Cancer Resources

Asbestos is a silicate mineral that had proven to be very effective in a number of industries before people realized the dangers involved with its usage. Before it came under strict regulation, asbestos was a vital component of the construction industry, including many different trades involved in the building process.

Asbestos fibers are divided into two families, with six total members. First, the serpentine group contains only chrysotile. This is the most commonly found form of asbestos. Serpentine fibers tend to lay in sheets and form layers. The other group is the amphibole family. It contains amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. This family is characterized by the chain-like structure they form. From this family, amosite is the next most common asbestos fiber, and crocidolite is typically considered the most dangerous. Continue reading ‘Asbestos in the Construction Industry’ »

Advertised as a miracle substance to an unwary public, asbestos has been applied in thousands of products and in many workplaces. Though the damage caused by asbestos is not apparent initially, asbestos exposure can cause serious, debilitating, and frequently fatal diseases.

The most widespread forms of asbestos disease are pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that assaults mesothelium and is most usually found in the lung. Mesothelioma is uncommon or nonexistent in non-asbestos exposed populations but is becoming more widespread among asbestos-exposed individuals.

In the United States, there is no other common proven cause of mesothelioma other than asbestos. Unlike other types of lung cancer, mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs and not a cancer that arises inside the lung. Mesothelioma causes the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal and significantly reproduce. Continue reading ‘The Deadliest Disease – Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer’ »

Treating cancer is always very difficult, dangerous and painful. People have to go through a lot of suffering and pain, to have any chance at all. When lung cancer is not discovered early, then in most cases the patient sooner or alter ends up dying. The last moments of a cancer patient is are always very painful. But should this really be that way? Is chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer the best option?

We would all like to think, that doctors look out for our best interests and use treatments, that are the most effective. But unfortunately this is not the case, especially when it comes to treating cancer. The reason is very simple – money. Drug companies make huge profits selling drugs and other less expensive methods like natural cures and alternative treatments, would rapidly decrease their profits.

These days you can find drug ads everywhere, it is all about profits and how effective these drugs really are does not matter. In 2001 different drug companies spent around 15.7 billion dollars on TV and print ads. The message of these ads are very simple, “got a problem, take drugs.” Continue reading ‘Chemotherapy Treatment For Lung Cancer – Is it Your Best Option?’ »

When we think of asbestos usage, we primarily think of its presence in building materials during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, this is not the only industry that has found numerous uses for this substance. Militaries throughout the years have found asbestos to be a useful material in a variety of different products.

First, it’s important to understand why asbestos is so appealing, besides the fact that it causes diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos describes a family of six different types of silicate minerals. These six types are divided into two groups, serpentine and amphibole. The only member of the serpentine group is chrysotile. It is actually the most commonly used type of asbestos. The amphibole group contains amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. The second most popular type of asbestos, amosite, is present in this group. Continue reading ‘The Military and Asbestos Usage’ »

Now, everyone knows about the dangers of asbestos usage. However, we have been using asbestos for thousands of years and are only just now outlawing unsafe use of this material. Long ago, ancient people recognized the wondrous properties of asbestos that allowed it to become such a widespread product in our lives.

The first civilization that used asbestos that we know of were the inhabitants of Finland from 3,000 years ago. Communities have been found and excavated that consist of log cabins and dwellings that have asbestos mixed in as part of the chinking. Additionally, pottery shards contained the material as well.

Next, the Egyptians utilized asbestos to embalm pharaohs, and they wove it into their clothes to make them more durable. The Persians also used the substance for their dead, importing in from India to be used as a wrap for the deceased. Continue reading ‘History of Asbestos Usage’ »

Asbestos had been used for thousands of years before finally being phased out in the late 20th century. However, millions of people were exposed to the substance in the United States alone. Sadly, because we did not realize the dangers of asbestos until it was too late, many people now suffer from diseases caused by this mineral.

While asbestos is an extremely useful material due to its insulating properties against head, flame, chemicals, electricity, and degradation, it is also very hazardous. One supposedly great characteristic of asbestos is that it could easily be made into threads and spun into fabrics and added into other things like plastics and concrete. However, this also means that it can easily break off and come into contact with our bodies. Continue reading ‘Overview of Asbestos-Related Diseases’ »

Although both the Greeks and Romans noted the lung problems that arose in asbestos miners and slaves who wore asbestos fibers, we continued to use this material for the majority of the 20th century. Sadly, now we know that asbestos causes terrible health problems like asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestos was first used 3,000 years ago by ancient civilizations that populated the area that is now Finland. They used it for chinking for their houses and in pottery. Its popularity continued with the Greeks, Romans, and Persians 2,000 years ago. They mostly used the substance either in funerary rites or for cloths that often needed cleaning, such as napkins or tablecloths.

The popularity of asbestos declined until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. With the rise in machinery came the need for a material that was a suitable insulator for the heat, flames, and electricity that was either used or produced by the machines. Asbestos was found to be a perfect insulator for all of these things. Additionally, it protects against chemicals and resists degradation. As a silicate material, it also has high tensile strength and flexibility. Continue reading ‘Asbestos Usage in the 20th Century’ »

Early civilizations in what is now Finland recognized the usefulness of asbestos about 3,000 years ago. The Persians, Greeks, and Romans continued its popularity 1,000 years later. Even up through the 20th century, we utilized asbestos in a number of different products until it was phased out and banned starting in 1989.

Asbestos is extremely useful both due to its own characteristics, but also as a silicate mineral. Silicates in general tend to be highly resistant to many different things, which makes them great insulators. Silicate minerals protect against chemicals, heat, flame, and electricity. They are also highly resistant to biodegradation. Additionally, asbestos has several useful properties on its own. It has high tensile strength and is very flexible, which means that it can easily be spun into cloth as well as added to other materials. Continue reading ‘Types of Asbestos and Their Uses’ »

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has wanted to ban all uses of asbestos since 1979, and this year it’s closer to succeeding than ever before. In a recent policy speech, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said that reforming the regulation of dangerous materials and chemicals was one of her department’s top priorities. The focus of their reform is the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA is working with New Jersey senator Frank Lautenberg on legislation that he will introduce to update and toughen that law.

The original law assumed that all chemicals were benign until proven otherwise, and placed the burden of proof on the EPA. The new legislation will reverse this arrangement: manufacturers will be required to prove that their products are safe. All chemicals and materials will now be evaluated against current standards for human health and environmental safety. The revised legislation also requires that the standards be based on valid scientific research. Continue reading ‘EPA Takes Aim at Asbestos’ »

Background:

“Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs.” The disease then proceeds to affect the abdomen wall or in this case, the peritoneum. It then goes on to infect a serious of membranes in the region as well as the membranes that enclose several other major organs. Mesothelioma is most oftenly found in people who have in some way inhaled asbestos particles or other airborn particles at their job or place of residence. Although, there is no connection between mesothelioma and smoking, which is a major factor in lung cancer. While smoking has not been proven to cause mesothelioma, it has been found to increase the risk of other asbestos-induce cancer. Of the 2.6 million annually diagnosed cases of mesolthelioma, 15% to 20% are peritoneal mesothelioma. Continue reading ‘Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma’ »