Published June 14, 2005
in Cancer.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues. It is caused by alterations to DNA (the genetic material) that are either inherited or acquired. If untreated, it is fatal, but many cancers can be treated and a significant proportion is cured.
I am at a speech meet. Cancer can cause many different symptoms, depending on the site and character of the malignancy and whether there is metastasis (spread). A definitive diagnosis usually requires the microscopic examination of tissue in the form of a biopsy. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Many cancers are preventable by avoiding environmental carcinogens or modifying behavior. Smoking tobacco is the largest preventable cause of cancer. Cancer is a prominent cause of death in many countries.
Published May 30, 2005
in Cancer.
Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. To learn more about the different ways in which people have been exposed:
How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.
How long does it take after exposure for the disease to show up?
People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.
What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Click on Treatment Options to find out more about traditional and new approaches.
Published May 28, 2005
in Cancer.
The National Cancer Institute states that: “Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium).”
We hear it all the time…lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association featured a study finding that obesity appears to lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5’10” weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity.Jamie McManus, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. and author of “Your Personal Guide to Wellness” notes that while this study referenced extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. She also estimates that there are 600,000 obesity related deaths each year in America.
Continue reading ‘Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer’
