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November 28, 2022
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women. The CDC estimates more than 80% of all lung cancer cases are caused by tobacco use. Most cases are diagnosed when the cancer is in advanced stages and rate for survival is diminished. There are two main forms of lung cancer – small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common. The most common subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Here are some ways […]
September 20, 2022
Historically there have been only two ways to diagnose mesothelioma: histology and cytology. Histology tests tissue and cytology tests fluid. Both tests are often performed to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. Often, the patient is in an advanced stage of mesothelioma at the time the tests are performed. However, there is some hope for earlier diagnosis. A new study has discovered that a blood test called Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) can discover mesothelioma earlier than traditional methods. FTIR is used to analyze the proteins left in the patient’s blood after blood cells and clotting proteins are removed. Researchers […]
July 8, 2022
The U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was established in 1942. In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water provided by two of the eight water treatment plants on base. Before 1986, water from the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point treatment plants contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune with trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE). The levels of TCE was 280 times higher than the U.S. maximum contaminant level (MCL). Health effects for TCE Kidney cancer Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Cardiac defects Leukemia Liver cancer Multiple myeloma End-stage […]
April 27, 2022
In 1971, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) funded a study that injected 50 prisoners in Pennsylvania with asbestos. The purpose behind the study was to study the effect that talc and asbestos has on human skin and the differences between asbestos and talc. Talc is the main ingredient in their infamous baby powder and often contains asbestos naturally. J&J defends their study stating that this testing was acceptable for the time. A spokesperson for J&J stated that “At the time of these studies, nearly 50 years ago, testing of this nature among this cohort set was widely accepted, including by prominent […]
April 27, 2022
Al Lupiano received a rare cancer diagnosis at the age of 27. His doctors found an abnormally large brain tumor and was diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma (AN). His wife and sister were also diagnosed with cancer the same day; His wife with AN and sister with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Since his diagnosis, he has connected with 100 other people diagnosed with rare cancers that all attended Colonia High School in New Jersey. Lupiano’s neurologist believes that this could be the first documented case of spouses having AN tumors around the same size and on the same side of their heads. […]
April 27, 2022
Social Security Social Security provides benefits to over 65 million Americans. They provide at least 50 percent of income for those 65 and older in the U.S. If you are looking to retire, you may have some questions about Social Security. Find some FAQs from AARP below that may be helpful: Is Social Security just for retired workers? No. As of December 2021, 72.5 percent of beneficiaries were retirees. The remainder were spouses, ex-spouses and children of retirees (4.4 percent); disabled workers and their families (14.1 percent); and survivors of deceased beneficiaries (9 percent). At what age can I start […]
February 18, 2022
California is leading the way in its fight to help protect the public from asbestos. One way the Golden State is fighting back is by calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do a better job at monitoring asbestos. California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently announced that it won a fight with the EPA [...]
