotherapy seldom functions as a solution. Instead, it is used in conjunction with surgery or to prolong the life of a patient with late stage, incurable lung cancer.

Radiation Therapy  Read more...

When cancerous cells are identified within your lungs, a surgeon will try to remove the tumor through surgery. Depending on the stage of the disease and its location, the surgeon will perform a wedge resection, lobectomy (removal of a lobe), or pneumonectomy (removal of the entire lung).

Traditionally, these surgeries were accomplished through thoracotomy – or, opening the chest. The doctor would make a long incision (up to ten inches) beginning in the back and crossing over to the patient’s side. The ribs needed to be removed or spread in order to provide the surgeon access to the site. The process is physically traumatic and requires a lengthy recovery time.

Over the past decade, surgeons have increasingly relied on minimally invasive techniques to perform the same operations. While a pneumonectomy still requires open-chest surgery, wedge resections and lobectomies can be accomplished through video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Below, we’ll describe the aftereffects of using VATS to treat lung cancer.

Same Operation, Different Approach  Read more...

Asbestos is the main culprit behind the dangerous type of cancer, mesothelioma. Majority of the mesothelioma cases reported have a background history of exposure to asbestos behind them. Then also, cases have been reported rarely of this cancer where there was no involvement of asbestos particles. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which can be separated into fine threads. It is widely used in industries like manufacturing cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles and insulation. Many hapless workers have become victims of asbestos mesothelioma due to the wide usage of the mineral.

During the process of manufacturing, these asbestos particles get scattered in the air. Serious health hazards take place in the workers when they inhale or swallow them unknowingly. It is also found that asbestos exposure coupled with smoking increases the risk of getting affected by the cancer. There have been millions of American workers who have been exposed to the material since early’40s. The workers include those who are in the asbestos mines and mills, shipyard industry, heating and construction industries etc.  Read more...

A mesothelioma diagnosis comes as a shock to the victims and they face a plethora of social, mental and financial problems in its wake. The victims are entitled to file a mesothelioma lawsuit for compensation, the only criterion being developing the disease due to exposure to asbestos. Even if the victim is dead, the lawsuit can be filed by one of his or her family members or the executor of their will. If the family members have contracted the disease through the victim, they are also eligible for filing the lawsuit for compensation.

Expert mesothelioma lawyers are available to assist you in filing the lawsuit. An experienced lawyer can assure you to get the compensation in the least possible time. But for that he needs to present the case efficiently after adequate research work. There is also a time limit set for filing the lawsuit. Though it varies from State to State, one to two years is the limit followed by most of the States. Your eligibility to claim for the recompense would be lost if the lawsuit is not filed within the stipulated time.  Read more...

Overexposure to asbestos is the main factor which is responsible for contracting mesothelioma. Of all the reported mesothelioma cases, about 70-80 percent has a history of asbestos exposure. At the same time, a few other cases have been reported where asbestos was not at involved. Asbestos is a mineral occurring in nature as masses of flexible fibers and it can be separated into fine threads and woven. It is widely put to industrial use for manufacturing cement, flooring products, brake linings, roof shingles, insulation products and textiles. Owing to its widespread use, a number of workers have been affected by asbestos mesothelioma.

During the process of manufacturing, these asbestos particles get scattered in the air. Serious health hazards take place in the workers when they inhale or swallow them unknowingly. It is also found that asbestos exposure coupled with smoking increases the risk of getting affected by the cancer. There have been millions of American workers who have been exposed to the material since early’40s. The workers include those who are in the asbestos mines and mills, shipyard industry, heating and construction industries etc.  Read more...

Asbestos is the main culprit behind the dangerous type of cancer, mesothelioma. Majority of the mesothelioma cases reported have a background history of exposure to asbestos behind them. Then also, cases have been reported rarely of this cancer where there was no involvement of asbestos particles. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which can be separated into fine threads. It is widely used in industries like manufacturing cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles and insulation. Many hapless workers have become victims of asbestos mesothelioma due to the wide usage of the mineral.

During the process of manufacturing, these asbestos particles get scattered in the air. Serious health hazards take place in the workers when they inhale or swallow them unknowingly. It is also found that asbestos exposure coupled with smoking increases the risk of getting affected by the cancer. There have been millions of American workers who have been exposed to the material since early’40s. The workers include those who are in the asbestos mines and mills, shipyard industry, heating and construction industries etc.  Read more...

Mesothelioma cancer brings in its wake lots of mental, social and financial problems. Mesothelioma lawsuit is a great consolation and blessing for the victims of the malicious cancer. The lawsuit can be filed by any victim who has contracted the disease through asbestos exposure. In case the patient had lost his life due to the disease, a family member or the executor of the dead person’s will is eligible to file the lawsuit. It may also happen that the family members themselves contracted the disease owing to the exposure through the worker. The lawsuit for getting compensation can be filed by family members in such an eventuality.

Expert mesothelioma lawyers are available to assist you in filing the lawsuit. An experienced lawyer can assure you to get the compensation in the least possible time. But for that he needs to present the case efficiently after adequate research work. There is also a time limit set for filing the lawsuit. Though it varies from State to State, one to two years is the limit followed by most of the States. Your eligibility to claim for the recompense would be lost if the lawsuit is not filed within the stipulated time.  Read more...

Mesothelioma cancer affects the lining or membranes of some large cavities in the body. The major organs in the body including the heart, abdomen, lungs etc are contained in these cavities, otherwise known as the serous cavities. Serous membranes are the membranes which surround these cavities. The protection of the major organs from friction and abrasion that occur as the organs move against each other during daily functioning like breathing and heart beating is done by serous membranes. Specialized cells called mesothelial cells form to create the mesothelium, which is the major tissue layer of the serous membranes. Mesothelioma is the cancer that affects the mesothelium tissue.

Mesothelioma takes on three forms, the first being peritoneal mesothelioma. This form of cancer attacks the peritoneum or membrane surrounding the abdomen. It can also affect male testicles rarely, since the lining around the scrotum is an extension of peritoneum. The pericardium or lining surrounding the heart is affected by the second form, called pericardial mesothelioma. The third form is the most malignant form and affects the lining of the lung cavity. This is known as the pleural mesothelioma.  Read more...

Mesothelioma lawsuit comes as a great relief for patients assailed by the mental, social and financial problems associated with the deadly disease. Anybody who has developed mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos is eligible to file the lawsuit. Even if the patient had succumbed to the disease, the law suit can be filed by a family member or the executor of the deceased’s estate. Sometimes it happens that the family members also contract the disease owing to close contact with the person who was exposed to asbestos. In such cases, the family members can also file the lawsuit for compensation.

You can get the help of a mesothelioma lawyer to file the lawsuit. The process can be lengthy like in other cases. But an efficient lawyer can get your case sorted fast. For presenting the case skillfully, the lawyer has to do adequate research. There is a set time limit for filing the case and it may vary from state to state. Still, one to two years from diagnosis is the time limit generally seen. It should be remembered to file the lawsuit within the stipulated time. Otherwise you may not be eligible to claim. The limitations are applicable even if you are claiming on behalf of the deceased.  Read more...

Asbestos is a carcinogenic material which is responsible for the dangerous type of cancer called mesothelioma: Here, cancerous cells are developed in the protective covering of the internal organs known as mesothelium. It may affect the outer lining of the lungs, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the protective covering of the heart.

Mainly, people who had worked on jobs where they got exposed to asbestos particles are found to be the victims of mesothelioma: Another possibility is that asbestos dust and fiber must have entered their system through some other ways. The fatal disease does not even spare the family members of the workers. They also may get exposed through the particles which are trapped in the workers’ hair or cloths. The gravity of the disease is enhanced by the habit of smoking.

There are many symptoms associated with mesothelioma cancer. Chest wall pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, fever etc are the common symptoms found. Mainly, this abnormal condition is detected when the patient goes to the doctor for getting treated for some minor disease. In the process, some tests may give hints to the doctor who in turn recommends a biopsy and microscopic examination which diagnoses the cancer.  Read more...