Childhood Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer) cells form in the lymph

Childhood Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymph system, part of the body's immune system. The lymph system is made up of the following:
· Lymph: Colorless, watery fluid that travels through the lymph system and carries white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes protect the body against infections and the growth of tumors.
· Lymph vessels : A network of thin tubes that collect lymph from different parts of the body and return it to the bloodstream.
· Lymph nodes : Small, bean-shaped structures that filter lymph and store white blood cells that help fight infection and disease. Lymph nodes are located along the network of lymph vessels found throughout the body. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarm, pelvis, neck, abdomen, and groin.
· Spleen : An organ that makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells. The spleen is on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach.
· Thymus: An organ in which lymphocytes grow and multiply. The thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone.
· Tonsils: Two small masses of lymph tissue at the back of the throat. The tonsils make lymphocytes.
· Bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue in the center of large bones. Bone marrow makes white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Thirty ways of Avoid Cancer

1. Make sure you have a pure source of foodstuffs. Obtain fresh, organic produce regularly by joining a vegetable box scheme
2. Eliminate plastic storage containers from your kitchen and do not buy or store food in plastic or clingfilm
3. Try not to cook the life out of food. Steam vegetables such as brocolli or cauliflower to maintain their integrity and nutritional value
4. Eat wide from many sources for a balanced diet. Include nuts, herbs, lentils and fresh, organic, locally grown produce
5. Find different ways to give yourself a regular, yearly detox
6. Think about and act on your health in a preventative way. Try out some alternative therapies to help you switch on a health sense
7. Test your bodies PH rating. Cancer loves sugar and readily available proteins in an acid environment. Quit taking sugar as much as you can and eat foods that balance your PH
8. Throw your microwave away. Recent tests show 97% of flavonoids lost in broccoli by microwaving
9. Do a toxin stock take on your household products and food sources. Throw away any harmful chemicals you are persuaded to put into your environment or yourself by advertisers
10. Make sure that your air and water supplies are as pure as possible. Exercise in a healthy, non-toxic environment
11. Find out more about your immune system and how to support it in thought, word and deed
12. Avoid known stressors such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, extreme conditions and so on, as much as possible
13. Check your home and work for sources of harmful radiation
14. Avoid using deodorants and sun screens containing parabens
15. Avoid factory farmed products such as milk, eggs, fish or cheese. Animals are often fed large amounts of antibiotics as a precaution and live in very stressful conditions
16. Avoid genetically modified food (GMO)
17. Eat slowly and chew food properly. Enjoy eating as a special moment when you ingest new energy for your being
18. Avoid vexatious media intrusions. Just because they thrive on a diet of drama, conflict and spectacle, it doesn't mean you have to
19. Adapt a lifestyle that is in tune with what is around you. Find time to enjoy life and do things that you love
20. Get out into the countryside regularly
21. Carry out your own 'genetic counseling'. Write down the ailments suffered by your ancestors and look for genetic weaknesses in your physiology. Act to compensate for perceived weaknesses
22. Think about your health at physical, intellectual, emotional and energetic levels
23. Look out for ways to experience 'healing moments' in your everyday existence
24. Inform yourself about your medical condition and explore alternatives if you are prescribed medical drugs. All medical drugs have side effects
25. Practice creative visualization and other methods of positive thinking
26. Find constructive outlets for negative energy
27. Do things that give your life personal meaning for you
28. Get a hair analysis done to see if you are missing any minerals in your diet. The human body needs: 90 nutrients, 60 minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, 3 essential fatty acids - check them out !
29. Read the labels on food. Avoid trans fats (Hydrogenated Vegetable oils) in biscuits and cakes. Make your own - its fun !
30. Do things that make you laugh

Highest 8 tips for avoiding cancer

1)Do NOT smoke. If you're one of the more than 40 million American smokers, you need to stop. Smoking is linked to at least three in 10 cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. That's more than 165,000 deaths a year.

2) Stay active. Inactivity and obesity are linked to cancer. Half an hour of exercise a day will significantly help your odds.

3) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends at least five servings each day. In general, the most colorful fruits and vegetables have the most nutrients.

4) Limit the amount of red meat and processed meats in your diet, and make sure the meat you do eat is lean.

5) Avoid deep-fat frying. Instead, use low-fat cooking methods like roasting, baking, broiling, steaming or poaching. Also, choose low-fat or non-fat milk and yogurt.

6) Limit your alcohol consumption or avoid alcohol altogether.

7) Protect yourself in the sun. Wear sunscreen to limit your exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays.

8) Girls should get the HPV vaccine before they are sexually active to help prevent cervical cancer.

Can a microchip cause cancer?

As if frequency incompatibility isn't headache nough for the pet microchip industry and pet owners, studies show that microchips could cause cancer. In 2004, after investigating microchipping, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the process to be safe enough for use in humans and animals. However, since the 1990s studies have shown evidence that microchips cause cancerous tumors to develop in rats and mice. One 2001 study revealed that 1 percent of the rats tested developed these tumors on their bodies near the place where the microchip was implanted [source: Elcock].
Katherine Albrecht, who founded Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), wants the microchipping of humans to end, so she has been pushing these types of studies into the public eye. Her efforts succeeded when the Associated Press released a story in September 2007 indicating that manufacturers of microchips for humans dismissed (or were irresponsibly unaware of) studies that show microchips might lead to cancer. When the story broke, the companies' shares sharply fell [source: Feder].
Albrecht's CASPIAN group then published a summary she put together of 11 studies performed between 1990 and 2006 that investigated the microchip-cancer link, including the one we just mentioned. Most of these studies research rodents, but a few used dogs o attempt to discover whether there was causal link. Albrecht's report stated that eight out of the 11 studies found evidence for a link, as malignant tumors often sarcomas, which affect connective tissue) developed near the area of the chip in many of the animals [source: Albrecht] brecht concluded that the three studies that did not find this evidence were "deeply flawed" as they failed to either test a large enough population of animals or for a long enough period of time [source: Albrecht].
The microchips which have been used so successfully to reunite lost pets with their owners are even used with some people for medical monitoring purposes.
I read all of those “news” stories about cats accidentally stowed in a suitcase, or a shipping box, traveling across the country, but being reunited with their owners because they had a microchip, and I wanted that security of knowing that I did everything I could to keep my dog safe. Unfortunately, what I did in an effort to keep him safe is the likely cause of his cancer. Had we gotten our dog this year, instead of four years ago, this wouldn’t have happened. Four years ago, I thought any product sold in my vet’s office had to be safe .

Can a microchip cause cancer

A dog undergoes an MRI an to check for cancer.

As if frequency incompatibility isn't headache nough for the pet microchip industry and pet owners, studies show that microchips could cause cancer. In 2004, after investigating microchipping, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the process to be safe enough for use in humans and animals. However, since the 1990s studies have shown evidence that microchips cause cancerous tumors to develop in rats and mice. One 2001 study revealed that 1 percent of the rats tested developed these tumors on their bodies near the place where the microchip was implanted [source: Elcock].

Katherine Albrecht, who founded Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), wants the microchipping of humans to end, so she has been pushing these types of studies into the public eye. Her efforts succeeded when the Associated Press released a story in September 2007 indicating that manufacturers of microchips for humans dismissed (or were irresponsibly unaware of) studies that show microchips might lead to cancer. When the story broke, the companies' shares sharply fell [source: Feder].
Albrecht's CASPIAN group then published a summary she put together of 11 studies performed between 1990 and 2006 that investigated the microchip-cancer link, including the one we just mentioned. Most of these studies research rodents, but a few used dogs o attempt to discover whether there was causal link. Albrecht's report stated that eight out of the 11 studies found evidence for a link, as malignant tumors often sarcomas, which affect connective tissue) developed near the area of the chip in many of the animals [source: Albrecht] brecht concluded that the three studies that did not find this evidence were "deeply flawed" as they failed to either test a large enough population of animals or for a long enough period of time [source: Albrecht].

The microchips which have been used so successfully to reunite lost pets with their owners are even used with some people for medical monitoring purposes.

I read all of those “news” stories about cats accidentally stowed in a suitcase, or a shipping box, traveling across the country, but being reunited with their owners because they had a microchip, and I wanted that security of knowing that I did everything I could to keep my dog safe. Unfortunately, what I did in an effort to keep him safe is the likely cause of his cancer. Had we gotten our dog this year, instead of four years ago, this wouldn’t have happened. Four years ago, I thought any product sold in my vet’s office had to be safe .

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer is a disorder in which malignant or cancer cells are formed in the breast tissues of women. This is a heterogeneous disease which is found to be different in different women and the symptoms too vary accordingly. Women are advised to have themselves medically examined completely at least once in six months. You can even make yourselves aware of the symptoms of breast cancer and contact the physician immediately if you should notice any at any point of time. Prevention is better than cure; here in this case early detection of the condition will help in faster cure. By knowing the symptoms you can regularly examine yourself for the incidence of breast cancer.

Main Symptoms of Breast Cancer :

• In most cases the initial symptom which can be noted would be a lump either on the breast itself or in the armpit. This would be easily noticeable and the patient would be able to find it herself. The lump would feel little thicker than the other tissues of the breast. If this is noticed, whatever be the cause, it is advisable to contact the doctor for an examination.

• might also be a change in shape and size of the breast. Though changes in the size and shape of the breast might also be due to increase or decrease in body weight and shape, this would be more evident and easily noticeable.

• dimpling is also a symptom which is noted in many cases.

• Another common symptom that can be noticed is inversion of the nipple. The nipple might look as if it is dumped inside. This would really change the shape of the breast itself making it look very odd.

• Pain as a symptom, however, cannot be relied upon as it might also be due to some other medical conditions related to breast.

• When dermal lymphatics are invaded by the cancer cells, there might be lump formation over the breast also causing inflammation and burning of the nipples. Pain, redness and swelling might also accompany the condition with a change in the skin texture. This might resemble the texture of orange and this condition is referred to us as 'peau d'orange'.

• Paget's disease of the breast is another stage in which there might be severe itching, burning and pain. Though these are the common symptoms, these need not necessarily be the only ones.

NINE + ONE WAY IN AVOID CANCER

10. Eat right. Get at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. These can be fresh, frozen or canned. Aim for a variety of textures and colors, and be sure to include tomatoes. Pure fruit juice is also beneficial, but drink it sparingly because it contains a lot of calories that are’t filling.

9. Scale down. Get down to a healthy weight or work to stay there. Waistline size appears to be most important for avoiding disease, including cancer. In general, men need to keep it under 40 inches, women under 35 inches.

8. Work out. Exercise five days a week for at least 30 minutes, preferably 45-60. The intensity of your workout should increase as you become more fit.

7. Reduce meat. Limit your intake of red and processed meats. This includes pork, lamb and beef, as well as bacon and sausage.

6. Drink sparingly. Twelve oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of liquor (80-proof) is the daily limit for women, twice that for men.

5. Stop smoking. Cigarette smokers not only account for 85% of lung cancer patients, they also get more cancers overall, such as kidney cancer.

4. Reduce sugar. The empty calories in sugar, brown sugar, honey, gave and high-fructose corn syrup contribute to an expanding waistline. Try to use a little less than usual. You may be surprised how quickly your taste buds get used to the difference.

3. Test for radon. Have your home tested for radon gas emissions, which have been linked to lung cancer.

2. Eat walnuts. Lab mice decreased their chances for breast cancer tumors when walnuts were included in their diet. The nuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and fiber, all of which may slow cancer growth.

1. Eat Mediterranean-style. Olive oil, olives, avocados and nuts contain healthy fat that deters breast cancer.

Kidney Cancer Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

Most cancers are named after the part of the body where the cancer first begins, and kidney cancer is no exception. As kidney cancer grows, it may invade organs near the kidney. Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys two large, bean-shaped organs one located to the left, and the other to the right of the backbone. Some of the areas it affects are the liver, colon, and pancreas. Renal is the Latin word for kidney, and kidney cancer may also be referred to as renal cancer. Kidney cancer cells may also break away from the original tumor and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When kidney cancer spreads, cancer cells may appear in the lymph nodes.

Causes of Kidney Cancer

The common Causes and risk factors of Kidney Cancer:

* Smoking.

* High blood pressure.

* Obesity.

* Poor diet.

* Tuberous sclerosis.

* Family history.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer :

* Some Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

* A lump or mass in the kidney area.

* Weight loss.

* High blood pressure.

* Side pain that does not go away.

* Blood in the urine.

* Loss of appetite.

* Fever.

* Fatigue.

Treatment of Kidney Cancer

* Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells, and is also sometimes used to relieve pain when kidney cancer has spread to the bone.

* Biological therapy is a treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer.

* Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.

* Hormone therapy is used in a small number of patients with advanced kidney cancer to try to control the growth of cancer cells.

* The whole kidney is removed along with the adrenal gland, tissue around the kidney, and, sometimes, lymph nodes in the area.

Discover the Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer

# Find out if your lifestyle leaves you at risk for kidney cancer. Factors that increase your chances of contracting the disease include smoking, obesity, sedentary patterns and occupational exposures to certain chemicals.
## Be particularly aware if your family has a history of cancer. This will naturally put you more at risk.
### Ask your doctor if any of the medications you're currently taking could increase your risk for kidney cancer. Some drugs, such as the no longer available Phenacetin, have been linked to kidney cancer.
#### Know that, according to the American Socity kidney cancer is twice as common in men as in women.

BONE CANCER

BONE CANCER is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells within the bone. Bone provides structure to the body, protects internal organs, and produces and stores blood cells. Bone also acts as levers and braces for muscles to produce movement.
Bone tumors can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Both types can grow and compress normal bone tissue and absorb or replace it with abnormal tissue. Benign bone tumors, which are more common, do not spread and are rarely life-threatening.
The two main forms of cancer found in bone are primary bone cancer and secondary bone cancer. Primary bone cancer begins in the bone. Secondary bone cancer, or metastatic bone cancer, does not begin in the bone but has spread there from another area of the body. Secondary bone cancer often results from the spread of cancer from the lung, breast or prostate
Primary bone cancer is rare and accounts for less than 0.2 percent of all cancers. It is much more common for cancer to spread to a bone from another site of origination. Types of primary bone cancers include:
* Osteosarcoma
** Chondrosarcoma
*** Chordoma
**** Fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma
***** Giant cell tumor of the bone
The exact cause of bone cancer has not been identified. Recently researchers have gained a greater understanding of how specific changes in DNA may cause bone cells to become cancerous. In addition, researchers have identified a number of factors that may make a person more likely to develop bone cancer, including retinoblastoma (a rare eye cancer of children), Paget's disease and exposure to large doses of radiation.

Five ways to ***** AVOID CANCER

* Quit Smoking :

This should be a given by now. If you are still smoking then you should just close this window Because whatever else you do for your health is practically a waste of time. If you do not stop smoking, tips one to four are useless.
There are all kinds of excuses for smoking and not quitting - stress, lazy, habit, too hard ... whatever. I have a friend who is 22 and just been through six months of chemotherapy. If you think quitting is hard go visit the people in the cancer ward to your local hospital who now wish they quit. Dying of smoking related illnesses is a very painful way to go.

** Forget about stressing :

We all know the mind and the body have a strong connection but the effect that stress has on your body is almost visible. When you get stressed all sort of things happen inside you. You can get constipated, sleepless, headaches - all variety of physical manifestions.
What you need to remember is that stress is all in your mind and you can control your mind. Positive thinking and mental toughness really go a long way when you decide that you need to relax.
A great meditation technique that will help you kill stress is two stressed simply watch your thoughts arise. Do not try to get rid of them or squash them. Do not label them as good or bad. Just watch them. When you do this you will find they have less power and will dissolve much faster

*** Eat fruit as a whole meal :

Humans were meant to eat fruit. The huge array of fruits available to us contain all the vitamins and minerals that we need not only two detox and clean our system, but two survive. We could eat nothing but fruit and be healthy, I am sure of this.
If you want to live longer try making your breakfast and morning tea consist solely of fruits. You will find you have better energy and a much healthier immune system. When I eat like this I manage two Avoid the Cold and flux going around. Many of the world's oldest people have said that they rarely caught cold so this must have something to it.

**** Eat more fiber :

If your poo is not right then your life expectancy will not be either. What you do in the toilet is a great indication of how healthy you are.
Other than breast cancer (women) and prostate cancer (but) it is bowel cancer that kills the most people. One of the most simple ways to avoid this cancer is to eat more fiber and keep your digestion healthy.
The best way to do this is to eat lots of vegetables and fruits, drink lots of water, eat some whole grain cereals and avoid highly processed foods like chips, pizza and burgers. Your poo Should be comfortable two push-out, long and it should make a nice "swoosh" sound as it hits the water. Healthy poo is healthy bowel.

***** Sleep right :

Sleep is the hour when the mind processes the day's activities and the body deals with the toxins and other nasty things going on in your body. Your muscle tissue repairs contest at this time.
If you want to live longer you should get to more than five hours and less than nine hours of sleep a night. Yep, that's right. Studies have shown that over sleeping can be just as harmful to your health as during sleeping. Find a time that works for you and stick to it everyday - even on weekends.

Primary bone cancers

those that originate in the bone represents less than 0.2 percent of all cancers. The most common types occur most frequently in children and adolescents and are especially rare in middle-aged adults.
The most common form of bone sarcoma in adults is chondrosarcoma. It usually occurs in adults between the sixth and eighth decades of life. This form of cancer is treated by surgery alone, as radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not effective for this entity. Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute has the only physician in central Ohio who is an expert in the management of chondrosarcoma.

In the bone cancer category you will find articles that will help you in better understanding of this type of cancer, what are the bone cancer symptoms and what are possible methods of cure or preventation.

CANCER INFORMATION

The first thing you should avoid is smoking. There’s a proven direct connection between smoking and the most deadly forms of cancer there is: lung cancer Quit smoking and avoid rooms filled with smoke. This way there are very few chances to suffer from this awful disease.
Excessive drinking is next on our list. Liver cancer, mouth and throat cancer are all more likely to occur in heavy drinkers. Drink moderately or don’t drink at all if possible. Liver cirrhosis is another deadly condition heavy drinking will often cause.
Avoiding prolonged sun exposure will keep away skin cancer If you really want to get some sun exposure than make sure you’re using a good sunscreen protection. Don’t forget to cover your head and to wear quality sunglasses. Don’t forget to use a protecting sunscreen even when you go to a tanning salon.
High fat diets are also causing some forms of cancers. Having a balanced diet is a very important aspect and you should seek some advice on this matter. Ask a nutritionist to help you with your diet.
Though vitamins, like vitamin A or vitamin C, play an important role in cancer prevention, you should know that there won’t be much use in taking massive doses of synthetic vitamins. The best way to ensure your body’s vitamin needs is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Vegetables like broccoli, the brussel sprout or the cabbage have great cancer preventing properties. Make sure you include them in your diet.
By following these simple steps there will be fewer chances for you to suffer from cancer. But as there are more complex genetic causes for cancer you can’t be 100% sure you won’t develop this disease.

Leading Cancer Information

The patient information website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), has launched a comprehensive new section about cancer prevention, making the site one of the leading resources for information vital to the public about preventing a disease diagnosed in 1.4 million people each year and that claims 560,000 lives annually. For more than five years, the People Living With Cancer website has provided doctor-reviewed and -approved information about many aspects of cancer care including treatment, coping and survivorship. The site is unique among cancer websites in that it provides extensive information about more than 120 different cancer types and cancer-related syndromes that is reviewed and vetted by oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers and patient advocates.

However, now is an even more useful resource for both the consumer public and cancer survivors. By providing information about cancer prevention, visitors to the site will learn things such as: why maintaining a healthy weight is important for cancer prevention and recovery from cancer; diet and nutrition recommendations for both a general audience and cancer survivors; the roles of fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and plant-based foods (soy, lycopene); and how alcohol consumption can affects cancer risk

Epidemiology

Cancer is responsible for about 25% of all deaths in the U.S., and is a major public health problem in many parts of the world. In the U.S., lung cancer causes about 30% of cancer deaths but only about 15% of new cancer cases; the most commonly occurring cancer in men is prostate cancer (about 25% of new cases) and in women is breast cancer (also about 25%). Cancer can also occur in young children and adolescents, but it is rare (about 150 cases per million in the U.S.), with leukemia being the most common. In the first year of life the incidence is about 230 cases per million in the U.S., with the most common being neuroblastoma.
Over a third of cancer deaths worldwide are due to potentially modifiable risk factors, which are headed by tobacco smoking, alcohol use, and diets low in fruit and vegetables. In developed countries overweight and obesity is also a leading cause of cancer, and in low-and-middle-income countries sexual transmission of human papillomavirus is a leading risk factor for cervical cancer.

Research directions

Cancer research is the intense scientific effort to understand disease processes and discover possible therapies. The improved understanding of molecular biology and cellular biology due to cancer research has led to a number of new, effective treatments for cancer since President Nixon declared "War on Cancer" in 1971. Since 1971 the United States has invested over $200 billion on cancer research; that total includes money invested by public and private sectors and foundations. Despite this substantial investment, the country has seen only a five percent decrease in the cancer death rate (adjusting for size and age of the population) between 1950 and 2005.
Leading cancer research organizations and projects include the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the National Cancer Institute, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and The Cancer Genome Atlas project at the NCI.

IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects.

Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.

RADIAL TREATMENT

Patients with localized disease and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given as the operation consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This is the approach using surgery followed by radiation, chemotherapy is the first in the thoracic oncology team Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after radical surgery has led to extend the life of selected patients with some patients surviving more than 5 years.

As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent the growth of tumor along the track in the chest wall.Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment is sometimes used to alleviate symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiotherapy, when he alone curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. Necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.

CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR MESOTHELIOMA

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for mesothelioma that has been proven to improve survival in randomised and controlled trials. The landmark study published in 2003 by Vogelzang and colleagues compared cisplatin chemotherapy alone with a combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) chemotherapy) in patients who had not received chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma previously and were not candidates for more aggressive "curative" surgery.

This trial was the first to report a survival advantage from chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, showing a statistically significant improvement in median survival from 10 months in the patients treated with cisplatin alone to 13.3 months in the combination pemetrexed group in patients who received supplementation with folate and vitamin B12.Vitamin supplementation was given to most patients in the trial and pemetrexed related side effects were significantly less in patients receiving pemetrexed when they also received daily oral folate 500mcg and intramuscular vitamin B12 1000mcg every 9 weeks compared with patients receiving pemetrexed without vitamin supplementation. The objective response rate increased from 20% in the cisplatin group to 46% in the combination pemetrexed group. Some side effects such as nausea and vomiting, stomatitis, and diarrhoea were more common in the combination pemetrexed group but only affected a minority of patients and overall the combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was well tolerated when patients received vitamin supplementation; both quality of life and lung function tests improved in the combination pemetrexed group.

In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. However, there are still unanswered questions about the optimal use of chemotherapy, including when to start treatment, and the optimal number of cycles to give.Cisplatin in combination with raltitrexed has shown an improvement in survival similar to that reported for pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin, but raltitrexed is no longer commercially available for this indication. For patients unable to tolerate pemetrexed, cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or vinorelbine is an alternative, or vinorelbine on its own, although a survival benefit has not been shown for these drugs. For patients in whom cisplatin cannot be used, carboplatin can be substituted but non-randomised data have shown lower response rates and high rates of haematological toxicity for carboplatin-based combinations, albeit with similar survival figures to patients receiving cisplatin.

In January 2009, the United States FDA approved using conventional therapies such as surgery in combination with radiation and or chemotherapy on stage I or II Mesothelioma after research conducted by a nationwide study by Duke University concluded an almost 50 point increase in remission rates.

TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA

A lot of mesothelioma related diseases exist. Mesothelioma can be classified by their location. Below shows the common types of mesothelioma.* Pleural — 75% of all mesothelioma cases* Peritoneal — 10%–20%* Pericardial — 5%.

Lung Cancer Mesothelioma:

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in mesothelioma illnesses. When these asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they may become trapped in the lungs or the digestive tract permanently, causing serious illness or disease such as lung cancer mesothelioma.Lung cancer is difficult to diagnose early and it also spreads at a rapid rate, and is rarely cured. Lung cancer mesothelioma typically occurs at a younger age than other lung cancers. It equally has a smaller latency time than other mesothelioam related cases.If you’ve worked in places that exposes you to asbestos, and you start developing Change in breathing patterns, Shortness of breath Persistent chest pains, Coughing, Hoarseness, Anemia, then you need to do two smart things:Visit your doctorSee a mesothelioma lawyer or mesothelioma attorney.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma:

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that affects the lining of the chest cavity. One of the main problems in diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma is that the disease has a very slow onset. Additionally, many individuals with malignant pleural mesothelioma do not immediately seek treatment because of the generalized nature of their symptoms. Early signs of malignant pleural mesothelioma include persistent pain in the chest, shortness of breath, weight loss and fever. Patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma have cancerous growths in the tissues and lining surrounding their lungs. Men between the ages of 50 and 70 are more commonly diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma:

Pleural mesothelioma is a deadly and devastating disease with no known cure. Initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are often vague:* shortness of breath* chest pains* coughingPeritoneal mesothelioma:Peritoneal mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of malignant mesothelioma, making up slightly less than 30% of diagnosed mesothelioma cases. This type of mesothelioma affects the cells of the abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum, which supports and protects organs in the abdomen. It is widely believed that asbestos fibers that are inhaled are transported to the peritoneum via the lymphatic system.Once in the peritoneum, asbestos fibers cause changes in peritoneal cells that cause them to divide without restraint, causing the peritoneal layers to thicken. The growth of cancer cells puts pressure on internal organs, and this pressure is increased by fluid that builds up in the area as a result of cancer growth.

Pericardial mesothelioma:

Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of a mesothelioma. Only around 5% of mesothelioma cases are pericardial. This type of mesothelioma affects the pericardium, which is a membranous lining that surrounds the heart, providing both support and protection to the organ. Once asbestos fibers are lodged in the membranes surrounding the heart, they cannot be eliminated by the body. These fibers then begin to cause changes in the pericardial membrane. While the exact nature of these changes is not completely understood, it is known that these changes eventually lead to uncontrolled growth of cells in the pericardial layers, causing malignant mesothelioma tumors to form.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma:

The rarity of pericardial mesothelioma has made it difficult for specialists to determine a specific set of common symptoms. The following symptoms often indicate a cardiac condition, but further tests are required to confirm a diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma.s

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. This disease, malignant cells develop, the mesothelium, a protective coating, which covers most of the internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer covering of the lungs and internal and chest), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), cardiovascular disease.

[1], pericardium (a sac surrounding the heart) or Tunica vaginalis. Most people who develop mesothelioma have to work jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. It also suggested that washing the family member's work on asbestos can make a person risk of developing mesothelioma.

[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking increases the risk of other asbestos caused cancer

[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or stocks is an important question of mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis can be suspected with chest X-ray and computerized tomography, and is confirmed with biopsy (tissue shows) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (by the addition of the camera tube the chest) can take biopsies.

It allows the introduction of substances such as talc and mask its pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing the lungs. Although treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery, sometimes, the disease carries a bad forecast. Research testing for early detection of mesothelioma, ongoing