mesothelioma forum
Paul Kraus is a mesothelioma survivor and author of Surviving mesothelioma and other cancers.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant (cancerous) cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most internal organs the body. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but can also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways, such as by washing clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.
Characterized by shortness of breath and chest pain due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, this is often the symptoms pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (accumulation fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, impaired blood clotting, anemia and fever.
If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the face or neck. Note, however, that these symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other less serious conditions. Obtaining a diagnosis of mesothelioma it is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other less serious conditions.
In June 1997, Mr. Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma (a "terminal" cancer) and given only a few months. More than eight years later, he is alive with a good quality of life having rejected surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He took an alternative approach to healing his cancer that encompasses mind, body and spirit.
In his book on mesothelioma, Kraus sets out how he beat the odds. The introduction reflects the inspiration of Paul and commitment to life:
"In my eight years after diagnosis, I'm fine. I outlived my prognosis, at least seven years and I visited the medical specialist Not long ago told me 'you will be around for much longer still. "My survival has been hard work. The assumption underlying all I have done and continue to do, is a strong belief that our bodies are designed with amazing self-recovery capability.
Mr. Kraus has made available to other patients who would like to speak with him. The Surviving Mesothelioma website provides details about the book, how to talk directly with Mr. Kraus, facts and statistics about mesothelioma, conventional, alternative therapies and immuno-biological, the latest medical news, directories clinics that have a holistic approach to healing, and a forum for patients, where patients can share information and discuss issues of importance.
About the Author:
Allyson Brandy is a writer, cancer survivor and science fiction fan with a slightly skewed, amused perspective of the world. Read her news blog on this rare and deadly disease at:
http://www.findalawyernowonline.com/mesoblog/news.html/
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Surviving Mesothelioma & Other Cancers
mesothelioma
