Lung Cancer Not on Many Women's Radar: Survey

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 9:00 AM

TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. women still see breast cancer as a bigger killer than lung cancer, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more Americans each year -- women and men -- than any other cancer.

That's one of the findings from a new American Lung Association (ALA) survey of over 1,000 adult U.S. women.

The poll also found that many women may not appreciate the lung cancer risk to nonsmokers. And few were aware of just how deadly lung cancer remains, in a time of major progress against some other cancers.

According to Alana Burns, vice president of the ALA's Signature Cause Campaign, the poor survival rate may be one reason that lung cancer is not on women's radar.

'With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,' Burns said. 'But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences.'

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, followed by lung cancer. But lung cancer is the top killer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills about 38 out of every 100,000 U.S. women each year. The death rate from breast cancer is 22 per 100,000.

But when the ALA survey respondents were given a list of cancers and asked to pick the top killer of women, 51 percent chose breast cancer. Only 22 percent chose lung cancer.

'It's pretty clear that breast cancer gets more press,' said Dr. Subhakar Mutyala, associate director of the Scott & White Cancer Institute in Temple, Texas.

Plus, he said, since there's routine screening for breast cancer, women and their doctors are talking about the disease.

But unless you're a smoker, your doctor is probably not going to bring up lung cancer, noted Mutyala, who reviewed the survey findings. And while it is possible to screen for lung cancer, he added, that's limited to certain high-risk groups.

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual CT scans for adults aged 55 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years -- and smoked for at least 30 'pack-years.' That means one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, for example.

Smokers are not, however, the only people who get lung cancer. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease never smoked, the ALA states.

But half of the women in the new survey said they were 'not concerned' about lung cancer because they'd never smoked. That included 68 percent of lifelong nonsmokers.

'Many people think of lung cancer as solely a smoker's disease,' Burns said.

Yet, she added, if lung cancer in nonsmokers were considered its own disease, it would rank among the top-10 cancer killers in the United States.

Burns and Mutyala said people should be aware of the risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmokers.

The top cause is exposure to radon gas, which can become concentrated in homes that are built on soil with natural uranium deposits. Other risk factors include chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution, and on-the-job exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust and asbestos. Researchers have also found gene mutations that play a role in some lung cancers.

The prognosis for people with lung cancer remains grim, according to the lung association. Less than half of women with the disease are still alive one year after they're diagnosed -- a statistic few women in the survey said they'd heard before.

Unfortunately, the cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. 'Only about 20 percent of lung cancers are operable when people are diagnosed,' Mutyala said.

To help improve that outlook, the ALA wants the U.S. National Institutes of Health to boost its funding for lung cancer research -- from the current level of $213 million per year, to $400 million by 2025. By comparison, current funding for breast cancer research tops $650 million a year, according to estimates from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

'That's despite the fact that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined,' Mutyala said.

Burns said women can help by getting involved in efforts to raise awareness and funds. The ALA just launched a new website, dubbed Lung Force (lungforce.org), where people can find information on local charity events, share stories about their experiences with lung cancer, and get information on the disease.

'We want people to learn about the risks,' Burns said. 'This is something that's relevant to you. You should care.' More information

The American Lung Association has facts and figures on lung cancer.

SOURCES: Alana Burns, vice president, Signature Cause Campaign, American Lung Association; Subhakar Mutyala, M.D., associate director, Scott & White Cancer Institute, Temple, Texas; American Lung Association, news release, May 13, 2014

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Lung cancer not on many women's radar

Lung cancer not on many women's radar

TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. women still see breast cancer as a bigger killer than lung cancer, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more Americans each year -- women and men -- than any other cancer.

That's one of the findings from a new American Lung Association (ALA) survey of over 1,000 adult U.S. women.

The poll also found that many women may not appreciate the lung cancer risk to nonsmokers. And few were aware of just how deadly lung cancer remains, in a time of major progress against some other cancers.

According to Alana Burns, vice president of the ALA's Signature Cause Campaign, the poor survival rate may be one reason that lung cancer is not on women's radar.

'With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,' Burns said. 'But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences.'

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, followed by lung cancer. But lung cancer is the top killer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills about 38 out of every 100,000 U.S. women each year. The death rate from breast cancer is 22 per 100,000.

But when the ALA survey respondents were given a list of cancers and asked to pick the top killer of women, 51 percent chose breast cancer. Only 22 percent chose lung cancer.

'It's pretty clear that breast cancer gets more press,' said Dr. Subhakar Mutyala, associate director of the Scott & White Cancer Institute in Temple, Texas.

Plus, he said, since there's routine screening for breast cancer, women and their doctors are talking about the disease.

But unless you're a smoker, your doctor is probably not going to bring up lung cancer, noted Mutyala, who reviewed the survey findings. And while it is possible to screen for lung cancer, he added, that's limited to certain high-risk groups.

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual CT scans for adults aged 55 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years -- and smoked for at least 30 'pack-years.' That means one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, for example.

Smokers are not, however, the only people who get lung cancer. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease never smoked, the ALA states.

But half of the women in the new survey said they were 'not concerned' about lung cancer because they'd never smoked. That included 68 percent of lifelong nonsmokers.

'Many people think of lung cancer as solely a smoker's disease,' Burns said.

Yet, she added, if lung cancer in nonsmokers were considered its own disease, it would rank among the top-10 cancer killers in the United States.

Burns and Mutyala said people should be aware of the risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmokers.

The top cause is exposure to radon gas, which can become concentrated in homes that are built on soil with natural uranium deposits. Other risk factors include chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution, and on-the-job exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust and asbestos. Researchers have also found gene mutations that play a role in some lung cancers.

The prognosis for people with lung cancer remains grim, according to the lung association. Less than half of women with the disease are still alive one year after they're diagnosed -- a statistic few women in the survey said they'd heard before.

Unfortunately, the cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. 'Only about 20 percent of lung cancers are operable when people are diagnosed,' Mutyala said.

To help improve that outlook, the ALA wants the U.S. National Institutes of Health to boost its funding for lung cancer research -- from the current level of $213 million per year, to $400 million by 2025. By comparison, current funding for breast cancer research tops $650 million a year, according to estimates from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

'That's despite the fact that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined,' Mutyala said.

Burns said women can help by getting involved in efforts to raise awareness and funds. The ALA just launched a new website, dubbed Lung Force (lungforce.org), where people can find information on local charity events, share stories about their experiences with lung cancer, and get information on the disease.

'We want people to learn about the risks,' Burns said. 'This is something that's relevant to you. You should care.' More information

The American Lung Association has facts and figures on lung cancer.

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Asbestos Abatement Company Owners Plead Guilty to 15 Criminal Charges

Rick Kornak provides sharp news and insightful articles for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Bio '

May 05, 2014

Tacoma, Washington - One of Washington state's few certified asbestos abatement companies pleaded guilty to 15 criminal charges in Superior Court on May 2. Tim Pinckney and Pamela Pepper, the owners of Emergency Management Treatment (EMT), a Tacoma-based firm, admitted to falsifying training for years, meaning workers who were supposed to be certified to handle asbestos were doing so illegally.

'We found records going as far back as 2010 showing that these training classes were bad,' said state assistant attorney general Joshua Choate, who prosecuted the case.

Rather than view the required training videos, EMT's workers were allowed to watch blockbuster films. The owners of EMT let some of the employees skip training altogether, while others were permitted to arrive late and attend just 30 minutes of an 8-hour day. False records were then submitted to avoid state-mandated follow-up training.

'We get a lot of calls on individuals who are cutting corners - either from a business or a colleague,' said Tyler Amon, the Environmental Protection Agency's special agent in charge at the law-enforcement division in Seattle. 'But what we are focused on is where it's concentrated in a criminal enterprise.'

EMT's owners also accepted money under the table from uncertified contractors, leaving officials with the daunting task of tracking down all the different homes, schools, and businesses that might have had unlawful work done.

The negligence displayed by EMT has become a common practice by contractors looking to avoid the high cost of abatement, even though the harmful properties of asbestos are well known. Failing to properly handle the substance can expose the public to airborne fibers, which lead to a variety of respiratory health problems, including the fatal mesothelioma.

'It is startling to me how many cases we have in this day and age where people still take that calculated risk,' said Amon.

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Cambridge's Baldock family tell the News why they are supporting the Help our ...

Alan Baldock was surrounded by scores of family members and friends in his final hours at Arthur Rank.

Even his dog Marley was by his side in November 2012, as staff at the Mill Road hospice tried to make his death as comfortable as possible.

Now his widow Bernie and daughter Sasha have shared their story with the News to mark the launch of the Help our Hospice appeal, highlighting the 'amazing' care offered by the hospice team.

Heating engineer Alan first became ill in January 2012 with what appeared to be a chest infection, but when symptoms remained doctors considered other afflictions like angina, gallstones and muscular strains, and a variety of painkillers were prescribed.

In May, the 55-year-old visited the cardiac clinic at Addenbrooke's and a scan of his chest proved inconclusive.

However, on August 6, following a biopsy at Papworth Hospital the father-of-three was diagnosed with Mesolthelioma - cancer of the membrane around the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

Bernie explained: 'He was given 5 to 6 months to lives as Mesothelioma isn't curable, and Alan was offered various options to try and keep the pain under control.

'From this time we had many appointments at Addenbrooke's, Papworth and with our GP. It seemed every time we went, Alan's medication was increased as the pain got worse. We attended pain clinic specialist appointments at Arthur Rank and this was the start of our association with the hospice.'

On October 23, Alan was admitted to the hospice's inpatient unit.

Bernie said: 'He seemed to settle well and we think he felt safe as there was always somebody to make sure he was comfortable and as free from pain as possible under the circumstances.

'He liked having his own room and a glass of wine with his meal if he wanted.'

Sasha, 17, added: 'He also liked the Taste the Difference desserts and watching Top Gear and Man v Food on his TV.'

Guests also included sons Daniel, 27, and Dominic, 24, and other family and friends.

But on November 1, things took a turn for the worse and nurses told the Baldocks, of Cherry Hinton, their dad was nearing the end and that is was time to say final goodbyes.

Bernie said: 'Alan fought and fought and the staff told us we could use the family room as there were so many of us there. This was such a great help to us as it meant we had such a strong network of support close at hand.

'The staff even suggested bringing our dog, Marley, as Alan had spoken to them about him. The family, Marley included, set up camp in the family room and even took over the visitors' kitchen. At one point we had slow cookers and washing machines on the go.

'Marley was even allowed in Alan's room and he would check on Alan at various times of the day by putting his paw on Alan's bed.

'I did worry about the amount of visitors and asked the staff if I should send some of them home and was told a most definite 'no'. This was very important to me as it meant I could spend all my time with Alan knowing the children were being cared for and supported by the hospice team.'

She added: 'Even when Alan wasn't conscious the nurses treated him with great care and dignity - we just couldn't fault their care.

'People say how wonderful the hospice is but I can honestly say, until you experience it you can't begin to appreciate just how amazing the people working here are.'

Alan died at 9.45am on Monday, November 5.

Since that date, his family have become keen supporters of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and are preparing to take part in the Star Shine Stroll Memory Walk on May 17 in their latest fundraising effort.

And Bernie and Sasha have also thrown their weight behind the move to a new site.

Bernie said: 'When I heard of the plans for the new hospice I was a little sad as we have lots of memories of Alan's short stay there but it looks like being a fabulous place for patients and that has to come first.'

Sasha added: 'I was inspired by the care my dad received and the hospice deserves every penny we raise.'

To sponsor the strollers, visit http://ift.tt/1jX9KFJ and to find out more about the event, visit starshinestroll.co.uk.

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Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice ...

Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice five decades after exposure, inquest hears

2:40am Saturday 10th May 2014 in News By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Princess Alice Hospice: Cares for people with terminal illnesses

A retired New Malden serviceman may have died after coming into contact with asbestos up to 50 years before, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Greengrass, 68, of Beresford Road, died on October 28 last year at Princess Alice Hospice from mesothelioma.

No family were at the inquest at West London Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Greengrass's daughter wrote how her father believed the only time he may have come in contact with asbestos was working for a book supplier in Neasden as a teenager.

She said: 'He used to have to go down to the cellar and get the accounts.'

The inquest heard smoker Mr Greengrass refused antibiotics and preferred a symptom control treatment.

He went to accident and emergency the day before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died the same day.

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Cambridge's Baldock family tell the News why they are supporting the Help our ...

Alan Baldock was surrounded by scores of family members and friends in his final hours at Arthur Rank.

Even his dog Marley was by his side in November 2012, as staff at the Mill Road hospice tried to make his death as comfortable as possible.

Now his widow Bernie and daughter Sasha have shared their story with the News to mark the launch of the Help our Hospice appeal, highlighting the 'amazing' care offered by the hospice team.

Heating engineer Alan first became ill in January 2012 with what appeared to be a chest infection, but when symptoms remained doctors considered other afflictions like angina, gallstones and muscular strains, and a variety of painkillers were prescribed.

In May, the 55-year-old visited the cardiac clinic at Addenbrooke's and a scan of his chest proved inconclusive.

However, on August 6, following a biopsy at Papworth Hospital the father-of-three was diagnosed with Mesolthelioma - cancer of the membrane around the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

Bernie explained: 'He was given 5 to 6 months to lives as Mesothelioma isn't curable, and Alan was offered various options to try and keep the pain under control.

'From this time we had many appointments at Addenbrooke's, Papworth and with our GP. It seemed every time we went, Alan's medication was increased as the pain got worse. We attended pain clinic specialist appointments at Arthur Rank and this was the start of our association with the hospice.'

On October 23, Alan was admitted to the hospice's inpatient unit.

Bernie said: 'He seemed to settle well and we think he felt safe as there was always somebody to make sure he was comfortable and as free from pain as possible under the circumstances.

'He liked having his own room and a glass of wine with his meal if he wanted.'

Sasha, 17, added: 'He also liked the Taste the Difference desserts and watching Top Gear and Man v Food on his TV.'

Guests also included sons Daniel, 27, and Dominic, 24, and other family and friends.

But on November 1, things took a turn for the worse and nurses told the Baldocks, of Cherry Hinton, their dad was nearing the end and that is was time to say final goodbyes.

Bernie said: 'Alan fought and fought and the staff told us we could use the family room as there were so many of us there. This was such a great help to us as it meant we had such a strong network of support close at hand.

'The staff even suggested bringing our dog, Marley, as Alan had spoken to them about him. The family, Marley included, set up camp in the family room and even took over the visitors' kitchen. At one point we had slow cookers and washing machines on the go.

'Marley was even allowed in Alan's room and he would check on Alan at various times of the day by putting his paw on Alan's bed.

'I did worry about the amount of visitors and asked the staff if I should send some of them home and was told a most definite 'no'. This was very important to me as it meant I could spend all my time with Alan knowing the children were being cared for and supported by the hospice team.'

She added: 'Even when Alan wasn't conscious the nurses treated him with great care and dignity - we just couldn't fault their care.

'People say how wonderful the hospice is but I can honestly say, until you experience it you can't begin to appreciate just how amazing the people working here are.'

Alan died at 9.45am on Monday, November 5.

Since that date, his family have become keen supporters of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and are preparing to take part in the Star Shine Stroll Memory Walk on May 17 in their latest fundraising effort.

And Bernie and Sasha have also thrown their weight behind the move to a new site.

Bernie said: 'When I heard of the plans for the new hospice I was a little sad as we have lots of memories of Alan's short stay there but it looks like being a fabulous place for patients and that has to come first.'

Sasha added: 'I was inspired by the care my dad received and the hospice deserves every penny we raise.'

To sponsor the strollers, visit http://ift.tt/1jX9KFJ and to find out more about the event, visit starshinestroll.co.uk.

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Carbon Nanotubes: A New Cause of Mesothelioma?

Carbon Nanotubes: A New Cause of Mesothelioma?

Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

There is some unsettling news out of China for people who work with or around multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are carbon-based synthetic molecules in the shape of concentric tubes. Their special shape makes them more resistant to chemicals than other types of carbon nanotubes and makes them valuable for use in electronics, optics, textiles and other areas of manufacturing.

But Chinese researchers say these tiny particles, like the sharp particles of naturally-occurring asbestos, have the potential to cause mesothelioma in people who inhale them. Lead researchers Jiegou Xu of the Anhui Medical University College of Basic Medical Sciences in Hefei, China and his colleagues exposed laboratory rats to two different kinds of MWCNTs with disturbing results.

Suspensions containing either a larger needle-like MWCNT (MWCNT-L) or a smaller MWCNT (MWCNT-S) which forms 'cotton candy-like aggregates' were sprayed down the tracheas of rats every two weeks for 24 weeks. After it was inhaled, the larger molecule (MWCNT-L) was found to move over time through the lung alveoli and into the two-layered pleural lining which surrounds the lungs. There, it induced fibrosis and 'patchy parietal mesothelial proliferation lesions'. MWCNT-L also triggered stronger inflammatory reactions, which have been associated with the development of mesothelioma.

In contrast, the small carbon nanotube (MWCNT-S) did not translocate out of the lungs, making it less likely to cause mesothelioma, which starts in the pleura. Inflammatory response to MWCNT-S was also not as great. 'These results suggest that MWCNT-L has higher risk of causing asbestos-like pleural lesions relevant to mesothelioma development,' writes Dr. Wu.

A previous study conducted by the same team found that certain MWCNTs could translocate from the lungs into the inner or visceral pleura, but did not progress to the outer or parietal pleura where mesothelioma typically starts. They now theorize that they simply had not allowed enough time for the particles to make their way through the tissue.

More than 80% of the 2,500 mesothelioma cases that occur in the U.S. each year can be traced to exposure to asbestos. However, because of mesothelioma's long latency, it is possible that newer particles such as MWCNTs could be found to cause mesothelioma decades from now.

Xu, J et al, 'Size- and shape-dependent pleural translocation, deposition, fibrogenesis an mesothelial proliferation by multi-walled carbon nanotubes', May 11, 2014, Cancer Science, Epub ahead of print

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Lung cancer not on many women's radar

Lung cancer not on many women's radar

TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. women still see breast cancer as a bigger killer than lung cancer, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more Americans each year -- women and men -- than any other cancer.

That's one of the findings from a new American Lung Association (ALA) survey of over 1,000 adult U.S. women.

The poll also found that many women may not appreciate the lung cancer risk to nonsmokers. And few were aware of just how deadly lung cancer remains, in a time of major progress against some other cancers.

According to Alana Burns, vice president of the ALA's Signature Cause Campaign, the poor survival rate may be one reason that lung cancer is not on women's radar.

'With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,' Burns said. 'But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences.'

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, followed by lung cancer. But lung cancer is the top killer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills about 38 out of every 100,000 U.S. women each year. The death rate from breast cancer is 22 per 100,000.

But when the ALA survey respondents were given a list of cancers and asked to pick the top killer of women, 51 percent chose breast cancer. Only 22 percent chose lung cancer.

'It's pretty clear that breast cancer gets more press,' said Dr. Subhakar Mutyala, associate director of the Scott & White Cancer Institute in Temple, Texas.

Plus, he said, since there's routine screening for breast cancer, women and their doctors are talking about the disease.

But unless you're a smoker, your doctor is probably not going to bring up lung cancer, noted Mutyala, who reviewed the survey findings. And while it is possible to screen for lung cancer, he added, that's limited to certain high-risk groups.

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual CT scans for adults aged 55 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years -- and smoked for at least 30 'pack-years.' That means one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, for example.

Smokers are not, however, the only people who get lung cancer. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease never smoked, the ALA states.

But half of the women in the new survey said they were 'not concerned' about lung cancer because they'd never smoked. That included 68 percent of lifelong nonsmokers.

'Many people think of lung cancer as solely a smoker's disease,' Burns said.

Yet, she added, if lung cancer in nonsmokers were considered its own disease, it would rank among the top-10 cancer killers in the United States.

Burns and Mutyala said people should be aware of the risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmokers.

The top cause is exposure to radon gas, which can become concentrated in homes that are built on soil with natural uranium deposits. Other risk factors include chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution, and on-the-job exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust and asbestos. Researchers have also found gene mutations that play a role in some lung cancers.

The prognosis for people with lung cancer remains grim, according to the lung association. Less than half of women with the disease are still alive one year after they're diagnosed -- a statistic few women in the survey said they'd heard before.

Unfortunately, the cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. 'Only about 20 percent of lung cancers are operable when people are diagnosed,' Mutyala said.

To help improve that outlook, the ALA wants the U.S. National Institutes of Health to boost its funding for lung cancer research -- from the current level of $213 million per year, to $400 million by 2025. By comparison, current funding for breast cancer research tops $650 million a year, according to estimates from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

'That's despite the fact that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined,' Mutyala said.

Burns said women can help by getting involved in efforts to raise awareness and funds. The ALA just launched a new website, dubbed Lung Force (lungforce.org), where people can find information on local charity events, share stories about their experiences with lung cancer, and get information on the disease.

'We want people to learn about the risks,' Burns said. 'This is something that's relevant to you. You should care.' More information

The American Lung Association has facts and figures on lung cancer.

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice ...

Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice five decades after exposure, inquest hears

2:40am Saturday 10th May 2014 in News By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Princess Alice Hospice: Cares for people with terminal illnesses

A retired New Malden serviceman may have died after coming into contact with asbestos up to 50 years before, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Greengrass, 68, of Beresford Road, died on October 28 last year at Princess Alice Hospice from mesothelioma.

No family were at the inquest at West London Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Greengrass's daughter wrote how her father believed the only time he may have come in contact with asbestos was working for a book supplier in Neasden as a teenager.

She said: 'He used to have to go down to the cellar and get the accounts.'

The inquest heard smoker Mr Greengrass refused antibiotics and preferred a symptom control treatment.

He went to accident and emergency the day before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died the same day.

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Lung cancer not on many women's radar

Lung cancer not on many women's radar

TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. women still see breast cancer as a bigger killer than lung cancer, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more Americans each year -- women and men -- than any other cancer.

That's one of the findings from a new American Lung Association (ALA) survey of over 1,000 adult U.S. women.

The poll also found that many women may not appreciate the lung cancer risk to nonsmokers. And few were aware of just how deadly lung cancer remains, in a time of major progress against some other cancers.

According to Alana Burns, vice president of the ALA's Signature Cause Campaign, the poor survival rate may be one reason that lung cancer is not on women's radar.

'With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,' Burns said. 'But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences.'

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, followed by lung cancer. But lung cancer is the top killer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills about 38 out of every 100,000 U.S. women each year. The death rate from breast cancer is 22 per 100,000.

But when the ALA survey respondents were given a list of cancers and asked to pick the top killer of women, 51 percent chose breast cancer. Only 22 percent chose lung cancer.

'It's pretty clear that breast cancer gets more press,' said Dr. Subhakar Mutyala, associate director of the Scott & White Cancer Institute in Temple, Texas.

Plus, he said, since there's routine screening for breast cancer, women and their doctors are talking about the disease.

But unless you're a smoker, your doctor is probably not going to bring up lung cancer, noted Mutyala, who reviewed the survey findings. And while it is possible to screen for lung cancer, he added, that's limited to certain high-risk groups.

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual CT scans for adults aged 55 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years -- and smoked for at least 30 'pack-years.' That means one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, for example.

Smokers are not, however, the only people who get lung cancer. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease never smoked, the ALA states.

But half of the women in the new survey said they were 'not concerned' about lung cancer because they'd never smoked. That included 68 percent of lifelong nonsmokers.

'Many people think of lung cancer as solely a smoker's disease,' Burns said.

Yet, she added, if lung cancer in nonsmokers were considered its own disease, it would rank among the top-10 cancer killers in the United States.

Burns and Mutyala said people should be aware of the risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmokers.

The top cause is exposure to radon gas, which can become concentrated in homes that are built on soil with natural uranium deposits. Other risk factors include chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution, and on-the-job exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust and asbestos. Researchers have also found gene mutations that play a role in some lung cancers.

The prognosis for people with lung cancer remains grim, according to the lung association. Less than half of women with the disease are still alive one year after they're diagnosed -- a statistic few women in the survey said they'd heard before.

Unfortunately, the cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. 'Only about 20 percent of lung cancers are operable when people are diagnosed,' Mutyala said.

To help improve that outlook, the ALA wants the U.S. National Institutes of Health to boost its funding for lung cancer research -- from the current level of $213 million per year, to $400 million by 2025. By comparison, current funding for breast cancer research tops $650 million a year, according to estimates from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

'That's despite the fact that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined,' Mutyala said.

Burns said women can help by getting involved in efforts to raise awareness and funds. The ALA just launched a new website, dubbed Lung Force (lungforce.org), where people can find information on local charity events, share stories about their experiences with lung cancer, and get information on the disease.

'We want people to learn about the risks,' Burns said. 'This is something that's relevant to you. You should care.' More information

The American Lung Association has facts and figures on lung cancer.

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Cambridge's Baldock family tell the News why they are supporting the Help our ...

Alan Baldock was surrounded by scores of family members and friends in his final hours at Arthur Rank.

Even his dog Marley was by his side in November 2012, as staff at the Mill Road hospice tried to make his death as comfortable as possible.

Now his widow Bernie and daughter Sasha have shared their story with the News to mark the launch of the Help our Hospice appeal, highlighting the 'amazing' care offered by the hospice team.

Heating engineer Alan first became ill in January 2012 with what appeared to be a chest infection, but when symptoms remained doctors considered other afflictions like angina, gallstones and muscular strains, and a variety of painkillers were prescribed.

In May, the 55-year-old visited the cardiac clinic at Addenbrooke's and a scan of his chest proved inconclusive.

However, on August 6, following a biopsy at Papworth Hospital the father-of-three was diagnosed with Mesolthelioma - cancer of the membrane around the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

Bernie explained: 'He was given 5 to 6 months to lives as Mesothelioma isn't curable, and Alan was offered various options to try and keep the pain under control.

'From this time we had many appointments at Addenbrooke's, Papworth and with our GP. It seemed every time we went, Alan's medication was increased as the pain got worse. We attended pain clinic specialist appointments at Arthur Rank and this was the start of our association with the hospice.'

On October 23, Alan was admitted to the hospice's inpatient unit.

Bernie said: 'He seemed to settle well and we think he felt safe as there was always somebody to make sure he was comfortable and as free from pain as possible under the circumstances.

'He liked having his own room and a glass of wine with his meal if he wanted.'

Sasha, 17, added: 'He also liked the Taste the Difference desserts and watching Top Gear and Man v Food on his TV.'

Guests also included sons Daniel, 27, and Dominic, 24, and other family and friends.

But on November 1, things took a turn for the worse and nurses told the Baldocks, of Cherry Hinton, their dad was nearing the end and that is was time to say final goodbyes.

Bernie said: 'Alan fought and fought and the staff told us we could use the family room as there were so many of us there. This was such a great help to us as it meant we had such a strong network of support close at hand.

'The staff even suggested bringing our dog, Marley, as Alan had spoken to them about him. The family, Marley included, set up camp in the family room and even took over the visitors' kitchen. At one point we had slow cookers and washing machines on the go.

'Marley was even allowed in Alan's room and he would check on Alan at various times of the day by putting his paw on Alan's bed.

'I did worry about the amount of visitors and asked the staff if I should send some of them home and was told a most definite 'no'. This was very important to me as it meant I could spend all my time with Alan knowing the children were being cared for and supported by the hospice team.'

She added: 'Even when Alan wasn't conscious the nurses treated him with great care and dignity - we just couldn't fault their care.

'People say how wonderful the hospice is but I can honestly say, until you experience it you can't begin to appreciate just how amazing the people working here are.'

Alan died at 9.45am on Monday, November 5.

Since that date, his family have become keen supporters of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and are preparing to take part in the Star Shine Stroll Memory Walk on May 17 in their latest fundraising effort.

And Bernie and Sasha have also thrown their weight behind the move to a new site.

Bernie said: 'When I heard of the plans for the new hospice I was a little sad as we have lots of memories of Alan's short stay there but it looks like being a fabulous place for patients and that has to come first.'

Sasha added: 'I was inspired by the care my dad received and the hospice deserves every penny we raise.'

To sponsor the strollers, visit http://ift.tt/1jX9KFJ and to find out more about the event, visit starshinestroll.co.uk.

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Asbestos exposure may have killed man five decades after exposure, inquest ...

Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice five decades after exposure, inquest hears

2:40am Saturday 10th May 2014 in News By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Princess Alice Hospice: Cares for people with terminal illnesses

A retired New Malden serviceman may have died after coming into contact with asbestos up to 50 years before, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Greengrass, 68, of Beresford Road, died on October 28 last year at Princess Alice Hospice from mesothelioma.

No family were at the inquest at West London Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Greengrass's daughter wrote how her father believed the only time he may have come in contact with asbestos was working for a book supplier in Neasden as a teenager.

She said: 'He used to have to go down to the cellar and get the accounts.'

The inquest heard smoker Mr Greengrass refused antibiotics and preferred a symptom control treatment.

He went to accident and emergency the day before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died the same day.

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Virtual Community Can Ease Mesothelioma Stress

Virtual Community Can Ease Mesothelioma Stress

Posted on Friday, May 09, 2014.

Mesothelioma patients and their families can reduce their stress and feel more supported by getting involved in an online community. That is the conclusion reached by researchers at in the Psychology Department at Southern Cross University in New South Wales, Australia.

Writing in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, lecturer Desiree Kozlowski and her colleagues reported on the first 30 days of a peer-to-peer virtual community of people with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. In the introduction to their report, the team observes that people with mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive lung-related cancer, often feel socially isolated and highly stressed by their life-limiting symptoms.

In addition to coping with the challenges of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, patients who were negligently exposed to asbestos are often simultaneously dealing with the legal system. Without adequate support, the researchers say these combined stressors can be physically and psychologically damaging for both patients and families.

'Increasing social connectedness can lead to increased feelings of personal empowerment and may inhibit chronic stress responses,' writes lead author Professor Kozlowski in the report entitled 'Dusted Community: Piloting a virtual peer-to-peer support community for people with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their families'.

The virtual mesothelioma community was developed 'via a process of participatory action research' and included both patients with mesothelioma and family members involved in their care. 'Initial indications are that individuals with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their carers can benefit, in psychosocial terms, from membership in an on-line support group comprised of experientially similar others,' concludes the report.

An estimated 2,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, making it one of the rarest cancers. Although treatment options have improved in recent years, there is still no cure for mesothelioma.

Kozlowski, D et al, 'Dusted Community: Piloting a virtual peer-to-peer support community for people with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their families', May 2, 2014, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, Epub ahead of print

Original Post By: http://ift.tt/1jX9Kpp

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Cambridge's Baldock family tell the News why they are supporting the Help our ...

Alan Baldock was surrounded by scores of family members and friends in his final hours at Arthur Rank.

Even his dog Marley was by his side in November 2012, as staff at the Mill Road hospice tried to make his death as comfortable as possible.

Now his widow Bernie and daughter Sasha have shared their story with the News to mark the launch of the Help our Hospice appeal, highlighting the 'amazing' care offered by the hospice team.

Heating engineer Alan first became ill in January 2012 with what appeared to be a chest infection, but when symptoms remained doctors considered other afflictions like angina, gallstones and muscular strains, and a variety of painkillers were prescribed.

In May, the 55-year-old visited the cardiac clinic at Addenbrooke's and a scan of his chest proved inconclusive.

However, on August 6, following a biopsy at Papworth Hospital the father-of-three was diagnosed with Mesolthelioma - cancer of the membrane around the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

Bernie explained: 'He was given 5 to 6 months to lives as Mesothelioma isn't curable, and Alan was offered various options to try and keep the pain under control.

'From this time we had many appointments at Addenbrooke's, Papworth and with our GP. It seemed every time we went, Alan's medication was increased as the pain got worse. We attended pain clinic specialist appointments at Arthur Rank and this was the start of our association with the hospice.'

On October 23, Alan was admitted to the hospice's inpatient unit.

Bernie said: 'He seemed to settle well and we think he felt safe as there was always somebody to make sure he was comfortable and as free from pain as possible under the circumstances.

'He liked having his own room and a glass of wine with his meal if he wanted.'

Sasha, 17, added: 'He also liked the Taste the Difference desserts and watching Top Gear and Man v Food on his TV.'

Guests also included sons Daniel, 27, and Dominic, 24, and other family and friends.

But on November 1, things took a turn for the worse and nurses told the Baldocks, of Cherry Hinton, their dad was nearing the end and that is was time to say final goodbyes.

Bernie said: 'Alan fought and fought and the staff told us we could use the family room as there were so many of us there. This was such a great help to us as it meant we had such a strong network of support close at hand.

'The staff even suggested bringing our dog, Marley, as Alan had spoken to them about him. The family, Marley included, set up camp in the family room and even took over the visitors' kitchen. At one point we had slow cookers and washing machines on the go.

'Marley was even allowed in Alan's room and he would check on Alan at various times of the day by putting his paw on Alan's bed.

'I did worry about the amount of visitors and asked the staff if I should send some of them home and was told a most definite 'no'. This was very important to me as it meant I could spend all my time with Alan knowing the children were being cared for and supported by the hospice team.'

She added: 'Even when Alan wasn't conscious the nurses treated him with great care and dignity - we just couldn't fault their care.

'People say how wonderful the hospice is but I can honestly say, until you experience it you can't begin to appreciate just how amazing the people working here are.'

Alan died at 9.45am on Monday, November 5.

Since that date, his family have become keen supporters of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and are preparing to take part in the Star Shine Stroll Memory Walk on May 17 in their latest fundraising effort.

And Bernie and Sasha have also thrown their weight behind the move to a new site.

Bernie said: 'When I heard of the plans for the new hospice I was a little sad as we have lots of memories of Alan's short stay there but it looks like being a fabulous place for patients and that has to come first.'

Sasha added: 'I was inspired by the care my dad received and the hospice deserves every penny we raise.'

To sponsor the strollers, visit http://ift.tt/1jX9KFJ and to find out more about the event, visit starshinestroll.co.uk.

Original Post By: http://ift.tt/1jX9KFL

Source : http://ift.tt/1jX9KFL

Virtual Community Can Ease Mesothelioma Stress

Virtual Community Can Ease Mesothelioma Stress

Posted on Friday, May 09, 2014.

Mesothelioma patients and their families can reduce their stress and feel more supported by getting involved in an online community. That is the conclusion reached by researchers at in the Psychology Department at Southern Cross University in New South Wales, Australia.

Writing in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, lecturer Desiree Kozlowski and her colleagues reported on the first 30 days of a peer-to-peer virtual community of people with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. In the introduction to their report, the team observes that people with mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive lung-related cancer, often feel socially isolated and highly stressed by their life-limiting symptoms.

In addition to coping with the challenges of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, patients who were negligently exposed to asbestos are often simultaneously dealing with the legal system. Without adequate support, the researchers say these combined stressors can be physically and psychologically damaging for both patients and families.

'Increasing social connectedness can lead to increased feelings of personal empowerment and may inhibit chronic stress responses,' writes lead author Professor Kozlowski in the report entitled 'Dusted Community: Piloting a virtual peer-to-peer support community for people with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their families'.

The virtual mesothelioma community was developed 'via a process of participatory action research' and included both patients with mesothelioma and family members involved in their care. 'Initial indications are that individuals with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their carers can benefit, in psychosocial terms, from membership in an on-line support group comprised of experientially similar others,' concludes the report.

An estimated 2,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, making it one of the rarest cancers. Although treatment options have improved in recent years, there is still no cure for mesothelioma.

Kozlowski, D et al, 'Dusted Community: Piloting a virtual peer-to-peer support community for people with an asbestos-related diagnosis and their families', May 2, 2014, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, Epub ahead of print

Original Post By: http://ift.tt/1jX9Kpp

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Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice ...

Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice five decades after exposure, inquest hears

2:40am Saturday 10th May 2014 in News By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Princess Alice Hospice: Cares for people with terminal illnesses

A retired New Malden serviceman may have died after coming into contact with asbestos up to 50 years before, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Greengrass, 68, of Beresford Road, died on October 28 last year at Princess Alice Hospice from mesothelioma.

No family were at the inquest at West London Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Greengrass's daughter wrote how her father believed the only time he may have come in contact with asbestos was working for a book supplier in Neasden as a teenager.

She said: 'He used to have to go down to the cellar and get the accounts.'

The inquest heard smoker Mr Greengrass refused antibiotics and preferred a symptom control treatment.

He went to accident and emergency the day before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died the same day.

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Asbestos exposure may have killed man five decades after exposure, inquest ...

Asbestos exposure may have killed New Malden man at Princess Alice Hospice five decades after exposure, inquest hears

2:40am Saturday 10th May 2014 in News By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Princess Alice Hospice: Cares for people with terminal illnesses

A retired New Malden serviceman may have died after coming into contact with asbestos up to 50 years before, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Greengrass, 68, of Beresford Road, died on October 28 last year at Princess Alice Hospice from mesothelioma.

No family were at the inquest at West London Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Greengrass's daughter wrote how her father believed the only time he may have come in contact with asbestos was working for a book supplier in Neasden as a teenager.

She said: 'He used to have to go down to the cellar and get the accounts.'

The inquest heard smoker Mr Greengrass refused antibiotics and preferred a symptom control treatment.

He went to accident and emergency the day before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died the same day.

Original Post By: http://ift.tt/1jX9EOk

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Lung Cancer Not on Many Women's Radar: Survey

TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) - U.S. women still see breast cancer as a bigger killer than lung cancer, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more Americans each year - women and men - than any other cancer.

That's one of the findings from a new American Lung Association (ALA) survey of over 1,000 adult U.S. women.

The poll also found that many women may not appreciate the lung cancer risk to nonsmokers. And few were aware of just how deadly lung cancer remains, in a time of major progress against some other cancers.

According to Alana Burns, vice president of the ALA's Signature Cause Campaign, the poor survival rate may be one reason that lung cancer is not on women's radar.

'With breast cancer, there are so many survivors out there telling their stories and advocating,' Burns said. 'But more than half of women diagnosed with lung cancer are gone within a year. There is no legion of survivors talking about their experiences.'

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, followed by lung cancer. But lung cancer is the top killer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills about 38 out of every 100,000 U.S. women each year. The death rate from breast cancer is 22 per 100,000.

But when the ALA survey respondents were given a list of cancers and asked to pick the top killer of women, 51 percent chose breast cancer. Only 22 percent chose lung cancer.

'It's pretty clear that breast cancer gets more press,' said Dr. Subhakar Mutyala, associate director of the Scott & White Cancer Institute in Temple, Texas.

Plus, he said, since there's routine screening for breast cancer, women and their doctors are talking about the disease.

But unless you're a smoker, your doctor is probably not going to bring up lung cancer, noted Mutyala, who reviewed the survey findings. And while it is possible to screen for lung cancer, he added, that's limited to certain high-risk groups.

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual CT scans for adults aged 55 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years - and smoked for at least 30 'pack-years.' That means one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, for example.

Smokers are not, however, the only people who get lung cancer. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease never smoked, the ALA states.

But half of the women in the new survey said they were 'not concerned' about lung cancer because they'd never smoked. That included 68 percent of lifelong nonsmokers.

'Many people think of lung cancer as solely a smoker's disease,' Burns said.

Yet, she added, if lung cancer in nonsmokers were considered its own disease, it would rank among the top-10 cancer killers in the United States.

Burns and Mutyala said people should be aware of the risk factors for lung cancer in nonsmokers.

The top cause is exposure to radon gas, which can become concentrated in homes that are built on soil with natural uranium deposits. Other risk factors include chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution, and on-the-job exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust and asbestos. Researchers have also found gene mutations that play a role in some lung cancers.

The prognosis for people with lung cancer remains grim, according to the lung association. Less than half of women with the disease are still alive one year after they're diagnosed - a statistic few women in the survey said they'd heard before.

Unfortunately, the cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. 'Only about 20 percent of lung cancers are operable when people are diagnosed,' Mutyala said.

To help improve that outlook, the ALA wants the U.S. National Institutes of Health to boost its funding for lung cancer research - from the current level of $213 million per year, to $400 million by 2025. By comparison, current funding for breast cancer research tops $650 million a year, according to estimates from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

'That's despite the fact that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined,' Mutyala said.

Burns said women can help by getting involved in efforts to raise awareness and funds. The ALA just launched a new website, dubbed Lung Force (lungforce.org), where people can find information on local charity events, share stories about their experiences with lung cancer, and get information on the disease.

'We want people to learn about the risks,' Burns said. 'This is something that's relevant to you. You should care.' More information

The American Lung Association has facts and figures on lung cancer.

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