by Wendy Moyer
Asbestos is a rather remarkable naturally occurring substance. Known as "rock floss" or "mountain leather", man has found many uses for asbestos throughout the ages.
The word "asbestos" comes from the Greek name for "inextinguishable" or "indestructible." For thousands of years asbestos has been admired for its heat- and fire-resistant properties as well as its strength.
There is evidence that Egyptians, five thousand years ago, wrapped the bodies of their pharaohs in asbestos in preparation for their journey to the next world.
It's been found in ancient Scandinavian pottery.
It's been found in ancient Roman lamp wicks and table cloths. The easily cleaned their table linens by just throwing them into a fire. After which they just removed them and shook them out.
As Industrial Age machinery spread through the US and Canada, asbestos was used to insulate machinery and factories.
Around 1880 large asbestos deposits were discovered in Russia and Canada. This marked the start of the modern commercial asbestos industry.
By the beginning of the Second World War "rock floss" was extensively used in a wide range of products that included cement, insulation, packing materials, and nonflammable fabrics.
It was used in everything from clutch facings and brake shoes in cars to paper products, small kitchen appliances, and wallboards in homes.
By the time of the Korean War began asbestos was used in literally thousands of products, including cigarette filters.
Within the next twenty years the deadly results associated with the use of asbestos started to become more well known by the public.
Then, in the 1970s, the United States government began to ban the production of many products that contained this substance. Consequently, asbestos use started to decline sharply.
However, people who had regularly worked with materials and products that contained asbestos had already been exposed to the substance. And an increasingly large number of these people were succumbing to illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
In addition, the family members of employees who worked for ship building, construction, mining, and other factories whose products used asbestos were also getting ill. This happened because asbestos fibers were being brought home on the employee's clothing.
Today lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other illnesses related to asbestos are being increasingly recognized as diseases that were probably caused by second hand exposure to these fibers.
People who live close to asbestos mines may be drinking water that contains the material. People who live in homes that were constructed with asbestos products may be breathing in the fibers as these materials wear down and the fibers are released into the air.
Asbestos fibers can be contaminating drinking water as it is released from the cement pipes that are used to carry the water or after it is filtered through water filters that contain "mountain leather".
Because of these water-related risks the EPA now mandates that water suppliers regularly test water samples.
The best way to protect you and your family from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related illnesses is to limit the amount of exposure at work and at home.
About the Author
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe that it was caused by being exposed to asbestos then you may want to speak to an asbestos lawyer to find out about your legal options. If so, got to => http://www.mesorc.com now. Wendy Moyer on behalf of Sokolove Law.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis Information
Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis Information
by Peter S. Manley
Pleural Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, that may be caused largely by exposure to asbestos, that has an effect on the various layers of the pleura about the chest wall structure. A couple of signs or symptoms include things like difficulty breathing and losing weight. But, exposure to asbestos does not always lead to cancer. Therapies for it and why it affects some individuals but not others is continuously being explored.
X-rays will often verify the medical diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma after which an individual will be sent to a medical oncologist. The oncologist can ascertain what stage the patient is in and suggest treatment plans. Similar to other forms of cancer there are actually four stages. Finding a Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is hard because each and every circumstance is influenced by the patient's personal health condition and stage they are in.
When merely the outermost membrane of the pleura about the chest wall or diaphragm is afflicted by Pleural Mesothelioma it's referenced as "stage 1." At this stage the oncologist may well recommend radiation therapies. In the event the doctor makes reference to it as "stage 1b" that will indicate it may have also spread to the inner layer, nearer to the lungs, but still only having an effect on one side of the individual's chest.
Stage 2 of Pleural Mesothelioma could mean this has spread through both layers of the pleura as well as developed a mass or tumor. Around this stage the doctor might highly recommend a surgical procedure to remove the tumor and also suggest the surgery be accompanied by a series of radiation or chemotherapy treatment plans.
If it has gotten to the wall membrane protecting the peracardium, this would be viewed as "stage 3." There may nevertheless the possibility for surgical removing of the impacted tissue. Stage 3 can also mean the condition has spread to the lymph nodes on the one impacted side. At this point radiation or chemotherapy are often advised.
If it has spread to the other part in the chest wall, and/or the lymph nodes on the other side, as well as to additional areas of the body this is regarded "stage 4." At this stage there are just too many areas affected to safely and effectively remove all of the diseased tissue through surgery.
Despite the fact that in most all cases the Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is extremely poor, many people recognized with it have lasted much longer than expected. If the oncologist has not been able to present conventional treatment plans he or she may well refer the individual for one of many clinical studies that can be found.
Besides Mesothelioma that affects the pleura there is other forms of cancer that strikes the coating that covers many organs. Research is continuously being conducted to discover new remedies and upgrades to existing cures. Just like most cancers, quick medical diagnosis is very important. Never give up hope if you or a friend is diagnosed with this disease.
About the Author
If you are experiencing symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma check out our website Mesothelioma Prognosis.org to get more detailed information about the various forms of Mesothelioma and treatment options.
http://pleuralmesotheliomaprognosis.org/
by Peter S. Manley
Pleural Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, that may be caused largely by exposure to asbestos, that has an effect on the various layers of the pleura about the chest wall structure. A couple of signs or symptoms include things like difficulty breathing and losing weight. But, exposure to asbestos does not always lead to cancer. Therapies for it and why it affects some individuals but not others is continuously being explored.
X-rays will often verify the medical diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma after which an individual will be sent to a medical oncologist. The oncologist can ascertain what stage the patient is in and suggest treatment plans. Similar to other forms of cancer there are actually four stages. Finding a Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is hard because each and every circumstance is influenced by the patient's personal health condition and stage they are in.
When merely the outermost membrane of the pleura about the chest wall or diaphragm is afflicted by Pleural Mesothelioma it's referenced as "stage 1." At this stage the oncologist may well recommend radiation therapies. In the event the doctor makes reference to it as "stage 1b" that will indicate it may have also spread to the inner layer, nearer to the lungs, but still only having an effect on one side of the individual's chest.
Stage 2 of Pleural Mesothelioma could mean this has spread through both layers of the pleura as well as developed a mass or tumor. Around this stage the doctor might highly recommend a surgical procedure to remove the tumor and also suggest the surgery be accompanied by a series of radiation or chemotherapy treatment plans.
If it has gotten to the wall membrane protecting the peracardium, this would be viewed as "stage 3." There may nevertheless the possibility for surgical removing of the impacted tissue. Stage 3 can also mean the condition has spread to the lymph nodes on the one impacted side. At this point radiation or chemotherapy are often advised.
If it has spread to the other part in the chest wall, and/or the lymph nodes on the other side, as well as to additional areas of the body this is regarded "stage 4." At this stage there are just too many areas affected to safely and effectively remove all of the diseased tissue through surgery.
Despite the fact that in most all cases the Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is extremely poor, many people recognized with it have lasted much longer than expected. If the oncologist has not been able to present conventional treatment plans he or she may well refer the individual for one of many clinical studies that can be found.
Besides Mesothelioma that affects the pleura there is other forms of cancer that strikes the coating that covers many organs. Research is continuously being conducted to discover new remedies and upgrades to existing cures. Just like most cancers, quick medical diagnosis is very important. Never give up hope if you or a friend is diagnosed with this disease.
About the Author
If you are experiencing symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma check out our website Mesothelioma Prognosis.org to get more detailed information about the various forms of Mesothelioma and treatment options.
http://pleuralmesotheliomaprognosis.org/
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