Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What is Lung Cancer? – Some Basic Information

What is Lung Cancer? – Some Basic Information

Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body’s basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when new cells are needed. Disruption of this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant; when we speak of “cancer,” we are referring to those tumors that are malignant. Benign tumors usually can be removed and do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing entry of tumor cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and then to other sites in the body. This process of spread is termed metastasis; the areas of tumor growth at these distant sites are called metastases.

Since lung cancer tends to spread or metastasize very early after it forms, it is a very life-threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. While lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs — particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone — are the most common sites for lung cancer metastasis.

The lung also is a very common site for metastasis from tumors in other parts of the body. Tumor metastases are made up of the same type of cells as the original (primary) tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads via the bloodstream to the lungs, it is metastatic prostate cancer in the lung and is not lung cancer.

The principal function of the lungs is to exchange gases between the air we breathe and the blood. Through the lung, carbon dioxide is removed from the bloodstream and oxygen from inspired air enters the bloodstream. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung is divided into two lobes and a small structure called the lingula that is the equivalent of the middle lobe on the right.

The major airways entering the lungs are the bronchi, which arise from the trachea. The bronchi branch into progressively smaller airways called bronchioles that end in tiny sacs known as alveoli where gas exchange occurs. The lungs and chest wall are covered with a thin layer of tissue called the pleura.

Lung cancers can arise in any part of the lung, but 90%-95% of cancers of the lung are thought to arise from the epithelial cells, the cells lining the larger and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles); for this reason, lung cancers are sometimes called bronchogenic cancers or bronchogenic carcinomas. (Carcinoma is another term for cancer.) Cancers also can arise from the pleura (called mesotheliomas) or rarely from supporting tissues within the lungs, for example, the blood vessels.

What is The Causes of Lung Cancer

What is The Causes of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death due to cancer in both men and women throughout the world. The American Cancer Society estimates that 219,440 new cases of lung cancer in the U.S. will be diagnosed and 159,390 deaths due to lung cancer will occur in 2009. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, approximately one out of every 14 men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer of the lung at some point in their lifetime.

Lung cancer is predominantly a disease of the elderly; almost 70% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 65 years of age, while less than 3% of lung cancers occur in people under 45 years of age.

Lung cancer was not common prior to the 1930s but increased dramatically over the following decades as tobacco smoking increased. In many developing countries, the incidence of lung cancer is beginning to fall following public education about the dangers of cigarette smoking and the introduction of effective smoking-cessation programs.

Nevertheless, lung cancer remains among the most common types of cancers in both men and women worldwide. In the U.S., lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

Smoking

The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the time over which smoking has occurred; doctors refer to this risk in terms of pack-years of smoking history (the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked). For example, a person who has smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years has a 20 pack-year smoking history. While the risk of lung cancer is increased with even a 10-pack-year smoking history, those with 30-pack-year histories or more are considered to have the greatest risk for the development of lung cancer. Among those who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes per day, one in seven will die of lung cancer.

Pipe and cigar smoking also can cause lung cancer, although the risk is not as high as with cigarette smoking. Thus, while someone who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day has a risk for the development of lung cancer that is 25 times higher than a nonsmoker, pipe and cigar smokers have a risk of lung cancer that is about five times that of a nonsmoker.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which have been shown to be cancer-causing or carcinogenic. The two primary carcinogens in tobacco smoke are chemicals known as nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The risk of developing lung cancer decreases each year following smoking cessation as normal cells grow and replace damaged cells in the lung. In former smokers, the risk of developing lung cancer begins to approach that of a nonsmoker about 15 years after cessation of smoking.

Passive smoking

Passive smoking or the inhalation of tobacco smoke by nonsmokers who share living or working quarters with smokers, also is an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Research has shown that nonsmokers who reside with a smoker have a 24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with nonsmokers who do not reside with a smoker. An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths that occur each year in the U.S. are attributable to passive smoking.

Asbestos Fibers

Asbestos fibers are silicate fibers that can persist for a lifetime in lung tissue following exposure to asbestos. The workplace is a common source of exposure to asbestos fibers, as asbestos was widely used in the past as both thermal and acoustic insulation. Today, asbestos use is limited or banned in many countries, including the U.S. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura of the lung as well as of the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum) are associated with exposure to asbestos. Cigarette smoking drastically increases the chance of developing an asbestos-related lung cancer in workers exposed to asbestos. Asbestos workers who do not smoke have a fivefold greater risk of developing lung cancer than nonsmokers, but asbestos workers who smoke have a risk that is 50- to 90-fold greater than nonsmokers.

Radon Gas

Radon gas is a natural, chemically inert gas that is a natural decay product of uranium. Uranium decays to form products, including radon, that emit a type of ionizing radiation. Radon gas is a known cause of lung cancer, with an estimated 12% of lung-cancer deaths attributable to radon gas, or about 20,000 lung-cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S., making radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. As with asbestos exposure, concomitant smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer with radon exposure. Radon gas can travel up through soil and enter homes through gaps in the foundation, pipes, drains, or other openings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. contains dangerous levels of radon gas. Radon gas is invisible and odorless, but it can be detected with simple test kits.

Familial Predisposition

While the majority of lung cancers are associated with tobacco smoking, the fact that not all smokers eventually develop lung cancer suggests that other factors, such as individual genetic susceptibility, may play a role in the causation of lung cancer. Numerous studies have shown that lung cancer is more likely to occur in both smoking and non-smoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population. Recently, the largest genetic study of lung cancer ever conducted, involving over 10,000 people from 18 countries and led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), identified a small region in the genome (DNA) that contains genes that appear to confer an increased susceptibility to lung cancer in smokers. The specific genes, located the q arm of chromosome 15, code for proteins that interact with nicotine and other tobacco toxins (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes).

Lung Diseases

The presence of certain diseases of the lung, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is associated with an increased risk (four- to sixfold the risk of a nonsmoker) for the development of lung cancer even after the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking are excluded.

Prior History of Lung Cancer

Survivors of lung cancer have a greater risk of developing a second lung cancer than the general population has of developing a first lung cancer. Survivors of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs, see below) have an additive risk of 1%-2% per year for developing a second lung cancer. In survivors of small cell lung cancers (SCLCs, see below), the risk for development of second lung cancers approaches 6% per year.

Air pollution

Air pollution from vehicles, industry, and power plants can raise the likelihood of developing lung cancer in exposed individuals. Up to 1% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to breathing polluted air, and experts believe that prolonged exposure to highly polluted air can carry a risk for the development of lung cancer similar to that of passive smoking.

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Top 7 Small Business Start Up Money Seeking Mistakes

Top 7 Small Business Start Up Money Seeking Mistakes

Small business start up money is a highly sought after commodity as more and more people are trying their luck at self employment.

Statistically, the odds of small business start up success is less than 20% within a 5 year period.

A large part of the reason for getting your loan request turned down, and the basic reason start ups end up failing in large numbers in the first place, is the mistakes made when seeking financing.



Here are my top 7 small business startup money seeking mistakes.

Mistake #1 - No borrower risk. The biggest single mistake I see with people seeking startup capital is that they ask a lender for 100% of their capital requirements.

Risk needs to be shared between borrower and lender. Startup situations, depending on their nature, typically require the borrower to invest anywhere from 30% to 50% of the total capital required into the deal.

A personal equity investment not only reduces the cost of borrowing but also provides some serious skin into the deal that indicates a strong commitment on behalf of the borrower.

Mistake #2 - Purposeful Business Plan. For most small business start up money, a business plan is a required part of the appplication.

Fundamentally, this is an important requirement for someone getting into any business. Unfortunately, most borrowers look at this strictly as an academic exercise to get financing with the only purpose of completing the business plan being to satisfy a lender requirement.

A business plan should aways be prepared from the point of view that the primary benefactor of the process of creation and preparation is the underlying business. If this approach were taken more often, start up situations would acheive greater success, faster.

Mistake #3 - Poor Working Capital Projections. Start up situations tend to intensively focus on the assets they need to acquire, the space they're going to lease, the leasehold improvement cost, and other initial expenditure outlays required to get the business up and running.

What tends to be either missed entirely or poorly estimated is the relistic cash flow required to operate the business until such time as the business can sustain itself on a month to month basis.

Part of the reason for this is a working assumption that the business will immediately be cash flow positive in the first month of operations. In most cases this doesn't happen, the shortfalls are financed by personal credit cards because of the lack of planned working capital, and the borrowers end up in credit card hell, paying high interest rates with potentially no way out.

Unfortunately, creating more realistic, and potentially conservative cash flows may indicate that you don't have enough money to actually get started, so the temptation is to be overly optimistic in order to make the numbers work, which statistics show is a bad idea more often than not.

Mistake #4 - No Real Marketing Plan. For most retail and service start ups, the marketing plan consists of placing some advertising, offering some grand opening specials, and sitting back and waiting for the flood of customers. Advertising can be very expensive and if you don't know what you're doing, you can burn through all your available cash pretty quickly.

From the financier's point of view, they want you to be able to clearly articulate what you're going to do and why its supposed to work along with the related costs. Lenders aren't typically any good at assessing marketing plans, but they can likely tell if one is missing or grossly incomplete/unrealistic.

One of the most powerful ways to support your marketing strategy and related tactics is with written orders or letters of interest, or letters of intent to do business with you once you open.

Mistake #5 - No Rationale For Key Assumptions. Even if you have a plan and realistic cash flow projections, part of being credible is articulating what you're attempting to do in a logical and clear to understand format so that someone who potentially knows nothing about you're business can follow along.

If a request for small business start up money is logical and contains well documented assumptions, it automatically stands out from the pack.

Be clear on how you came up with each and every number you represent in your application package and why you feel they are relevant to your business case.

Mistake #6 - No Expertise and Support Team. One of the first questions that goes through any lender's mind when someone asks them for small business start up money is whether or not the person requesting financing has the knowledge, expertise, and support to make the business successful.

Too often, individuals do not document and support their own expertise relative to the business venture. This can be done through a resume, examples of previous related work experience, letters of reference, a list of contacts that can provide verbal reference, etc.

Outside of your own skill set, what type of team have you assembled to support your efforts? In many cases, small businesses can start out with no employees outside of the proprietor(s). But you can still have a virtual team which can include an accountant, bookkeeper, lawyer, marketing coach, technology service support, and so on.

Mistake #7 - Poor Presentation. The discussions you have with a lender and the information you provide to them either inspires them with confidence or turns them off.

It may take weeks to get a loan approval, but it can take meer seconds to loose any realistic chance of even being seriously considered.

Outside of the obvious need for good grooming, neatness, and punctuality, the presentation process usually falls apart because the presenter is not sufficiently prepared to impress the heck out of the lender.

But making a good impression is not just about being enthusiastic and confident in your delivery, its also about being able to articulate the details of what you're trying to do and why it would be a good investment for the lender.

Get Foods That Prevent Skin Cancer – Diet(Food)

Get Foods That Prevent Skin Cancer – Diet(Food)

Skin cancer and premature skin aging from the sun are preventable with sunscreen and by eating the right foods. A focus on the right foods offers protection from sunburn and skin cancer, from the inside out. Foods that attack free radicals in the body and reduce inflammation can keep us looking younger and protect from sunburn that leads to skin cancer, pre-cancerous skin changes.

A wide variety of specific foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and natural whole grains have been recognized as valuable in fighting skin cancer. Due to phytochemical makeups, these types of foods best protect the body from cancer and fight back against it. Low-fat foods and high-fiber foods are the crowned champions of warding off cancer through diet. As fiber influences the intestines to move more quickly, carcinogenic toxins are not allowed to accumulate or sit for too long within vital organs. Eat these foods steadily and you’ll be fighting the good fight against skin cancer.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants and Vitamins C and E are the best skin cancer prevention food. Following a diet that is plentiful with skin cancer prevention food can not only stave off skin cancer, but can also aid in fighting other cancers as well as diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Antioxidants work by reducing the energy of free radicals and by possibly stopping free radicals from forming within the body. Antioxidants also stop the oxidizing chain reaction, which in turn minimizes the damage caused by free radicals.

According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the following foods are highest in cancer-fighting anti-oxidants:

    * Red Kidney Beans

    * Blueberries

    * Pinto Beans

    * Cranberries

    * Artichoke Hearts

    * Blackberries

    * Prunes

    * Raspberries

    * Strawberries

    * Apples

    * Pecans

    * Cherries

    * Plums

    * Russet Potatoes

    * Black Beans

Antioxidants can also be found in poultry, fish, and grains. If adequate antioxidants cannot be consumed through diet, it is possible to find over-the-counter antioxidant supplements. The best antioxidant supplements are included with a multivitamin, as many vitamins are also thought to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Other foods that are said to be specifically helpful in fighting cancer are:

    * Avocadoes

    * Broccoli

    * Brussels Sprouts

    * Cabbage

    * Carrots

    * Cauliflower

    * Chili Peppers

    * Figs

    * Flax

    * Grapefruits

    * Jalapenos

    * Kale

    * Lemons

    * Licorice Root

    * Mushrooms

    * Nuts

    * Olive Oil

    * Oranges

    * Papayas

    * Raspberries

    * Red Wine

    * Rosemary

    * Seaweed

    * Soy

    * Sweet Potatoes

    * Tapioca

    * Tomatoes

    * Tumeric

    * Turnips

Green tea is also said to be a great source of antioxidants. Daily consumption of brewed green tea can help to prevent the occurrence of skin and other types of cancers. Black tea is also highly touted as a cancer fighting beverage. Adequate consumption of water, at least 64 ounces each day, is also thought by some to aid in the fight against developing skin cancer.

The best way to be sure that you are eating a diet rich with skin cancer prevention food is to make sure that you consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Avoid over-indulging in red meats and gain protein from beans and nuts. You can also season foods with spices such as garlic, cinnamon, cloves, and oregano, which are all reputed to contain cancer fighting properties.

Along with a diet rich in skin cancer prevention food, it is wise to consider eliminating or drastically reducing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Both alcohol and tobacco use have been linked to an increase in certain types of cancers, including skin cancer. Once this healthy lifestyle is established, you should also consider adopting a regular exercise routine that includes cardiovascular workouts. This type of exercise allows blood to circulate through the body more freely and is highly linked with a decrease in occurrence of cancer as well as many other diseases.

Understanding the Effects of Skin Cancer on The Body

Understanding the Effects of Skin Cancer on The Body

A person is considered as having skin cancer when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, which most typically occurs as a result of skin being overexposed to the sun. There are also many other factors that are considered as being able to cause skin cancer however, so sunlight is not the only factor responsible here. There are actually three basic types of skin cancer which are: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Melanoma is considered as being the most serious and severe form of the three, and is also more difficult to diagnose and treat. It affects the deeper layers of the skin and also has the greatest potential to spread to other tissues in the body.

One of the most frightening facts of all regarding skin cancer is that all three of these types of skin cancer are on the rise, in both adults and children. However they can be prevented by limiting or avoiding exposure to ultraviolent radiation, engaging in proper and regular exercise, and paying attention to any suspicious changes in your skin.

Effects of Skin Cancer

When it comes to the effects of skin cancer, there are many. The effects of skin cancer on a particular patient will depend on a few factors, namely if they have the following conditions or characteristics: light skin color, history of severe sunburn, family history of skin cancer, large dark-colored birthmarks, and HIV.

The effects of skin cancer can be incredibly damaging to anyone however, especially if it is left unnoticed and untreated for an extended period of time. This is because the longer skin cancer – or any type of cancer for that matter – is left untreated, the longer it is able to negatively affect the body and possibly spread to other parts of the body as well.

Although there is no surefire way of preventing skin cancer, there are many preventive and precautionary steps that you can take in order to guard yourself against skin cancer and its effects as best as possible.

If you do end up developing the disease however, it is important that you get yourself in to see your doctor as soon as possible in order to discuss the available methods of treatment and what the best treatment plan is going to be for you and your particular condition.

Your health care provider will continue to check you regularly even after treatment, particularly by looking for any new, changed, or unusual moles or spots on your skin.

Are You A Housewife? Want to Earn Money Online on your Spare Time?

Are You A Housewife? Want to Earn Money Online on your Spare Time?

A Guide for Housewives on How to Earn Online Money

If your husband has left you or your family thinks you have no worth beyond your domestic skills. You feel bad about yourself and self-esteem has long been taken out from your vocabulary. Well life isn’t as bad as the TV show, but if you’re looking for a sense of purpose beyond what your housewife status then you can find a great way to express yourself and make a dime or two using the internet.

This one is dedicated to all the housewives of couples out there, while I may never be one myself, I certainly appreciate and honor your contribution and believe that with the internet today you will be a strong force in the years to come. If anything, it’s important to realize that today there are millions of single operators, home operators (SOHO) making a very good living through the internet, here are some idea’s to get you started.

Money Matters

It’s a sad fact in the world that most of the time, how much you’re earning becomes the basis of your value as a person self-worth and net worth are collapsed upon each other. And unfortunately for housewives, their cup may run over with love, selflessness, and intelligence, but as long as they’re relegated to washing the dishes and with no visible means of income – they are commonly overlooked in other peoples most respected list. Yet the role is critical to the family unit and without this role the term family would be very loose indeed. In today’s world, that doesn’t mean throw ambitions out the window, on the contrary, it means that you can earn a great income from home around managing your other responsibilities.

Change Your Life with the Internet

You do, however, have the power to change all of that and you won’t even have to leave your home, with an internet connection and a little guidance you can make a couple of hundred dollars through to thousands of dollars each week. You don’t need to turn over all your housewife responsibilities all at once. You don’t even have to feel guilty that you won’t be able to spend enough time with your kids because that’s the beauty of working online from home.

The Internet allows you to recreate your own office straight from your home, continue with life as it is now, but by spending a little bit of time here and there on your project you can start earning a nice little income. The Internet gives you the chance to earn money easily and 100% legally and in the manner you enjoy the most.

Life before Marriage

What was your job before your present occupation as a housewife? Did you enjoy doing it or not? If you had married right after graduating from college then just think about what subjects or interests you had when you were still a student. In other words, think about the skills, talents, and abilities that you had way back but allowed to become rusty after marriage.

Your pre-marriage skills are what are going to make you money in the Internet. If you were a writer before, you can become an online copywriter and write only in your spare time. If you were an accountant before, you can start tutoring kids online and help them with their math assignments or be a virtual assistant to small companies outsourcing their accounting functions. Whatever skills you have, you’re sure to find someone needing it – for the right price – in the Internet. Just have patience browsing.

Profiting from Being a Housewife

Now, say you don’t have any skills before your marriage. Don’t worry! You can still use your housewife resume to make money online.

If you love cooking, you can start selling some of your homemade favorites online. You can also offer to host cooking courses at home or via the Internet with the use of a webcam. You can also make cooking video tutorials and charge per download.

Secondly, you can create a blog or website that offers valuable tips for aspiring housewives and women who are about to marry or become mothers. You write what you know, and you get paid for it through advertising. That’s not such a bad way of earning money either.

It’s amazing what shows up once you have made the decision to run an internet business, opportunities arise and it can all come together very quickly with a committed decision. A great question to ask yourself is ‘If time and money weren’t an issue, what would you do for work?’ Great! Now do the research to see if it will be viable online!

The Internet always appreciates talent, and your housewife skills and abilities aren’t exceptions to the rule. Just be patient: money may start with a trickle and can always grow from there.

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