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What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

By Lance Winslow

Lung cancer is probably one of the most unfortunate types of cancers, and it can be one of the most painful as well. Generally, it starts with a tumor in the windpipes or bronchial tube and then spreads. You need to know the symptoms, as that is very important to catching it early on.

According to the; Cancer Reference Book, the symptoms of lung cancer are:

An ever present cough is one symptom of lung cancer. But a cough does not necessarily mean you have cancer obviously. It is the chronic nature of the cough that you need to watch for, one that is not part of a cold or the flu. Folks that smoke and cannot stop coughing all the time are already at high risk and they must get looked at soon if not sooner. These are the first sign or symptoms attributed to lung cancer.

In the next stages of lung cancer you can expect someone to show such symptoms trouble in breathing or shortness of breath. They will have blood in their saliva as well. They may also get pneumonia. In the more severe stages they will have pain in their chest and it will be relatively constant, sometimes overbearing.

Also in later stages the lung cancer victim will lose body mass, have an extreme shortness of breath and may not be able to swallow either. Fluid will also be ever present in the chest cavity, and it is really a tough go.

One thing that all doctors who see lung patients would like to tell folks is; Stop Smoking Now!

The Top 5 Ways to Prevent Lung Cancer

By Raj Iyer

Lung cancer takes a huge toll on the healthcare resources and also in terms of loss of hours at the workplace. Lung cancer accounts for more than a million deaths annually. Knowing what are the risk factors for lung cancer and preventing the same can go a long way in reducing the number of deaths from lung cancer.

Here are 5 sure shot ways of reducing the incidence of lung cancer.

1. STOP smoking NOW: Smoking causes 87% of all lung cancers and quitting smoking has several benefits chief among which is preventing lung cancer. If you are a smoker you should consider quitting now and if that is difficult get some help but do please quit smoking.

2. Fruits and Vegetables: Your diet should include a large portion of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain anti-oxidants and flavonoids that help protect the DNA of cells and also repair damaged cells.

3. Get your homes tested for Radon: Radon is a breakdown product of Uranium. Radon is an inert gas and cannot be seen, felt, smelled or tasted. As more and more houses are getting built over Uranium deposits that occur naturally in the soil it is a must that your homes are tested for Radon levels. Radon is a strong risk factor for lung cancer.

4. Workplace exposure: Knowing what you are being exposed to in the workplace is a must. Gasoline, diesel exhaust, arsenic, beryllium. Vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, and Chloromethyl ethers are all carcinogens and can be found in some work environments. Fumes, dust and chemicals are all too common in the workplace and talk to your employer about limiting your exposure to these noxious agents.

5. Passive smoking: Second-hand smoke is smoke that is given out by a smoker or smoke from a lit cigar or cigarette. This contains over 60 known carcinogens that interfere with normal cell development and leads to subsequent lung cancer.

Follow these 5 steps today and enjoy a life free from lung cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raj_Iyer

Mesothelioma Cancer and Law

By Luke Knepper

Mesothelioma Cancer? What?

Yep, that's right. That crazy garbled word you couldn't pronounce if you tried, mesothelioma, that's a type of cancer. What is it? You can get it from exposure to asbestos, which I will talk about later. Well basically harmful cancer cells grow in the mesothelium, which is the lining that covers pretty much all of your internal organs (the ones that are key to your survival, like your heart and lungs). So, in a way, it's like termites in a house, because they appear, grow, and ultimately destroy what protects what is most valuable to you. You could also think of it as the IRS with your money.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

This is a very nasty disease to have, and you probably wouldn't want it. The most common symptom is that you'll have trouble breathing, which is called shortness of breath, because the cancer usually hurts your lungs. It develops fluid between the lungs and the chest wall, which makes it hard on your lungs. You are also going to lose weight if you have the cancer. You might also have chest pain and other abdominal pain. Other symptoms include blood clots and other blood problems. To detect it, you're gonna need either a chest x-ray or a CT scan, both which you can get from a hospital or just your normal doctor. Early diagnosis is key because it's extremely difficult to treat. They try to use techniques like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and even surgery some times, but the prognosis (chances of healing) are really low.

Mesothelioma and the Law

Why should you care about Mesothelioma cancer? Well first of all, you want to know what to do if you get it. Secondly, there's quite a bit of money involved. You can get Mesothelioma cancer from exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a type of mineral or rock that has some pretty cool properties. It's super strong, resistant to heat, and an electricity insulator. It used to be used a lot in ovens and other stuff. Now they know you can get the cancer from simple exposure to asbestos, even on someone else's clothes. There's a whole international deal with liability because in each case they try to decide who's at fault for exposure to asbestos. There is a high demand for Mesothelioma lawyers from people who are looking for compensation for their cancer. There are many lawsuits and other litigation going on around the world today, so if you're a lawyer working with Mesothelioma cancer or asbestos, you're in luck.

Cancer Basic

By Calvin C

Cancer is a disease of the body cells in which their functioning and reproduction is uncontrolled. When a cell turns cancerous or malignant, it will not work properly, and it divides rapidly to produce more cells. A collection of cancerous cells is called a tumor. These cells are able to break away and are carried in the blood to other parts of the body, where they continue to grow.

Cancer can affect people of all ages, including fetuses, but the amount of risk increases with age. Cancer causes about 14% of the deaths all over the world. According a survey held in USA, 2.3 million people died of cancer in USA in 2007. Cancer can also affect all animals.

Usually, cells are replaced as they become old and inefficient. The development of these new cells is controlled so that the new cells are identical to the old ones. In cancer, so many abnormal cells are produced that they interfere with normal body functions and if untreated may cause very severe illness or death. The causes are not clear, but chemicals such as tar from cigarettes and many other substances are known to change normal cells into cancer cells. Cancer can be treated by surgery, or by very powerful DRUGS, or by radiation which damages the affected cells. Though people still die from cancer, many are surviving due to the improvement and success of modern treatments.

Some of the terms related to cancer are: Carcinogen- A cancer causing substance. It attacks normal cells, and may eventually cause some of them to turn cancerous i.e. uncontrolled growth of cells.

Carcinoma- Cancer that starts to grow in tissue that forms the skin and lining of inner organs.

Sarcoma- Cancer that starts to grow in the tissue that forms the body's supporting structures, such as the bones and the cartilage.

Prostate Cancer

By Kelly Moore

Cancer can occur in any part of the body - lungs, intestine, rectum, breast or prostate. Prostate cancer develops as a malignant tumor that starts in the prostate gland. There is a possibility of the cancer spreading from the prostate to the lymph nodes, other organs or bones through metastasis.

This is the second most common type of cancer in men, which can lead to death. However, with the improvement of medicine, survival rates in patients have improved considerably. The cause of prostate cancer has never been found out, however, there are some risk factors that induce prostate cancer.

It has been found out that with the increase of age, the risk of prostate cancer tends to increase. Having family members with prostate cancer increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. Statistics show that African-American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than Caucasian men. And of course, obese men are more prone to prostate cancer.

There are no specific symptoms for prostate cancer; however as it grows, men tend to suffer from pain in the lower back, upper thighs and pelvis. Other symptoms of advanced prostate cancer are complications in urinating like increase in frequency, interrupted flow, finding it difficult to stop or start urinating, presence of blood in the urine and the presence of pain and burning sensation.

It is suggested that men over the age of 50, have to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every year, along with a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) to find out the presence of prostate cancer. In a DRE, the physician tests for an enlarged prostate, lumps or any abnormal texture by inserting a lubricated and gloved finger into the rectum.

The prostate cells produce PSA, and with the PSA test, its level in the blood stream is determined. Men having PSA levels higher than 4ng/mL have a higher chance of prostate cancer. However, sometimes men with low PSA levels may contract prostate cancer; it all depends on the normal PSA level of a man. If it was always on the higher side, then there is not much to worry; this is why it is better to keep track of PSA levels. It is also possible to diagnose prostate cancer through transrectal ultrasound and biopsies. It is through a biopsy that prostate cancer is correctly diagnosed.

The doctor suggests treatment for prostate cancer depending on its severity. It can be surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or watchful waiting. Through hormonal therapy, the effect of male hormones like testosterone is blocked to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However, this is not a cure; it just controls the disease.

With the surgical treatment, prostate glands and surrounding lymph glands are removed, depending on the severity of the condition. However this may cause hot flashes, loss of interest in sex, impotence and other problems in the patient. Sometimes, radiation is suggested where x-rays are passed through an external machine or through radioactive isotopes inside the body. The doctor may also suggest chemotherapy where the patient is prescribed medication that is administered either orally or through injections.

However, since prostate cancer attacks older men, they are usually advised watchful waiting. This is best if the tumor is small, is expected a low growth rate or when medical treatment proves to be rather risky and may lead to death. The patient has to be monitored frequently with this treatment, but no treatment is administered.

Are You In High Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer?

By Julie Walker

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one woman gets breast cancer and another does not.

Doctors do know that bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause breast cancer. And breast cancer is not contagious. No one can "catch" this disease from another person.

However, research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer:

1. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older.

2. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting this disease in her other breast.

3. A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially at a young age (before age 40).

4. The older a woman is when she has her first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer. Women who began menstruation (had their first menstrual period) at an early age (before age 12), went through menopause late (after age 55), or never had children also are at an increased risk.

5. Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.

6. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of breast cancer. This includes women treated with radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Studies show that the younger a woman was when she received radiation treatment, the higher her risk of breast cancer later in life.

7. Older women who have mostly dense not fatty) tissue on a mammogram(x-ray of the breast) are at increased risk of breast cancer.

8. After menopause, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being obese means that the woman has an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Because the body makes some of its estrogen (a hormone) in fatty tissue, obese women are more likely than thin women to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen may be the reason that obese women have an increased risk of breast cancer. Also, some studies show that gaining weight after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.

9. Women who are physically inactive throughout life appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being physically active may help to reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.

It is helpful to be aware of risk factors. But it's also important to keep in mind that most of the women who have these risk factors do not get breast cancer.

A woman who thinks she may be at risk of breast cancer should discuss this concern with her health care provider. The health care provider may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

The above information is found in Ms Yvonne Lee, internationally acclaimed book "To All Women Who Want To Enhance Their Breasts Naturally, But Don't Know How To Start". It describes and details the most important breast enhancement techniques from every corner of the world. Author Yvonne Lee, provides an unbiased pro-and-con analysis of each technique, in addition to practical information such as how and where to get it, cost, and potential impact on insurance coverage.