Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells of the serous membranes in the body. The most common form of mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lung, is pleural mesothelioma. Two to three thousand new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed each year.

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity, is less common than the pleural form, comprising approximately one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases diagnosed. According to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, these diagnoses are approximately 54.7 per cent male versus 45.3 per cent female, with the median age being 65-69. The latency period appears to be shorter for asbestos-exposed individuals with symptoms appearing 20-30 years after exposure rather than the 30-40 year latency more commonly associated with pleural mesothelioma.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease, which means that you have it for life. Although there’s no cure, you and your doctor can work together to control your blood sugar, which can help reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes complications.

Managing type 2 diabetes over months and years can mean making changes in your treatment plan. Diet and physical activity may control your blood sugar at first, but you may need to take medicine down the road. Over time, may need to change medicines, or add medicines, to keep your blood sugar under control. You may even need to use insulin.

Remember, you play a major role in controlling your blood sugar and helping to prevent complications. With time, the lifestyle changes and treatments your doctor suggests can become a regular part of your routine.

Support from family, friends and your healthcare team can help you deal with diabetes long-term.

Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who provides legal representation to those who claim to have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency, or other entity. Thus, personal injury lawyers tend to be especially knowledgeable and have more experience with regard to the area of law known as tort law, which includes civil wrongs and economic or non-economic damages to a person’s property, reputation, or rights.

Even though personal injury lawyers are trained and licensed to practice virtually any field of law, they generally only handle cases that fall under tort law including, but not limited to: work injuries, automobile and other accidents, defective products, medical mistakes, slip and fall accidents, and more.

The expression "trial lawyers" can refer to personal injury lawyers,[citation needed] even though most cases handled by personal injury lawyers settle rather than going to trial and other types of lawyers, such as defendants' lawyers and criminal prosecutors, also appear in trials.

Mesothelioma Lawyers - Important Information for Patients

By Michael Horwin, MA, JD*

The Law Firm You Choose

When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

  1. Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.

  2. Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.

  3. Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.

But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.

Below are two mesothelioma law firms that have impressed us with their accomplishments, successes and testimonials. If you are in another state, call us at 1-619-599-3112 and we can share with you the names of reputable mesothelioma law firms in your region.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Laser Hair Removal Chicago

Laser hair removal will work on almost any part of the body, from your legs, arms, and upper lips, chin, neck, face, to even your back or shoulders, practically anywhere.

New breakthrough laser technology can get rid of unwanted hair, quickly, easily and now with proven long-term results.

If you hate shaving, are tired of putting up with painful waxing, tweezing, depilatory creams, and all of the time that removing unwanted facial or body hair can take, laser hair removal may be right for you. Getting rid of unwanted hair can be painful and time consuming. Until now, the only options for removing unwanted hair were smelly hair removal creams, sharp razors, stinging wax or painful electrolysis needles.

Since the laser can treat lots of hair follicles at once you get much quicker (and more permanent) results than those other temporary fixes

In fact, laser hair removal is perhaps the greatest hair removal breakthrough in the last 50 years.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Once a patient is diagnosed, a doctor will likely discuss their prognosis, or probable course and outcome of the cancer’s influence on the body. The best way to avoid a poor prognosis is through early detection.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Mesothelioma Surgery

Surgical treatments for mesothelioma include three main types - diagnostic surgery, curative surgery, and palliative surgery. Some types of surgery fall into more than one category.

Surgery can only be performed during mesothelioma stages I and
For example, thoracentesis may be used as a diagnostic procedure, and as a palliative treatment to provide symptomatic relief. Only curative surgery can potentially remove all cancer from a patient with mesothelioma.

However, for curative surgery to be effective, it is particularly important that mesothelioma be diagnosed as early as possible. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is not usually diagnosed until it reaches Stage III or IV, when surgery is not an option.

mesothelioma cure

Though a cure for mesothelioma does not currently exist, many patients elect to undergo treatment to combat the cancer. Patients may also wish to participate in clinical trials conducted to test up-and-coming treatments and medications before they are released and recommended for public use. Clinical trials are extremely important in the search for a mesothelioma cure. Knowledge gained from study results greatly help medical professionals come closer to the discovery of a cure.

5-Year Survival Rates for Mesothelioma.

Certain doctors such as Dr. David Sugarbaker have actively pursued better treatment options for mesothelioma patients and have been instrumental in the quest for a cure. Utilizing a multi-modal approach, Dr. Sugarbaker has made great strides in mesothelioma treatment and has increased survival rates for mesothelioma patients.

Learning that a cure does not exist can be discouraging to mesothelioma patients and their loved ones, but stories of survivors continue to surface, instilling hope in those affected by the cancer.

mesothelioma treatment

There are several types of treatment available for patients with mesothelioma, some recommended more frequently than others. The most commonly used treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In addition, some experimental treatments are becoming more widely used, or are showing some encouraging results in clinical trials. These treatments include photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, among others.

Most of these treatments are not used in isolation. In many cases, treatment may consist of a combination of therapies. For example, surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible may be followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to remove residual cancer cells. This is one of the most common treatment options for mesothelioma among those who are candidates for surgery.

A number of alternative therapies can also be combined with traditional treatment options. Many patients choose to add alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or TENS therapy to their conventional treatment approach in an effort to enhance or compliment the treatment process. A variety of alternative therapies, including aromatherapy, meditation, or yoga, are often added to a treatment regimen to provide pain relief and foster relaxation.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma it is likely you’re interested in the various treatment options available. Working with your doctor to create the best treatment plan is an important step. Knowing what the treatment plan will do to help treat the cancer often helps patients and their families understand the process and feel more comfortable. We offer a complimentary informative packet that includes all the information on our Web site and additional information about available treatment options that you may take with you continually educate yourself and those around you about mesothelioma.

causes of mesothelioma

The causes of mesothelioma have been under study for several decades. It is estimated that nine out of ten cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos, the mineral which was once widely used in construction materials, brake pad linings, and hundreds of other products found in everyday life. Other possible but as yet unproven causes of mesothelioma cancer are discussed below.
Genetic Mutation of Cells

According to the Mayo Clinic, the causes of mesothelioma can be traced to the genetic mutation that turns healthy cells into cancer cells. These abnormal cells multiply randomly and don't die as normal cells do. The accumulation of cancer cells forms a tumor, which can invade other body tissues and spread further through the body.

It's not yet known what causes the genetic mutation that leads to the cancer mesothelioma, and the interaction of several factors appears to affect its incidence:

· Inherited conditions
· A given individual's environment
· Overall health
· Lifestyle choices such as smoking
Asbestos Exposure Initiates Mutation

This genetic mutation can apparently be initiated when asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs or other internal organs. Some 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer each year in the United States alone. Nearly all of these unfortunate individuals have asbestos exposure in their history. However, a complete determination of the exact causes of mesothelioma is desirable and would be very helpful in the fight to find a cure for this devastating disease.
A Nationwide Study of the Causes of Mesothelioma

A large-scale research and clinical study with the purpose of finding out more about the causes of mesothelioma is being conducted in the United Kingdom. This "National Study of Occupation and Lung Diseases" is designed to more closely identify causes of mesothelioma among the thousands of victims in the UK, and the results will shed light on causes of mesothelioma in individuals all over the world.
Other Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer

In studies using animals, the Simian virus (SV40) was found to cause mesothelioma. Some polio vaccines given during the mid-1950s to the early 1960s were found to be contaminated with SV40, but no definitive link between SV40 and mesothelioma has been established.

In contrast, there are a handful of documented cases of mesothelioma in patients who underwent x-ray imaging that used thorium dioxide. These x-rays have not been in use for many years because of the link between thorium dioxide and cancer.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies. It may be purchased on a group basis (e.g., by a firm to cover its employees) or purchased by individual consumers. In each case, the covered groups or individuals pay premiums or taxes to help protect themselves from high or unexpected healthcare expenses. Similar benefits paying for medical expenses may also be provided through social welfare programs funded by the government.

By estimating the overall risk of healthcare expenses, a routine finance structure (such as a monthly premium or annual tax) can be developed, ensuring that money is available to pay for the healthcare benefits specified in the insurance agreement. The benefit is administered by a central organization such as a government agency, private business, or not-for-profit entity.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. While famous for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgery also includes two main fields: cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The word "plastic" derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mold or to shape; its use here is not connected with the synthetic polymer material known as plastic.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer.[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.