What are some coping strategies found useful by mesothelioma victims? Mesothelioma is such a disease that affects not only the person diagnosed with the disease, but his or her loved ones, too. The intention to write this article is to offer some resource for patients and their families who are living with this disease. ... What is Malignant Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant cancer cells are found in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective sac that covers most of the bodies major organs.The mesothelium is made up of two layers of cells:One layer immediately surrounds the ... Why Opt for an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney? There are many attorneys around today, some of who specialize in particular areas of law and others that deal with a wide range of legal issues. When it comes to a sensitive and often complicated area such as mesothelioma litigation, it is always ...
Common Causes of Lung Cancer
Cigarette Smoking Cigarette smoking is probably the most closely related link to developing lung cancer. A person who smokes two packs or more of cigarettes per day has a one in seven chance of developing lung cancer. Those that smoke one pack of cigarettes per day have a twenty-five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker. In addition, those people that smoke a pipe or cigar have a five times greater chance of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker.
The risk of developing lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over your lifetime. Cigarette smoking damages the cells in your lungs. The moment you stop smoking, your lungs begin healing themselves, replacing damaged cells with healthy, normal cells. Your risk of developing lung cancer begins decreasing almost immediately when you quit smoking. Every year that you do not smoke, your chances of developing lung cancer drop further. By the fifteenth year, your chances of developing lung cancer are about the same as those of a person who has never smoked.
Secondhand Smoke Also known as passive smoking, people exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis will have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, even if they do not smoke themselves. Studies have shown that those who live with a smoker have a 24% greater risk of developing lung cancer than most non-smokers. Doctors estimate that about 3000 lung cancer deaths a year are related to secondhand smoke.
Asbestos Exposure Exposure to asbestos is another well-known cause of lung cancer and mesothelioma - cancer of the pleural lining of the lungs. Asbestos was widely used in construction and everyday products in the late 1800s through the 1960s. Asbestos separates into fine silica fibers that become trapped in the tissues of the lungs. Mesothelioma is inextricably linked to asbestos exposure. There are no reported cases of mesothelioma in people who were not exposed to asbestos either in the workplace or through their environment. A non-smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a five times greater risk of developing lung cancer than a non-smoker who was not exposed. Smoking increases the risk dramatically - a smoker who was exposed to asbestos has a risk of developing lung cancer that is 50 to 90 times greater than that of a non-smoker.
Radon Gas It is estimated that about 12% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to radon gas, a colorless, odorless gas that is a natural byproduct of the decay of uranium. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 15% of homes in the United States have unsafe levels of radon gas, which will account for 15,000 to 22,000 deaths from lung cancer annually.
Air Pollution Scientists estimate that as many as 1% of all lung cancer deaths are attributable to air pollution. They believe that prolonged exposure to very polluted air can raise the risks of developing lung cancer to about the levels of a passive smoker.
Lung Protection Strategies Missing the Mark, Says CDC Safety.BLR.com, CT - 10 hours ago Despite efforts to control exposure of workers to asbestos, young employees continue to suffer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Asbestos dust led to cancer Manchester Online, UK - 18 hours ago A GREAT-grandfather who contracted deadly lung cancer from overalls coated with asbestos has won compensation. Bookshop owner Derrick Broadhurst, 82, ...
Chesapeake middle school evacuated after asbestos found The Virginian-Pilot, VA - Jan 6, 2009 Many older buildings have pipes covered with asbestos, a mineral that has been linked to lung cancer and other lung diseases. But the pipes usually lie ...
Concord family wins $1.3 million in asbestos death lawsuit San Jose Mercury News, USA - Jan 7, 2009 ... been ordered to pay more than $4.3 million in damages to the families of three Bay Area industrial pipefitters who died of asbestos-caused lung cancer. ...
Asbestos Removal is Key to a Healthy Home EVLiving - Jan 8, 2009 Used in millions of homes, asbestos insulation can be a real problem for homeowners due to causing a variety of lung ailments, such as mesothelioma. ...
