Vitamin a - Possible New Drug For Mesothelioma - Other

Vitamin A is a very important vitamin to maintaining health. Vitamin A is found in foods like carrots and it is well known for its importance in maintaining eyesight. Also recent independent research studies over the last three decades have suggested that vitamin A could possibly have an impact on managing and preventing mesothelioma.

Vitamin A has many essential functions in the human body including:

- sustenance of vision

- bone growth

- Reproduction

- Cell division

- Cell differentiation

- Helping to maintain the immune system - the body's defense against infection.

Vitamin A comes from animal sources (such as liver and whole milk) and plant sources.Retinoids which are chemically related to vitamin A have been implicated as anti-carcinogenic. For example, according to an article published in a leading medical journal: "At the cellular level, the anti-leukemia and anti-cancer activity of retinoids is the result of three main actions, cell-differentiation, growth inhibition and apoptosis."

In a 1988 study performed by the National Cancer Institute, the dietary patterns of mesothelioma patients were compared to those of healthy individuals. According to the article, mesothelioma patients ate less homegrown, cruciferous vegetables and all vegetables combined before they were diagnosed compared to healthy patients. Cruciferous vegetables, also called Brassica Vegetables, include Arugula, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Watercress, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, Kale, and Mustard Greens. The researchers also pointed out that carotene intake was significantly lower for the mesothelioma patients. Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A.

In this 1996 study from the Division of Epidemiology of the American Health Foundation, the investigators examined the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma by studying 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 people without cancer. They concluded that their results provided "some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma. Provitamin A is any of the carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A and can be found in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits.

In a study from 2002, researchers looked at mesothelioma cells in vitro (in test tubes or Petri dishes outside the body) and found that retinoic acid (the oxidized form of Vitamin A) "may lead to a decrease of mesothelioma cell local invasion." They interpreted this to mean that retinoic acid may modify how mesothelioma grows and spreads in the body. This study suggests that vitamin A levels could possibly affect the aggressiveness of mesothelioma once someone is diagnosed with the disease, thus making mesothelioma metastases unlikely.

And in 2006, Australian researchers looked at former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite (blue asbestos) in Western Australia. Their findings suggested that "people with chronically low plasma levels of retinol (the fat-soluble animal form of vitamin A found in liver and eggs) have increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer."

Will vitamin A eventually become part of conventional treatment modality for the prevention or treatment of mesothelioma? These independent studies are very preliminary, but their conclusions are intriguing. In addition, there are anecdotal reports of long-time mesothelioma survivors using vitamin A as part of their healing regiments. But first a great deal more research is needed.

Mesothelioma patients willing to add Vitamin A as part of their cancer treatment should discuss with their doctor on the use of Vitamin A before proceeding on the use.

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Treatments Mesothelioma - Health

Patience might possibly be necessary to determine the precise malignancy variety and placement, but knowing these factors will definitely help the oncologist in prescribing the best possible method of mesothelioma treatments.Kinds of Mesothelioma TreatmentsIf a patient's diagnosis and health indicates that their reaction to curative treatments should be positive, their doctor may develop a course of treatments to eliminate the tumor(s) and try to prevent metastasis everywhere in the body. In case the patient is dealing with a late-stage cancer, the treatments are more likely to be palliative in nature, addressing the symptoms while enhancing the patient's total well being. Those treatments will be either palliative or curative, depending upon the patient's case.SurgerySurgery is probably the most standard treatments for mesothelioma. Patients whose cancer was diagnosed before it spread beyond the lymph nodes could possibly be eligible for curative surgery that removes the tumors. Based upon the patient's diagnosis and all-around health, mesothelioma surgeries could be either curative or palliative, and could fall somewhere in the middle if surgery attempts are effective. Mesothelioma surgery is usually accompanied by other treatments like the chemotherapy or radiation so that they can kill any remaining cancer cells.ChemotherapyChemotherapy has proved to generally be the most capable and least invasive type of treatments to boost life expectancy. Depending upon the positioning of the cancer, some patients may perhaps be qualified to receive heated chemotherapy, a solution commonly utilised for cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. Cisplatin, the most commonly used chemotherapy drug for mesothelioma, is often times applied in addition to pemetrexed to have the most advantageous results in reducing tumors.RadiationRadiation therapy directly applies radiation on the cancerous locations. This could be through either sealed or unsealed source radiatio n. Patients of all of the stages are considered to get radiotherapy, as it can be deployed in conjunction with other treatments to help reduce tumor growth and ease symptoms.Emerging & Alternative TreatmentsWhile operations, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are definitely the most widespread varieties of mesothelioma treatments, some new therapies are still in development. Immunotherapy manipulates the patient's immune system into attacking the tumors, while photodynamic therapy exposes cancer cells to photosensitizing drugs and specific lights. Gene therapy is another experimental treatment that attempts to correct defective genes which sometimes result in cancerous changes.Multimodal TherapyIn some recent study, 46% of mesothelioma patients showed a 5-year survival rate following multimodal therapyMultimodal therapy is among the most common solutions to treating mesothelioma, combining a couple of mesothelioma treatments which might be completed simultaneously or maybe i n a planned sequence. A mesothelioma specialist can most adequately analyze a patient's condition and set up a treatment regimen which might best benefit the person.Clinical TrialsClinical trials are utilized to test experimental mesothelioma treatments before they could be approved for widespread clinical use. These trials often explore new procedures and drugs and do a comparison to the current standard of mesothelioma treatments.Alternative & Complimentary TreatmentsWhen deciding on a therapy plan, some patients consider alternative and complementary mesothelioma treatments. Alternative treatments involve any unconventional treatment procedures, and complementary treatments relate to an alternative therapy utilized to supplement a minimum of one conventional mesothelioma treatments. Some mesothelioma survivors credit their remission to alternative therapies.

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Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma - Health - Cancer

The TV has lawyer commercials on all the time, "If you or a loved one has Mesothelioma." But what is it? Hopefully this article will help you understand. More attention is being called to it right now, as Merlin Olsen succumbed to it Thursday after a year long battle.

Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma Definition

There is a tissue that covers your lungs (among other organs) called the mesothelium. This lining actually produces lubrication for your organs to move, say during breathing. When this rare cancer develops of this lining it is called Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma. For a map with statistics on age and area, you can see it at this CDC site.

Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma Causes

Asbestos is the main cause for Mesothelioma. When a person breathes in the Asbestos, it damages the mesothelium lining and causes changes in the cells. However, it could take up to thirty years post exposure before Mesothelioma develops. This is a proven way that one can get Mesothelioma.

There is some speculation that exposure to the virus SV40 could possibly also be linked to Mesothelioma. Researchers have found SV40 cells in Mesothelioma patients, but it is important to keep in mind, they also have done so in healthy people.

Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms

The symptoms of Mesothelioma are those which can easily be dismissed as something far less serious at first, and oftentimes goes overlooked. Some may think they have the flu. They are as follows:

CoughFeverSweatingFatigueHoarsenessOther symptoms are easily seen as a real problem and are as follows:

Pain in the side of the chestShortness of breathWeight lossTrouble swallowingPleural Malignant Mesothelioma Treatments

It is very difficult to treat Mesothelioma. If caught still early, say stage one or two, sometimes surgery can be performed to remove the cancer. Because of the area it is in, treatment by surgery is very difficult. Just as with other cancers, radiation and chemotherapy are options chosen by the specialists.

The patient is spoken to by their oncologist about what stage they are in and how this will effect treatment. The very hard decision is then made to try to treat the cancer, or to base treatment on comfort of the patient.

Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma Outlook

Unfortunately, Mesothelioma is a very hard cancer to treat. Patients are usually told they have a year to live. With new research, there are more and more Mesothelioma survivors past that one year outlook. The five year survival rate is a mere 9%.

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Mesothelioma Influenced by Vitamin A? - Health - Cancer

Vitamin A is a very important vitamin to maintaining health. We all know it is found in foods like carrots and is important in maintaining eyesight. Now, several independent research studies over the last three decades have suggested that vitamin A could possibly have an impact on managing and preventing mesothelioma.

Vitamin A has many essential functions in the human body including: sustaining vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, cell differentiation and helping to maintain the immune system - the body's defense against infection. Vitamin A comes from animal sources (such as liver and whole milk) and plant sources. Retinoids which are chemically related to vitamin A have been implicated as anti-carcinogenic. For example, according to an article published in a leading medical journal: "At the cellular level, the anti-leukemia and anti-cancer activity of retinoids is the result of three main actions, cell-differentiation, growth inhibition and apoptosis."1

Cruciferous vegetables and carotene may make mesothelioma less likely

In a 1988 study performed by the National Cancer Institute, the dietary patterns of mesothelioma patients were compared to those of healthy individuals.2 According to the article, mesothelioma patients ate less homegrown, cruciferous vegetables and all vegetables combined before they were diagnosed compared to healthy patients. Cruciferous vegetables, also called Brassica Vegetables, include Arugula, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Watercress, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, Kale, and Mustard Greens. The researchers also pointed out that carotene intake was significantly lower for the mesothelioma patients. Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A.

Vitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma

In this 1996 study from the Division of Epidemiology of the American Health Foundation, the investigators examined the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma by studying 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 people without cancer. They concluded that their results provided "some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma."3 Provitamin A is any of the carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A and can be found in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits.

Retinoic Acid may make mesothelioma less likely to metastasize

In a study from 2002, researchers looked at mesothelioma cells in vitro (in test tubes or Petri dishes outside the body) and found that retinoic acid (the oxidized form of Vitamin A) "may lead to a decrease of mesothelioma cell local invasion." They interpreted this to mean that retinoic acid may modify how mesothelioma grows and spreads in the body.4 This study suggests that vitamin A levels could possibly affect the aggressiveness of mesothelioma once someone is diagnosed with the disease.

Low levels of retinol associated with increased risk of developing mesothelioma

And in 2006, Australian researchers looked at former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite (blue asbestos) in Western Australia. Their findings suggested that "people with chronically low plasma levels of retinol (the fat-soluble animal form of vitamin A found in liver and eggs) have increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer."5

Will vitamin A ever become part of a protocol to prevent or manage mesothelioma? These independent studies are very preliminary, but their conclusions are intriguing. In addition, there are anecdotal reports of long-time mesothelioma survivors using vitamin A as part of their healing regiments. But first a great deal more research is needed.

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Long Time Mesothelioma Survivors -What Do They Have in Common? - Other

Paul Kraus is one of the long-term survivors of malignant mesothelioma, there are many others and one thing they all have in common to all of them is the fact that they all focused most of their treatment on steps to improve or enhance their immune system. Some used alternative or complimentary therapies (with guidance from licensed clinicians) while others participated in clinical trials of immune therapy.

So does the immune system play a significant role in the control malignant mesothelioma? The experience of Paul Kraus and other long-term malignant mesothelioma survivors gives a lot of credit to the fact that the immune system is indeed very important in the management of malignant mesothelioma.

In quite a number of people with pleural mesothelioma that survived the cancer for a long time, their medical histories have shown that their immune system may have played a major role in their extremely long survival.

In 1986, an article appeared in a medical journal that discussed this very issue of malignant mesothelioma and immunity.(1) This research focused on the immune responses of 118 healthy people compared to 20 patients with malignant mesothelioma and 375 long-term asbestos workers who were cancer-free.

The researchers wanted to know if there were any measurable differences in the immune responses of the mesothelioma patients. Their findings demonstrated a relationship between the immune system and malignant mesothelioma. For example:

* The number of total T (T11+) and T-helper (T4+) cells were normal in asbestos workers with cancer, but were significantly reduced in patients with mesothelioma. T cells orchestrate, regulate and coordinate the overall immune response.

* Most patients with mesothelioma had a profound deficiency in Natural Killer cell (NK) activity which is suggestive of the role the immune system plays in the control of malignant mesothelioma. NK cells are a type of lethal lymphocyte that target tumor cells and protect against a wide variety of infectious microbes.

In the discussion section of the report, the researchers stated:"These findings led us to speculate that biological phenomena generally categorized as chronic immunosuppression associated with the presence of asbestos fibers in the exposed workers may have caused the eventual breakdown of the host's surveillance system and the onset of neoplasm [malignant mesothelioma]."

In other words, the researchers are suggesting that malignant mesothelioma may result from immune suppression. If this is true it would provide the biological basis for the role that the immune system and immune boosting approaches may play in the management of malignant mesothelioma.

Another example of a long time survivor of mesothelioma is James O'Connor.In October 2001, sixty-one year old James Rhio O'Connor ("Rhio") was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma caused by his exposure to asbestos when he was younger. His was given less than a year to live.

His tumor was not operable because the tumor was too close to his spinal cord chemo was also not an option because at the stage of his tumor chemo would not have been of any major help to him, it could not give any significant elongation to his life span. He was basically told to prepare for imminent death in a polite manner.

To soften this message, the doctor also recommended that Rhio take his wife on a cruise and then start hospice care upon his return. Rhio rejected the idea. He was determined to survive this cancer. Working with professional clinicians, he formulated a regimen of over 100 supplements a day, changed his diet, practiced mind-body medicine, most of these treatments were aimed at boosting the immune system, and he relied on his own discipline to see him through the difficult times ahead.

Rhio survived for 7 more years through his determination, knowledge, inexorable spirit, belief in something greater than himself, and the ability to make tough choices -qualities that spell success in any endeavor. Rhio passed away on July 11, 2009. He was 69 years old.Rhio was often asked how he was able to manage his mesothelioma or "Mr. Meso" as he called it.

To answer these questions and help and inspire others, Rhio wrote a book called "They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor's Story." In this book Rhio discusses what he did to live his life with "Mr. Meso" and much of the science behind his decisions. In his book he cites nearly one hundred medical articles that support the concept of using nutrition to help manage a chronic disease like cancer. Rhio's inspirational life and book reminds us that there may be other ways to manage cancer and extend life beyond the conventional methods of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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Important Nutritional Tips For Mesothelioma Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. - Other

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments that cancer patients can to treat the disease. It involves the use of anticancer drugs to kill the cancer cells, however normal cells are also destroyed in the process.

This destruction of cancer cells leaves the body in a weak state. In addition, chemotherapy has a number of side effects, such as nausea. If cancer patients do not eat properly, they can become malnourished and pass away not from cancer, but from an infection or other illness in their weakened state. These are some tips to improve the nutrition of patients undergoing chemotherapy:

1-. Chemotherapy can cause anorexia{poor appetite} so choose foods that really pack a nutritional punch, so when you do eat, even if it is just a small amount, you are consuming nutritional foods high in protein and calories. Keep healthy snacks with you at all times. You should also consider adding daily multivitamin to boost your diet, but you must discuss this with your doctor before you add them.

2- Unfortunately, chemotherapy can also cause constipation and diarrhea - sometimes both in the same patient. To avoid these problems, drink plenty of fluids and avoid anything with caffeine. You may also want to cut most of the dairy out of your diet. Foods with good soluble fiber, such as mashed potatoes and bananas, can also be added to your diet to help with constipation and diarrhea.

3- One of the best ways to boost your diet during chemotherapy is to add as much protein to your diet as possible. Proteins, such as those found in meat, nuts and beans, can help you feel better during treatment, and can help fight cancer more effectively. Even if you do not care for meat or are dealing with anorexia, there are many ways to add protein to your diet. Here are some great tips for integrating protein whenever possible:

* When making pasta, add a beaten egg at the last second. As you stir, the heat will cook the egg, adding a great source of protein.

* Eat peanut butter with fruit.

* Add extra beans to soups and other dishes.

* Add powdered milk to recipes like muffins, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf.

* Prepare protein drinks and keep them with you all day, so you can get protein even just a sip at a time.

* Nuts are a great protein-enriched snack to carry with you throughout the day.

You can talk to a dietician about more ways to add protein to your diet.

4-In addition, if you're dealing with anorexia, your should add many calories to your diet to keep up strength. Some of the best ways to do this include:

* Spread butter or margarine on crackers.

* Stir unsweetened whipped cream into mashed potatoes.

* Add honey to cereal or desserts.

* Sprinkle granola into yogurt.

* Choose dried fruits as a healthy snack, and add them to meals or baked goods when possible.

A mesothelioma patient should seek to know as much as possible about the different methods of treating the disease so that they can cooperate maximally with treatment.

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When need chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients - Health - Diseases and Conditions

The needs of chemotherapy will be decided by your doctors. Several factors involve with this treatment such as stage of the cancer, types of cancer, types of drugs you are taking, age of the tumor etc. The doctors will also think about the goal of the chemotherapy is stop the growth of the tumor or completely erase the tumor.Generally, chemotherapy treatment is administered in a cyclic manner which is defined as a period of treatment followed by a period of rest. The purpose of this cycle is to allow the cancer cells to be attacked by the drugs, and then allows the body's normal cells time to recover. Chemotherapy treatment should be a supportive effort between you and your doctor. The communication that takes place is important to your health. It will help you feel better along with address any potential problems with improper communication. For mesothelioma patients, mesothelioma cancer can be treated by the use of anti cancer drug therapies. These anti cancer drugs act by inhibiting tumor growth through the blocking of cell division and multiplication. This form of action also unfortunately affects other hurriedly replicating cells in the body, cells of the hair and the lining of the intestine are particularly vulnerable, thus leading to the common side effects of anti cancer drugs like hair loss and nausea. There are various side effect could with mesothelioma chemotherapy treatment, these are-Fever of, or greater than 101 degrees -Nausea -Diarrhea or constipation -Fatigue -Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes -Ringing in the ears -Bruises or rashes -Sores in the mouth or throat -Reduced white blood cell count {neutropenia} making you more prone to infections. For this reason your full blood count should be monitored closely. For more information about mesothelioma chemotherapy and chemotherapy treatment please visit Newmesotheliomatreatments.com.

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