A naturally occurring mineral made of tiny, durable fibers is asbestos and it is used in many industries and products in our country ever since the 19th century. During that time, the asbestos exposure risks were not known. But it is now well-documented that heavy or long-term exposure to asbestos raises the risk of a number of deadly cancers, including:
Mesothelioma – This is an extremely rare cancer, though the number of diagnoses has increased in recent years. It is almost only connected to asbestos exposure and about 2,000 people are diagnosed in the U.S. yearly.
There are three types of mesothelioma, classified according to where the cancer originates. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of this asbestos cancer, begins in the protective membrane surrounding the lungs (pleura) and may spread from there. Peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma are uncommon and it affects the lining throughout the abdominal cavity and heart.
The prognosis for those diagnosed with mesothelioma tends to be poor considering the cancer is usually not discovered until it has reached more advanced stages. For this reason mesothelioma symptoms do not usually show until 20 to 50 years after being exposed to asbestos.
Lung Cancer – Lung cancer is more common than mesothelioma, but there are also many more environmental factors that increase the risk of this deadly disease. Asbestos exposure is one such factor that is known to cause both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Laryngeal Cancer – Asbestos exposure is also linked to cancer of the larynx, or voice box. Sore throat, hoarseness and ear pain are symptoms of laryngeal cancer; the prognosis depends on what stage the cancer is at that time.
Kidney Cancer – Many studies have linked exposure to asbestos to an increased risk of kidney cancer. More research suggest a connection between asbestos and other cancers like colon cancer, intestinal cancer, esophageal cancer and cancer of the gallbladder.
Who is at Risk for Asbestos Cancer?
Prolonged or heavy exposure to asbestos most frequently occurs in certain workplace environments. Some occupations where the risk of asbestos exposure is greatest include:
Construction and demolition
Shipbuilding and shipyard work
Drywall installation and removal
Automotive brake repair
Firefighting
The reason asbestos exposure is so dangerous is that when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, the fibers may become airborne and individuals may unknowingly inhale them. These microscopic fibers can become lodged in the lungs or other internal tissues and organs, causing the development of cancer and other non-cancerous illnesses like asbestosis (a chronic lung ailment).
It is true that not all instances of exposure to asbestos are preventable, many times employers have a responsibility to decrease the risk of exposure and teach their workers measure to prevent this. If you have cancer because of asbestos, you may be entitled to some compensation. Talk to an experienced attorney now for an evaluation of your case at no cost to learn more about your legal rights.
Filed under Cancer by on Apr 2nd, 2010. Comment. 
Breast cancer is a major health threat to women around the world. The number of women affected by breast cancer is shooting up every year. The sad thing is early diagnosis and treatment can lead to an almost 100 per cent cure rate among those affected by this illness. Often the problem is not the unavailability of treatment for breast cancer, but late diagnosis. Awareness of the symptoms of breast cancer is the only way to assure that every person with the disease will get an early diagnosis. Many charities and cancer foundations have launched breast cancer awareness programs with this fact in mind.
The mass appeal of the LiveStrong yellow cancer bracelets from the Lance Armstrong foundation led breast cancer foundations to launch the breast cancer awareness bracelets. Pink was chosen as the color for these bracelets as an expression of the feminine character. Currently millions of dollars are being generated from the sale of pink ribbons and breast cancer awareness bracelets, which is going towards supporting cancer research and for spreading awareness of the disease.
What makes breast cancer insidious is that there are no clear cut symptoms or criteria that help predict this illness. It doesn’t matter if you have a family history or not, whether you are young or old, you can still get breast cancer. Though age increases the risk of breast cancer, more than 20 per cent of the affected women are those under 50 years.
Even though breast cancer awareness bracelets first came out in pink color, they now come in a variety of colors and materials. Usually the rubber and the silicone awareness bracelets sell for around $1. These bracelets can also be made of pearl, cats eye or any other suitable material and sell for around $30. These metal and pearl bracelets can be used as jewelry, and at the same time they support a cause. Custom-made breast cancer awareness bracelets on which you can stamp any message that you want are also available.
This article is collected by a famous wedding photographer who concentrates on kitchen design and on-line currency trading.
Filed under Cancer by on Apr 6th, 2010. Comment.
