The Lung Cancer Ribbon

By: Luke Stephenson

Many people who have someone in their life that is affected by lung cancer, will often times wear a lung cancer ribbon is a show of support for them, This as a result will lead them many times showing their support to rid the world of this awful disease. The plain pearl color like many others has a special meaning.
The pearl represents the fact that the everyday person can be affected by this disease, this will many times lead a person to make the commitment to support the battle in any way that they are able to. They see these ribbons as serving a duel purpose in the battle.
The first purpose is that the ribbons show that they have awareness of the problem and are interested in helping to find a solution that will one day lead to a permanent cure for this disease. This is the hopes of each and every person that makes the decision to wear one of these ribbons.
The other way that these help is that the purchase price of these often times will be donated to the research in trying to find a cure for this disease and allow people to live as normal of a life as they are able to. While many people will claim that the small amount makes little to no difference, the fact of the matter is that often times these can go a long way in helping in funding the research to rid people of lung cancer.
When a person wears one of these ribbons, it is done so on the left hand side towards the heart and up a little bit. This is often times looked at as being the best place to display this at with the best exposure.
While many of the people that wear these do not know anyone with this illness, they still feel a dedication to the cause and are looking for a way to help in making a difference in the world.
A lung cancer ribbon is a wonderful way for a person to show their support for a person that has been affected by this disease. The more people that show awareness to this issue, the more exposure that it will get and lead to more and more people showing this sup[port for this disease. This is one of the best ways that you can show your support for a person that you may or may not know that is suffering from lung cancer.9XX3DVD2HE5M

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Some Famous People With Lung Cancer

By: Charlene Nuble

Lung cancer has the highest growing mortality rate in both men and women who have the same lifestyle or is exposed to lung irritants for their entire life. And this kind of disease is not a choosy one, there are many famous people with lung cancer who are now six feet under the ground.
Lung cancer is committed to anyone who is qualified therefore even if you're just the average Joe or a really famous person, you are not excluded in the list of probable affectations.

Here are some famous people who died of lung cancer just to name a few:

Walt Disney
Creator of the fictional cartoon characters which is still growing in popularity for the young and old, Walt Disney is the man of genius as he was responsible for building the Walt Disney Studio and the Walt Disney Theme Park known as Disneyland. Walt Disney died out of lung cancer complications on December 15, 1966 inside St. Joseph's Hospital which is located right across the street from where his studio stands. He died at the age of 65 years old. It is said that his body was cremated and the remains were put inside their family crypt in Glendale, California at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Nat "King" Cole
A famous jazz musician, Nat "King" Cole is considered to be a chain smoker during his time, consuming more than three cigarette packs everyday. He died a day after Valentine's Day which is February 15, 1965. Before the day of his death, an interview was made talking about Cole's way of perceiving his cancer as something making him feel better; looking at the condition more of a blessing than a situation.

Steve McQueen
Died on November 7, 1980, Steve McQueen was known as the super-cool guy back in the 60s who rose to popularity from being a troubled juvenile to being one of the top loved actors of his time. Even after his death, McQueen is still admired by many as one of the coolest icons of all time. McQueen died from a cancer type that is related to being exposed to too much asbestos known as mesothelioma. This resulted to him having an enormous tumor affecting his right lung.

Clay Shaw
A controversial persona, Clay Laverne Shaw lived in New Orleans, Louisiana as a successful businessman. Through the success lies the prosecution of having been connected with the assassination of the late John F. Kennedy. He was the only person accused of plotting the assassination although was not found guilty at any offense. On August 15, 1974, Shaw died at the age of 61 because of cancer which has metastasized.

Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Mitchum, an Academy Award nominee and an American composer, singer, actor and author. Mitchum died on July 1, 1997 after his 80th birthday out of complications caused by emphysema and lung cancer. Dying, Mitchum was regarded by critics as one of the finest actors during the Golden Age.

These famous people with lung cancer died out of the different complications even with extensive treatment modalities that were used. Still, there are a lot of musicians, actors and even personalities outside Hollywood who died and are currently experiencing signs and symptoms of this dreaded disease.

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How Do I Qualify For A Clinical Trial For Lung Cancer?

By: Charlene Nuble

Qualifying for a clinical trial for lung cancer is not an easy decision to make. It requires a lot from the person who plans on undergoing the trial because of the risks which is incorporated with the different trials made.
A participant who is to undergo such a procedure is required to be firm with the decision and should understand the different benefits and risks which will be thoroughly discussed by your doctor. When you have convinced yourself that you are ready for the consequences, then you can qualify for the test.
A clinical trial is a study designed to evaluate a newer treatment for a certain disease. In order to make up a decision, you must first know how the procedure is being administered. However, it is also vital to remember that majority of cases being treated with the new regimen has shown promising effects than that of the usual modalities and current therapies.
People who are into clinical trials are taken care of by experts who closely monitor their patient's development and personal well-being. On the other hand, people who undergoes this procedure are the ones who will first receive the newest treatments provided that their health and any kind of progress or side effect is thoroughly monitored by the researchers and doctors involved.
Usually, clinical trials are set up in a way that the patients are assigned in a random manner to a particular group that is bound to receive the accepted standard of treatment or any kind of experimental intervention. Initially, the first patients will receive the current therapy there is. While the next set of patients belonging to the experimental group will receive the newest found treatment. For the people who are receiving a newer version of the treatment can mean several things which will depend on the trial that was designated. It's either a new combination of medications and procedures, new drugs, new way of administering the drug and new dosages. Clinical trials are usually made up of four different phases wherein a number of people are asked to participate.

A clinical trial tends to end when there is already enough satisfying information gathered in order to answer whether the new discovery was successful in the fight against lung cancer. Some of the reasons would be:
1. The drug is a definite cure or can allow a person affected with the disease to live longer compared to the current therapies.
2. Positive effects are evident in providing a better quality of life for a cancer patient such as experiencing fewer drug side effects, normal body weigh maintenance, and having a more effective coping mechanism.
3. Amount of remission time of a cancer patient.

In order to know if you are ready to receive clinical trial you must first evaluate the basic advantages and disadvantages it may contribute to your condition. You should understand the different treatments that is offered by the researchers. When the options are laid down, you must be able to understand the different procedures that will be done apart from the standardized treatment of your lung cancer. By then you will be able to decide and eventually qualify for a clinical trial for lung cancer.

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5 Things to Learn From Libby, Montana

By: Shane Ceatus

Those familiar with the industrial disaster of Libby, Montana, know all too well the many lessons that can be learned from such an ordeal. But for the many people who did not live through or know someone who was impacted by what has been considered one of the biggest industrial disasters in America, there is a lot that we can learn.
Libby, a small town in Montana with a population of around 2,600, spent decades known as a mining town. Vermiculite (an ore) was found in the area in the late 1800s, and a company began mining it heavily in the early 1900s. Little did the miners know that they were being exposed to large amounts of asbestos. As time went on, the asbestos exposure that the miners experienced ultimately led to the death of many of them and their family members. After being exposed for so long, many of the residents were diagnosed with or died from illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

There are lessons we can learn from what happened in Libby, Montana, including:
* The dangers of mining.While many people realize that mining plays an important role in our society, they do not understand the dangers from asbestos exposure or other such risks associated with the industry. Asbestos exposure can lead to critical health conditions, such as mesothelioma cancer. While not all miners are exposed to asbestos, those who are find their health at risk.
* People other than miners are impacted.Miners often realize the risk of their profession. But many people are not aware of the risks that spread to family members and those who live in the area. The asbestos fibers were unknowingly taken home and into the community on the miners' clothing. Additionally, the top layer of the mined soil contained asbestos, creating toxic dust that blew around the town.
* Such environmental destruction is costly. There has been a tremendous cost to the government, including $333 million in cleanup costs, according to CNN. W.R. Grace & Co., the company that operated the mine, reached a $60 million settlement for people in the area. Additional expenses have been incurred by those who have received a mesothelioma diagnosis and required mesothelioma treatment.
* Money is the driving force behind many secrets. W.R. Grace & Co. knew about the asbestos exposure and the dangers that it created. But the company fought to keep the dangers secret in order to maintain their profits. Even with 200 residents in the area dying as a result of the exposure, they remained quiet and continued mining.
* You have to be your own advocate. Most people would like to believe that their boss or the company they work for will to protect them. But what we have learned from Libby is that this is not always the case. Therefore, people need to be their own advocate in seeking justice by contacting a lawyer if they or someone they know has received a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The continued asbestos exposure that took place in Libby, Montana, resulted in many people dying and many others getting a mesothelioma diagnosis. While we cannot turn back the clock, we can do our best to learn from this tragedy in hopes of never repeating it.

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Getting Through With A Mesothelioma Injury Settlement

By: Anokwu Chimankpa Pius

There are a lot of people who develop mesothelioma, especially after working many years exposed to asbestos. This type of cancer will make you suffer the remaining years of your life. You will need a lot of money to spend on your medical care and to secure a bright future for the family you might leave behind. However, how do you do this? You do this through a mesothelioma injury settlement.

What Is Mesothelioma?
This condition is actually one of rare forms of cancer. It is a type of cancer that affects the protective lining that envelops the various organs. In most cases, the cancer affects the lungs and the internal chest wall. The cancer is mostly caused by constant exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms
Here are the symptoms that are commonly associated with the disease:
- Coughing out of blood
- Hoarse coughing
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Short of breath
- Fluid around the lungs
- Chest pains
- Pain in the abdomen
- Buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- Development of mass in the abdomen
- Bowel dysfunctions
- Abnormal weight loss
- Blood clots
- Decreased levels of sugar in blood
- Severe ascites

The Most Likely Targets
he people who are mostly at risk for this disease are people who are in constant contact with asbestos. These are people who work in construction, engineering, fire fighting, manufacturing, etc. In some cases, people who wash asbestos exposed clothes also develop the disease. We all know how much we use asbestos due to its fire preventive properties. This is why there are a lot of people who are in a lot of risk if ever they were to be constantly exposed.

Process For Settlements Or Lawsuits
Due to settlements and lawsuits such as these, there are a lot of corporations that go bankrupt in the process. This is why if you have been diagnosed with the disease, it is imperative that you file a claim as soon as possible. Furthermore, there is a certain time that courts require the filing of these types of cases depending on the state. This is another reason why you should file the case in the least amount of time possible.

Purpose Of A Mesothelioma Injury Settlement
Like any type of cancer, there is a great deal of suffering involved for you and your family. In addition, you will need a great deal of money to help fight or slow down the effects of the disease. This simply means that you may spend your life's savings trying to survive. You may have nothing left to secure your family's future. With these settlements, you are given a fighting chance. Furthermore, your family will be well taken care of just in case you do not survive the ordeal.
If ever you are suffering from the debilitating effects of the disease, you do not have to fight a fight that you cannot win. You can fight back and secure a future for your family even if you meet your demise. This is how you get through with a mesothelioma injury settlement.

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Extending The Mesothelioma Life Expectancy Of Asbestosis Sufferers

By: George S. Hughes
Mesothelioma life expectancy is so hard to predict because there are many factors that go into the diagnosis, such as how much asbestos was the person exposed to, how long after did the diagnosis occur, and most importantly, at what stage is the patient currently at? Mesothelioma is a rare sort of cancer that happens as a result of asbestos exposure and its occurrence is increasing in the United States. The mesothelium is an insulating pouch surrounding the body's internal organs and it is often attacked by cancer cells. The pleura or peritoneum are usually the first to display hints of destruction, but these cancer cells soon appear in other various parts of the body. The disease is terminal and the length of survival is dependent on a number of factors, such as treatment and the overall health of the patient, but in general, survival time tends to be about one to two years.

Promptness of diagnosis and the prescribed treatment regimen are crucial factors in figuring out the probable course of mesothelioma. The rate of survival is drastically diminished when treatment is significantly delayed. A great prognosis is reliant on such elements as the patient's basic health and morale, the type of mesothelioma, and the treatment used. The most critical factor in determining prognosis and estimated survival time is the point the disease has reached when it is diagnosed. The handicap here is that mesothelioma is vastly less identifiable in its initial stages than other forms of cancer. One of the biggest roadblocks to early detection is that the symptoms are pretty non-specific, thus allowing the spread of matured cancer cells prior to diagnosis.

The progression of any sort of successful treatment is contingent on early detection. Ultimately, prognosis is determined by several factors; age of the patient, the extent of the spread, how well the cancer responds to treatment, size and location of the cancer, as well as, the appearance of the cells when examined under a microscope. Diagnosis of this disease is fairly frustrating to begin with, and is much more challenging due to the subtlety of the symptoms and the illusory nature of mesothelioma. Coughing may be caused by a multitude of things but it is one of the common symptoms of mesothelioma. A cough is so common a symptom to a host of other ailments that until your doctor makes a diagnoses of mesothelioma you might never know you had contracted it. Tried and true treatments are prevalent in malignant mesothelioma cases. The elimination of the cancerous cells can be done via chemotherapy, employing drug therapy, and a combination of high energy x-rays. The likelihood of survival or remission is dramatically boosted with such early treatment once a diagnosis has been made.

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Get to a Mesothelioma Law Firm in Time to Claim the Compensation

By: Corwin Knight
It is better to take resort to a mesothelioma law firm or mesothelioma lawyers as soon as mesothelioma disease is diagnosed clinically. There are many essential and mandatory legal factors like time bar to file the suit, the time and duration for exposure, the damage caused due to working in a particular industry or damage caused by some arbitrary act on the part of the patient in his early life etc. As determining the applicability of all these factors are part of specialized knowledge and professional expertise so it is always wise to leave the decision in the hand the mesothelioma lawyers or mesothelioma law firm. Sometimes to find exactly how much relevance the alleged exposure does have with the claim for compensation, the mesothelioma law firm may even hire a private investigator to look into the matter. There are many law firms which exclusively deal with only mesothelioma cases. Such kind of law firms keep mesothelioma lawyers who do only deal with the cases relating to compensation claim in case mesothelioma disease is diagnosed in a patient. There are many companies which to up size profit, compromise the safety of the workers and make them work in dusty environment with little or no protection.

This irregularity is more often in asbestos industries and stone- crusher industries where the workers are exposed to hazard more expansively than anywhere. With each breathing they intake the microscopic dust particle which do not come out with exhalation but stick to the wall of lungs. After long time normally after years of working in that environment, when the body gradually weakened the hazard shows itself. So, it is probably an exception among the diseases, in which the harm is perceived when already it is too late to prevent. Once, lungs and heart thus weaken, automatically the patient is faced with considerable decrease in his energy to work and ironically, to earn. In such situation, mesothelioma law firm and mesothelioma lawyers become of great help. It is always pretty advantageous to the patient to take resort to legal advice from a reputed mesothelioma law firm in or around his locality, because the profit to the patient is from both sides, in winning or losing. During seeking legal advice in such cases the patient or any party on the patient's side does not need to pay any fees at the first instance. The fee is only claimed when the compensation is awarded to the patient or any party legally authorized. A percentage is charged by the mesothelioma lawyers or mesothelioma law firm who was engaged for the job. Whatever measures or options be taken by the mesothelioma law firm, it is not usually chargeable unless the case is won. So, it is advisable that whenever a disease of mesothelium called mesothelioma is diagnosed then it is better to avail legal advise regarding claiming of compensation. Unlike other law suits particularly in mesothelioma cases it is never a loss to seek a legal advice as there is no need to pay unless the patient is paid at first, in form of compensation.

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How to Recognize an Asbestos Injury - Epithelial Mesothelioma Advice

By: Christopher Arnfield

If you have worked in the past for any period of time with asbestos due to your work or occupation, then you need to know that if you haven't been protected enough you may suffer from a condition called mesothelioma. One of the rarest forms of this condition is called epithelial mesothelioma, however it is not a disease that can be passed from human to human, rather it is a disease that is contracted due to asbestos exposure.
The people working in the Kent cigarettes factory in the 50s, when the company used asbestos to manufacture the filters, have been exposed to the handling of asbestos. Incredibly, it is from there that some mesothelioma cases have been generated.
The epithelial mesothelioma condition develops more often in men than women and 3 cases out of 4 are people aged more than 65. The majority of these cases are manifested by people who used to work with asbestos material or have been exposed for a long time to its presence.
The workers who used to handle asbestos in insulation have been found to develop this condition and although it is not contagious, the family members of the workers are known to present other forms of cancer such as lung cancer, kidney or larynx.
This situation is possibly due to the fact that many fibers of this mineral are caught in the clothes and the hair of the person who works with asbestos and as such the family members can get infected by breathing these fibers.
The form of epithelial mesothelioma that was known to be very rare 20 years ago, now has increased its rate of incidence from 7 to 40 in 1 million in Western countries especially those well-developed from the industrial point of view. This increased rate will depend on how much asbestos was used in the past with people being exposed to due to their field of work.
Since this conditions development can be considered the employers' fault, many workers have resorted to law courts filing mesothelioma lawsuits against these corporations. Needless to say that the condition was in fact developing a long time after the asbestos exposure took place, because the inhaling process lead the lethal particles to various organs where they settled there for a while without manifesting sometimes for decades.
Once the disease is discovered radiotherapy is employed but mostly to bring relief to the patient's pains caused by the mesothelioma cancer condition. As has already been stated in other articles, those suffering from this condition are urged to find an asbestos cancer attorney as soon as possible in order to file the lawsuit and make the responsible ones pay for their faults which generated lethal condition of an epithelial mesothelioma.

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How Do You Know You Have Lung Cancer?

By: Charlene Nuble
There are two ways in order to know if you have lung cancer. One is through the identification of the different early signs and symptoms and through diagnostic examination. Lung cancer is a killer disease that is prevalent all over the world and chooses no status or gender.
Therefore it is of utmost importance that you determine the signs and symptoms of the disease so that further evaluation can be ordered.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms that are experienced by a lung cancer patient are:
• Chest pain which is constant and is evident during coughing or breathing
• Dyspnea or difficulty in breathing which may be due to nagging cough and constriction of the bronchioles
• Wheezing most likely heard upon exhalation
• Cough out of bloody sputum or hemoptysis
• Swelling of the face and neck which can be caused by a tumor which presses on the large blood vessels just near the lung
• Muscle weakness which may be caused by a pressing tumor on the different muscle sites
• Fever which has an unknown cause

Once these signs and symptoms are now present, the person may then experience weight loss, fatigue, headache, fracture to the bones, distant pains, anorexia, confusion which can further lead to coma.
Though definite, none of these symptoms are positive signs of having lung cancer unless a doctor has made diagnostic findings on it. That is why, it is of top priority that when a person experiences two or more of the above mentioned signs and symptoms, one must seek the advice of a doctor.
In diagnosis, the doctor explores the different areas of possibility that the patient may or may not have lung cancer. Some of the diagnostic procedures which can determine the possibility of the disease are:

1. Chest x-ray - this is usually the first test that is ordered by the physician. Chest x-ray has the capacity to detect tumors of the lung and to what extent it has reached, although this test may miss out on the smaller ones and can only detect the more visual ones.

2. CT scan - known as computed tomography, CT scans has the capacity to show the different characteristics and patterns of a lung cancer cells which can help doctors come up with a possible diagnosis. CT scans also have the capability to show the tiniest tumors which are not shown on x-rays. These small tumors may reveal if the cancer cell has already reached the nearby lymph nodes and if it has grown.

3. Bronchoscopy - using a scope to view the inside of the lungs. The microscopic examination of tissues inside the lungs is enough to confirm the possible existence of cancer cells inside the lungs. Here the doctor would do an invasive procedure which will help him view the inside of the lungs for further visualization of the tumor and at the same time take samples of the specimen.

4. Needle biopsy - this is done when the sample is too far away for the bronchoscope to reach. Specimen is obtained through insertion of a needle inside the chest skin and uses a CT to serve as a guide in maneuvering the needle to the affected part. Read More..

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Mesothelioma Diagnosis & Treatment Options

By: Peter S. Manley
Pleural Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, that is brought about generally by direct exposure to asbestos, that has an effect on the various layers of the pleura about the chest wall. A couple of indications include things like shortness of breath and losing weight. However, exposure to asbestos doesn't necessarily bring about cancer. Remedies for it and exactly why it has an effect on some individuals but not others is continually getting explored.
X-rays in most cases establish the diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma after which the patient will be referred to a medical oncologist. The oncologist should identify exactly what stage the sufferer is in and also advise therapies. Similar to other types of cancer there are several stages. Receiving a Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is challenging simply because each and every circumstance is dependent upon the patient's personal health condition and stage they are in.
When just the outermost layer of the pleura about the chest wall or diaphragm is afflicted by Pleural Mesothelioma it can be referenced as "stage 1." At this stage the oncologist may possibly suggest radiation treatments. If your doctor refers to it as "stage 1b" that will signify it might have also passed to the interior layer, closer to the lungs, although still merely impacting one side in the individual's chest.
Stage two of Pleural Mesothelioma could mean this has spread all the way through the two layers of the pleura and created a mass or tumor. At this stage the physician may possibly highly recommend surgery to remove the tumor plus suggest the surgery be accompanied by a series of radiation or chemotherapy treatment plans.
In the event this has contacted the wall structure coating the heart, this would be regarded as "stage 3." There is nevertheless the potential for surgical treatment of the affected cells. Stage 3 may also suggest the condition has spread to the lymph nodes on the one afflicted side. At this time radiation or chemotherapy may also be proposed.
If it has spread to the other part of the chest wall, and/or the lymph nodes on the other side, or to various other areas of the body this is considered "stage 4." At this stage there are too many affected areas to successfully remove all of the diseased tissue through surgery.
Although in most cases the Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is extremely bad, several people discovered with it have lived much longer than anticipated. If the doctor is not able to supply common treatment plans he or she might refer the individual for one of many medical studies that can be found.
Besides Mesothelioma that has an effect on the pleura there is also other forms of cancer that strikes the cellular lining that covers many bodily organs. Research is regularly being engaged in to discover new remedies and advancements to present treatments. Similar to most cancer, fast diagnosis is very important. Do not ever give up hope if you or a friend is diagnosed with this disease. Continue to do your own research. Read More..

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