Michael Douglas diagnosed with throat cancer

According to a National Institutes of Health website, use of tobacco or alcohol are among the factors that put people at risk of developing throat cancer. Combining tobacco and drinking increases the risk.

Most throat cancer develops in people older than 50, with men more likely than women to get the disease, the NIH site says.

Michael Douglas, the Oscar-winning actor, has been diagnosed with throat cancer and revealed it on the David Letterman show. Asked by Letterman about his personal habits, he said he had smoked and consumed alcohol.


Read article..

Cancer is world's costliest disease, not AIDS, malaria, flu or other diseases

NEW YORK: Cancer is the world's top "economic killer" as well as its likely leading cause of death, the American Cancer Society contends in a new report it will present at a global cancer conference in China this week.

Cancer costs more in productivity and lost life than AIDS, malaria, the flu and other diseases that spread person-to-person, the report concludes.

Chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes account for more than 60 percent of deaths worldwide...

continue reading Cancer is world's costliest disease, not AIDS, malaria, flu or other diseases

CT Scans and Others causes 29,000 new cancers a year

Doctors are exploring ways to reduce the amount of radiation exposure from medical imaging tests in light of renewed concerns about the cancer risk, according to research presented at a radiology conference.

"It's a very serious issue," says radiologist Sobhi Abadi of McGill University in Montreal, who presented his research Tuesday at a meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society in San Diego.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

The other day I was reading an article about dangerous jobs and hazardous jobs which made me very thankful for the job I do. Some of us tend to make comparisons and in the process always envision that the grass is greener on the other side. But is it really?

People who deal with materials containing asbestos including Cement Pipes, Cement Wallboard, Asphalt Floor Tiles, Vinyl Floor Tile, and Decorative Plaster, for instance, have one of the most hazardous jobs in the world. This is because asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma and Mesothelioma treatment is a painstaking process.

Mesothelioma - Q & A

Here is a good resource on Mesothelioma, lung cancer. It is a treasure trove of information pertaining to the affliction.

Resource on Mesothelioma..

Mesothelioma or lung cancer is caused by asbestos. According to Wikipedia:

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos (ἄσβεστος) is derived from a Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat.

Asbestos is toxic. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis (also called pneumoconiosis). Since the mid 1980s, many uses of asbestos have been banned in several countries.

You can read more about asbestos from Wikipedia..

Mesothelioma

Many of us know about cancer but mostly surface information. Unless one is stricken or one's next of kin contracts cancer, chances are, one will not delve into the subject too much. Cancer has become so common that more and more people know much more about it now than before.

However, there is one type of cancer that is not so common, and that is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to asbestos. There is much to be learned about mesothelioma - its diagnosis and symptoms, treatment, support and help, and others. There are many websites available that provide useful information.

Cancer Warning Signs

Early detection of Cancer can save lives. Below is a chart of 10 Warning Signs as a guide. This has been put together by NCI Cancer Hospital based on the American Cancer Society recommendations. Click on image to enlarge.