Picture this: Young Brittney is tired of waitressing at her local Shoney’s to form a living. One day, she notices an ad in the paper that states: Aid WANTED. Secretary needed for Bloomingdale’s Sales Department. Starting salary $7.50/hr. Apply in person at 560 Pinetree Ave. Brittney jumps on the opportunity to create more than minimum wage, and the hope of a future better than a Shoney’s manager. So, she puts on her best dress and pumps and walks to the department store. On her way up to the fourth floor, middle-aged men stare her up and down as they get on the elevator, and whisper “unique meat” to each other as their eyes bulge like teenage boys’. But she lets the comments slide, her ex-boyfriend had always told her she was the most attractive girl in the world. She presents her resume to the executive in the Sales Department and is soon told the job is hers if: she goes to Motel 8 in one hour and waits inside Room #56 for the executive to “show her the ropes” of her new job. Brittney is embarrassed and dismayed at the executive’s request and leaves the office quickly. Tears smear her mascara as she asks herself, “Is there no justice? ” She goes assist to her little apartment, changes back into her Shoney’s uniform, and tries to accept the fact that she will remain just another minimum-wage, expendable worker.
Brittney and people of lower power like her shouldn’t have to deal with sexual harassment from supervisors and management personnel in the workplace. “How can this dilemma be solved? ” many wonder. Many occupy that their bosses are set in their ways and won’t change unless “the law” forces them. Law requiring sexual harassment education seminars for all employees and their employers might change that.
With the Industrial Revolution came increased numbers of women working in mills and factories. In 1846, the first documentation of sexual harassment (of “factory girls”) appeared in The Factory Girls’ Album, the Nashua Gazette, and the Voice of Industry (Jones 56). In the 1890s, “astronomical numbers of women started working in the rapidly expanding retail sales industry” (Jones 56). The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, including Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex (Jones 57). A problem for over 100 years, sexual harassment in the workplace has been accused of senators and the President along with menial wage-earners.
Couldn’t mandatory sexual harassment education seminars for all employees and employers be successful in eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace? According to Constance Jones:
Words and/or deeds constitute sexual harassment if:
1. The perpetrator would not say or do them in the presence of a spouse or lover;
2. The perpetrator would not feel comfortable having them reported in the local paper or news broadcast; or
3. They are not necessary to the business at hand, whether it’s closing a deal or riding a bus. (36)
Of course there are some exceptions where the perpetrator doesn’t care who witnesses their actions. But if all employees and employers were educated on the definition of sexual harassment, they would be more leery of making subtle jokes, remarks, or suggestions.
“Sexual harassment is first about power and second about sex” (Jones 2). In the workplace there are countless examples of people in higher positions of power promising lower wage earners more social and economic power in exchange for sexual favors. In many of these situations, the company where the harasser and victim work has a sexual harassment policy. But because of wording or other misunderstanding, workers and employers are sometimes confused in what constitutes sexual misconduct. As Barbara Spyridon Pope, a Navy assistant secretary, has said, “Having a policy is fine, but by itself it isn’t enough.” (Fisher 292). Pope’s surveys show that 60-90% of all U.S. workers know there is a policy but don’t understand what it says.
Even the EEOC Guidelines On Sexual Harassment, from The 1990 Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex states that:
Prevention is the best tool for elimination of sexual harassment. An employer should take all steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring, such as affirmatively raising the subject, expressing strong disapproval, developing appropriate sanctions, informing employees of their right to raise and how to raise the issue of harassment under Title VII, and developing methods to sensitize all concerned. (Jones 200).
So, what kind of programs or workshops should be mandatory for workers and management? According to Anne B. Fisher, “Consultants who design sexual harassment workshops, and managers who have attended them, agree on one thing: The best training gives participants a chance to talk to each other, instead of just listening to a lecture or watching a film. In classes where men and women are asked to compare their impressions of the same hypothetical situation, real revelations can occur.” (291). Successful interpretation is evident among at least men. Anthony Guerriero, a pension consultant for the infamous company Aetna, took a sexual harassment course and says, “The guys in the class were absolutely not resistant to it, not at all. In fact, it’s a relief to have someone spell out exactly what sexual harassment is. The men in my session were all saying, ‘It’s about time.’” (Fisher 292).
A study published in 1981 by the Bureau of National Affairs showed that only 6% of companies provided sexual harassment awareness training to all their employees (Jones 12). True the study was published more than 20 years ago, but one has to wonder if the place has improved much since then.
The idea of educating workers on sexual harassment has been forced upon some workers. After a female midshipman was chained to a urinal, taunted and photographed by her male classmates during a hazing ritual at a U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the Pentagon directed all military service branches and academies to initiate programs to eliminate harassment, outlining seven minimum requirements to be made by the programs (Jones 14).
After the famous Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas televised hearings, many companies, corporations, and institutions realized the importance of developing a sexual harassment policy and enforcing it (Jones 16). But this isn’t enough, millions of sexual harassment in the workplace cases appear in courts every year. Clearly the perpetrators in these cases need to be made aware of what they have done that constitutes sexual harassment.
As in the Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc. case, an employee (Teresa Harris) experienced constant sexual harassment by the president of the company. After two years of enduring her boss’s dirty jokes, lewd comments, and sexual innuendo, Harris complained to her boss. He expressed surprise when she claimed that she was offended by his “jokes” and promised to stop (Jones 54).
Even though workshops on sexual harassment for employees and their employers may not prevent all cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, it may eliminate a majority of these cases, as in the case where a woman who was being sexually harassed but who failed to properly assure company officials and lost her case before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Coates was continually harassed by a co-worker, but since she didn’t report it to her manager for six months, the courts denied her case (Fair Measures 1).
The extreme in this situation is companies overreacting in sexual harassment accusations, like in the case of Louis Kestenbaum. Kestenbaum was vice president of a secluded ranch and spa that Pennzoil operated in N.M. In January of 1984, someone wrote an anonymous letter to Pennzoil’s top management accusing Kestenbaum of sexual harassment. He denied the allegations but was fired anyway. He sued Pennzoil for wrongful discharge and won. Pennzoil’s in-house investigator admitted in court that she had relied on rumor and innuendo in firing Kestenbaum (Fisher 291).
And on the opposite of that, despite sexual harassment policies and/or workshops, 55% of women in a survey by Working Woman say most sexual harassers get off scot-free (Jones 20).
The states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia had no state laws covering sex discrimination or sexual harassment, as of 1994. This is a serious pickle. Who knows if workshops or seminars on sexual harassment can correct it, but the alternative is not acceptable.
Companies can no longer afford the alternative. Research by Freada Klein Associates estimates that sexual harassment costs the average large corporation $6.7 million a year (Fisher 290). And Bettina Plevan, an attorney in NYC that specializes in defending companies against sexual harassment lawsuits, says that employers spend an average of $200,000 on each complaint that is investigated in-house and found to be valid, whether or not it ever goes to court (Fisher 290). Richard Hafets, a labor lawyer in Baltimore, believes, “sexual harassment could be tomorrow’s asbestos, costing American business $1 billion in fees and damages in the next five years” (Fisher 290).
So, to reduce costs, eliminate a “hostile environment”, and to keep companies’ reputations from being dragged through the dirt, mandatory sexual harassment education seminars for all employees and their employers seems like the moral thing for all companies to do.
“Failure to file sexual harassment complaint excuses company delay.” Fair Measures. 21 Dec. 2001. http://www.fairmeasures.com/whatsnew/archive/fall/98/new05.html.
Fisher, Anne B. “Sexual Harassment: What To Do? ” The Informed Argument: A Multidisciplinary Reader and Guide. Ed. Robert K. Miller. Fort Worth: Harcourt, 1998.
Jones, Constance. Library In A Book: Sexual Harassment. New York: Facts On File, 1996.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Awareness by on Jul 3rd, 2011. 
Father’s Day is a joyous time for most families, as they honor their father with gifts and other ways to show dad how much he is loved and appreciated. But for those of us whose father has passed on, Father’s Day can bring a sense of sadness and loss. Yet there are ways that we can still honor our deceased father on Father’s Day.
Visit Him
Take a trip down memory lane by going to one of your father’s favorite places. Perhaps he had a favorite fishing spot, from which many “fish stories” originated. Maybe he had a favorite place he liked to walk, to golf, or a favorite restaurant. Go to this current spot of dad’s and he will be walking right along side of you.
Visit your father’s final place of rest. Take white flowers, which is the symbol of a deceased loved one. There are also many nice plaques and statuettes available at monument companies, garden centers and retail stores in the garden department that articulate love for a departed loved one. You may want to honor dad by placing one of these at his final place of rest. Spend time there; update dad on everything positive going on with you and the family.
Cook For Him
One thing about dads is that they love to eat. On this Father’s Day, prepare dinner with all dads’ favorites, right down to his favorite dessert. Don’t forget to set a place for him at the table, because he will be there. Perhaps family members can go around the table and command him of a special or unbiased fun memory they have of time spent with him. If that is too much for your family, then spend some quiet time with dad to tell him how much you love him on Father’s Day and every day.
Give For Him
If dad had a well-liked charity, consider a donation to that charity in his memory. If dad died of a specific disease or medical condition such as a heart attack, mediate a donation to the American Heart Association. If he died of cancer, mesothelioma, COPD or diabetes, then a donation in his memory to the American Cancer Society, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, American Lung Association, or American Diabetes Association would be a nice gesture. But when considering a charity, only give to well-known, reputable charities. Many of the scams easily fool people these days.
Plant a Tree for Him
Now is the time when garden centers have a wonderful selection of trees, perfect to plant in the back yard in memory of dad. Consider a small plaque at the base of the tree with dad’s name and that it is to honor him on Father’s Day.
However you choose to honor your deceased father on Father’s Day, there is no wrong way, and he will surely be looking down smiling, knowing that his child is such a wonderful, loving person.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Awareness by on Jul 5th, 2011.
Asbestos is a major concern today because of the relationship it has with lung cancer and some other fatal conditions. Asbestos has been shown to be a major risk and can drastically increase the risk of lung cancer. This is especially disturbing because of the titanic number of commercial uses that it has been put into because if its natural properties, and the same asbestos is now causing lung cancer in many people today.
So what is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a very useful naturally occurring mineral that has been used in many commercial uses because of its asbestos and chemical resistance, along with the dreadful conductivity of electricity. Asbestos occurs in form of bundles of fibers, and has four forms that are used in different industries:
Chrysolite or white asbestos, Crocidolite or blue asbestos, Amosite or brown colored fibers, and Anthophyllite or gray colored fibers. Asbestos fibers are noted for breaking into tiny particles that are swallowed or inhaled and can cause serious health problems, one of which is lung cancer.
Health Concerns With Asbestos
Asbestosis is the one of the most sinister disorders that Asbestos causes. Asbestosis is a lung disorder that causes shortness of breath, coughing and can eventually lead to permanent damage to lungs. The other in-the-news health hazard posed by asbestos is the mesothelioma cancers that it can cause. These are membrane based cancers that cover the chest, larynx, kidney, intestinal tract, abdomen and such.
Occupational diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma are many times a allege result of regular exposure to asbestos. The most dangerous trades in terms of asbestos exposure are insulation in construction, manufacturing of asbestos related products such as tiles, shipbuilding companies, mining and milling industries, demolition workers, firefighters, brake repair and some other trades. All the workers in these occupations were, until very recently, in a very actual pains of encountering asbestos related problems. Drinking water that had asbestos particles in it, or just inhaling and swallowing asbestos particles can easily cause lung cancer and other permanent wound. There are many new guidelines that were introduced recently because of these effects of asbestos.
New Guidelines and What’s Being Done Against It:
Workers face almost no risks of asbestos based disorders anymore today. This is primarily due to the stringent norms that have been achieve into effect recently. However, workers who have been exposed to even just a small amount of asbestos can accumulate infections that could, if not countered, can lead to full blown lug cancer. The danger extends not objective to the workers, but also to their families who can encounter lung cancer and other asbestos related problems easily just from the particles on the primary worker’s clothes. Now, most places enforce a strict code that requires the workers to shower and change their clothes before they leave the workplace.
One of the biggest challenges that asbestos related lung cancer and other conditions curtail is the dormant nature of these diseases. These diseases can remain dormant in the body for anywhere from a decade to over 40 years. As such, it is very difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages. Generally, by the time the symptoms are actually visible, the disease has progressed enough to leave hardly any chance of survival. Asbestos and it’s related conditions are another great example of original science making a hastily decision that has millions of lives.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Symptoms by on Jul 7th, 2011.
You don’t have to be “old” to start being concerned about changes in your skin. A blistering sunburn during childhood could come back to haunt a relatively young person decades later.
There has been a lot of publicity over the years of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, that kills 10,000 people every year in the U.S. But not a whole lot of media attention is ever given to the most common form of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
SCC rarely metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body), but this is no consolation to people who lost a family member to it. It CAN spread in about 10 percent of cases. That may not seem like a big percentage, but to actual patients, it may as well be 100 percent.
Now, here’s the problem: SCC sometimes arises out of a precancerous skin condition called actinic keratosis (AK), also called solar keratosis or “sun damage.” But AK can initiate developing very subtly, to the point where it’s hardly noticed, if it’s noticed at all. AK looks different on one person to the next, though it in general can be described as a rough, pink patch of skin that does NOT usually itch. It sometimes can be more felt with the fingertips, than seen.
The pinkish patch may be so vague as to be hardly noticeable, but over time, it becomes a darker pink or reddish — not apple red, but more like a magenta patch on the skin. And it doesn’t go away on its own. These patches cause little more than a cosmetic nuisance if they are on the face, which is where they often pop up. Other areas they can develop is any area of your body that has gotten a lot of sun exposure over the years, or in areas that blistered from sunburn.
If these patches prove up on the backs of the legs, or your back, they’ll likely go unnoticed for many years. If they appear on your face, and especially if you don’t have medical insurance, your only thought might be, “Hmm, what’s that? I’ll just put some concealer on it.” If you’re a man and have facial hair, you may never be aware of the AK — until it starts getting worse — elevated, bumpy, crusty.
AK can just sit there for decades. Many people are walking around right now with AK somewhere on their skin, and don’t know it — because they haven’t discovered it, or because they don’t contemplate anything of a little pink patch on the skin — as long as it doesn’t itch, crust or ooze. AK is very common.
But it is something to get checked out by a doctor. Sometimes the diagnosis is made on the area, and sometimes a biopsy is ordered to rule out dermatitis or an extremely rare form of skin cancer, subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma — which can present very similarly to AK as far as appearance.
If left untreated, 10 percent of AK’s become SCC (which takes years to “morph” into), the skin cancer. AK can be treated with liquid nitrogen or a topical cream. Liquid nitrogen doesn’t always get the job done, in which case, a cream is prescribed. AK will not return in the spot that it was treated, because the place gets replaced by fresh, unmarred new cell growth.
But once a person gets AK, he should check his skin every month (like everyone should, actually), but to be more alert to AK. A visit to the doctor yearly or every six months is recommended, since a dermatologist can check areas that you can’t readily see, such as behind or on the ears (where AK can develop; when on the ears, it takes the form of a nodule with a tiny horn at the tip).
AK is called “precancerous” because its cells are atypical. And atypical cells are more likely to ever become malignant than typical cells. But AK doesn’t mean it will turn into SCC — unless it’s left untreated, and even then, only 10 percent become malignant. But come by it treated, especially because oftentimes, when left untreated, it gets ugly, and if you delay treatment, you can end up with nasty scars.
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Jul 8th, 2011.
If you have been taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acid indigestion and heartburn relief, you may want to pay special attention and read on: there may be a time-bomb ticking away in your digestive tract.
When I saw my family physician for a routine, annual visit, I happened to ask him about my frequent bouts of indigestion. I jokingly said that my wife has been prodding me to do this. He asked me the usual questions, such as how many times a week do you experience heartburn, what do you take when you have an episode, are there any particular foods or beverages that seem to trigger it, and do you ever have acid regurgitate into your esophagus at night while sleeping? I answered yes to all of them. I routinely ingested Tums, Maalox, Zantac, and even tried Prilosec when it went OTC. When I had break-through acid indigestion with that, I knew it was time to get it checked out.
But I couldn’t pinpoint any specific foods that cause my heartburn. In fact, as I mentioned to the doctor, there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the episodes. Some things seemed to bother me at times, and not at other times. He then suggested I see a stomach guy (Gastroenterologist) who would most likely “go down and take a seek at the upper digestive system”. In medical terminology, it’s called an endoscopy.
The thought of having a tube shoved down my throat wasn’t too appealing, and I almost started whining away, offering excuses, until my doctor reassured me that I would be “knocked out”. I relented and had an appointment scheduled to examine the stomach guy. He examined me and asked a bunch of the same questions that my primary care doc asked me. I was then set up for the endoscopy exam at my local hospital.
Why am I relating all of this you ask? Because if you have had similar problems with acid indigestion on a frequent basis, like three or more times a week, your self-treatment is only treating the symptoms and not the cause. Read on.
The endoscopy involves fasting from food and beverages for 12 hours before the procedure. Only a small amount of water can be taken in the morning if you have pills to take. An IV is started and you are sitting comfortably on a hospital gurney, talking to the RN. Shortly before the procedure start time, she injects some sedatives into the IV. I had Demerol and Versed for mine. You are then positioned on your side, while the effects of the sedatives kick in. She told me to terminate my eyes, as it would help if the lightheaded feeling was too much. I closed them and the next thing I knew was being asked how I felt. The procedure only takes about 20 minutes or so, and I didn’t remember anything except closing my eyes and being totally relaxed.
My family doctor reviewed the results with me today by and he told me I had Barrett’s Esophagus. That’s a term that describes erosion of the lining in the esophagus from stomach acids regurgitating (acid reflux) back up through the valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach. It destroys the surface cells and replaces them with pre-cancerous ones.
Barrett’s is characterized as a pre-malignant condition, meaning there’s a high correlation between this and cancer of the esophagus developing later on. Scary stuff. If I hadn’t asked about my exiguous indigestion problem, I would not have had this discovered.
Here are some even scarier statistics (source – http://www.barrx.com/Healthcare_Professionals/index.cfm/11):
- Patients with Barrett’s esophagus have an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (cancer), 30 to 125 times higher than patients without this condition.
- Every year, approximately 14,550 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with esophageal cancer
- The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has risen approximately six-fold in the U.S. It is rising faster than breast cancer, prostate cancer, or melanoma.
- Even with aggressive therapy, the 5-year survival rate from adenocarcinoma is only about 16%.
There’s an even scarier statistic: a study conducted by the VA and Stanford University found that 25% of the patients over 50 years of age were found to have Barrett’s Esophagus, even though they had no acid reflux symptoms.
There are a lot of medications you can take to back the symptoms, including alternative medicine, homeopathic “cures”, OTC, etc. But, if you have recurring acid indigestion and/or reflux, especially if you are over 50 years age, you really should discuss it with your physician. Treating the heartburn yourself will NOT solve the cause of it. Read the material in the links I’ve provided. Your life may depend on it.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Treatment by on Jul 9th, 2011.
According to cancer.org, cancer begins when cells in a share of the body inaugurate to grow out of control. Cancer cells are abnormal cells that do not die, but rather continue to grow at an abnormal rate where it invades and kills healthy tissue. Some cancers are easy to spot because they have clear warning signs and evident tumor growth, however, other forms do not exhibit noticeable warning signs or symptoms. In this article, we will discuss two of the rarest deadly forms of cancer, why they are dangerous, and possible treatment options.
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer tops our list for rarest and most deadly forms of cancer as it often exhibits no initial warning signs and has a high fatality rate. According to the Mayo Clinic website, pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose in early stages, spreads posthaste to other healthy tissue, and is easiest detected after the cancer spreads, which makes surgical removal impossible. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, beefy in the stool, pale colored stools. Most forms of pancreatic cancer occurs in people over 60 years of age, and has less than a 5% survivability rate (wrongdiagnoses.com). The most accepted risk factors for pancreatic cancer are from risky behavior such as smoking, diabetes, obesity, diet, and genetics. Although treatable by surgical removal in the early stages, pancreatic cancer is very hard to treat once it develops and spreads throughout the body. Chemotherapy and surgery are the leading cures for the cancer, but have a outrageous success rate because symptoms do not typically develop until the cancer has spread.
Mesothelioma
According to Mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org, mesothelioma is a rare form of lung, heart, and abdomen cancer that develops in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the lining that covers internal organs in our body, which help protect them from damage and friction. Once mesothelioma forms beyond a benign tumor, patients typically live one year or less after diagnosis (asbestos.com). Asbestos exposure is a leading cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos are tiny fibers from common items such as insulation and building materials that stick to the linings of the lungs, heart, and abdomen and cause inflammation and eventually cancer. Mesothelioma is an incredibly slow growing cancer that takes 15-50 years to build after exposure. Although early symptoms are often benign, advanced stages of the diseases exhibits the following symptoms, persistent dry or raspy cough, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, night sweats, fatigue, shortness of breath, and lumps under the skin on the chest (asbestos.com). I recently had a college friend who was diagnosed with the disease in its early form at the age of 20; however, the tumor was removed by surgery, which saved his life. Treatment for mesothelioma is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, however, treatment is often not effective in the late stages of the disease.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms
http://pathology.jhu.edu/pc/BasicCauses.php
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/p/pancreatic_cancer/basics.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/ds00357
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_cancer.asp
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/treat.htm
http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.phphttp://www.mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org/mesothelioma-cancer-mesothelioma.html
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Jul 13th, 2011.
Lung cancer is a killer. It is responsible for more cancer deaths worldwide than any other cancer, and it kills more women than breast cancer. An estimated 90% of lung cancers result from tobacco utilize.
As with most cancers, early detection of lung cancer can improve the prognosis for this disease. Therefore, you should know the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
In about 25% of the cases of lung cancer there are no symptoms when it is detected. These cancers usually are spotted when an x-ray or CAT scan is ordered for a purpose other than screening for lung cancer.
In 75% of cases of lung cancer, there are symptoms. Please label that these symptoms do not mean you have lung cancer, because many of them can result from other medical problems. However, they could be warning signs that you should see your doctor.
Famous signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:
1. Breathing problems. Possible signs of lung cancer include shortness of breath and having trouble catching your breath, hoarseness, wheezing, coughing up blood (or blood in the sputum), a chronic cough, and a cough that worsens over time. Breathing problems may result from obstruction of the airways in the lungs, inflammation in the lungs or collection of fluid in the lungs, among other things.
2. Chest hurt. A dull, aching and persistent pain in the chest can be a sign of lung cancer.
3. Recurrent respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia or chronic bronchitis are sometimes symptoms of lung cancer.
4. Collapse of the lung or part of the lung if the tumor blocks a large airway; this, in turn, can result in infection or pneumonia.
There also can be indirect effects of the lung cancer as a result of the chemicals released by the cancer. These are called paraneoplastic syndromes. They can include clubbing of the fingers (or the growth of extra tissue under the fingernails), formation of unique bone along the lower legs and arms, anemia, skin rashes, unexplained loss of appetite and loss of weight, and unexplained fatigue and weakness.
Lung cancer can metastasize or spread beyond the lungs to other organs, such as the liver, bones, brain, adrenal glands, and esophagus. Metastatic lung cancer can cause a variety of other symptoms depending on the organ that is affected. For example, if the cancer spreads to the esophagus it might cause difficulty swallowing, while cancer in the bones can cause intense pain, sometimes in the back, thighbones and ribs. Cancer that has spread to the brain might affect vision, cause seizures or weakness on one side of the body, or result in severe headaches.
Sources:
www.medicinenet.com, Lung Cancer Signs and Symptoms by MedicineNet.com
www.emedicinehealth.com, Lung Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Stages and Prevention on eMedicineHealth.com
www.lungcancersymptoms.org, Lung cancer symptoms you must know about
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Filed under Mesothelioma Symptoms by on Jul 16th, 2011.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma, or cancer of the lower esophagus, has risen by 450% in the U.S. since the 1970s. The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma increases with obesity, smoking, and poor nutrition. Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition that causes stomach acid to be regurgitated back into the esophagus, can also be a factor in the development of some cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma. GERD can lead to Barrett’s Esophagus (BE), a condition where cells of the tissue lining the lower esophagus transform from normal squamous cell tissue into columnar epithelial cells, similar to cells typically found in the lower intestine, in a process called metaplasia. BE is considered to be a precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Although having BE means an increased risk of lower esophageal cancer, only about one percent of BE patients actually develop esophageal adenocarcinoma, and only a small percentage of people with GERD develop BE. Still, getting GERD under control early on is an important step in cancer prevention.
The esophagus is the muscular tube where food passes from the mouth to the stomach. At the lower end, the esophageal sphincter opens to allow food to pass into the stomach, and then closes again. If the esophageal sphincter malfunctions, due to a weakness in nerve or muscle, the esophagus will not close completely. In the case of GERD, stomach acid backs up through the malfunctioning esophageal sphincter, into the esophagus, a condition known as acid reflux. Chronic GERD can lead to BE, because the esophageal lining is not designed to tolerate stomach acid. BE develops over time, in response to hurt from stomach acid.
Being overweight and smoking are two of the most indispensable risk factors for both GERD and BE. Alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and diet, are also important factors. Risk of GERD and BE increases with age, although BE can affect people of all ages. Medications, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can cause peptic ulcers, and long term users are twice as likely to design GERD. Other drugs may play a role as well. Whites and Hispanics are at greater risk than blacks and Asians, and men are at greater risk for BE than women.
Heartburn and acid reflux are symptoms of GERD. More serious symptoms requiring immediate evaluation by a doctor include difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, bloody stools, and unintentional weight loss. BE has no noticeable symptoms. A doctor can diagnose BE by examining throat tissue for changes in color.
Having GERD does not indicate a predisposal to cancer, but managing GERD can prevent BE, a pre-malignant condition. Incidence of adenocarcinoma in BE patients is higher than in the general population, and once cells have undergone metaplasia, they cannot be transformed back into normal squamous cells. Specific lifestyle changes can help to reduce occurrences of acid reflux, and therefore lop the risk of developing BE. A physician may recommend weight loss, quitting smoking, avoiding foods that trigger heartburn, and taking antacids or other medications to block heartburn. Some GERD patients sleep with the upper body in an elevated residence, in order to prevent reflux during sleep. A diagnosis of severe GERD or BE usually calls for aggressive treatment, including medications, non-surgical procedures, or in some cases surgery.
According to the Mayo Clinic, gastroesophageal reflux can be traced to about one third of esophageal cancers. Therefore, it is vital to control GERD before it becomes BE. Common sense measures that promote good health in general are effective in controlling GERD, and preventing BE. We hear it over and over, but once again won’t hurt. Following a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, getting regular use, controlling weight, not smoking, and taking an active role in your own health maintenance will go a long way in preventing serious complications like BE, and a whole lot of others too.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/barretts/index.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/esophageal-cancer/DS00500
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Filed under Mesothelioma Symptoms by on Jul 17th, 2011.
A year ago, I was faced with the hardest decision ever! Go to college or not go to college. To live life with the proper education or not live with the proper education. Make more money than the worker with the high school diploma or not make more money than the worker with the high school diploma. Despite, my high rank and intelligence, the hefty price of a four year education looked like more than I or my parents could handle. But it was the choice between “dying” with a mediocre life without an education or in a sense or “living” with a life full of excitement and prosperity that a college education would provide! I chose to live! Through faith in God, scholarship research, positivity and support from my loved ones, I am a freshman at the University of Texas in Austin; and my college future is financially secure!
I am not the only one who had to make a choice between desires, and what life has handed out! James Rhio O’ Conner was diagnosed with the deadly cancer Mesothelioma and only given, get this, six months to live! Most people, given six months to live, would cry their eyes out and give up on living. Rhio had other plans. He had worthy to live for and death was not an option! He chose to live. With his faith, extensive research on cancer treatments, and constant positivity, he battled the Mesothelioma and won! He lived seven years passed his life expectancy. That is amazing!
Mesothelioma is a dire disease, so it’s a wonder that Rhio survived for that long! The most common arrangement to get the disease is through exposure to the fiber asbestos. When this fiber is inhaled it sticks to the mucus of the Mesothelioma and causes the growth of cancer cells. For James Rhio O’Conner, according to the doctors, surgery was irrelevant, radiation treatment would only make it worse, and chemo was the only option. However, Rhio decided to take the road less traveled! He began to research alternate treatments. He talked to doctors, other researchers, and patients. James would not give up until he found his reply! And then he had it! The light bulb moment! The key to his success! He changed his eating habits and lived a healther lifestyle. Rhio also changed his outlook on life, he become more positive. He spent more time with his family, and settle to live life to the fullest!
Before reading James O’Conner’s story, I would have handled a dire diagnosis in a very negative plot. However, reading his story would give me hope! Because I am a Christian, I gain in God, my higher power. He has already given me the financial means to attend the University of Texas Austin, so why wouldn’t he heal me of a disease. I would rely on my faith, and leer for the support of my parents and other Christians. The abet would maintain me inspiration, and aid me know that there is so much more to live for. Like seeing my younger brothers, graduate high school, college, and continue on to achieve their dreams! Like seeing my dreams, of being a professional actress arrive true. Glorifying God, through achieving my dream, would help me fight for life. I believe that God has a divine purpose for my life that I must live out!
Knowledge is power! In Rhio’s case, knowledge was the power to choose a longer life. Powerful like he did, I’d research, interview, and search for ways to cure, or manage the cancer while I waited for divine healing. Nowadays, there is tons of information on the internet. I’d exercise information from medical journals, and magazines. I’d even enlist the help of my internet-savvy mother to help me in my search! By looking for the ways to help myself, I hold that God would open up doors of information to help me cope with the cancer.
It’s a proven fact that people who have a more positive attitude have better lives. They are the ones who search for younger longer, have better love lives, and more prosperity. This goes with health also! If I was diagnosed with a dire prognosis, I wouldn’t cry. Okay maybe I would for a little while, but after I dry my tears I’d drive to my parent’s house and tell them how considerable I loved them. We’d watch movies, and talk about things that make us laugh. I’d smile and somehow feel better about life. In my 18 years of living, I have only had one encounter with death. The death of my favorite Aunt; when I was just sixteen years old. I remember looking at her in her casket realizing that she wouldn’t see me graduate high school magma cum laude, or go on to attend college. It was in that instance that I learned the importance of living life with a happy attitude. There are so many things that may go wrong in life, but if you look a little harder, there are so many more things that go right!
James Rhio O’Conner. A man who had cancer. A man who experienced hardships. A man who looked death in the eye and said, “No, I am not going to die!” Mesothelioma was just an obstacle to overcome, not a death sentence. Like this man, if I were faced with the same situation, I would survey beyond the traditional treatments and look to positivity, prayer, and knowledge to cure my sickness. I’d spend more time with my loved ones so that I’d know that there is something to live for. I’d continue on my quest to achieve my goals. James Rhio O’Conner battled the most deadly construct of cancer, Mesothelioma and lived seven years instead of the six months doctors predicted. I could too! The doctors don’t have the last word, God does.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Awareness by on Jul 18th, 2011.
Hyde Park square is a hub of activity. Any day of the week residents of Hyde Park in Cincinnati, Ohio can trip out of their front doors and find a myriad of interesting events just steps away at the neighborhood square. Local residents fondly refer to Hyde Park Square as “the square.” Centered around Kilgour Fountain, it has been a social gathering place for over 200 years. Benches surround the fountain and the square, creating an open-air market feeling that encourages people to sit down and stay a while.
Looking like a scene out of a Hollywood movie, Hyde park Square is a notable part of the community. It offers a local fire department, numerous churches, a pubic library, countless eateries, clothing shops, a post office, banks, a funeral home and numerous annual planned activities. The square is surrounded in all directions by pretty homes. Local residents have created a friendly neighborhood atmosphere that thrives on social interaction. Whether visiting the area or a original resident, you can quickly become accustomed to this idyllic neighborhood. There is no need to feel like an outsider here.
Restaurants and eateries circle Hyde Park Square offering something for every appetite. The Echo Restaurant is a fifties style dinner with the great home cooking that no neighborhood should be without. It opened in 1945 and has been a neighborhood landmark ever since. Breakfast, lunch and the occasional supper are served here. The Echo has become a Hyde Park tradition for Sunday Brunch.
Right around the corner is Grater’s, a Cincinnati ice cream shop that is known world wide for its French churn style ice cream. As summer approaches families make the walk to Graters. A line can often be seen extending out of the front door onto Hyde Park Square as neighbors bump into neighbors and the socializing begins. Ample seating is provided inside, but the benches on the sidewalk in front of the store are the ideal place to enjoy the creamy cold concoction. Voted the number one ice cream in America by Oprah Winfrey and the locals! This is a must eat if you are ever in the Cincinnati area.
Have a seat outside at the local coffee shop Awakenings and people discover to your heart’s content. Small European style café tables are provided on the sidewalk in front of the store. Located Directly across from the Hyde park fire department you can seek as the firemen play corn hole, a local game where opponents try to score points tossing a bag of corn through a hole in a board 30 feet away. Following the rules, the first team to rep 21 points wins. Often neighborhood children join in the fun. As you sit you will notice people and their dogs strolling by. An extremely popular neighborhood activity in Hyde Park is walking the dog. Shops place bowls of water near the parking meters outside their shops offering refreshment to the four-legged citizens.
The Hyde Park Square is a local hot spot for the nightlife. Bars like Teller’s and Arthur’s offer up great food and great drinks. Patrons crowd in to watch their Cincinnati Bengals on Sundays. Both restaurants have cozy outdoor seating areas that are perfect for an informal night out. The caviar crowd can find their fix at a sizable spot to see and be seen, Beluga. It is a hip nightspot known for its appetizers. Guests are greeted by neon blue lighting that makes Beluga visual unique. The square also includes a wine bar as well as a cigar and martini bar. Other restaurants offer shaded outdoor seating areas located directly in front of their establishments, giving patrons a birds-eye conception of the entire square.
Every Sunday Hyde Park Square is home to a local farmer’s market. Open from 10:00am until 1:00pm, the market is one of the newer additions to the square’s many activities. Offering locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, the market has quickly become a new common among residents.
Every fall the square hosts the Annual Hyde Park Square Art Note, featuring artists of all types. It is one of the most prestigious juried shows in Cincinnati. It was begun in 1966 as a way to promote community activity in the position and continues to be a major crowd pleaser to this day. Local artists as well as those from nearby Indiana and Kentucky are all represented. Medias include photography, oil paint, watercolor, ceramics, glass, jewelry and crafts. A special youth share encourages young artists to participate as well. The streets around the square are blocked off and perfect for roaming about while taking in the beautiful art. If you want to be a part of this prove the application process begins early in the spring.
Each summer the shops in the square organize the Annual Hyde Park Sidewalk Sale. The stores elegant house, offering titanic bargains on their goods. This is a great time to dig through the racks on the sidewalk and salvage a steal from some of the trendier boutiques like Alligator Purse and Glowing Bodies. The square also features antique shops, home furnishing stores and a couple of jewelry stores.
Hyde Park Gourmet Food and Wine, located directly on the square, was voted Best Gourmet Shop by Cincinnati Search in 2001. Unique among the eateries on the square, this shop offers a wide variety of goods ranging from cheeses, to wines and specialty foods. A knowledgeable and helpful staff can help with any questions about their gourmet goods. The store offers a great assortment of premium gift baskets that are also available online. Iron tables sit in front of the store offering patrons a place to relax and bask in their goodies in this beautiful setting.
This year, a local race called The Blast held its finish line in Hyde Park Square. The purpose of the race was to raise health awareness in local businesses while raising money for charities. Proceeds benefited a number of charities including The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Refreshments of “eggs and kegs” were hosted at the finish of the race.
Visitors can stay at The Victoria Inn of Hyde Park. Just steps away from the square, this bed and breakfast is ideally located for easy access to the shops, restaurants and activities on the square. The inn offers a break from traditional hotels and is perfect for a weekend net away or a business trip.
New activates are always being added to the roster of events held at Hyde Park Square. Plans are in the works for horse drawn carriage rides to be available on Friday and Saturdays. Live music can now be found on Thursday evenings. The music is broadcasted by a local radio station, Warm 98. Plans are also underway for live jazz to be played in the square.
Check out new and continuing activities at www.hydeparksquare.org.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Awareness by on Jul 20th, 2011.