HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT


Health Is wealth if these steps are taken to boost our body immunity: Let’s start by taking our first healthy steps now!




Health & Relationships



STEP 1: You need to exercise, commit to a healthy lifestyle, rest and feed your cells, not poison them. The poisons seem to be everywhere and being so accustomed to seeing them everywhere we’ve been brainwashed into thinking they are food; white rice, white bread, meat, sugar, salt, junk foods, carbonated drinks, alcohol, fertilizer laden fruits and vegetables. Our first health step then involves a continuous, gradual and consistent shift to healthier options and choices by setting periodic goals: this month I would start drinking water first thing in the morning and last thing at night, that month I will start taking brown unpolished (ofada) rice and good quality wheat bread only, that month I’d jog on the spot or do jumping jacks for five minutes daily and the list is endless! Don’t feel too guilty if you don’t attain your goals, just keep working at them




    HEALTH    environment        






Fruits and Vegetables for a Healthy Vegetarian Lifestyle: This is the best food regime against nutritional diseases.











STEP 2: Your body has to be fed with living cells because your cells are alive and to

sustain them has to be something that is also alive. My cells also renew themselves

periodically and the quality of the new cells is a function of what I put in. If the cells

are sickly or weak they would be easily tossed about by every damn disease. The value

of eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables cannot be overemphasized




STEP 3: Focus on prevention early in life. We only talk of servicing a machine its engines have not knocked down completely. The only meaningful action is the one you do when the body can still appreciate it.   The most worthwhile health investment you can take is the one you take now when no degenerative disease  (cancer, diabetes, stroke, hypertension )has surfaced. All the herbs, nutrients, surgeries, massage, ionic detoxification, surgeries would only buy a  few more years, months or even days …. except …except… a miracle occurs.


                                                   


How do I bring up my child as a friend and not as a superior or inferior being? I want my child to be healthy and not full of complexes that he can’t relate well among his peers and fully exhibit his potentials. I need to ask myself what am I communicating to this child through my words, action and all the various ways that I relate to him.

Are my words coloured with spite, unbelief, disregard and a lot of impatience? Am I quick to spank or raise my voice? If I do this, am I not seeing my child as an inferior being?

Rather do I embrace dialogue and try to understand my child while gently leading him in the way he ought to go. Of course I can be firm while communicating my standards while also seeking to understand my child.  











Healthy relationships are food to the soul. The soul is the seat of the will, emotion and intellect. We need to work on having healthy relationships with colleagues, friends and family (both nuclear and extended). When our relationships are not healthy or we do not enjoy good  friendships , we become weak psychologically and focus on our anger an d pain  at the expense of our goals and  the future. We have to consciously decide not to be hurt again, to forgive those who have hurt us and even in the midst of provocation to remain calm in speech and manners so we do not inflict emotional damage to those we have cause to relate with.




    ENVIRONMENT                   


 The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that were officially established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

All 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve these goals by the year 2015.










The goals are:

1.    Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger,
2.    Achieving universal primary education,
3.    Promoting gender equality and empowering women,
4.    Reducing child mortality rates,
5.    Improving maternal health,
6.    Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases,
7.    Ensuring environmental sustainability, and
8.    Developing a global partnership for development.


  “The environment is the foundation upon which every development will rest. Whatever it cannot sustain, we definitely can’t enjoy”







“Although individual decisions may seem small in the face of global threats and trends, when billions of people join forces in common purpose, we can make a tremendous difference.”

(UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon)                

World Environment Day ('WED') is celebrated every year since 1976 on 5th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is an initiative from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). YOU too can take proactive steps for the wellbeing of the environment.



YEAR    WED THEME      

1974    Only one Earth      

1975    Human Settlements      

1976    Water: Vital Resource for Life      

1977    Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation      

1978    Development Without Destruction      

1979    Only One Future for Our Children – Development Without Destruction      

1980    A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction      

1981    Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains      

1982    Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)      

1983    Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy      

1984    Desertification      

1985    Youth: Population and the Environment      

1986    A Tree for Peace      

1987    Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof (Nairobi, Kenya)      

1988    When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last (Bangkok, Thailand)      

1989    Global Warming; Global Warning (Brussels, Belgium)      

1990    Children and the Environment (Mexico city, Mexico)      

1991    Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership (Stockholm, Sweden)      

1992    Only One Earth, Care and Share (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)      

1993    Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle (Beijing China)

1994    One Earth One Family (London, United Kingdom)      

1995    We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment (Pretoria, South Africa)      

1996    Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home (Istanbul, Turkey)      

1997    For Life on Earth (Seoul, Republic of Korea)      

1998    For Life on Earth – Save Our Seas (Moscow, Russian Federation)      

1999    Our Earth – Our Future – Just Save It! (Tokyo, Japan)      

2000    The Environment Millennium – Time to Act (Adelaide, Australia)      

2001    Connect with the World Wide Web of Life(Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba)      

2002    Give Earth a Chance (Shenzhen, People's Republic of China)      

2003    Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It! (Beirut, Lebanon)      

2004    Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive? (Barcelona, Spain)      

2005    Green Cities – Plan for the Planet! (San Francisco, United States)      

2006    Deserts and Desertification – Don't Desert Drylands! (Algiers, Algeria)      

2007    Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? (Tromsø, Norway)      

2008    Kick The Habit – Towards A Low Carbon Economy (Wellington, New Zealand)      

2009    Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change (Mexico City, Mexico)      

2010    Many Species. One Planet. One Future (Kigali, Rwanda)      

2011    Forests: Nature at your Service (New Delhi, India)      

2012    Green Economy: Does it include you? (Brazil)      

2013    Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint (Mongolia)   

                 


Overview of Mesothelioma


Mesothelioma may be a sort of cancer that's commonly caused by amphibole exposure. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma affects the cells of mesothelial lining within the chest and abdomen. carcinoma cancer can develop within the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen. carcinoma has conjointly been found within the abdomen and alternative abdominal organs however it's abundant rarer in those areas than are each serosa carcinoma. carcinoma may also occur within the ovaries and pocket. carcinoma invades the chest wall or the muscle system throughout the second stage.Mesothelioma conjointly takes an extended time to develop (typically 15-40 years), therefore patients these days might are exposed before the Eighties once amphibole wasn't extremely regulated. carcinoma isn't caused by smoking, as carcinoma therefore typically is.

Symptoms:

Symptoms one among the foremost common symptoms of carcinoma is associate accumulation of fluid between the liner of the respiratory organ and therefore the thoracic cavity. Symptoms include:abdominal painascites, or associate abnormal buildup of fluid within the abdomen a mass within the abdomen issues with intestine perform weight loss. Symptoms like hassle swallowing, pain, or swelling of the neck and face may be indications that the cancer has unfold on the far side the mesotheliom to alternative components of the body. Symptoms of serosa carcinoma embrace persistent pain within the chest and severe problem respiration caused by serosa effusion, or associate accumulation of fluid within the serosa lining Cough, weight loss, and fever also are common symptoms. Symptoms of serosa carcinoma embrace weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling thanks to a buildup of fluid within the abdomen. Symptoms of carcinoma might not seem till twenty to fifty years when exposure to amphibole.

Diagnosis:
The key to long-run survival from treatment of carcinoma is early diagnosing, that allows the best potential for achievement from customary therapies. diagnosing begins with a review of the patient's anamnesis, together with any history of amphibole exposure. diagnosing of carcinoma is predicated on a pathological communicating, additional normally stated as a diagnostic test.Since this malady may be laborious to diagnosing and expensive to treat, it should need the consultation of associate knowledgeable about lawyer. once conclusive diagnosing can not be made of fluid samples, diagnosing is usually created through a surgery known as a throrascopy.The average age at diagnosing of carcinoma is between fifty and seventy years previous, with men being affected 3 to 5 times additional typically than girls. The diagnosing could also be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a diagnostic test (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. The median survival time is seventeen months, with common fraction of patients living for 3 years when diagnosing.

Medical logical thinking and Conclusion:
Mesothelioma may be a deadly cancer that is fairly rare though within the previous few decades the amount of individuals WHO have died from it have dramatically multiplied. carcinoma may be a rare sort of cancer, however the deadliest one among all. carcinoma may be a rare sort of cancer and solely affects between a pair of 1,000 and 3,000 individuals within the U.S each year. Carcinoma is a smaller amount common in African Americans than in white Americans. carcinoma is rare in individuals below age fifty five. National Cancer Institute stats show that 3000 new diagnosing of malignant carcinoma is reported annually. carcinoma isn't perpetually fatal which is that the hope to carry on to carcinoma Review info

Nowadays there's plenty of debate everywhere the globe, each offline and over the web, regarding carcinoma. In the USA, there ar carcinoma awareness teams in nearly each town within the USA. Besides discussion forums, carcinoma legal cells, carcinoma forums, carcinoma awareness teams etc., these days carcinoma analysis may be a terribly huge subject. there's even a carcinoma Memorial Scholarship that's offered quarterly. This scholarship is given in remembrance and honor of these that are touched by carcinoma. Billions of greenbacks are spent in making an attempt to fight this direful malady and realize a cure. allow us to begin by asking this straightforward question - what's mesothelioma?

Compare Mesothelioma and Asbestos


Asbestos and carcinoma ar infamously connected. carcinoma may be a sort of cancer that affects people that are exposed to amphibole. it's a rare sort of cancer, and affects solely those people that have had a history of exposure to amphibole, not others. However, there may be secondary cases, wherever an individual could get contact with somebody WHO has been exposed to amphibole within the past. The key to carcinoma, as is clear here, is exposure to amphibole.

The primary reason for carcinoma is exposure to amphibole. Once the patient has inhaled amphibole dust/fibers, alternative factors like smoking will irritate the condition over a amount of your time. There may be alternative causes of carcinoma too. as an example, there are cases diagnosed wherever the patient has had no history of amphibole exposure. individuals will dig from people that have had amphibole exposure. Before we have a tendency to proceed additional, allow us to outline carcinoma.

Mesothelioma definition: carcinoma is outlined as is associate uncommon sort of cancer, typically related to previous exposure to amphibole. during this malady, malignant (cancerous) cells develop within the epithelium, a protecting lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Malignant carcinoma cells proliferate at the affected space, and ar typically terribly laborious to get rid of all.

Mesothelioma came to be wide best-known regarding solely from regarding the 60s, once the symptoms started manifesting, and carcinoma cases were diagnosed. Across America, for individuals engaging at facilities that were asbestos-related, it became a nightmare. This was additional as a result of at that point, asbestos, as a result of the amount of benefits it had over alternative metals, was wide used across industries everywhere the globe. it had been a tragedy of epic proportions waiting to be unleashed, and once it had been unleashed, it shaped disturbance within the lives of individuals all across America. Thousands lost their lives to carcinoma, and even currently, thousands additional still fight this direful malady.

Even today, over three,000 individuals ar diagnosed with carcinoma within the USA. Today, carcinoma victims and their relatives struggle to deal with the malady. For survivors of carcinoma legal proceeding against the industries that brought this malady on them has been a technique of exorcising the pain and agony they need had to endure. For variety of victims of carcinoma lawyers are ready to settle cases with success. There ar carcinoma support teams to assist carcinoma victims and their relatives deal with life within the aftermath of the malady.

There ar websites like www.mesotheliomaweb.org, www.mesothelioma.com, www.cancer.gov, etc.

Mesothelioma is taken into account extraordinarily deadly for variety of reasons:

o carcinoma diagnosing is usually terribly late. It manifests in a very person years when exposure to amphibole, as long as fifteen to twenty years.

o whereas the gestation is extraordinarily long, as mentioned on top of, the exposure time is extraordinarily short, as less as 2 to 3 months. this implies that an individual does not even got to have prolonged exposure.

o the common time period of an individual, when diagnosing, is incredibly short, around twenty four months.

o It affects not solely an individual exposed to amphibole; likelihood is that he will pass away the asbestos dirt or fiber to his close to and pricey ones additionally.

Types of carcinoma


Primarily, carcinoma happens in 3 areas, supported that carcinoma is categorised into:

o serosa carcinoma (mesothelioma of the serous membrane, the outer lining protective the thoracic cavity additionally because the lungs)

o serous membrane carcinoma (mesothelioma of the serosa, the sac insertion the heart)

o serosa carcinoma (mesothelioma of the serous membrane, the liner protective the abdominal cavity)

Based on the categories of cells seen in a very carcinoma patient, carcinoma will once more be categorised into three types:

o Epithelioid carcinoma (approximately fifty to seventy p.c of all mesothelial cells)

o Sarcomatoid carcinoma (least common carcinoma cell kind, or so ten to fifteen percent)

o Biphasic carcinoma. (approximately twenty to forty p.c of all mesothelial cells)

Symptoms of carcinoma

The symptoms of carcinoma rely upon the type of carcinoma a patient could have. If a patient is affected by malignant serosa carcinoma, he would usually feel a pain within the chest region, in the course of shallow respiration. These symptoms occur as a result of the deposition of fluid within the serous membrane.

Peritoneal carcinoma symptoms take issue from those of serosa carcinoma. within the case of localized serosa carcinoma, the symptoms include:

o Fever

o Difficulties in intestine movements

o Anemia

o Abnormalities ascertained throughout blood clots

In the case of advanced serosa carcinoma, the symptoms would additional embrace pain, a swelling of the face or the neck, and difficulties in intake.

Mesothelioma symptoms typically map to those of alternative, lesser serious ailments. thus it's prudent to consult a specialist to make sure what the symptoms indicate.

Mesothelioma diagnosing

Mesothelioma diagnosing isn't a straightforward task, because the symptoms map to alternative lesser ailments, as mentioned on top of. the primary step to designation carcinoma may be a review of the patient's anamnesis. it's necessary to grasp if the patient has had any sicknesses whose symptoms carcinoma too displays. At now, it's conjointly necessary to grasp if the patient has had previous exposure to amphibole. If the patient hasn't had any sicknesses displaying the symptoms associated with carcinoma, and has had exposure to amphibole, then there may be suspicion of carcinoma.

It is necessary to try and do a close physical examination of the patient, together with x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. the main target would typically get on the abdominal and chest regions. If there's something suspicious at the top of those examinations, it's best to try and do a diagnostic test.

A diagnostic test is typically done by a specialist, either associate specialist or a MD. diagnostic test involves taking a tissue sample from the patient and subjecting it to specific tests to see the presence or absence of carcinoma. diagnostic test within the case of carcinoma will be:

o Thoracoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from within the chest region, employing a thoracoscope)

o Peritoneoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from the abdominal region, employing a peritoneoscope)

Once the diagnosing is formed, it's very important to find out the stage at that carcinoma has been detected. counting on whether or not the cancer continues to be at the initial website or whether or not it's unfold to alternative components of the body, the carcinoma may be called:

o Localized (still at the initial site)

o Advanced (spread to alternative components of the body)

Mesothelioma Treatment


Mesothelioma treatments vary counting on the kind of carcinoma, as conjointly the stage at that it's been detected. The 3 most typically used treatment forms against carcinoma are:

o Surgery - Surgically removing the cancerous part. as an example, malignant serosa carcinoma treatment might involve removal of the affected respiratory organ by acting a extirpation.

o actinotherapy - Exposing the affected half to high-energy rays to kill the malignant cells

o therapy - mistreatment chemicals/drugs to destroy the malignant cells, either by injecting them into the patient, or intravenously, or by direct placement within the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

Besides these 3 choices, analysis is afoot to search out newer and more practical treatment choices. Clinical trials have vie a serious role in developing newer treatment choices.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

In the case of carcinoma, prognosis isn't as correct because it is with alternative lesser serious ailments. this is often as a result of prognosis typically depends on the part at that associate ill health is detected. carcinoma is typically detected quite late in a very patient, therefore it becomes tough to state the cure share or time period of a patient when treatment. no matter statistics ar offered don't seem to be as reliable collectively would really like them to be. whereas it's not been simple to see that of the 2 - serosa or serosa - carcinoma is more durable to stage, consultants ar usually in agreement that a prognosis is kind of tough for each.

However, latest studies and analysis have shown that carcinoma patients may not be as dangerous off as was at first believed. This information is tabulated below.

Stage of carcinoma Detection possibilities of Survival (No. of Years) share of Patients

Mid to advanced stages three years 100 percent

5 years 5%

Early stages a pair of years five hundredth

5 years two hundredth

This is simply general information on carcinoma prognosis. there's specific information offered n the web for specific situations and things.

Symptoms:
Symptoms One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma is an accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. Symptoms include:abdominal painascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen a mass in the abdomen problems with bowel function weight loss. Symptoms such as trouble swallowing, pain, or swelling of the neck and face can be indications that the cancer has spread beyond the mesotheliom to other parts of the body. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include persistent pain in the chest and severe difficulty breathing caused by pleural effusion, or an accumulation of fluid in the pleural lining Cough, weight loss, and fever are also common symptoms. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Diagnosis:
The key to long-term survival from treatment of mesothelioma is early diagnosis, which enables the greatest potential for success from standard therapies. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is based on a pathological exam, more commonly referred to as a biopsy.Since this disease can be hard to diagnosis and costly to treat, it may require the consultation of an experienced attorney. When conclusive diagnosis cannot be made from fluid samples, diagnosis is often made through a surgical procedure called a throrascopy.The average age at diagnosis of mesothelioma is between 50 and 70 years old, with men being affected three to five times more often than women. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. The median survival time is 17 months, with ten percent of patients living for three years after diagnosis.

Medical Inference and Conclusion:
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer which is fairly rare although in the last few decades the number of people who have died from it have dramatically increased. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but the deadliest one of all. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and only affects between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the United States per year. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans. Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. National Cancer Institute stats show that 3000 new diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is reported each year. Mesothelioma is not always fatal and that is the hope to hold on to Mesothelioma Review Information

Nowadays there is a lot of discussion all over the world, both offline and over the Internet, about mesothelioma. In the USA, there are mesothelioma awareness groups in almost every city in the USA. Besides discussion forums, mesothelioma legal cells, mesothelioma forums, mesothelioma awareness groups etc., today mesothelioma research is a very vast subject. There is even a Mesothelioma Memorial Scholarship that is offered every quarter. This scholarship is given in remembrance and honor of those that have been touched by mesothelioma. Billions of dollars have been spent in trying to fight this dreaded disease and find a cure. Let us begin by asking this simple question - what is mesothelioma?

Compare Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos and mesothelioma are infamously related. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. It is a rare form of cancer, and affects only those people who have had a history of exposure to asbestos, not others. However, there can be secondary cases, where a person may come into contact with someone who has been exposed to asbestos in the past. The key to mesothelioma, as is apparent here, is exposure to asbestos.

The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Once the patient has inhaled asbestos dust/fibers, other factors like smoking can aggravate the condition over a period of time. There can be other causes of mesothelioma too. For example, there have been cases diagnosed where the patient has had no history of asbestos exposure. People can get it from people who have had asbestos exposure. Before we proceed further, let us define mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma definition: Mesothelioma is defined as is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant (cancerous) cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Malignant mesothelioma cells proliferate at the affected area, and are usually very hard to remove totally.

Mesothelioma came to be widely known about only from about the 60s, when the symptoms started manifesting, and mesothelioma cases were diagnosed. Across America, for people working at facilities that were asbestos-related, it became a nightmare. This was more because at that time, asbestos, because of the number of advantages it had over other metals, was widely used across industries all over the world. It was a tragedy of epic proportions waiting to be unleashed, and when it was unleashed, it wrought havoc in the lives of people all across America. Thousands lost their lives to mesothelioma, and even now, thousands more continue to fight this dreaded disease.

Even today, more than 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the USA. Today, mesothelioma victims and their relatives struggle to cope with the disease. For survivors of mesothelioma legal action against the industries that brought this disease on them has been one way of exorcising the pain and agony they have had to undergo. For a number of victims of mesothelioma lawyers have been able to settle cases successfully. There are mesothelioma support groups to help mesothelioma victims and their relatives cope with life in the aftermath of the disease.

There are websites like www.mesotheliomaweb.org, www.mesothelioma.com, www.cancer.gov, etc.

Mesothelioma is considered extremely lethal for a number of reasons:

o Mesothelioma diagnosis is often very late. It manifests in a person years after exposure to asbestos, as long as 15 to 20 years.

o While the gestation period is extremely long, as mentioned above, the exposure time is extremely short, as less as two to three months. This means that a person doesn't even have to have prolonged exposure.

o The average lifespan of a person, after diagnosis, is very short, around 24 months.

o It affects not only a person exposed to asbestos; chances are that he can pass on the asbestos dust or fiber to his near and dear ones as well.

Types of Mesothelioma


Primarily, mesothelioma occurs in three areas, based on which mesothelioma is categorized into:

o Pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pleura, the outer lining protecting the chest cavity as well as the lungs)

o Pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pericardium, the sac enclosing the heart)

o Peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the peritoneum, the lining protecting the abdominal cavity)

Based on the types of cells seen in a mesothelioma patient, mesothelioma can again be categorized into 3 types:

o Epithelioid mesothelioma (approximately 50 to 70 percent of all mesothelial cells)

o Sarcomatoid mesothelioma (least common mesothelioma cell type, approximately 10 to 15 percent)

o Biphasic mesothelioma. (approximately 20 to 40 percent of all mesothelial cells)

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The symptoms of mesothelioma depend on the kind of mesothelioma a patient may have. If a patient is suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma, he would generally feel a pain in the chest region, accompanied by shallow breathing. These symptoms occur owing to the deposition of fluid in the pleura.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms differ from those of pleural mesothelioma. In the case of localized peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms include:

o Fever

o Difficulties in bowel movements

o Anemia

o Abnormalities observed during blood clots

In the case of advanced peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms would further include pain, a swelling of the face or the neck, and difficulties in ingestion.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually map to those of other, lesser serious ailments. Therefore it is prudent to consult a specialist to ensure what the symptoms indicate.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma diagnosis is not an easy task, as the symptoms map to other lesser ailments, as mentioned above. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is a review of the patient's medical history. It is important to know if the patient has had any illnesses whose symptoms mesothelioma too displays. At this time, it is also important to know if the patient has had prior exposure to asbestos. If the patient hasn't had any illnesses displaying the symptoms related to mesothelioma, and has had exposure to asbestos, then there can be suspicion of mesothelioma.

It is important to do a detailed physical examination of the patient, including x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. The focus would usually be on the abdominal and chest regions. If there is anything suspicious at the end of these examinations, it is advisable to do a biopsy.

A biopsy is usually done by a specialist, either an oncologist or a surgeon. Biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the patient and subjecting it to specific tests to determine the presence or absence of mesothelioma. Biopsy in the case of mesothelioma can be:

o Thoracoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from inside the chest region, using a thoracoscope)

o Peritoneoscopy (done by taking tissue samples from the abdominal region, using a peritoneoscope)

Once the diagnosis is made, it is vital to learn the stage at which mesothelioma has been detected. Depending on whether the cancer is still at the original site or whether it has spread to other parts of the body, the mesothelioma can be called:

o Localized (still at the original site)

o Advanced (spread to other parts of the body)

Mesothelioma Treatment


Mesothelioma treatments vary depending on the type of mesothelioma, as also the stage at which it has been detected. The three most commonly used treatment forms against mesothelioma are:

o Surgery - Surgically removing the cancerous body part. For example, malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment could involve removal of the affected lung by performing a pneumonectomy.

o Radiation therapy - Exposing the affected part to high-energy rays to kill the malignant cells

o Chemotherapy - Using chemicals/drugs to destroy the malignant cells, either by injecting them into the patient, or intravenously, or by direct placement in the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

Besides these three options, research is underway to find newer and more effective treatment options. Clinical trials have played a major role in developing newer treatment options.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

In the case of mesothelioma, prognosis is not as accurate as it is with other lesser serious ailments. This is because prognosis usually depends on the phase at which an illness is detected. Mesothelioma is usually detected quite late in a patient, so it becomes difficult to state the cure percentage or lifespan of a patient after treatment. Whatever statistics are available are not as reliable as one would like them to be. While it has not been easy to determine which of the two - pleural or peritoneal - mesothelioma is harder to stage, experts are generally in agreement that a prognosis is quite difficult for both.

However, latest studies and research have shown that mesothelioma patients might not be as bad off as was initially believed. This data is tabulated below.

Stage of Mesothelioma Detection Chances of Survival (No. of Years) Percentage of Patients

Mid to advanced stages 3 years 10%

5 years 5%

Early stages 2 years 50%

5 years 20%

This is just general data on mesothelioma prognosis. There is specific data available n the Internet for specific scenarios and situations.

Resources

o www.mesotheliomaweb.org

o www.mesothelioma.com

o Cancer Foundation

o Mesothelioma Diagnosis

o Mesothelioma Legal Guide