The Stigma of Lung Cancer Why Are Lung Cancer Patients Treated Differently Than Other Cancer Patients?

The Stigma of Lung Cancer Why Are Lung Cancer Patients Treated Differently Than Other Cancer Patients?

Being diagnosed with lung cancer carries a certain stigma.

”How long did you smoke?” “I didn’t know you were a closet smoker.” “Too bad he didn’t quit smoking sooner.” Unlike the unconditional support given to those with other forms of cancer, people with lung cancer often feel singled out, like somehow they “deserve” to have cancer. Where does this stigma come from?

Public Perception of a Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

There is a feeling among the general public, that lung cancer is a self-inflicted disease. Smoking is responsible for 80 to 90% of lung cancers, but let’s put this in perspective: Twice as many women die from lung cancer in the United States each year as die from breast cancer, and 20% of these women have never touched a cigarette. Even for those who smoke and develop lung cancer, why do we attach such a stigma to them? Many cancers, and other chronic diseases, are related to lifestyle choices. We don’t seem to judge as harshly those who overeat, are sedentary or sunbathe extensively.

Physicians’ Attitude Regarding Lung Cancer

Physicians are people too, and the bias we see among the public is present in the doctor's office as well. Joan Schiller, MD, the President and Founder of National Lung Cancer Partnership, and a physician who has done a lot of research on the stigma of lung cancer, surveyed primary care physicians in Wisconsin with some saddening results. Though the physicians stated that the type of cancer was not a factor in their referral decisions, results showed that:

• When hypothetical patients were presented as having advanced cancer, physicians were less likely to refer lung cancer patients to an oncologist than they were to refer breast cancer patients.
• More physicians were aware that chemotherapy improves survival in advanced breast cancer than with advanced lung cancer.
• Breast cancer patients were more likely to be referred for further therapy, whereas lung cancer patients were often referred only for symptom control.

Lung Cancer Patient’s Perceived Stigma

Those who are diagnosed with lung cancer experience more embarrassment than those with prostate or breast cancer, and individuals tend to feel stigmatized whether they smoked or not. Some people have even concealed their diagnosis leading to negative financial consequences and lack of social support.

Funding for Lung Cancer Research vs Other Cancers

Sadly, even though lung cancer kills more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined, federal funding lags behind. Funding from the private sector also pales in comparison to fund-raising efforts for some other cancers.

Clearly, lung cancer carries a stigma that extends from the government down to the individual. That said, we won’t move forward by pointing the finger and blaming ourselves, physicians, the public and the government. Each of us can make a difference by supporting those with lung cancer as we would support someone with any other form of cancer. Whether you are a lung cancer survivor, the loved one of someone living with lung cancer or a professional working with those with lung cancer, we need to raise awareness. Those living with lung cancer need and deserve our care and support, not an evaluation of the possible causes.

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_Sources:

_{Chapple A, Zieband S, McPherson A. Stigma, shame, and blame experienced by patients with lung cancer: qualitative study. British Medical Journal. 2004. 328(7454).}

_{LeConte NK, Else-Quest NM, Eickhoff J, Hyde J, Shiller JH. Assessment of guilt and shame in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer compared with patients with breast and prostate cancer. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2008. 9(3):171-8.}

_{Wassenarr TR, Eickhoff JC, Jarzemsky DR, Smith SS, Larson ML, Shiller JH. Differences in primary care clinicians’ approach to non-small cell lung cancer patients compared with breast cancer. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2007. 2(8):722-8.}

Identification of Asbestos

Identification of Asbestos
Over the years much data have been accumulated about asbestos, which suggests that amphibole asbestos and its nonasbestos analogues possess very different biologic potential.


 Davis et al demonstrated that although asbestiform tremolite was extremely carcinogenic when
injected into peritoneal cavities of rats, nonasbestiform tremolite samples had little or no carcinogenic potential. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between asbestiform and nonasbestiform amphiboles and types of fibers in bulk, air, and tissue samples. 


There are some problems related to the mineralogic techniques necessary to prepare and characterize samples. The designation of the shape and size of fibrous materials can be relatively easily revealed by optical examination. Optics became the technique of choice to investigate the occurrence of inorganic fibrous airborne particulates at occupational sites, in schools, or any buildings, and even outdoors where filters could be set up to obtain a representative aliquot of the air. 


However, the light (optical) microscope does not have enough spatial resolution and so is not sufficient on its own for positive identification of minerals. It is difficult to identify some fibers such as chrysotile in the tissue samples under the optical microscope because of the small fiber sizes. Since the small fiber size of chrysotile in the tissue samples preclude the use of optical microscopes, morphologic, chemical, and structural identifications are done by combinations of methods in order to makeunambiguous mineral identifications. 


The crystal chemical range of potentially hazardous inorganic and mineral species should be accurately identified. Morphologic identifications can be performed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical information is most commonly obtained by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) or wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS), which is an integral part of SEM or TEM. 


A relative error percentage for EDS is about 10% and for WDS is about 1%. Therefore, EDS provides only semiquantitative information, but WDS provides more quantitative information on chemical composition of the sample. 


Crystal structures can be determined by electron diffraction (ED) on samples. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) is a powerful technique providing that enough material is available, but not for a mineral present at low percentage in tissue and air samples. Certain regulations may require specific species of amphiboles; thus, quantitative chemical data may be necessary. 


For example, substitution solid solution series of amphiboles, such as a tremolite and an actinolite, must be identified. The SEM studies combined with EDS may not be conclusive because of the lack of information on the mineral structure. It is also very difficult to observe chrysotile through the electron microscope because of its beam sensitivity. 


Analysts tend to measure fibers that are more stable under beam conditions. Lung burden studies indicate that chrysotile is often inhaled as a shorter fiber than amphiboles. Therefore, in a tissue with both amphibole and chrysotile, it is possible to make a misjudgment unless the fibers are identified individually. 

The levels of sensitivity using the high-resolution techniques now available mandate that we follow up the reactions delineated as interference of inorganic materials in the biologic environment. The information on the inorganic fibrous particulates can be matched with the equally high-resolution techniques applied to analyses of tissues, with data gathered at the cellular and molecular levels. 

The advances in techniques increase the possibilities that we can test hypotheses and, it is hoped, gain greater understanding from the anatomic to the genetic of the reactions that lead to induction of disease. Coordinating ultramicroscopic levels with the health and mineralogic investigations for a particular geographic area should enable us to refine the possibilities. The exchange of information among the several disciplines is needed to advance our knowledge.

Identification of Asbestos

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Asbestos Mineralogy and Health Effects

Asbestos Mineralogy and Health Effects

Fibers and fibrous minerals, for example, the asbestos minerals, erionite (one of the many natural and synthetic zeolite species), fiberglass, or other silica forms (diatoms) have been shown to be extremely hazardous. Their airborne character is paramount, and the specific gravity of the species, the size, and an appropriate morphology that permits suspension are of primary consideration. 

Asbestos as a ubiquitous natural resource refers to several types of fibrous minerals formed by earth processes and made up of microscopic bundles of fibers. The dangers associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers haveeen known for more than 30 years. Asbestos is known as a group A human carcinogen. The potential hazards of exposure to asbestos materials are of concern worldwide. 

There are several modes of exposure to airborne fibers including occupational exposure and the erosion of natural deposits in asbestos-bearing rocks. Asbestos may also be dispersed in water from a number of sources, including erosion of natural deposits, corrosion, and disintegration of asbestos materials. Governments and industries have introduced regulatory measures requiring safety controls throughout the product life cycle to limit asbestos exposure to the general public and workers. 

Although asbestos materials have been well documented as to their physical and chemical characteristics, they remain under investigation both by mineralogists studying geologic aspects and by pathologists/epidemiologists studying medical aspects. The term asbestos may be well known, but the precise definition, safe level of exposure, duration of exposure, and asbestos types of these fibrous materials still raise questions and often lead to differences of opinions and arguments as well as legal disputes.

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Treatment Options for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Treatment Options for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a pernicious human that is directly linked to asbestos danger. By the quantify this someone is diagnosed the disease is ordinarily fine progressive. Signs and symptoms may not materialise until 20 to 60 age after being unprotected to asbestos. If diagnosed with Mesothelioma, it is insistent to become knowing nearly the divers forms of Mesothelioma treatment due to the offensive spatiality of this disease.

Mesothelioma attacks the mesothelium or the conserving application that covers and protects more of the body's intrinsic organs. One grade of this venomous sign is Peritoneal Mesothelioma. It invades the peritoneum or the unhealthy application that houses the tum, liver, spleen, pancreas and intestines.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma accounts for less than a human of all Mesothelioma cases. It is the merchandise most vernacular taxon of Mesothelioma after Pleural Mesothelioma. Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include, but are not specific to, abdominal discomfit, weakness, departure of appetency, coefficient failure, abdominal swelling and bowel obstructer.

In organisation for halal Mesothelioma communicating to begin, several factors staleness prime be seized into benignity. Info such as the extent of the mansion, the uncomplaining's overall eudaemonia, other examination chronicle and age, should be evaluated. These details need to be appropriated into chronicle to ascertain the unexcelled Mesothelioma handling for an individualistic diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

The most average forms of communication for an unshared diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma are surgery, irradiation, chemotherapy and curative therapies. Surgery may be performed to disappear component of the facing and tissue from the venter, depending on the progress of the individual and the size and positioning of the neoplasm(s).

Another state of Mesothelioma discourse for Peritoneal Mesothelioma is radioactivity therapy. Vast force x-rays are victimized for the intent of decrease tumors. Emission can be administered either externally or internally. Externally, a organization is set surface the embody to eject therapy to the germ of the human. A publication of radiation can also be internally placed on the touched expanse in the comic of destroying cancerous paper.

Chemotherapy is added identify of Mesothelioma discourse victimised to engagement Peritoneal Mesothelioma. This typewrite of handling uses drugs to undo individual cells. These can be specified either in tablet appearance or intravenously. The chemotherapy drugs save the blood water and negative off cancerous cells as it makes its way finished the body.

Cure therapy is also victimised as a spatiality of Mesothelioma management. Ascites, or fluid increase, oftentimes takes property in the stomach when an individualist suffers from Peritoneal Mesothelioma. To absolve somatesthesia and to represent the tolerant much homey agent is extracted by use of needles and suction.

Once your designation is inveterate and you soul begun handling, it is modality that you act the advice of an professional who specializes in asbestos-related malady. If a historic employer negligently unclothed you to asbestos, you are most liable to be entitled to a monetary gift to concealing your scrutiny bills, your somatesthesia and pain, and yet correctional restitution against a slack employer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rattling arduous person to deal; you can rely on your attorney to act in your good interests.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a toxic mortal that is attributed to asbestos exposure. If diagnosed, it is insistent to be knowledgeable of all communication options. As solon search is performed in the area of Mesothelioma treatment, added distance to combat this venomous disease present embellish available.
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Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.

An individual may be at risk to develop mesothelioma if he or she was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred.

Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage. At earlier stages of mesothelioma progression, more treatment options are available and oftentimes a better prognosis is given.

Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma

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