Breast Cancer in African Americans
By Mesothelioma Lawyer

Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a traumatic experience for any woman. It was no different for Rosamond Stallings, a 45 year old African American woman, as the physician broke the bad news to her. An immediate mastectomy was advised as six malignant tumors were found. Rosamond feared she may not be able to see her children grow up or her grandchild celebrate his birthdays.

Recent studies reveal a chilling fact that more than 30 percent of breast cancer patients do not receive comprehensive treatment. African American women were also found to be 10 percent less likely than white women to receive the right treatment. A team of doctors at the Columbia University Medical Center are looking into why the discrepancy occurs.

Studies that have already been published show that African American women have more aggressive tumors and they are also less responsive to treatment. Socio-economic factors also play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. An African American woman who is poor or is uninsured may not be able to get the diagnosis early enough for the treatment to be effective. For cancer, early detection offers the best chance for cure. Initiating treatment at an advanced stage may not be fruitful. Since socio-economic factors impede regular screening, diagnosis and prompt treatment of the cancer, African American women do poorly when cancer survival rates are computed.

The lack of referrals to medical oncologists, miscommunication and cultural differences between patients and physicians are also being looked at as part of the study. There are also variations in the metabolism of chemotherapy and the physical tolerance of therapy. Since African American women have the highest rate of Breast Cancer than any other group of women under the age of fifty, physicians are of the opinion that instead of waiting till forty years of age to initiate the routine mammograms, African American women should start earlier.

A mammogram will detect any abnormality and routine screening will identify any signs that should be of concern early enough to start immediate treatment and complete cure of the disease. The healthcare system also needs to focus on developing and perfecting other means of cancer detection that are more dependable than mammograms.

Awareness about breast cancer is also important in combating this disease. Women have to proactively understand their family history of cancer and can opt for genetic testing and counseling if they are at high risk.

Better awareness, regular screening and early detection of breast cancer can ensure that this disease does not become fatal.

Alex White is a free lance writer and a health & fitness expert who has been associated with several health care providers across various specialties. Through his articles, Alex White wishes to inform and educate public about Breast Cancer which will benefit those who are looking for resourceful information regarding health.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/breast-cancer-in-african-americans-1302961.html

All About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is normally caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is cancer that occurs in the mesothelium.
Mesothelioma:Mesothelioma is a type of cancer affecting the cells of mesothelial lining in the chest and abdomen. Mesothelioma cancer can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen. Mesothelioma has also been found in the stomach and other abdominal organs but it is much rarer in those areas than are both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also occur in the ovaries and scrotum. Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or the esophagus during the second stage.Mesothelioma also takes a long time to develop (typically 15-40 years), so patients today could have been exposed prior to the 1980s when asbestos was not highly regulated. Mesothelioma is not caused by smoking, as lung cancer so often is.
Symptoms:Symptoms One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma is an accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. Symptoms include:abdominal painascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen a mass in the abdomen problems with bowel function weight loss. Symptoms such as trouble swallowing, pain, or swelling of the neck and face can be indications that the cancer has spread beyond the mesotheliom to other parts of the body. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include persistent pain in the chest and severe difficulty breathing caused by pleural effusion, or an accumulation of fluid in the pleural lining Cough, weight loss, and fever are also common symptoms. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.
Diagnosis:The key to long-term survival from treatment of mesothelioma is early diagnosis, which enables the greatest potential for success from standard therapies. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is based on a pathological exam, more commonly referred to as a biopsy.Since this disease can be hard to diagnosis and costly to treat, it may require the consultation of an experienced attorney. When conclusive diagnosis cannot be made from fluid samples, diagnosis is often made through a surgical procedure called a throrascopy.The average age at diagnosis of mesothelioma is between 50 and 70 years old, with men being affected three to five times more often than women. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. The median survival time is 17 months, with ten percent of patients living for three years after diagnosis.
Conclusion:Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer which is fairly rare although in the last few decades the number of people who have died from it have dramatically increased. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but the deadliest one of all. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and only affects between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the United States per year. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans. Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. National Cancer Institute stats show that 3000 new diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is reported each year. Mesothelioma is not always fatal and that is the hope to hold on to.