Asbestos is a wonder mineral that has high strength and heat resistance. Thus, it was widely used for fire proofing buildings and ships. To satisfy these requirements, various companies started mining asbestos in large quantities. The huge profits reaped by these industrial owners made them overlook the potential hazards to the health of employees. In the early 1900s itself, medical researchers started realizing that asbestos is harmful to health. A variety of lung diseases, including Mesothelioma and lung cancer, are attributed to exposure to asbestos filers.

The increased use of asbestos led to a high incidence of fibrosis, asbestosis and other diseases, People who have been working in asbestos industries for 20 years or more were at a higher risk than others of contracting the asbestos related illnesses. However, even people who have inhaled a very small quantity for a very small duration may succumb to this disease, the rich industrialists turned a blind eye to this major issue. Many times, the clothes of these workers also carried asbestos fibers and they passed on the fibers and the diseases to their families and neighbors.

Precautions to be taken:

The best protective measures to be undertaken by the workers of the asbestos industries are to wear clothing that protects them from these fibers. Also, it should be endeavored to reduce the dust and pollution in these industries. The workers should wash themselves and change their clothes before leaving home.

Mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, is a terrible condition in which the mesothelium cells multiply rapidly and affect the nearby organs too. Mesothelioma may be cancerous or non-cancerous. When it is cancerous, it is known as a malignant form of mesothelioma and when it is non-cancerous, it is in benign form. The pain and suffering of the affected patients is too terrible to describe. Chemotherapy, surgery and constant monitoring are essential for these patients throughout their life. The patients are given painkillers to help them bear the terrible pain.

The link between asbestos fibers and illness was found out only in the 1930s. However, it was only in the 1940s, mesothelioma was linked to exposure to asbestos fibers • The main reason why the harmful effects of asbestos was not discovered was because of the long gap between the exposure and the onset of the disease. Sometimes, this may even be 35 to 40 years. Many of the workers shift umpteen jobs by this time and they are unable to link their condition to asbestos exposure.

The industrialists, fearing the safety precautions and stoppage of production, tried to stop further research in these areas. Also, they cover up research results and misrepresent and argue findings. However, now days, many countries have woken up to the harmful effects of asbestos and have banned it for various uses. Some countries like India and china have not taken any significant action to control asbestos exposure and protect the employees.

To protect innocent people from the clutches of mesothelioma is the responsibility of the governments of various countries. They should create awareness among the general public about the dangers of asbestos and check whether all industries are complying with the safety precautions.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of lung cancer. The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. There is a long time gap, sometimes even up to 30 years, between exposure to asbestos and the start of the disease. It is also very difficult to diagnose this disease because the symptoms are very similar to other benign diseases like pneumonia.

Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the mesothelium or lining that forms a protective layer around the abdomen, lungs, heart and some few other parts of the body. The mesothelium cells divide rapidly during this disease. Also these cells have longer life spans and overgrow. This abnormal development of mesothelium cells is caused due to exposure to asbestos fibers. People who have worked in asbestos industries or lived around asbestos industries and their families are more prone to get this disease. After sometime, this may even affect the other parts of the body.

There are three main types of mesothelioma. It is called as pleural when it affects the lungs, peritoneal when it affects the abdomen and pericardial when it affects the heart. Around 75 % of mesothelioma cases are pleural and 20% are peritoneal or pericardial. There are also some other rare types of mesothelioma that affect the remaining 5%. All these statistics pertain only to the documented cases. There are thousands of cases that go undocumented or undiagnosed all around the world.

Pleural Mesothelioma:

Among the various types of cancer, mesothelioma accounts for only a small percentage. owever, among the various types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma accounts for nearly three-fourth of the documented cases. In pleural mesothelioma, fluid gets built up between the chest and the mesothelium lining.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of this disease include panting, shortness of breath, fever, loss of weight, coughing up blood and breathing difficulties. Patients of pleural mesothelioma face acute chest pain. Since the symptoms of this disease are similar to pneumonia, it is often confused with this disease. The diagnosis is also difficult. There is no known cure for pleural mesothelioma. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma - cancerous and non-cancerous. When it is cancerous, it is called as a malignant form and when it is non-cancerous, it is called as a benign form.

The latency period of mesothelioma is around 20 to 50 years. This makes it very difficult for many people to link the disease to asbestos exposure. They might have changed many jobs by this time and may not consider their disease as an occupational type of disease.

Pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. These fibers enter the lungs through the nose or mouth and they settle in the lungs. Then, they travel through the tissues. Since they are light and invisible, they become easily airborne and inhalable. When the asbestos fibers settle in the mesothelium lining, the mesothelium cells start showing abnormal behavior, thereby leading to mesothelioma. In this disease, tumors are formed in lungs and mesothelium and this may also spread to other parts of the body too.

Since they are difficult to detect, they might have caused maximum havoc by the time they are detected. Mostly, when mesothelioma is detected, the patients are in the final stages of cancer with only a few months or years left. Sometimes, not even that. Mesothelioma is a terrible killer disease. Proper tests and efforts must be taken by the medical fraternity to detect the disease as soon as possible.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a very rare disease. Around 10-20 % of the documented mesothelioma cases are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma affects the abdomen of the patient. The mesothelium cells of the abdomen behave abnormally in this disease. This disease is also caused by the oral inhalation of asbestos fibers. The fibers travel through the entire digestive tract and settle in some part of the digestive systems. The mesothelium lining in that part starts dividing rapidly and the cells also have longer life spans. This causes tumors in the abdomen and this may also spread to other parts of the body. The main symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fever, chest pain, loss of weight and breaking difficulties. Loose motions or constipation, a swollen stomach and chunks of tissues in the abdominal area are classic signs of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is diagnosed in several ways using x-rays, IT scans, MRI, PET, Laparoscopy, Laparotomy, Thoracotomy and so on. The main risk factor for contracting this disease is exposure to asbestos fibers, and asbestos dust. However some of the following factors also increase the risk of contracting this disease:

• A family that has a history of cancer i.e. hereditary risk factors.
• A smoker seems to have a higher chance of contracting the disease as compared to a non-smoker, who has had the same level and amount of exposure to asbestos fibers.
• Zeolite is a mineral which has properties very similar to asbestos and also seems to be as hazardous as asbestos.
• Thorium dioxide used in x-rays is also a trigger factor for cancer.

Pericardial mesothelioma:

The most rare form of mesothelioma is the pericardial mesothelioma; it affects the mesothelium linings of the heart. The main symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are chest pain, breathing difficulties, fever, palpitations, tiredness and cough. Like all other types of mesothelioma, there is no cure for this type also. The only thing that doctors can do is to reduce the pain and discomfort of the symptoms and help the patients have a comfortable and peaceful death.

The pericardial lining of the heart is removed to reduce the symptoms. The heart is the most fragile part of the body. It is covered with an even fragile lining called pericardium. That is why this disease is called as pericardial mesothelioma as it affects the pericardium. The earliest symptoms are tiredness, chest pains, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties and persistent cough. Since these signs are common to other heart problems, it is difficult to diagnose this disease. Slowly, the heart lining starts thickening and fluids start filling the heart. It may also spread to other organs of the body.

In the later stages of pericardial mesothelioma, the patient finds it very difficult to consume any food or liquids. The lungs stop functioning gradually and the obstruction in intestines becomes more prominent. The heart condition worsens and the patient may be affected by a stroke or heart attack. Death becomes the solution and salvation that the mesothelioma patients crave for. The persons most likely to get this disease are those who face constant exposure to the risk factors like

• Shipyard workers
• Asbestos industries' laborers and miners.
• Zeolite industries' laborers and miners.
• Construction site workers.
• Fire poof materials manufacturers
• Cement mixers
• Painters

Not only the above groups of people are having a high chance of contracting the disease but also their families run a risk of contracting this disease. The workers when they return home carry the asbestos dust and asbestos fibers in their clothing and their families may be exposed to the disease. The workers should take the following precautionary measures:

1. They should wear protective clothing to work.
2. They should change their dresses and wash up before they leave for home.
3. An expert should be hired to detect if there is any asbestos in the residence and nearby environment.

Sarcoma Sarcoma is a rare type of cancers which arises from normal body cells called as connective tissues. Broadly, sarcomas are classified as bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas. Further sub-classification is based upon the type of particular cell where cancer arises. The different names sarcomas have are derived from cells where they originate.

Sarcoma – Epidemiology Sarcomas can attack people without differentiating the age; however they occur very rarely, accounting for just about a percentage all cases of cancers put together. Although, close to a half of occurrences are in the limbs, generally sarcomas are really unusual and that they can appear in any place of our bodies with a few examples being muscle, skin, cartilage, bones, nerves and any of the internal organs.

Differentiating sarcomatoid mesothelioma from other timorous cells is quite difficult even with the use of light microscopy. This is particularly so because Mesotheliomas generally boil down to two following types.

1. Epitheloid - Counting up to about 50-70 percentage of the total incidences; Epitheloid Sarcoma has the best chance for survival

2. Sarcomatoid - Counting up to about 7-20 percentage of all the incidences, but unfortunately this has the worst chance for survival.

Distinguishing between Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma and other types of Sarcoma is not always possible due to the fact that it is characteristically always cytokeratin-negative. In this background, experts studying the case have undertaken a study to investigate the usefulness and applicability of diagnostic immunohistochemistry for distinguishing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma from its histological slickers such as

1. High-grade Sarcoma

2. Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma

Advanced Studies on Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma The researchers, for the purpose of comparative study, have stained the mesothelioma tissues with components of sarcomatoidal tissues. Then they carried out a comparative study between the immunophenotypic profiles of these stained tumors with other 24 high grade sarcomas. Further, to evaluate the thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), the researchers stained the sarcomatoid carcinomas also. The study showed that the sarcomatoids hardly had any stains while Cytokeratin 5/6 had stained epithelioids almost entirely. In the meanwhile, thrombomodulin and Calretinin have each stained 70% of the Sarcomatoidal cells.

This and other studies have evidenced that chondrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), which essentially are soft tissue sarcomas, have relatively higher incidences of occurrences in adults as opposed to children.Sarcoma - A Few More Examples Unlike the mesothelioma cancer, Sarcomas are named after the tissues they originate from, and here are a few more examples of the disease.

1. osteosarcoma – tissue of origin - bone

2. chondrosarcoma – tissue of origin - cartilage

3. leiomyosarcoma – tissue of origin - smooth muscles

Even occupational exposures may lead to angiosarcoma which arises from liver cells. These are common in persons who are exposed to vinyl chloride.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen or the chest. Malignant cells appear in the mesothelium, the sac that acts as protective cover for many of the internal organs in the body. A mesothelium is made of two cell layers - one that directly covers the organ and another that surrounds it. The mesothelium is responsible for producing a fluid that acts to lubricate the organs, such as the heart and the lungs, allowing them to move safely against other parts of the body. Without thorough examination and tests, it can easily be mistaken for lung cancer.

Depending on the part of the body where it appears, mesothelium is referred to in different ways. If it covers the organs located in the abdominal cavity, it is called the peritoneum. The mesothelium that provides protection for the heart is called the pericardium. If it covers the lungs and wall lining of the chest, it is called pleura. In the uterus, it is called the tunica serosa uteri and in the reproductive organs of the male, it is referred to as the tunica vaginalis testis.

Mesothelioma and lung cancer

The term mesothelioma means cancer of the mesothelium. It is not the same as lung cancer. Compared to other forms of cancer, it is rather rare, with only an average of 2,000 cases being diagnosed every year in the United States. This disease can affect both men and women and can appear at any age.

The risk of developing mesothelioma is increased due to exposure to asbestos. In fact, at least 70% of mesothelioma cases showed individuals with a history of exposure to the material. It can also affect people who are living with a person who has been exposed to asbestos. This doesn't limit mesothelioma to this group of people, however. It is also known to appear in other patients even if they have not had prior exposure.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Differentiating mesothelioma and lung cancer is rather difficult, especially if the disease is already in the malignant stage. However, there are certain tests that a doctor may perform, including a physical examination, chest x-ray, CBC or complete blood count, removal of tissue samples for biopsy, bronchoscopy and thoracotomy. A cytologic exam may also be conducted where a small amount of fluid is taken from either the lungs or the abdomen and examined.

Some of the symptoms that merit a visit to the doctor include: difficulty in breathing, chest pain (usually located beneath the rib cage), lumps, swelling or pain in the abdomen and unexplained weight loss.

Is there a cure for mesothelioma?

As of today, no cure for mesothelioma has been discovered. However, there are treatments available to help manage the disease. Some of these treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Surgery

The most common treatment for mesothelioma is surgery, where a part of the affected part is removed, along with some of the surrounding tissue. This is the treatment that is often used during the early stages of the disease. It helps slow the progression of the disease and can help reduce the symptoms. In cases where the diseased has progressed extensively, other treatment options are considered.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy removes cancer cells by using high energy radiation beams. Radiotherapy is effective in removing cancer cells that may remain even after surgery. To ensure that radiation beams hit the target cells, x-rays and computer imaging are also used during the process. This makes sure that only cancer cells are destroyed and reduces the number of healthy cells that are affected.

Radiotherapy is also used as a palliative form of treatment and helps control the spread (metastases) of the cancer. It is also helpful in alleviating symptoms like difficulty in breathing and pain.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is often administered intravenously or through the use of catheters, allowing anti-cancer drugs to enter the blood stream quickly. It is often recommended for patients who cannot undergo a surgical procedure.

Chemotherapy has some side effects, including nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation. Bruises may also appear and even sores in the throat or mouth area. The kind of symptoms that appear in a patient depends on the chemotherapy treatment, dosage and on that particular patient's reaction.

These treatments are mean to remove as much of the cancerous tumors as possible and to provide relief from painful symptoms. They are also meant to help prolong the life of the patient.

Is there a cure for mesothelioma?

Further research and clinical trials are being performed to help find the best treatments that are the most effective against mesothelioma. No cure has been discovered yet. As of now, early detection and treatments have been showing better and better survival rates. Like lung cancer, mesothelioma can be halted if it is detected earlier.

Finding a mesothelioma attorney through directories may be helpful for initial screening. As far as choosing one is concerned, it comes to make your decisions based on hard facts of life that if you or one of your family member is the victim of mesothelioma, the attorney must have a proven track record of bringing justice to your already sullen situation; after all, an attorney is an attorney.

A mesothelioma attorney specializes in wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits connected to asbestos exposure. They do this by targeting the companies that can be held accountable for asbestos exposure, which almost certainly is the cause of mesothelioma.

Choosing a Mesothelioma Attorney Choosing a mesothelioma attorney is not a small deal, especially looking at the number of failed lawsuits and the bombastic lawyers. To this end, consumer guides may help a lot. In addition to their reputations, you will need to figure out how to deal with intricate financial aspects of selecting a mesothelioma lawyer. Anyways, the crux of the matter is about choosing the most suitable mesothelioma attorney for you.

Ask Mesothelioma Attorney a Few Questions Ask a few questions to the attorney so that you can evaluate him or her more, but take care not to intimidate her or him. Here are the questions.

1. What is the attorney's personal experience with regard to standing for mesothelioma patients?

2. Is he or she really intends to take up your case or is planning to transfer to another for a commission?

3. How is the lawyer intending to involve you in the process of decision making

A typical mesothelioma lawyer has more often than not succeeded in getting an award of $1 million, got 40% of this amount in fees. As if, that wasn't enough, many a lawyer advertises on the TV, however, be advised that let a TV commercial be not the reason to hire a mesothelioma lawyer. You must keep this one fact upper most in your mind before you finally engage a lawyer's service. So, now it is obvious why mesothelioma attorneys are very eager to take up mesothelioma cases.

Attorney Reputable mesothelioma attorneys understand that each case is ridden with unique complexities and pay personalized attention to pursue with their huge experience and knowledge of mesothelioma related issues and asbestos industry. Attorney for mesothelioma, being an advocate of long standing reputation would have handled complex cases of torts involving MTBE and TCE water and radiation contamination, and many more, upon whose experience he can draw.

Stay away from attorneys that transfer your case to another law firm and receive commission in exchange. Larger firms, by contrast, may assign a junior or a paralegal staff to handle your case. The truth beckons that you are entitled to and in need of a reputed and an experienced mesothelioma attorney having a proven track record in mesothelioma cases to represent you.

In principle, a mesothelioma attorney should guarantee that there will not be any cost to you till the award of compensation and should ensure your family gets protection.

Source of All Articles is From:- www.ezinearticles.com

Did you know that mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure can be prevented at home?

Mesothelioma is an illness characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the infiltration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Current laws restrict the use of asbestos, but many industries used it in the past. Therefore, exposure occurred, and may still occur, in various jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Materials such as cement, clothing brake linings, vinyl asbestos tile, shingles, and fireproof paint, and filters all contained asbestos at one time, and many of these materials are still in existence. Additional diseases related to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.

What is Mesothelioma?

Inhaled asbestos dust enters the body and sticks to the lungs. The common affected area is the mesothelium or the protective sheet that covers the internal organs in the lungs. Mesothelium is located in the chest cavity and the lungs known as pleura.

Asbestos dust triggers the abnormal activity of the mesothelium. They also propagate without control. The onset of the disease is subtle, and the patient has persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain brought about by the buildup of fluid in the pleura, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

In the case of mesothelioma, cancer cells can metastasize or undergo the process of metastasis. This is the dissemination or spread of malignant cells from the pulmonary tumor to distant sites by direct spread of tumor cells to body cavities or through lymphatic and blood circulation.

Frequency Cases

Statistical reports show that more than 2,000 Americans are affected with mesothelioma every year. However, even if most cases occur at work, many are still affected right at their own home. This does not necessarily mean homeowners use asbestos at home. Surveys reveal that cases of mesothelioma at home are commonly caused by asbestos dust brought at home.

People who work at industrial companies or construction sites, or simply those who have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos may unconsciously bring asbestos dust at home. Asbestos dust may stick to clothes, hair, skin, cars, or even in their tools. Hence, to avoid Mesothelioma, learn the prevention asbestos at home tips.

Here's how:

1. Learn to recognize asbestos

The problem with most people who get sick with mesothelioma, even if they are not working in an industrial company or construction field, is that they do not know how to recognize asbestos or asbestos-containing products right at their own home.

The government has already passed laws and is now implementing full restrictions and control on the use of asbestos in home products. Asbestos containing products are considered as one of the primary factors for developing mesothelioma.

Hence, if you are planning to buy tools for your home, try to check if they contain asbestos. Some of the products that normally contain asbestos are floor adhesives, door gaskets, boilers, furnace ducts, vinyl floor tiles, textured paint, fireproof gloves, asbestos cement roofing, etc.

2. Buy quality materials

The use of asbestos cannot simply be ignored considering the fact that they have high resistance to fire. However, it is best that you check on the quality of the asbestos containing product you are about to buy. Low quality or damaged products may tend to emit asbestos dust, which can infiltrate your lungs and may develop mesothelioma.

3. Dispose asbestos dust before going home

Workers at an asbestos infested environment must try to eliminate any signs of asbestos dust from his clothing or tools. Before going home, it is best that the employee must take a bath thoroughly and wash his clothes carefully to eradicate asbestos dust.

4. Be wary on floors that contain asbestos

If you have used asbestos containing products in your home, such as the flooring, it is best not to wax or brush the floor. Brushing or waxing the asbestos containing flooring may discharge “microscopic fibers” into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos dust.

5. Do not sweep suspected asbestos dust

If you think you are about to sweep asbestos dust, leave it alone. Dust particles may only infiltrate the lungs once inhaled. This can be prevented by leaving asbestos dust alone. Do not let them fly into the air.

Prevention is better than cure. Hence, to avoid mesothelioma, it is best to learn the prevention asbestos at home tips and start a life away from health hazard.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which affects the peritoneum of the human abdominal cavity. However, depending upon the location of the cancerous tumours (pleura or peritoneum) the symptoms vary.

There are different treatments available for the malignant peritoneal Mesothelioma, depending upon the state of its diagnosis. Physicians and researchers are constantly working to improve upon the existing treatments. There is no established method in determining the stage of the cancer so a TNM system is used.

Symptoms of the cancer include nausea and vomiting, weight loss, fever, bowel obstruction, loss of appetite and general pain in the stomach area. Thus, the three main forms of Mesothelioma are pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. Peritoneal affects the lining that guards the abdomen's insides, and which also gives a lubricating fluid that facilitates the smooth movement and functioning of the organs.

Peritoneal and, less commonly, Pericardial, are not as common as the pleural type, but just as deadly. Specific types of treatment for peritoneal include:

1-Surgery

2-Radiation Therapy

3-Chemotherapy

Peritoneal causes many deaths each year. Other symptoms may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anaemia, and fever.

A person with malignant peritoneal may be diagnosed because of complaints such as an abdominal lump or swelling, unexplained weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, and constipation caused by bowel obstruction. Similarly, symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma, such as nausea, vomiting and appetite loss, may be seen in a number of abdominal and systemic conditions.

In around 1980 asbestos was determined to cause several life-threatening asbestos exposure-related diseases (asbestosis, lung cancer, pleural and peritoneal Mesothelioma). Those suffering from peritoneal Mesothelioma are mostly elderly men who worked amongst asbestos decades ago when workers were not protected from asbestos dust.

The main causes of mesothelioma is the inhaling of asbestos particles or the exposure to asbestos dust and fibre. It is the most severe form of cancer and up to now there has been no cure for this deadly disease. The nature of this form of cancer is the development of malignant cells in the protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. This protective lining is also called the mesothelium.

The most common area in the body where it develops is the outer lining of the lungs and is called the pleura. Chest pains is a common mesothelioma symptom, accompanied with frequent shortness of breath, chronic coughing, tiredness, pneumonia, hoarseness, anemia, fluid covering the lungs and coughing up blood being the harshest mesothelioma symptom. Sometimes in very serious cases the person might have numerous tumor masses which will cause the lungs to collapse. This tumor masses will then usually spread to other parts of the body such as the abdominal cavity. Symptoms of this being abdominal pain, weight loss, fluid in the abdomen and problems with bowel functioning.

The diagnosis is often difficult due to the fact that most mesothelioma symptom signs are similar to that of other conditions such as pneumonia etc. A medical history check usually gets done to see if the patient hasn't had any exposure to asbestos in the past. Treatment of the disease by using traditional therapies has proved unsuccessful and patients usually have an average survival time of 6 to 12 months prior to presentation. Treating mesothelioma is extremely costly and because of this many people file lawsuits to cover the expenses of the treatment.

Patients of mesothelioma are able to claim for compensation by the government through the help of an attorney. Victims can also sue the companies they worked for, for not being considerate towards their employees health and only caring about the profit of the company.If you work on a job or perhaps worked on a job where you had to handle materials consisting of asbestos and you have frequent problems with your chest, then the chances are good that you might have mesothelioma.

There are so many horrible diseases in the world. We hear about something new every day. For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma though, it is especially terrible because the main source of this terrible cancer has been identified. Many who are diagnosed think back on, "what if", or "if only I would have", and the questions can just go on and on.

But what is important now are not those questions, but where do you go from here. There can be healing, especially in the spiritual realm. After 911, so many people turned to God. Why? Our nation was in a crisis. It seemed like the only place to go. With a disease like mesothelioma, it is also a wonderful place to go for peace and rest.

A most popular and comforting verse from the Holy Bible in the book of Psalms, Psalm 23 is this:

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

Some may think that turning to God in a time of need shows weakness. Those who don't look outside of themselves will become even weaker.

Whether you are suffering from mesothelioma or any other type of cancer, this is something to seriously consider. All have physical bodies and those bodies are not going to last forever, but what if your soul does live on? Wouldn't you want to find a source of comfort from one who has suffered the ultimate pain?

Why should you take legal action if you have contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure?

When most people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, it comes as a blow to them and they are shattered. They are unable to collect their senses and think logically and practically. They become deeply & emotionally upset. Therefore, they fail to take any legal action as they feel all this will add more to their pain and suffering. It is very important that all these people realize that taking legal action upon contracting mesothelioma, due to asbestos exposure, is their right.

What are the rights of the mesothelioma patients?

The mesothelioma patients who have contracted the disease due to asbestos exposure have the following rights:

1. Right to receive medical treatment at cancer centers irrespective of the cost involved

2. Right to be compensated for the pain and suffering

3. Right to peace of mind about the welfare of dependents after death.

4. Right to take action against those responsible for bringing the patient to such a condition.

Dangers of asbestos

Asbestos is a wonder mineral. This fibrous substance is heat-resistant, fire-resistant, chemical-resistant and flexible. It can be mixed with cement and paint, woven to make fireproof clothing and can also be used in ship building industry. However, in the 1900s itself, the medical fraternity started to slowly wake-up to the harmful effects of asbestos. They realized that people who worked in asbestos related industries had severe lung problems. Slowly in the 1930s the diseases caused by asbestos, like asbestosis, fibrosis, asbestos warts and so on were recognized and named. But it was only in the 1940s that mesothelioma was clearly identified. After that, asbestos has been banned or restricted in most of the countries.

Mesothelioma and asbestos

When asbestos is mined, manufactured or used, a lot of asbestos fibers and asbestos dust are released into the atmosphere. Since these are light and invisible, humans easily inhale them. Once they are inhaled they enter the body and travel around. Many body organs like the lungs, abdomen and heart have a covering called as mesothelium lining. When asbestos comes into contact with this lining, the mesothelium cells start dividing rapidly. Also, they start to outlive the other normal cells. This causes tumors in that part, which may also spread to other parts soon. This condition is called as mesothelioma.

Selfish attitude of Industrialists

Most of the asbestos-related industries' owners knew about the harmful effects of asbestos. However, their selfish attitude made them to try and cover up the harmful effects of asbestos. They tried to bribe researchers, hide the truth, cover-up facts and continue production. They did not provide any safeguards to the employees. The poor and ignorant workers were not even warned about the dangers of asbestos. No precaution was taken to safeguard the laborers. The short-term economic gains made the rich businessmen blind to long term health hazards.

This makes it clear that it is your right to take legal action if you have contracted mesothelioma, due to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is a disease in which the mesothelium cells divide uncontrollably. This abnormality in the mesothelium cells leads to mesothelioma. It may be cancerous or non-cancerous. When it is cancerous, it is known as a malignant form of mesothelioma, and when it is non-cancerous, it is known as a benign form of mesothelioma. As these cells keep multiplying, they invade the nearby organs and create a lot of damage to the patient. When it is malignant, the cancer spreads all over the body.

The most important reason why many people are affected by this disease is the exposure to asbestos. Even exposure to few asbestos fibers can lead to this disease. However, many people do not realize that their exposure to asbestos has lead to this situation. This is because there is a long time gap between the exposure and the onset of mesothelioma. Sometimes, it may even be as long as 40 years.

People who work in construction sites, shipyards, renovation sites and so on contract this disease because of constant exposure to asbestos. When these people return home, the asbestos fibers hanging on to their clothes may make their families also succumb to this disease. A high level of care and caution is necessary to help prevent this disease.

Researches have also proved that people, who smoke, succumbed to this disease faster than non-smokers. So, a mixture of asbestos exposure and smoking can be doubly harmful.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma include troubled breathing, cough and shortness of breath, which makes many people associate it with pneumonia. However, proper diagnosis is vital to take action against the disease as soon as possible.

• Asbestos factory owners
• Asbestos mine owners
• Asbestos-products manufacturers
• Insurance companies

• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of loved ones
• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• And so on.

• The level of negligence of your employers
• The safeguards options provided to you
• The knowledge you had about the hazards
• Whether you are a smoker
• How much have others won in similar cases
• Medical expenditure.

The asbestos companies and industrialists knew about the hazards of asbestos on the health of workers. Also, these laborers carried home these asbestos fibers and asbestos dust and their family and neighbors inhaled these harmful substances. Because of this, asbestos-related diseases affected not only the workers but also their family members.

The owners and rich industrialists provided no safeguards to their laborers. They did not provide

• proper ventilation,
• safeguard masks and
• protective clothing as even these would cost them extra money.

The short-term economic profits made them blind to the long-term health hazards of their workers. They either concealed the dangers of asbestos or downplayed it from their employees. Still, even now-days, most of the workers don't know about the hazards of this mineral. Many of the men don't even know that they are working with asbestos. Due to negligence of the asbestos companies, many people are suffering from

• loss of quality of life
• loss of loved ones,
• loss of ability to work,
• medical expenses,
• pain and suffering and
• DEATH.

Mesothelioma is caused only because of exposure to asbestos. It has no known cure. The disease has a very long latency period. So, most of the people who were exposed to the disease in their youth contract the disease in their old age. They do not connect their condition to the exposure to asbestos because of the very long 20-50 year gap. The symptoms of the disease are similar to other benign diseases. So, they consider it as signs of ageing and ignore them. Therefore, when they are properly diagnosed, they are in their final stages of cancer. They have only a few weeks or months of life left. This comes as a huge mental and emotional shock for them.

Treatments for mesothelioma

Sometimes, rarely, the disease is detected in the early stages itself. Then, the treatment for the disease helps to reduce the pain and suffering of the patient and the life expectancy is increased. The treatments that are performed during mesothelioma include

• chemotherapy, to relieve the intensity of the symptoms,
• radiation therapy, to retard and reduce the tumors and
• surgery, to remove the body areas affected by tumors so that the disease is cured.

All these medical treatments are very expensive.

Procedural aspects of a mesothelioma case:

Every mesothelioma patient has a right to take legal action against those responsible for his or her condition. The first thing to do upon being diagnosed with mesothelioma is to contact a good mesothelioma lawyer. He will evaluate and review your case and help you with the course of action to be taken. Most mesothelioma lawyers do not charge any fees. Only when a monetary settlement or reward is arrived at, they may charge a fee or percentage of the settlement or reward.

You have to provide the lawyers with as much help as possible. Get all your paperwork done. Make it as clear and comprehensive as possible. The lawyers will evaluate your case on the following grounds.

1) History of your healthThe lawyers will evaluate the history based on the diagnosis and all the medical information supplied.
2) History of asbestos exposure

The lawyers will evaluate the level and nature of asbestos exposure in your case and the case will depend on this. He will need to know about

• whether you knew you were exposed to asbestos,
• whether you were aware of the hazards of asbestos
• whether you were exposed as a part of your occupation
• whether you lived in an asbestos exposed neighborhood or
• Whether the factory was fireproofed with Asbestos.

3) Source of asbestos exposure

The lawyer will need to know the exact source of asbestos exposure. Sometimes, it is difficult to spot this and you have to work it out with the help of your lawyer.

4) The litigation history of the company

Many companies have already been sued many times for asbestos-related issues. These companies may not want to face another litigation. They may agree to an out of court settlement. However, if this is the first case for the company, then they may want to go in for a trial. Do not worry. It will only be beneficial for you.

It is your duty to help your lawyers to correctly pinpoint the source and also determine the amount of compensation that you require. Remember, though money cannot comfort you, it is an insurance for the life and comfort of the loved ones that you leave behind. So, do not fear to ask your desired amount of compensation.

Let's start first with what is Mesothelioma? "A usually malignant tumor of mesothelial tissue, especially that of the pleura or peritoneum." This is the fundamental definition of the deadly disease Mesothelioma according to the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary.

Mesothelium tissues circle around the lungs, heart and abdominal region of your body. This is medically termed as Mesothelium lining in the body that protects your internal organs. When you inhale air containing asbestos dust particles, the air directly hits the Mesothelium lining in the body. This is basically how your body gets exposed to the asbestos fibers without actually letting you know what further damages it would cause at the later stage of your life.

Instant symptoms

Mesothelioma doesn't pop up with instant symptoms. This is one of the biggest reasons that till date a clear-cut treatment procedure has not been formulated to cure the Mesothelioma patients. When the problem is finally diagnosed no time is left for any treatment because the patient has already reached the last stage.

Again a common symptom of Mesothelioma is that it is detected when the patient has reached the age of fifty or sixty. At this age the person's normal immunity level becomes quite low. And it becomes rather difficult for the person to cope with this situation. At the young age the symptoms remain hidden and come in fragments when neither the patient not the doctor is able to detect and the treatment is confined to some petty common diseases.

Cancerous symptoms

Chronic level of gastric disorder Severe pains in the regions circling the heart and the lungs. This is from the external side but the problem lies beneath in the cavities of the body's internal regions circled by the Mesothelium lining.

Excessive vomiting can be a valid symptom that is often mistaken for acidity and gastric problem. But it is very much related to Mesothelioma.

Difficulties while breathing and frequently feeling short of oxygen while undergoing even some small tasks.

Someone carrying all these symptoms cannot be readily considered as a Mesothelioma patient. But if it is confirmed that the person had a long history of working in an asbestos company, if they have dwelled in a place near an asbestos firm, or if there was an indirect way to come in touch with asbestos fibers. It can be assured that together with the combination of all these symptoms the person is very likely suffering from Mesothelioma cancer.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

• chest wall pain
• pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
• shortness of breath
• fatigue or anemia
• wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
• blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up

• abdominal pain
• ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• a mass in the abdomen
• problems with bowel function
• weight loss

• blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• low blood sugar level
• pleural effusion
• pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
• severe ascites

Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Treatment of MM using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation. The clinical behavior of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease.

Surgery

Surgery, either by itself or used in combination with pre- and post-operative adjuvant therapies has proved disappointing. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed. It is not possible to remove the entire mesothelium without killing the patient.

Radiation

Radiation Oncology/Lung/Mesothelioma

For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This approach of using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by the thoracic oncology team at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients surviving more than 5 years. As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.

Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.

Chemotherapy

In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is given in combination with cisplatin. Folic acid is also used to reduce the side-effects of pemetrexed.

Immunotherapy

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.

Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute. The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.

What can be done to prevent the disease? Since the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have regulated the asbestos industry in the U.S. In the past, asbestos was used as a fire retardant and an insulator. Other products are now used in its place. The controversy involving exposure to different forms of asbestos continues.

There are two major types of asbestos: chrysotile and amphibole. It is thought that exposure to the amphibole form is more likely to cause mesothelioma. However, chrysotile has been used more frequently; hence many mesotheliomas are caused by chrysotile.

Removal is taking place in schools and other public buildings throughout the U.S. The hope is that these measures will greatly reduce the occurrence of this cancer.

What are the long-term effects of the disease? A mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor that is generally deadly. Current treatment of malignant mesothelioma is designed to make the person with cancer comfortable. Although long-term survival cannot usually be expected, the case of famed paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould is a noted exception.

What are the risks to others? Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. The exposure to the asbestos that caused the cancer occurred many years to several decades before the disease appeared. People who live with asbestos workers have a higher risk of getting this cancer.

What happens once treatment is over? Although mesothelioma is very unpleasant it's still important for person after treatment is over to keep up all follow-up appointments and that's vital because further testing is always needed to check whether cancer is coming back or to examine possible side effects that could be rather unpleasant and what's even worse permanent.

Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients. Australian anti-racism activist Bob Bellear died in 2005. British science fiction writer Michael G. Coney, responsible for nearly 100 works also died in 2005. American film and television actor Paul Gleason, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, died in 2006. Mickie Most, an English record producer, died of mesothelioma in 2003. Paul Rudolph, an American architect known for his cubist building designs, died in 1997.

Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma on December 22, 1979. He was not offered surgery or chemotherapy because doctors felt the cancer was too advanced. McQueen sought alternative treatments from clinics in Mexico. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980, in Juárez, Mexico, following cancer surgery. He may have been exposed to asbestos while serving with the US Marines as a young adult—asbestos was then commonly used to insulate ships' piping—or because of its use as an insulating material in car racing suits. (It is also reported that he worked in a shipyard during World War II, where he might have been exposed to asbestos.

United States Congressman Bruce Vento died of mesothelioma in 2000. The Bruce Vento Hopebuilder is awarded yearly by his wife at the MARF symposium to persons or organizations that have done the most to support mesothelioma research and advocacy.

After a long period of untreated illness and pain, rock and roll musician and songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in the fall of 2002. Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon focused his energies on recording his final album The Wind including the song keep me in your heart which speaks of his failing breath. Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003.

Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote the "The Median Isn't the Message for Discover magazine, in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are just useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another twenty years eventually succumbing to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, not mesothelioma.

Author Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 1997 following an umbilical hernia operation. His prognosis was "a few months." He continues to survive using a variety of integrative and complimentary modalities and has written a book about his experience.

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases.

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker. The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighborhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.

By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.

Non-small cell lung cancer staging is an important part of the assessment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. These patients undergo staging as part of the process of considering prognosis and treatment. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) recommends TNM staging followed by further grouping.

TNM staging

The first part of the staging classification is the TNM system.

Primary tumour (T)

• TX: The primary tumour cannot be assessed, or there are malignant cells in the sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage but not seen on imaging or bronchoscopy.
• Tis: Carcinoma in situ.
• T0: No evidence of primary tumour.
• T1: Tumour less than 3 cm in its greatest dimension, surrounded by lung or visceral pleura and without bronchoscopic invasion into the main bronchus.
• T2: A tumour with any of: -

o More than 3 cm in greatest dimension.
o Extending into the main bronchus, but more than 2 cm distal to the carina.
o Obstructive pneumonitis, but not involving the entire lung.

• T3: A tumour with any of: -

o Invasion of the chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, or parietal pericardium.
o Extending into the main bronchus, within 2 cm of the carina, but not involving the carina. o Obstructive pneumonitis of the entire lung.

• T4: A tumour with any of: -

o Invasion of the mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, oesophagus, vertebra, or carina. o Separate tumour nodules in the same lobe.
o Malignant pleural effusion.Lymph nodes (N)

• NX: Lymph nodes cannot be assessed.
• N0: No lymph nodes involved.
• N1: Metastasis to ipsilateral peribronchial or ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes.
• N2: Metastasis to ipsilateral mediastinal or subcarinal lymph nodes.
• N3: Metastasis to any of: - o Ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes. o Ipsilateral scalene lymph nodes. o Contralateral lymph nodes.Distant metastasis (M)
• MX: Distant metastasis cannot be assessed.
• M0: No distant metastasis.
• M1: Distant metastasis is present.

Lung cancer is a disease where tissue in the lung grows out of control. This leads to invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs (metastasis). Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women, is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, cough (including coughing up blood), and weight loss.

The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. This distinction is important because non-small cell lung cancer is sometimes treated with surgery, while small cell cancer is not. Also, small cell lung cancer usually responds better to chemotherapy.

The most significant risk factor for developing lung cancer is long-term exposure to inhaled carcinogens, especially tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer in non-smokers, who account for less than 10% of cases, appears to be due to a combination of genetic factors. Radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution may also contribute to the development of lung cancer.

Lung cancer may be seen on chest x-ray and CT scan. The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy. This is usually performed via bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy.

Treatment and prognosis depend upon the histological type of cancer, the stage (degree of spread), and the patient's performance status. Possible treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Even with treatment, the overall five-year survival rate is 14%.

Causes

The main causes of lung cancer (and cancer in general) include carcinogens (such as those in tobacco smoke), ionizing radiation, and viral infection. This exposure causes cumulative changes to the DNA in the tissue lining the bronchi of the lungs (the bronchial epithelium). As more tissue becomes damaged, eventually a cancer develops.

Smoking

The incidence of lung cancer is highly correlated with smoking. Source: NIH.

Smoking, particularly of cigarettes, is by far the main contributor to lung cancer. In the United States, smoking is estimated to account for 87% of lung cancer cases (90% in men and 85% in women). Among male smokers, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer is 17.2%. Among female smokers, the risk is 11.6%. This risk is significantly lower in non-smokers: 1.3% in men and 1.4% in women. Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene. Additionally, nicotine appears to depress the immune response to malignant growths in exposed tissue. The length of time a person continues to smoke as well as the amount smoked increases the person's chance of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking, this chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired and contaminant particles are gradually removed. Across the developed world, almost 90% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. In addition, there is evidence that lung cancer in never-smokers has a better prognosis than in smokers, and that patients who smoke at the time of diagnosis have shorter survival than those who have quit.

Passive smoking

the inhalation of smoke from another's smoking— is a cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Studies from the U.S. (1986, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2003), Europe (1998), the UK (1998), and Australia (1994) have consistently shown a significant increase in relative risk among those exposed to passive smoke. Recent investigation of sidestream smoke suggests it is more dangerous than direct smoke inhalation.

The Philip Morris tobacco company attempted to delay the release of the 1997 IARC study, to affect the wording of its conclusions, to neutralise its negative results for their business, and to counteract its impact on public and policymakers' opinion.

Asbestos

Asbestos can cause a variety of lung diseases. It increases the risk of developing lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking and asbestos in the formation of lung cancer. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the pleura, called mesothelioma (which is different from lung cancer).

Radon gas

Radon is a colorless and odourless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay product of uranium, found in the earth's crust. The radiation decay products ionize genetic material, causing mutations that sometimes turn cancerous. Radon exposure is the second major cause of lung cancer after smoking.

Radon gas levels vary by locality and the composition of the underlying soil and rocks. For example, in areas such as Cornwall in the UK (which has granite as substrata), radon gas is a major problem, and buildings have to be force-ventilated with fans to lower radon gas concentrations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one in 15 homes in the U.S. has radon levels above the recommended guideline of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). Iowa has the highest average radon concentration in the United States; studies performed there have demonstrated a 50% increased lung cancer risk with prolonged radon exposure above the EPA's action level of 4 pCi/L.

Viruses

Viruses are known to cause lung cancer in animals and recent evidence suggests similar potential in humans. Implicated viruses include human papillomavirus, JC virus, simian virus 40 (SV40), BK virus and cytomegalovirus.