Remove Dark Spots on Face

Dark spots on the face are the result of local hyperpigmentation. When the concentration of the natural coloring agent in the skin, melanin increases in certain parts of the skin, they tend to look darker than the surrounding areas and appear as spots, mostly on the face and the neck, as these are often exposed to direct sunlight. Overexposure to sunlight is therefore one of the causes that triggers the appearance of dark spots. Sometimes, dark spots also appear on the skin as one progress’ in age, as the production of melanin becomes irregular with age.
Home Remedies to Removing Dark Spots on Face
There are several useful home remedies that can help you lighten and get rid of dark spots on the face. Eating lots fresh fruits and raw vegetables is a natural way of ensuring an even, flawless complexion as these detoxify and hydrate the skin. Fruits like pineapple and papaya are especially beneficial in this regards, as they are rich sources of vitamin E, which makes the skin look naturally glowing. Also, drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day in order to keep your skin naturally well moisturized. Applying the juice of citrus fruits on the skin is useful in lightening your complexion. The juice of a fresh lemon is especially useful when applied every day on the dark spots, as the citric acid in this fruit acts as a natural bleaching agent.
Another popular remedy for dark spots is to mix sour milk or cream and honey and apply this paste on the face every day. Honey is a natural moisturizing agent while the lactic acid in sour milk lightens the complexion of the skin without irritating it. For another remedy, massage your skin with aloe vera juice or gel every night before going to bed. You could also crush some horseradish root and mix this with a little vinegar and rub the dark spots with a piece of cotton wool soaked in this mixture. After the juices dry, wash your face with lukewarm water. Rubbing the skin gently with the peel of a watermelon also helps reduce dark spots.
Another useful remedy is to mix together one tablespoon each of oatmeal, yoghurt and sour cream and add a few drops of lime juice to this mixture. Massage your face with this paste and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it away with water. In addition, slice a potato thinly and place the slices on your face for 15 minutes in order to bleach the spots naturally.

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Become slim in 3 days

Ever wanted to look leaner and fitter instantly- for the beach vacation, the New Year’s eve party, a cousin’s wedding, or the big date! We have tips for you to look thinner, slimmer, leaner and better instantly. No, its not an optical illusion.
If you want to lose weight fast & effectively, try one of our Weight Loss Plans. See our weight loss success stories.
Whether you have 3 days, 7, 10, 14 days, 2 weeks or 1 month, you can use these tips to look thinner for the big day.
Eat less Salt: Go easy on the salty snacks, like namkeen, chips, high sodium pickles, pretzels and processed foods that are high in sodium. Extra salt is added as a preservative in foods. Salt contains sodium and high sodium foods cause water retention in the body. Water retention can make you look bloated. So, skip the chips and go for the fresh food.

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Easy on the Carbs: The Indian diet is high in carbohydrates. Rice, Roti and other breads are primarily carbohydrates, besides all the sugary food. Know the difference between good and bad carbs. Besides our meals, the vegetarian snacks are also high on carbohydrates. Like salt excess consumption of carbohydrates leads to water retention. So, when people reduce their carbohydrate intake, they lose some water weight. That’s a trick used by Atkins and other no-carbohydrate diet plans. Fitho does not recommend no-carb diets, as they can have side-effects like ketosis, bad breath, etc.
Run: Yes, go for a run. Running helps you burn calories, and suppresses appetite hormones. Check
our next article to understand how it works.
Do Push-ups/Squats: Right before the big day out, the men should crank out a few push-ups and squats. Both are fantastic exercises to build muscle and will pump muscle all over your body- so you fill your clothes out better. For women- try girl pushups to instantly tone your arms.
To really lose weight, get on a proper weight loss plan. Or see any of our customized fitness plans, likepersonal training, diabetes management, hypothyroid, pregnancy weight loss, and more..
Note: Do not take these tips to extreme. Removing salt and carbs from your diet completely for long periods of time can be harmful to health. Also, excessive exercising can lead to injurious to health.

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Best Cancer Hospitals Ranked by National Magazine

The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is the best place to get cancer treatment in the United States…..at least according to the magazine U.S. News and World Report.

The news magazine"s July 17, 2000 edition ranks the best hospitals in America and it has ranked the 50 best cancer treatment facilities as well.

The 11^th annual survey looked at 6,247 institutions across the US. To be on the list hospitals had to be a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals or have at least nine out of 17 key technological services. To be ranked in the cancer treatment area hospitals had to have performed the required number of cancer treatment procedures over the last three years to make the cut.

Key factors for the U.S. News staff were quality of care, reputation, death rates (mortality), and such factors as technology and nursing care.

The Top 10 cancer hospitals by U.S. News and World Report:

1. University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
3. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
4. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
5. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
6. University of Chicago Hospitals
7. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
8. UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
9. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo
10. Clarian Health Partners, Indianapolis

Practice Makes Perfect

In something of a case study the magazine looked at medical journal reports on surgery for pancreatic cancer as well as other medical procedures. As you might expect, hospitals that do complicated procedures more often get better results for their patients. The magazine informs patients they should find out how many times a key procedure has been done and what the outcomes were.

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Mesothelioma treatment

The mesothelioma treatment method that is chosen will depend on how advanced the disease is and on the patient’s overall physical health and personal preferences. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is an important method of controlling the course of mesothelioma. It may also be combined with chemotherapy, radiation, and other therapies. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. In more advanced cases, a doctor may have to remove one of the patient’s lungs, part of the diaphragm or the pericardium.

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. It works by destroying the cancer cells in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

Chemotherapy is a traditional mesothelioma treatment that uses anticancer (cytotoxic) medicines, drugs and chemicals to attempt to kill cancerous cells. These chemotherapeutic agents can be ingested in pill form or they can be injected by needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapeutic agents include doxorubicin, cisplatin, methotrexate and various drug combinations.

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, your doctor will pay careful attention to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment.

In addition to traditional treatments, new mesothelioma cancer treatments are continually being tested through medical research studies. These treatments are called clinical trials and they help researchers determine whether new treatments are safe and effective for general use, while giving patients with few treatment options an opportunity to try new treatments.

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Mesothelioma Legal Advice

Mesothelioma was recognized as a legitimate cause of death by the US government in 1989 and consequently commercial use of asbestos was banned. It was done after numerous researches unquestionably proved that mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. For people who are suffering from mesothelioma, the good news is that now they can get compensated for all their medical expenses and treatment. But, it is not as easy as it sounds. You cannot fight the legal battle on your own for you will require a professional, experienced and a reputable mesothelioma lawyer to help you fight your case and get you fair compensation from the responsible source of asbestos exposure.

In case you decide to not go for a full fledged legal battle your lawyer can also assist you in getting an out of court settlement from the liable asbestos source. To file a case against the offender, you need to have a number of evidences with you which will make your lawsuit strong. This evidence may be your employment record with a company, your medical reports proving mesothelioma as well as witnesses who can testify for you.
Mesothelioma patients or their family members can file a claim against the negligent employers who did not ensure protective workplace safety measures against an asbestos filled environment. The compensation thus obtained can help the patient with the treatment and medical bills and it can help make up for some of the anguish and distress which the patients and their families suffer. Check out the articles in our mesothelioma legal advice for sound lawful advice before you file your mesothelioma compensation case.

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Ten Best Mesothelioma Cancer Centers in US

If you have been affected with mesothelioma then it becomes extremely necessary that you visit the best cancer centers to get proper guidance and treatment for the disease. Though this kind of cancer is quite rare and does not have any cure, these mesothelioma cancer centers can help you in overcoming the trauma and reduce the pain and suffering.
While most of the cancer centers in the United States offer treatment for mesothelioma, there are some which are exclusive for mesothelioma patients and offer the latest treatment. They also have doctors who are well-versed with the latest developments in the field and can help in increasing the survival duration as well as reduce your pain and sufferings.

Mesothelioma clinic or cancer center

If you are living in a big city in the U.S.A. then you can easily get a good cancer center which offers specialized treatment for the disease. They are usually located in the leading universities of the country. This helps patients as well as doctors as they will be centrally located and easy to travel for treatment or appointments. However, if you are living in a smaller city or in a rural area then you might have to travel to a city to get treatment from a good mesothelioma cancer center. Under such a situation, these cancer centers providing housing for short-term as well as long-term which you can avail to avoid travelling frequently. Here are a few simple steps you need to follow to locate the best cancer centers for mesothelioma:

• Take suggestions from your primary doctors or nurses who suspected and diagnosed that you are suffering from this cancer. They will be able to refer some best hospitals based on their experience.
• Organizations like the Joint Commission can also provide you information regarding some of the best hospitals in the country. This organization offer accreditation to hospitals which meet their requirements in terms of service and quality of treatment.
• The Commission on Cancer (CoC) program of the American College of Surgeons is an approval program of various cancer treatment facilities. It offers a list of over 1,400 cancer centers which fall under its approved facilities across the country. Almost all the best cancer centers are approved by CoC as they adhere to the strict norms of the program.
• You can also look for details of good cancer centers from the programs of the National Cancer Institute which is a division of the U.S. National Institutes for Health. It works with about 60 best cancer centers in the country.
• The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) also gives recognition to cancer centers which are excellent in their medical facilities and gives them the designation of Comprehensive Cancer Center. There are as many as 21 NCCN approved cancer institutes in the country which are working towards finding a cure to the disease and well as eradicate it by building awareness and prevention.

The top 10 cancer hospitals throughout the U.S. are:

1. University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
2. Arizona Cancer Center
3. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
4. St. Luke’s Medical Center
5. University of Colorado Cancer Center
6. Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine
7. Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Yale University School of Medicine
8. Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Hematology/Oncology,
9. Iowa Oncology Research Association
10. CCOP-Carle Cancer Center

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Washington DC Hair laser removal

Unwanted hair has been a problem ever since and especially for women. However, these days even men look up to grooming equally as women and wish to get rid of unwanted hair. There are a number of methods that have been used for hair removal like threading, waxing, hair removing creams etc. But none of these methods has resulted in permanent hair removal. However, with the help of laser technology permanent hair removal is possible and you can have a smooth hairless skin.

Who is eligible for a laser hair removal treatment?
When you approach a laser hair removal center then they would first check whether you are a suitable candidate to undergo a laser hair removal or not. Ideally a laser hair removal treatment is considered to best suit people who have a light skin color in comparison to the color of their hair. Moreover, it is also thought to be ideal for people who are fair and have a light skin color.
For determining whether you are a suitable candidate for laser hair removal the doctor would usually check your skin and hair color. It is considered that people who have a dark skin color absorb a lot of laser radiation and hence are not considered to be ideally suited for laser hair removal treatment.
At times laser hair specialists also do not consider people who are tanned and those who have light colored hair for this treatment."> When you take up laser hair removal treatment you are required to meet the doctor for multiple sessions and more than this the treatment is expensive and you should be able to meet the cost of the treatment.
Doctors or specialists doing the laser hair removal treatment usually advise their clients to avoid having foods that have high content of beta-carotene during the time when they are undergoing laser hair removal.
How much does the laser hair removal treatment cost ?
The cost of laser hair removal can vary greatly. Usually the cost is assessed according to the size of the area that is being treated. If you take up laser hair removal treatment in Washington DC then you can be charged almost $300 to $500 for every treatment session. Generally the permanent laser hair removal treatment requires 4 treatment sessions.
If you are considering a laser hair removal treatment for a larger area like your back or arms of legs then you can be charged more for this. Treating small areas like eyebrows, upper lip, forehead would cost you a lesser amount.
It is advised that before you make an appointment with the laser hair removal specialist you should confirm the price and other details so that you would know that you can afford taking the treatment.
The process of laser hair removal When you go in for laser hair removal then you would have to in for various sessions depending upon the area that is being treated and the specialist who is handling your treatment.
Multiple sessions are required because there are a number of dormant hair follicles under the skin that needs to be killed. If these follicles were left like that then they would replace the follicles that had been killed in the previous session. For making this hair removal permanent it is important that you go in for multiple sessions.
The duration of each of these sessions varies on the area that is being treated and can vary from a few minutes to hours. The treatment does not involve much of pain and you would just have a tingling sensation. However at times when patients have pain the specialist would prescribe certain painkillers.
When you go for treatment the excess hair on the area of treatment is removed and the area is exposed to the pulsing laser beam to destroy the hair follicles. Once this is done then the specialist would provide you with a soothing moisturizing treatment.
Laser hair clinics Washington D.C Some of the laser hair clinics functioning in Washington D.C are mentioned below.
Reveal MedSpa: They are experts in laser hair removal treatments and altogether have an experience of 175,000 procedures at their different locations. The physicians at this center are well-trained and licensed to practice laser therapy. They have different types of laser hair removal treatment therapies that you can opt for. You can contact them at 1028 19th Street, NW ; Washington, D.C. 20036; Phone: 1.888 (Laser 14); 1.888.527.3714.
Renu MedSpa's: http://www.renudc.com
They provide pain free laser hair removal for reducing unwanted hair on the body, including the face, back, neck, legs, bikini line, chest and underarms. YOU can contact them at 1145 19th street, Washington, DC 20007 ; phone: 301.652.RENU (7368)
Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Associates:http://www.dermatologycosmetic.com
They provide laser hair removal procedures that are FDA approved and help their clients with the latest technologies that are available. You can call them at 301.345.7375 for an appointment. They are located in Greenbelt, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC.
Bang Salon & Day Spa: http://www.bangsalon.com
They provide laser hair removal treatment. Their team of laser hair removal specialists is experienced and well trained to practice the therapy. They provide their services at affordable rates. You can contact them at 1612 U St NW; Washington, DC 20009; phone: 202-299-0925.

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Natural Home Remedies for Hair Loss

1. Boil one cup mustard oil with four tablespoon heena (mehendi) leaves. Filter it and keep it in a bottle. Message it on the bald patches regularly. It is very effective natural remedy for baldness.
2. Grind fenugreek seeds with water and apply on the head. Leave for at least 40 minutes before washing. Continue it for a month.
3. Do a vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water. It is also a good natural hair loss treatment.
4. Rub the bald area with onions till it becomes red. Then apply honey on the bald area. It is very effective natural cure for baldness
5. Make a mixture of honey with egg yolk. Properly massage on the scalp and hairs. Leave for a 1/2 hour, then wash
6. Prepare a home made shampoo by adding 5 tbsp of curd, 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 2 tbsp of gram raw (chholia) powder. Apply it on the head for an hour and then wash
7. Apply fresh leaf juice of amaranth to the hair. It will help the growth of the hair and keep it soft.

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Dry Skin Care Treatment

• Take ½ spoon white of egg, ¼ spoon honey, ½ spoon cucumber juice. Make a paste and apply it on your face with the help of cotton. After it get dry, wash it off with cold water.
• Take 1 spoon multani mitti, 1 spoon milk cream, ½ spoon honey and a little amount of oil. Make a paste. Apply it on your face. Keep it for 10 – 15 minutes. Wash it off after it gets dry.
• Take ¼ spoon oil, ½ spoon honey, 1 tablespoon ‘Chokar’. Make a paste and apply and wash it off after it gets dry.
• Make a paste by mixing 1 spoon curd, ½ spoon honey, ½ spoon milk cream, 2 spoons potato juice. Apply on your face and wash if off when it gets dry.
• Drink warm water to which ¼ teaspoon of crushed cardamom seeds are added.

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Toning Of Skin

Due to age and other causes like vagaries of weather, pollution and other toxins in the atmosphere, the face and other parts of our body start to sag and show wrinkles. You have to tone your skin for a youthful, rejuvenated feel.
The epidermal cells gradually lose their capacity to produce new cells while the dermis that produce collagen loses its elasticity, resulting in a dry skin and wrinkles on the face. Toners can be used to clean the last traces of oil from the skin. They do not close or open pores. Sometimes they cause a slight skin irritation which makes the skin feel tighter. Skin toning lotions freshen the skin. They also stimulate the blood supply to the skin.

Tips for toning:

• Use astringent lotions with a piece of cotton wool but if your skin is looking worn off and tired, pat it on with a brisk slapping movement.
• Moisten cotton wool with skin toning lotion and pat on the cheeks, chin and neck.
• If you have normal, combination or dry skin, use very delicate and light preparation to refresh the skin. Never use a harsh astringent lotion for this purpose. Rose water based product is preferred.
• For dry skin use rose water diluted with mineral water. Apply it gently with cotton wool avoiding the eye and upper cheek area completely.
• For combination skin, light toning lotion should be used all over the face, except for the eye area. Then apply the astringent on the greasy areas with cotton wool. Never let the astringent spill over the dry cheek and eye areas.
• Oily skinned people should tone with an astringent lotion, applying particularly to the oiliest places, i.e. sides of the nose, chin and forehead.
• For a combination skin, refresh the skin by mixing 2 parts of rose water with one part of witch hazel. Apply to the skin with cotton wool.
• For a dry skin, combine 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon glycerine and 3 tablespoons of rose water. Rub onto the skin.
• For oily skin, dissolve 1 teaspoon borax in 150 ml rose water. Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil and slowly add to the mixture. Beat with an egg whisk until it is thick and creamy. Then add 2 tablespoons of lavender water to it and blend well.
• Place a tablespoon of chopped mint in a jar and add 2 tablespoons cider vinegar. Shake well and leave in the fridge for a few days. Strain the liquid and add 300 ml water. Dab onto the skin with cotton wool.
• To obtain a toner for sensitive skin or to calm sunburn, mash strawberries and apply for 5 minutes and then wash it off.
• Rose is an excellent skin toner. Make rose water by mixing 1 tablespoon rose oil with 2 ¼ litres of purified water. Bottle it and store in the refrigerator.
• Vitamin E oil and wheat oil are very effective for dry skin.
• Rub a piece of potato over the face and neck and wash off after 15 minutes. This is very effective for oily skin, and can be used for dry skin with a moisturizer.

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Oily Skin Care

This skin type usually has open pores and an oily surface with a tendency towards pimples, blackheads and a sallow appearance. The good news is that this oiliness will make your skin stay younger.

• Even though the remainder of your face is prone to oiliness, always remember that the skin around your eyes is very delicate, so don’t drag at it when removing your eye makeup. Soak a cotton wool pad with a non oily remover and hold over your eyes for a few seconds to give it time to dissolve the make up. Then lightly stroke away the mascara and make -up from the eyelids, and the upper and lower lashes.
• Lather up with a gentle facial wash, as it won’t strip away moisture from your skin, but it will remove grime, dirt and oil. Massage gently over damp skin with your fingertips, and then rinse away the soapy suds with lots of warm water.
• Soak a cotton wool ball with a refreshing astringent lotion. Sweep it over your skin to refresh and cool it .Continue until the cotton wool comes up completely clean.
• Even oily skin needs moisturizer, because a moisturizer helps to seal water into the top layer to keep the skin soft and supple. Choose a light, watery fluid as this will be enough for you.
• Allow the moisturizer to sink in for a few minutes, and then press a clean tissue over your face to absorb the excess oil and prevent a shiny complexion.

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Facial massage

Importance of facial massage
Facial massage helps you to remain beautiful, youthful and have healthy skin. Facial massage can slow down your ageing. Damaged skin looks like really bad, like a deflated balloon. Facial massage can rejuvenate your skin and make it look better.
Factors responsible for your skin damage
Skin gets damaged and loses elasticity due to:

• UV rays
• Dehydration
• Ageing

Also people with oily skin secrete excessive sebum that clogs the pores, making the skin susceptible to acne and rash.
Effects of skin massage
Massage is the self exercise for your skin. It works deeply in to skin, cleans the rooted dirt and it also improves blood circulation and relieves stress.
Results of facial massage
Facial massage results in fair and smooth skin. The skin’s elasticity also replenishes. It becomes more translucent and it has a healthy glow.
Working of facial massage
Dirty particles embedded in the skin are responsible for acne and rash. They cannot be removed by washing. Facial massage and mask increases the, the skin temperature, opening the pores and removing these particles.
Correct method of facial massage
By a moderate massage, the skin temperature rises, improving blood circulation and the ingredients contained in the massage formula function effectively on the skin. It also has relaxing effect.
Maintain a Healthy Epidermis and Dermis
With age blood circulation becomes bad to worse. When blood circulation is improved with facial massage and mask, sufficient oxygen and nutrients are transported to create a healthy epidermis and dermis.

The Skin's Sauna Effect is Facial Mask

By entirely covering the skin and increasing the temperature, blood circulation is improved and ingredients in the mask formula function effectively on the skin.
The do’s of facial massage

• The frequency of massaging should be appropriate for the skin's condition. Those who fear skin problems may continue a gentle, effective treatment on a daily basis, limiting the time to short periods. For those who do not routinely massage their skin, massage every 3-4 days with a massage product.
• Use your entire palm when massaging a wide area,
• Use generous amounts of massage cream, especially for those who have dry skin.
• In the direction of facial curves, massaging should be done in a rhythm of inner to outer motions

The don’ts of a facial massage

• Don’t take small amount of cream. If too little massage cream is applied, the hands will not glide over the skin, creating excessive stimulation.
• Don’t use just your finger. When using just your finger, the skin suffers too much stimulation.
• Don’t massage in irregular directions. If you do not massage in the direction of facial curves, wrinkles can be formed.

Don’t go for excessive massage. Excessive massaging can over stimulate the skin.

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Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancer that affects the mesothelium, a lining that surrounds many areas of the body, including the pulmonary and cardiac organs, is known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when the cells in the mesothelium divide uncontrollably.

Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the pulmonary (lungs) area, peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal area, pericardial mesothelioma develops in the cardiac (heart) area, and testicular mesothelioma develops in the male genital area. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common, making up approximately 75% of the cases.

Causes of Pleural Mesothelioma

Asbestos is the major cause of pleural mesothelioma, and was utilized for many industrial and household applications over the last century and a half. The mineral was advantageous to use in manufacturing processes. In the early 20th century, it was discovered that it posed significant health risks to people who were exposed to asbestos. Employers as varied as industrial plants to the United States Navy were aware of these dangers, but did not inform their employees and did not keep them from being exposed to the minerals. In the late 1980s, asbestos was banned in the U.S., barring a few highly regulated applications.

Latency Period

When someone is exposed to asbestos, fibers become embedded in the body. They aggravate the cells and result in cancerous growths. Someone who has undergone exposure may live for several decades without developing any symptoms. The latency period of mesothelioma can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years.

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma of the peritoneal lining is very rare and poses a challenge to diagnose as well as treat. Unfortunately, it often becomes fatal.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the abdominal lining, which serves to protect the abdominal organs and secretes fluids allowing for the organs to move smoothly. The cancer of the peritoneum leads to swelling of the abdomen and kills the healthy cells of the cavity while allowing for the growth of cancer cells.

Causes of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The most common cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Lodged asbestos in the lining of the abdomen has been proven to be the cause of the cancer, although it is not understood how the lining becomes infested. The most accepted theory is that dust of the asbestos is ingested which allows the fibers to easily enter the abdomen. This leads to inflammation and, eventually, cancer. Another theory as to how asbestos reaches the peritoneal membrane is that fibers of asbestos are inhaled and travel to the membrane by way of the limphatic system.
Regardless of how these toxic fibers enter the peritoneal membrane, the fact of the matter is, once they are there the body has a very difficult time getting rid of the fibers. Due to the nature of the fibers, they get lodged in the membrane and over 20 to 50 years begin to change the dynamics of the healthy mesothelial cells, causing them to grow rapidly and uncontrollably.

This rapid growth of cells causes a thickening of the peritoneum and a consequent build-up of fluid in the peritoneal layers resulting in discomfort for patients. Eventually this cell growth begins to form tumors.

Latency Period

After the initial asbestos exposure, the cancer often does not manifest itself for up to 50 years. Despite the long latency period, this form of cancer is the most rapidly fatal. At the start of the disease, there are rarely any symptoms of the cancer. The first symptom is typically pain in the abdomen, which can often be mistaken for other conditions therefore delaying correct diagnosis. Later symptoms include swelling of the abdomen, loss of weight, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, as well as obstruction of the bowels, fever, and hernias.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

This, second most common form of mesothelioma, develops in the tissue surrounding the abdominal cavity known as the peritoneum. Symptoms of this disease include:

•     Nausea or vomiting
•     Inexplicable weight loss
•     Sweating or fever
•     Swelling or pain in the abdomen
•     Ascites (fluid buildup between the peritoneum and the abdominal organs)
•     Anemia
•     Fatigue
•     Diarrhea, constipation or any other inexplicable changes in the bowels
•     Development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen

These symptoms usually arise as a result of the thickening of the membrane surrounding the abdomen. This thickening is brought on by rapidly growing cancerous cells. Generally, this rapid growth leads to an accumulation of fluid between the membranes in this area putting pressure on the abdomen which brings on symptoms of this cancer.

Diagnosing Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In order to obtain a diagnosis, the physician will conduct physical examinations, review medical histories, as well as conduct imaging scans such as CT and MRI scans. After the location of the tumor is found, a biopsy will be performed in order to determine whether or not the tumor is cancerous. Unlike pleural mesothelioma, there is no current system for determining the stage of this cancer. Instead, most physicians go straight to the treatment options. Unfortunately, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical removal have not been shown to be useful when used separately.

Treating the Disease

The most useful treatment options found are a combination of traditional therapies. Radiation can be used to directly target the cancer cells in order to relieve pain and decrease swelling in the abdomen. After the radiation is complete, chemotherapy drugs are then inserted into the abdomen to shrink the tumor. Third, surgery can be used to remove the remaining tumor. Chemotherapy may then again be used. If the diagnosis is made early, these treatments may be effective although a cure is rarely possible. Instead, the goal is often the management of pain and relief of the symptoms.

Ongoing Research

Research studies as well as clinical trials are currently in process in order to determine a way to increase the likelihood of developing a cure for peritoneal mesothelioma. Currently, the only chance of cure is to find the cancer very early in its stages. Persons who have undergone exposure to asbestos should receive frequent checkups in order to decrease the patient’s risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions and diseases.

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Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is one form of asbestos-related cancer. This type of mesothelioma affects the pericardium, which is the lining around the heart muscle. It also can affect the membranes of the lungs. This is a rare form of mesothelioma, which in itself is a rare disease. Pericardial tumors are typically diffuse, meaning they are not localized and tend to cover most all of the heart.

Pericardical mesothelioma makes up about half of all pericardial tumors. Research states that this form of cancer accounts for approximately 1 to 6 percent of all mesotheliomas.  This form of cancer is so rare that fewer than 150 cases have been used in medical literature, and just 200 cases have been reported worldwide.

Causes of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Like other forms of mesothelioma, the most commen cause by far is long periods of exposure to asbestos dust and fibers. This dust is a byproduct of the construction, upkeep, and repair of things that contain asbestos. It is thought that these asbestos fibers break down in the lungs and are sent through the bloodstream into the pericardium and serous membranes. The lymphatic system may also play a part in the spread of the asbestos fibers to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Being exposed to asbestos does not result in mesothelioma right away. The symptoms can take 20 to 50 years to manifest and may not even occur until the later stages of the disease. That is why it is important to understand what the symptoms are so that diagnosis can be made as early as possible.
Many of the pericardial mesothelioma symptoms are the same as for pleural mesothelioma and they include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Fatigue after only light exertion
• Heart palpitations
• Irregullar heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Murmurs
• Fever or night sweats
• Difficulty breathing, even when at rest (dyspnea)
• Orthopnea (difficulty breathing when lying down)

These symptoms are a result of the fluid that is built up around the heart caused by the cancerous tumor and are not direct symptoms of the mesothelioma itself. The symptoms that are specific to pericardial mesothelioma are low blood pressure, fainting, fluid retention in the legs, and heart palpitations.

Diagnosing the Disease

Anyone who experiences the symptoms described here should see a doctor immediately. The first part of treatment for pericardial mesothelioma is getting a fast and correct diagnosis.
Getting to an accurate diagnosis begins with a medical history, which includes questions about possible exposure to mesothelioma. The next logical step is to conduct imaging tests, beginning with an X-ray to get an understanding of the heart’s health. After the X-ray, a CT scan and MRI will likely be conducted. A biopsy of the affected tissue is often used to confirm or rule out the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the heart.
Researchers are looking for new and more accurate ways to test for mesothelioma. New methods may make the chances of early detection more likely.

Treating the Pericardial Mesothelioma

Treatment can begin after a confirmed diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma. Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, treatment is limited to procedures that may prolong the patient’s life and make the patient more comfortable in the time that is left. Research is ongoing to find new methods to treat and even cure mesothelioma.
Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and medication. The disease must be caught in the early stages before surgery is a viable option. Radiation is quite successful and is used to kill the cancer cells and to shrink the tumor. Chemotherapy is normally the second options but does have side effects.
There are procedures used quite often that remove the fluid that has built up in the lining of the heart or chest. While they do not treat the disease itself, these procedures are successful in relieving the pain that the fluid can cause.

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Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates from the mesothelium, a protective lining that sheaths the internal organs of the body. The different types of mesothelioma are terms used to differentiate where in the body the cancer exists.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma typically develops within the chest cavity and lungs. The most common type of malignant mesothelioma, it often spreads to numerous other organs and lymph nodes in the body. The difficulty in diagnosing and detecting pleural mesothelioma makes treatment tougher. Symptoms such as chest pains, weight loss and fever are far too common to be noticed as a precursor for cancer. More severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties and fluid buildup may not appear until after the disease has progressed. The survival rate for sufferers of pleural mesothelioma is tragically low. Only 8% live beyond three-to-five years after the onset of initial symptoms, and the average life expectancy is closer to 12 months.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The least common form of malignant mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart. This rare form of cancer is found in the sac that surrounds the heart, also known as the pericardium. The cancer prevents the heart from transporting oxygen to the body efficiently, and as a result the patient's body deteriorates from an elevated heart rate. Heart attack, nausea, chest pain, and shortness of breath are signs of pericardial mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal area and can quickly spread to the liver, bowel, or spleen. Fluid buildup or severe stomach pain can be a sign of peritoneal mesothelioma, in addition to vomiting, bowel trouble, fever, and tumescent feet. Patients generally only survive 10 months from the day of the initial symptoms.

Malignant Versus Benign

The aforementioned types of mesothelioma are malignant forms, and are thusly the most dangerous. Malignant mesothelioma is often the product of asbestos inhalation from
individuals who have worked or resided in areas not up to current health and safety standards. Since the disease has a high latency period, often times it is not diagnosed until it has progressed far beyond any rectifiable measure.
As the name suggests, benign mesothelioma is a form of non-malignant mesothelioma that is easily treatable. While benign tumors can at times be cancerous, unlike malignant mesothelioma, the tumors do not spread, making it easier to isolate and remove.

Mesothelioma in Uncommon Locations

In addition to pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and benign mesothelioma, the cancer can also strike the ovaries and testes. These tumors are born in the membrane lining the organs. The total number of cases of testicular or ovarian mesothelioma are less than a hundred, and symptoms are rarely identified. As a result, the prognosis for this type of mesothelioma are not promising. The effects of the disease are such that any individual who has had prolonged asbestos exposure or initial symptoms of mesothelioma should consult a doctor.

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Treatment of mesothelioma

Because of mesothelioma’s great latency period, treating mesothelioma is difficult, but there is hope in recent research and clinical trials. Current medical treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, and most patients choose to undergo a combination of these processes in order to increase their life expectancy. But survivors of mesothelioma have shown that treatment goes beyond hospitals, and that prognosis can be better for patients through healthy dieting, regular exercise and a variety of alternative therapies. Additionally, experimental treatments are available to individual patients depending on their stage progression.

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Veterans and Mesothelioma

During the better part of the 20th century, the United States Armed Forces used asbestos in the production of many types of ships, buildings and vehicles, thus exposing countless soldiers and workers to this terrible mineral. At its peak, asbestos was used predominantly in factories during World War II and many U.S. veterans suffered from mesothelioma as a result, because the harmful effects of asbestos were not known until decades later. Even now, as asbestos use and production has declined significantly, many veterans could still be afflicted, unaware of the early symptoms of mesothelioma.

The Mesothelioma Support Network offers a comprehensive list of American naval vessels and military ships that were produced using asbestos, as well as a state-by-state directory of Veterans Affairs center and hospitals to assist service men and women who are suffering from mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma in its early stages had been a difficult, almost impossible task, because the early symptoms of this disease resemble those of similar diseases and sometimes even basic illnesses. The mesothelioma is defined by four stages, with prognosis becoming bleaker as each stage progresses, so the discovery of symptoms in the first two stages is essential for ensuring a greater mesothelioma life expectancy. More than that, the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma is caused by a large latency period, meaning that it can take decades between the initial exposure to asbestos and development of symptoms. However, if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and experiences initial symptoms such as chest pain, violent coughing, and fatigue, it is essential that you consult with a physician immediately.

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Mesothelioma Symptoms

The Mesothelioma Cancer Network has created and developed this site to provide support for people diagnosed with mesothelioma, as well as their families and loved ones. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and has long been considered a mystery and incurable. However, over the past two decades, physicians, scientists and researchers have begun to unravel this mystery and help people diagnose mesothelioma in its earlier stages, while providing more extensive forms of treatment, vast resources, and general information to make coping and survival more about optimism rather than uncertainty.

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