Monday, August 28, 2006

treatment of mesothelioma

here is the treatment done on patients with mesothelioma.
From: http://www.mesotheliomamedical.com/treat_conventional.htm (source)


Mesothelioma treatment depends on several factors, including the stage of mesothelioma, the location of the tumor, and the age and overall health of the patient.


1. Surgery - Removal of Malignant Mesothelioma

Surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue may be used depending on how far the mesothelioma has spread (the stage). The more advanced the stage, the less likely that surgery will be effective in treating mesothelioma.


Surgery for malignant mesothelioma can be used for long-term control or to cure the disease (aggressive surgery) or can be used to relieve pain (palliative).


a) Aggressive surgery

Aggressive mesothelioma surgery involves removal of the pleura, lung, diaphragm, or pericardim. (The type involving removal of the pleura is called extrapleural pheumonectomy.) The goal is to remove as much of the mesothelioma tumor as possible. This type of surgery, also called extraplueral pneumonectomy, typically is performed on younger patients in Stage 1 of mesothelioma.


Because of the complexity and the high risks involved with this type of surgery, some mesothelioma hospitals do not perform the procedure. Also, different mesothelioma treatment centers may have different criteria for accepting patients for surgery. Therefore, it is important to check with a mesothelioma hospital to see if you meet its criteria.


b) Palliative Surgery

Palliative surgery is typically used in the more advanced stages of mesothelioma. The goal is to relieve or control symptoms caused by fluid collection or by the tumor compressing the lung or other organs. It is not intended to cure mesothelioma.


Pleurectomy/decortization is usually a palliative operation. It is used in situations where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It is effective in controlling the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (effusion), and the pain caused by mesothelioma.


Thoracentesis is also used to treat effusion in pleural mesothelioma. This treatment involves inserting a needle into the chest in order to drain the fluid. Thoracentesis does not involve surgical removal of the mesothelial cells.


2. Radiation

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and to shrink tumors. There are two types of radiation therapy.


External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body that beams x-rays to the location of the mesothelioma.


Brachytherapy involves putting chemicals that produce radiation directly into the site of the mesothelioma cancer. This is done by inserting a thin plastic tube into the chest or abdomen.


Because of the location of malignant mesothelioma, it is very difficult to deliver high-enough doses of radiation to kill the tumor without damaging surrounding organs. As a result, it is unclear whether radiation therapy is a successful method of treating mesothelioma. It has, however, been effective in killing remaining tumor cells after surgery has been performed.


Radiation therapy is also used as a palliative therapy to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and internal bleeding.


Radiation therapy has several side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Although these side effects are sometimes temporary, you should let your doctor know, since they often can be controlled.


3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat mesothelioma cancer. It is administered either orally (through pills) or by injecting the drugs directly into the veins (intravenously), the muscles, the chest cavity (intrapleurally), or the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneally). The goal of mesothelioma chemotherapy is for the drug to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body in order to destroy the cancer cells.


Several drugs have been used, either individually or in combination with others, to treat mesothelioma. Some of the single-agent drugs include:



Adriamycin (doxorubicin), which is the most studied and, currently, the most effective single agent;

epirubicin

carboplatin

detorubicin

pirarubucin

mitomucin

cisplatin.



Single-agent therapy has been only modestly successful in treating mesothelioma, with studies showing a response rate in the 10 to 20% range.


Because of the relatively low response rate of single-agent therapy in treating mesothelioma, combinations of these drugs have been used to increase their effectiveness. Although some researchers have reported high response rates to these therapies, these rates have not been consistent, and more research is necessary.


Chemotherapy drugs are generally very toxic. Therefore, a doctor must be very careful in monitoring the condition of a patient during therapy. Some of the more common side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss or appetite, hair loss, and fatigue. Chemotherapy can also result in low blood cell counts, which increases the risk of infection and bleeding or bruising.


Side effects vary depending on the treatment, and generally disappear after treatment is completed.

mesothelioma

i was intrigued by this term over the internet and tried to research upon what it is.


According to a certain website, it is an asbestos-related cancer in the linings of the lungs. (quite intriguing?) This is caused, as the same site suggests, by inhaling asbestos in the air. (and i don't know what asbestos is?). it is quite schocking indeed that most of the products in the market contains this kind of chemical, which causes mesothelioma. and i think, we in the third world should be informed if a certain product contains asbestos, for we might be in danger of having the disease.


symptoms for mesothelioma were as follows:

chest pain

hard to breathe

persistent cough

shortness of breath


there is treatment and diagnosis however, the procedures used by doctors are all invasive in the body, most specifically placing tubes on the lungs and draining the fluids.


for more info. visit: http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/symptoms.htm

Sunday, August 27, 2006

free mp3's

can somebody tell me where can i find direct links for downloading free mp3's? mp3's of old western pop songs? b*witched, a1, steps, and the like?

?!

I want to know more about the tech world... it's secrets, lies, laws, prohibitions, and everything that may be associated with that. why some people doing nasty business aren't detected? and why certain laws aren't implemented?


i don't want to be a lawyer, but i wanted to know more...

feeling bad

i felt bad for looking for updates over the internet... it spoils everything! it makes me want to smash the computer for i can't access the updates that i need. the hell of inventing things with an amount at stake...

Saturday, August 26, 2006

i wonder?

i wonder if i ever give up my dreams and pursue another one, what would become of me?
would i, be productive? would i not feel the boredom that i am experiencing now? would i be happy? would i be successful? would i not regret it?

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Hay... i miss the block... the best block ever... section C. sobra! i long every day na sana may pasok para magkita-kits ulit tayo. i miss ung mga morning greetings ng mga friendships ko... musta na ba kyo ngaun? sana okay lng. God bless sa inyo...

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

i had almost forgotten that its only days prior my 21st birthday.


I'm getting old! Hay!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

blog things


You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world
So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time
You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...
But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult

You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.
Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others.
Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul


You Are 64% Obsessive

You tend to have obsessive thoughts, and sometimes these cross over into your daily life.
While everyone does have a few weird rituals, you have to work to keep yours from taking over your life.


What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget.

You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds.

You believe that people see you as larger than life and important. While this is true, they also think you're a bit full of yourself.

Your near future is calm, relaxing, and pretty much what you want. And it's something you've been anticipating for a while now.

For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.
You Are The Moon

You represent the unconscious side of life, what happens in dreams.
You are capable of great genius - but also of great madness.
Emotions tend to be primal for you, both your fears and your fantasies.
Your intuition is always right, listening to it is the difficult part.

Your fortune:

You are about to embark on a very important journey - and a very difficult one.
Some of your deepest dreams will be realized, as well as some of your deepest nightmares.
Follow your creativity and visions; stay away from your weaknesses.
You are taking a voyage to the center of yourself, and you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

today's feelilngs

this is what i'm feeling for today...


"but I'm bluer than blue

sadder than sad

you're the only life this empty room has ever had

life without is going to be

bluer than blue..."

my faith had been fading, and i feel it deep inside. i know i had been truly bad. i know that i almost completely lost my self-control. i know i shouldn't be blasphemous. i know that i should limit my cursing. yet i can't stop it. i can't control my own thoughts. i don't know anymore who to believe. i don't even know if i can still trust them... the religious ones God called upon for service. i don't know.
i want something new to happen to my life.

i yearn for something to happen.

i crave for a colorful life...

the way i see it in other people.

i want my life to be fruitful.

i want it the way i had dreamed before.

not what i am feeling now...

a wasted and empty entity.

i crave to be free

indepenent

care-free

worry-less

i wanted a new life!
i've been expecting to see the meteor shower tonight, if not for those pesty pink clouds covering the sky. how i wish it move away... far to where my eyes couldn't see it. for so long i had waited to see a meteor rain, just to feel it, just to feel the amazement, and complete tolerance in the world. to feel it's wild freedom in the sky. kahit sandali lang maranasan ko ang maging malaya at masaya.


i'm sorry, i shouldn't be writing these stuffs. i just feel alone, and empty.

Thursday, August 3, 2006

Lance Bass from the band Nsync announced to the public that he is gay! More so admitting of having a stable relationship with the one of the reality show winners, Reichen, from the amazing race series. According to the news that sprawed over the net, he (Bass), didn't divulve such sexuality prior his statement today for he said that he was in a popular band, and that the career of the four other members where in his hands if he publicly renounce his sexuality. He, likewise admitted that he has no regrets in revealing his own sexuality now, and that it made him more comfortable.


For those Harry Potter fans out there, Ms. Rowling had made a statement about the
last installment of her widely acclaimed book, Harry Potter Series. She bluntly said
that two other characters will die, but she definitely did not told the press who's
who that is going to die. More so, she said that she had reached the resolution on
the last installment of the book, and it will likely end the way she had expected it.
However, two authors (Irving, and King) pleaded for her not to kill Harry for it will
sadden most of the fans who had loved the hero. Let's just wait and see until the book is published.


A Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon: A review. For those who
haven't read it, this is a spoiler so better get you nose off!


The story is about an autistic child who faced the difficult dilemma in his life, the
marriage dissolution of his parents. Christopher, having thought to believe that her
mother, Judy, died of a heart attacked, was accused by his neighbor of slaughtering/
murdering her dog, named Wellington. Since he has a very good logical skills, he decided to do some detecting in order to prove his innocence and find the murderer of the dog. Apparently he unveilled the secret his father had made, a cover up on the true situation of their family, that his mother hadn't died, but eloped with their neighbor's husband. With that, Christopher's father admitted that he was the one who killed the dog, which led Christopher to run away from home and go to London all by himself to live with his mother.


This is a worth while read, for in it fosters the value of courage, and critical thinking.