Apologies.

I have had my hotmail account hacked, apologies to anyone who received and email virus from me. After deleting a backlog waiting to go in my drafts option and a load of failed emails, I have now sorted the problem.

If you do receive one, don't open it, bin it!

Once again , sorry for any inconvenience.

READ MORE - Apologies.

Malignant Mesothelioma and Benign Mesothelioma - How are they Different?

by Wendy Moyer

Most of your body's internal organs are covered by a membrane called the mesothelium. When a person gets a type of malignant or benign cancer called mesothelioma it affects the mesothelium.

The pleura is the lining around your lungs. Most mesothelioma cases start in the pleura or the peritoneum, which is the lining that surrounds your abdomen.

What Causes Mesothelioma?

Wherever it begins, the disease was almost always a result of being exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos is a silicate that has been mined and used for centuries because of its many useful properties which include thermal insulation, thermal stability, and chemical stability. Many of the people who have developed malignant mesothelioma have had jobs where they were exposed to asbestos fibers and either inhaled or swallowed the particles.

Malignant Mesothelioma Survival Rates

Mesothelioma survival rates reflect the percentage of people who have the disease and survive for a specific amount of time. Survival rates often reflect a five year time span.

Generally, the survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the following:

1. The patient's health and age

2. The stage of mesothelioma

3. The tumor's size

4. Whether or not the tumor can be removed

Since many variables are involved there are not absolutes. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with stage 1 mesothelioma and is generally in good health then he or she might be a candidate for mesothelioma treatment or surgery. If there is a good response to the treatments then there could be significant improvements for the chance of survival.

With that being said, here are average survival rates for mesothelioma sufferers:

- Approximately 40% survive the first year

- Approximately 20% survive the second year

- Approximately 12% survive the third year

- Approximately 10% survive the fourth year

- Less than 10% survive the fifth year

Since conditions do vary from one person to the next it is recommended that patients consult with their doctors.

What is Benign Mesothelioma?

Approximately 10% of all mesothelioma cases are benign. Because it isn't cancerous, treatment is much easier and it can be removed.

The symptoms are very similar to those of cancerous mesothelioma. However benign tumors don't invade nearby organs and tissues. They don't spread to other parts of a person's body.

Nonetheless, if a benign tumor grows large enough it can induce seizures or comas.

Once a person is diagnosed with benign mesothelioma then treatment and/or surgery will probably be scheduled. Most patients completely recover. Their pain usually diminishes and they most likely will find it easier to breathe.

Research indicates that 90% of benign mesothelioma patients have not had a repeated occurrence of a tumor growth.
About the Author

Next, if you suffer from mesothelioma and would like to schedule free consultation with a firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases, go to => http://www.mesorc.com Wendy Moyer on behalf of Sokolove Law.

READ MORE - Malignant Mesothelioma and Benign Mesothelioma - How are they Different?

Tenerife with my boy x

Kieran and I are all packed and ready for our trip away for half term.

He had his harvest festival today, it is always great to see as I was diagnosed in the November 4 years ago and Harvest festival along with Christmas is a landmark event.

He read out a wonderful poem he wrote,

Tractors and Combines by Kieran Brewer.

Tractors are slow,

Combines like to mow,

They're always on the go,

Combines are nasty,

You could end up a pasty,

You'll be very tasty.

Tractors are big,

They can't get a pig,

They'll have enough time to dig.

They're both so fat,

Be careful or splat,

All you'll have left is your hat.

READ MORE - Tenerife with my boy x

Mistletoe.

This was the vision that greeted me this morning when I woke up. They were having a cuddle under the bed clothes with me. They are delightful....beautiful friends x x

I have had a break from the mistletoe injections as they weren't having a reaction. I did an injection last night and today the site of the jab is itchy and sore... woo hoo... a reaction at last.

I will be getting back into that again althougn I do think I need a boost and will be sorting that out but at the moment, not sure when.

I am going to start packing things today as Kieran and I are having a break over the half term. We are going to Tenerife for the week. I think it will be a good rest for both of us.

Kieran had parents evening last night. He is working really well. His travel training is going well too. Travel training is something the school does to teach the children with special needs how to become more independant with going to the shops,getting a bus, getting a train and all other things the average child does.

READ MORE - Mistletoe.

Flu jab

I had my annual flu jab today. It was very quick and easy and I am sure it does make a difference when I get a cold. I am hoping that fixing the fistula will make this winter even easier to deal with.

I also had an appointment with my Dr. She had 2 students in with her. She had told them about my case and warned them that when they see me they will be surprised by how well I look with all my issues going on.

She wrote me another sick note, another month off. I am waiting to hear from occupational health as they were supposed to be organising a medical to determine if I was fit enough to go back to work.

I have contacted Dr TOF's secretary, no date yet for the CT scan but she is going to talk to Dr TOF about having a scan to determine what is going on with Theo and Frederick..... for those that do not know, Theo is my mesothelioma and Frederick is my fistula. I would think that I would be having a scan in November now as next week is half term and I am going away with Kieran for the week to Tenerife. It will be lovely to spend some quality time with him.

READ MORE - Flu jab

Beautiful day.

Plymouth is basking in sunshine today.

I am off to the Dr's next week for another sick note. I can't believe how long I have been away from work. It has been a sickly year so far, Pneumonia, Chest infections and TOF.

I am hoping to get the TOF bit sorted out very soon. I have a bit of confusion at the moment. I was told I was booked in for Tuesday to have a barium swallow. I then had a phone call to say it had been cancelled as Dr TOF and his radiologist had decided that a CT scan would show the TOF and narrowing better.

Yesterday I received a letter telling me that my barium swallow had been moved from 2:30pm to 2:00pm...... Confused.com!!!!

I am hoping to have a CT scan for the TOF and for Theo, Otherwise it is going to be 2 CT scan.

I am off to Tenerife on Saturday with my friend, Tina and her son. I was hoping all would be sorted out before we went, that isn't going to happen now so will just have to be careful with what I eat.

READ MORE - Beautiful day.

In town with Kieran.

Kieran was very excited this morning. He is after a new game for his wii and has £22 towards that he has earnt by doing little jobs around the house.

We got into town and were met by demonstrators who were not happy about the changes of costs for university fees.

I explained to Kieran about freedom of speech and that if he went to university, this demonstartion may help to keep the costs down for him.

Kieran needed another £17.99 for his game. I let him have it as he has done so well at school and at home.

We had a lovely morning. Home now and being nagged to watch him play his game...... love you Bean x x

READ MORE - In town with Kieran.

Surgical Procedure for Pleural Mesothelioma Shows Prolonged Survival

by Jason Wentworth

It has been reported that a surgical procedure known as Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP) can prolong the survival time for pleural mesothelioma patients. According to the Australian researchers who evaluated the surgical procedure, the best candidates for EPP are those whose cancer is detected at an early stage.

EPP involves removing part of the pleura (lining of the lung), part of the pericardium (lining of the heart), part of the diaphragm and the lung affected by mesothelioma cancer. After the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used. The researchers found from examining 34 studies on EPP that the median survival rate was prolonged to 27.5 months from 9.4 months. Approximately 83% of the patients were alive a year after the surgery and about 24% lived for at least 5 years.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that was used extensively in various products. Its commercial value can be attributed to its inexpensiveness, flexibility, durability and resistance to heat. Asbestos however, was known to cause cancer as far back as the 1930s. Regardless of this fact, companies continued using asbestos to protect profitability. As a result, about 3,000 people die from malignant mesothelioma every year in the U.S. alone.

The legal system recognizes the injustice perpetrated by the asbestos industry and awards financial compensation to mesothelioma patients with valid legal claims. The prosecution of a mesothelioma lawsuit requires the skill of an experienced asbestos attorney. Selecting the wrong attorney can cause a patient to lose valuable compensation that he or she may be entitled to. A favorable resolution of a mesothelioma case can allow a patient to pay for the cost of cancer care and support loved ones.

Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers have been specializing in mesothelioma cases since 1986. The firm has won over $1 billion in asbestos cancer cases. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorneys handle mesothelioma cases on a no-win, no-fee basis. That is, the firm does not get paid if it fails to win a settlement or verdict for a client. If the firm succeeds in obtaining a verdict or settlement, it collects a fraction of that amount as its legal fee. For more information and a free case review, visit http://www.weitzlux.com. For information on jobs involving a risk of developing mesothelioma, visit www.mesotheliomajobs.com.

About the Author
Jason works closely with the lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg in raising public awareness of the dangers of asbestos and various pharmaceutical products. He is an experienced paralegal.

READ MORE - Surgical Procedure for Pleural Mesothelioma Shows Prolonged Survival

TOF news.

I had a phone call from Dr TOF's secretary yesterday. I am not having a barium swallow on Tuesday now, The Dr has spoken to his radiologist and has decided a CT scan would be better.

I am wondering if a scan for Theo and Frederick (The TOF) together would be better. I will have to ask as I am due for one for Theo.

I will have to wait to find out when I will have the CT scan and will ask if it could be combined and sent to Dr Meso.... this is what I shall call my oncologist now.... it gets so confusing with all these wonderful Dr's.

I was hoping to get it all sorted out before next week as I am going to Tenerife for a week with my friend, Tina and her son, Kieran is going too.

I will have to be very careful when I am there and may come back a few pounds lighter, although, I never stick on chocolate!!! That can't be a bad thing : )

READ MORE - TOF news.

Meso meeting update.

The meeting today was very informal. It was well attended and a lot of talk was done about trials and how mesothelioma is seen by the government.

Kate asked all who attended what they wanted for the group and what would they want it to be called.

I think that is early days yet, once we get a bit more confident with each other, the ideas, I am sure, will start flowing.

The next meeting is on 10th November at 11:30am.

I commented to Kate that it doesn't matter if one person turns up or 10, The meeting should still go ahead as it is important for that one person.

READ MORE - Meso meeting update.

Radio Devon

I was up at 6 this morning and out by 6:55am to got to the radio station. It is a beautiful day so the drive to the studio was lovely.

I did 2 shows, one with Gordon Sparks and one with Matt Woodley. I was asked about how I felt when I got the good news that my meso had reduced. Matt wanted to know because the Chilean miners had started to be lifted from the mine they are trapped in. I explained that I felt like it had happened to someone else. It has to have been one of the best moments in my life.

When I got home, Kieran was ready for school and was making his own breakfast. He also put some clothes in the tumble dryer and more clothes in the washing machine. He is saving up to get a game and is earning money by doing little chores. I don't think it is a bad idea to teach him how to work the house hold appliances.

Good luck to all the Chilean miners, after 2 months of being trapped, they are being released 1 by 1. There are 33 miners to lift out of the mine.

READ MORE - Radio Devon

Meso meeting tomorrow.

A snowdrop patch, taken in Australia by Ria, one of our Mesothelioma cousins. The snowdrop is the symbol of hope for all Mesothelioma victims.

I went to see the specialist nurse who is arranging the first mesothelioma support meeting in Drriford hospital tomorrow.

I was all set up for the local paper to come over and take some pictures for an article. That idea has changed, she wants to wait until the group os established before publicising it.

I was a little disappointed but I know that having the support group is far more important and I am excited about that.

I am still going to do the radio show in the morning on BBC radio Devon at 7:30am with Gordon Sparks and then a slot with Matt Woodley at 8:00am.

It will give it a little publicity. The specialist nurse also mentioned that it might be a good idea to include those who's family member has passed away as they need support too.

I think that is a great idea, why should it all stop when someone is lost?

They will meet others in the same position.

It has been another lovely day, I am still feeling very huggy today, I would like to think it is my dad and my uncle surrounding me with love and comfort, Not often that I feel so protected. If it is you two, thank you, it is a perfect hug x x x x

READ MORE - Meso meeting tomorrow.

News from Taunton.

It was a lovely afternoon today, beautiful sunshine. I went on my own to Taunton, no need to drag Siobhan along too as it was only a consultation.

I asked Dr TOF about pleural plaque which showed up on my last report. He said it is there, I am not concerned as I know that it isn't life threatening like the meso.

He also said he didn't think the fistula was closed properly. He said I would definitely need one or more dilatations as the stricture (narrowing of the oesophagus) was quite bad and doing it fuller could damage it more and then it could be risky or even life threatening. He is taking things very slowly.

I will be having a barium swallow next week followed by a general anesthetic to clip the fistula again and do the dilatation.

I am happy with what Dr TOF is doing. I was so pleased to hear him say that I would be in a medical journal, well my oesophagus and fistula will be, as I am the first in the UK to have this procedure and the second in the world.

Tomorrow I am going to the mustard tree to speak to the specialist nurse who is organising the mesothelioma support group in Derriford hospital. We will be doing a radio broadcast on Wednesday morning and then the support group at 11:30am at the mustard tree. We will be having the local paper there also. It should be a good day : )

READ MORE - News from Taunton.

Taunton today.

The sun is shining, it is like a summer day and I am off to Taunton on the train.

I am going to see Dr Tof, I think he will say I need another dilatation as I am still sticking when eating food.

I think we may have solved the TOF problem , well I am hoping, I had some alcoholic beverages in London the night before the meeting. I forgot that usually I have a sore throat and lose my voice a little.

That didn't happen and I said my little piece with no problems. By golly, I think he may actually have done it!!!

Our little group on facebook s busy organising a 2012 calendar, there are a lot of ideas being thrown in the ring so it is looking good. We want it to be international as asbestos is a world wide problem. We also want to get the word out there about how to deal with asbestos if anyone was renovating their house.

We will see what happens with it. Any photographers who want to take part, please get in touch

READ MORE - Taunton today.

Bank card fraud.

I had a phone call from my bank today. I was sure it was them, they asked me to press buttons to confirm information.

There were 4 transactions the automated system read out. One of them I didn't recognise, it turns out someone had tried to top up their 02 phone with my card details. I work for Orange so don't have an 02 account.

I spoke to the agent who told me there was a new card on the way and now I have to wait till 15th October because of some pilfering little pain in the bum, cheeky little B*****ds!!!

READ MORE - Bank card fraud.

Finley, my great nephew.

I went over to see my little nephew yesterday. His dad, Lewis, is my sisters son. He, Beth his girlfriend and Finley are a lovely little family.

I took my sister, Wendy as well. Finley is 7 weeks old, it was good to meet him.

Later in the evening I went out to eat with my friend, Carolyn, to celebrate her birthday.

I had salad again as I didn't want to have one of my moments.

I am going to Taunton tomorrow to see Dr TOF and think I will need one more dilatation.

I will be off to Tenerife soon with my friend, Tina, we are taking our boys, Kieran and Tyler. We will have a week in a villa. Will have to start packing soon x x

READ MORE - Finley, my great nephew.

It's 4am Amber!!!!

Kieran came into my room and told me he could smell poo..... that means only one thing, Amber has been doing her business outside of the cat box, lovely....just what I need at 4am!!!

I went into Kieran's room and it was high with the smell, Rich, being the man of the house, rolled over and hid under the covers....what a hero!!!

We eventually found it....all over Kieran's duvet.

It was easily solved as she had only just done it. I took the duvet cover off and put it in the machine to wash, I then got some air freshener as little kitty cats don't leave pretty kitty smells after they have done poos!!

Poor Stork was very frightened of the spray and he man Rich......... he was still under the covers... : )

I have had my first night sweats for a long time so as Kieran came in my room, I was almost awake anyway. I am off to see Dr TOF on Monday about the fistula and think I may need another dilatation ( Stretch the oesophagus) as food is still a bit sticky.

I had a lovely meal at my friend, Tina's last night. Started with Melon and had Omelette and rice for mains followed by chocolate fudge cake.

All soft-ish food, I have to say that Tina had chips and they looked good enough to eat... : )

I didn't want a moment so didn't try one, it will be sorted soon, there are worse things in the world than not being able to have a chip butty!!!

READ MORE - It's 4am Amber!!!!

Bean back today.

Kieran is home today and it will be great to see him. I have missed him, I think he might play the "I'm too tired for school" card tomorrow morning but he will be going. He doesn't get home till late but when he goes to bed late he manages to get up for school.

Number one son still doesn't have a job, Rich has been out for work for a long time and has no insentive to get a job.

Tomorrow i am meeting a friend I used to live next door to. We met up after 10 years a few weeks ago and it was like we never had the years in between.

She is a very brave lady, she has a kidney complaint and has to have fluid pumped into her abdomen, She does this a few times a day, at home.

I find it very humbling.

I rang my local MP today about the coffee morning next week at the mustard tree. She is in parliment on a Wednesday but her assistant said she was very interested in coming along.

Good luck to all the warriors in Frankfurt this week.

I hope you all get a good result, I Wish I had a magic wand and could get rid of cancer for ever. The first one to go would be Mesothelioma.

READ MORE - Bean back today.

Back to normal

I am trying to get back into a routine after the weekend. Kieran is back home tomorrow, it will be great to see him, he went off with his dad last Thursday. I do miss him when he goes away.

Amber kitten is growing, she is a monkey at times, she attacks everything and thinks all that moves is to play with. She is growing so fast, poor Stork gets no peace.

It was so lovely at the weekend, it showed how many people read my blog and facebook. Everyone I spoke to asked about the TOF.

Talking of the TOF, I have to make an appointment with Dr TOF for a CT scan for the fistula and also have to make an appointment with Dr D for a CT scan to check Theo is behaving.

Its going to be a busy couple of weeks.

Kieran and I will be going to Tenerife with my friend Tina and her son at the end of the month so that will be something to look forward to as my friend as been ill and this holiday will do her good.

READ MORE - Back to normal

Just a few of the warriors who attended the 5th Mesothelioma UK patients and carer day..

READ MORE - Just a few of the warriors who attended the 5th Mesothelioma UK patients and carer day..

Mesothelioma UK conference 2010

The weekend has been one of the best I have ever had. I was very excited about meeting the warriors and also about seeing Prof Vogl again as the last time I saw him was June 2009.

I went with my friend, Gina, on the train from Plymouth to Paddington. We met William and Ann at the station, William has meso.

We met Rita at Exeter and chatted away for the duration of the journey.

We all shared a taxi to the hotel and went off to our rooms.

In the evening Gina and I met more warriors. We met Alan, Paul, Jan, Ronnie to name but a few.

Jan, Rita, Gina, Ronnie and her husband Robert, met up with Barry and Helen in the pub for something to eat.

It was so lovely to chat to all these wonderful people who I had only seen as words and pictures.

We got back to the hotel and met a few more, Heather and Alan who had been a great support to me, Mike and his wife, we spent the evening chatting amongst are selves and getting ready for the next day.

Saturday

I was so excited, Gina and I were ready to meet the rest of the warriors. The meeting was great, I can only describe it as patient power. The were wonderful. Every one had their chance to ask questions. The speakers were amazing, Prof Vogl was excellent. He made everyone laugh with the short video of a lady holding a dog lead and then disappearing of the screen.

This made the room roar with laughter.

I will be adding the Prof's talk if he says it is ok to do so. Dr Orange from Park Attwood was wonderful too, he talked about Mistletoe treatment. I don't think he got enough time to add all the information but it was great to see him again. Mavis was another patient talker, she hadn't done it before and did very well.

Graham Sherlock-Brown spoke about his survival of 8 years.

All together it was a very well organised day.

Liz, Dawn, Jill, Dr Steele and Dr Edwards did a great job of organising the event and were overwhelmed by the response to this event.

I personally think a lot of people wanted to see the Prof and the awareness around mesothelioma seems to be more.

I am looking forward to the next one.

READ MORE - Mesothelioma UK conference 2010

Various Imaging Technologies Used For Mesothelioma

by Terro White

Mesothelioma is one of the harder diseases to diagnose. This is because most of the symptoms are very common including shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart, persistent coughing and breathing difficulties, swallowing difficulties and some chest pain. Many doctors fail to recognize these symptoms unless they are explicitly told that the individual has been exposed to asbestos.


There are some imaging technologies too which can help doctors to diagnose malignant mesothelioma as it would do a patient a world of good if the problem is detected in its early stages than later when there is not available treatment.

Positron Emission Tomography

This is turning out to be quite a favorite with the physicians as more and more doctors prefer to use this to help them diagnose mesothelioma. The PET scan uses tiny particles emitted by radioactive substances called positrons to detect the cancer or the growing tumor. Radioactive therapies are one of the more common methods for mesothelioma partially because they don't have side effects and also because they are not as painful as a surgery or chemotherapy can prove to be for the patients.

Hence as far as latent asbestos cancer is concerned PET scan is developing into a very efficient tool for imaging scans. The way PET scans helps is that it detects areas where there is abnormal metabolic activity like excess glucose consumption which is often the case with malignant tumors. It does so by creating a 3D image map of the biochemical processes within the body thus spotting functional aberrations internally. For this disease, more than diagnosis this imaging is used for checking the distant metastases and helping out in chalking a treatment program.

X-Ray Imaging

They are low cost and highly popular which is why they are so commonly used. They are safe which is why they are used to identify internal problems in the body. They have resolution to spot something like a pleural effusion or a malignancy or tumor in the lungs. However, the resolution of X-rays is not sufficient to distinguish between pleural tissues as x-rays do not have resolution to properly image pleural surfaces. They can be used to identify a lung malignancy through chest x-rays or peritoneal malignancy through abdominal x-rays. However, X-rays use ionizing radiation which could have an adverse effect on the internal tissue. Hence one should take sufficient precautions to ensure that the tissue of the area studied is not damaged in any way.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This is highly successful in areas where x-rays fail during the diagnosis and staging of malignant mesothelioma. They use powerful magnetic fields to image the interior structures of the body and hence capable of spotting soft tissue structures that can help diagnose the issue. Surgical therapy which is curative uses MRI to find out till what extent the damage has spread to tissues around and use that information to finalize the surgical strategies. This is better than CT technology too as the soft tissue study might not be conclusive through CT.

About the Author
For more information about malignant mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatments, visit mesotheliomahelp.net/about-mesothelioma.html

READ MORE - Various Imaging Technologies Used For Mesothelioma

Ready to go!!!

Everything is packed, speech ready, hope I haven't forgotten anything.

If I have its too late now.

I am picking up my friend, Gina, and meeting Rita on the train. Sure we will have lots to talk about.

I am looking forward to meeting the lovely friends who I have met on facebook and meeting friends I have known before.

It is pouring with rain, I am not worried, I am excited to be going to the conference. It has been very popular this year, people have been turned away, such a shame because it is important for them to go.

Maybe next year will have a bigger venue.

Will blog throughout the weekend and add pictures. I will be taking my camcorder to film the event and will add it to the internet for those who are unable to attend but are interested in the speakers.

READ MORE - Ready to go!!!