Smoking Plus Happy TGIF

Docs Warn Smokers with Hep C of Cancer Risk
  
by John C. Martin
Article Date: 07-14-05



Doctors in Italy are issuing a warning to heavy smokers diagnosed with hepatitis C that they face a significantly greater risk of developing a form of cancer known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).1

HCV Infection Complicates the Risk
While smoking by itself isn't necessarily thought to be a major risk factor for NHL,2 smokers with hepatitis C face about 4 times the risk, warn Renato Talamini, ScD, of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori (National Cancer Institute) in Aviano, Italy and his colleagues in the International Journal of Cancer.

"Tobacco smoking is a well-documented risk factor for several cancers, but the role of cigarette smoking in the [origins] of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is inadequately understood," the Italian study team wrote.

While HCV is linked with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,3,4 the interactions between the virus and this form of cancer hasn't been studied much either, Talamini and his colleagues added. So, they set out to evaluate the link between the two diseases.

NHL: Many Forms Exist
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a form of cancer that begins in your lymphatic system. This is part of the body's immune system, whose role is to fight infections and other diseases. In the lymphatic system, a network of lymph vessels carries clear fluid known as lymph. These vessels lead to small, round organs known as lymph nodes, which are filled with white blood cells that trap bacteria and other substances that may be in the lymph. Lymph nodes are found in the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen, and groin.

There are many forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which infects the cells of the lymphatic system. The cancer begins when a lymphocyte (a B-cell or T-cell) becomes abnormal. This abnormal cell divides to make copies of itself, and the process repeats over and over, making more abnormal cancer cells. These cells can then spread to other parts of the body.5

Common risk factors for NHL include a weak immune system; certain infections like HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and Helicobacter pylori, which are bacteria that cause stomach ulcers; and older age. Symptoms include swollen, painless lymph nodes; unexplained weight loss; fever; soaking night sweats; coughing, difficulty breathing, or chest pain; sustained weakness or fatigue; and pain, swelling, or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.5

HCV and NHL: Investigating their Relationship
For the study, the researchers followed 225 consecutive patients who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of NHL, and compared their prognoses with a group of 504 patients admitted to the same hospitals for conditions not related to cancer or tobacco use.

In this study, which ran from 1999 to 2002, it was found that patients who smoked at least 20 cigarettes per day faced twice the risk of NHL, on average, compared to those who had never smoked. This was true for all age groups and both sexes. However, some patients faced only a slightly higher risk.

The researchers then analyzed the risk of developing certain types of NHL

[Tony-z]

<font size="3" color="#003300">Happy TGIF to all. I hope your weekend is filled with Content and happyness.


           May God Bless All 0f You

               Tony</font>

Try this web site and let me know what you think...

<a href="http://www.cryofthespirit.com/interview.html">Fill name of site here</a>

http://www.cryofthespirit.com/interview.html

[friole]

Tony that is frightning. It is so good that one can dig out this info and spread the news. Thanks for letting us all know.  (Glad I quit 22 years ago)

[DRAGON SLAYER]

DEAR TONY,

Without being disrespectful to any religion I would say this........

"RELY mostly on yourself & less on the so called PROPHETS of TRUTH or EVIL. We are the ones who create those PROPHETS which appear to SAVE or DESTROY us thus making them solely responsible for our ACTIONS. Truth or deceit begins with each individual & is expressed by his actions on a daily basis.
That is my definition of MORALITY.....& my religion.

Best luck to all,
Ben

[bon_vivant]

That's why I QUIT Last Nov. That was HARD to do after 29 years... only gave in once when I was majorly stressed... & it scared me... because I really DON'T want to smoke anymore.....

I'm not sitting here doing my TX so that I can live a long & healthy life... just to kill myself from smoking..... Nope.. this whole dang thing has been a SERIOUS Wake Up Call For Me!

Everything we do processes thru the liver.... so that smoke is going thru there too!
:)

[friole]

You're right about a serious wake up call.  I consider this - the diagnosis and treatment to be a life change.  Time to eat better, excercise more and relax a bit.  If things are different, well, maybe that what is supposed to happen.

[bon_vivant]

You Know... I'm just a FIRM believer that EVERYTHING in life happens for a reason, I don't care if you bump shopping buggies in the store... I mean that person might be having a bad day & if we can laugh & smile about it... then see it happened for a reason.....

I look at this whole experiance as My Higher Power Guiding Me Thru Life... I mean think about it... Had it not of been for My Defient Wayward Child... I would have never discovered my diagnosis.... at least maybe not till it was too late.... So her stealing my cigarettes sparked me to go to the doc to get some Wellbuterin, because I felt like the Pot calling the Kettle Black......


So Now Having this, has changed my entire way of thinking.... much less my entire lifestyle.... so I will be a better person due to this!

Warped way of thinking maybe.... but at least I'm Smiling!
:)

[friole]

In my younger years I used to believe random chaos was the nature of the universe.  That is probably what got me into trouble in the first place. With that kind of attitude you don't have to take responsibility for your actions. Now I like order and organization.  So you are right - I do think things happen for a purpose - like me stubbling onto this forum - and at the same time we are the masters of our own destiny.

(Oh somebody pull the plug on me.  Sorry)

[chellski]

that last guy got laugh out loud outta me...after viewing ur little movie, i was sad; so much of it is so true, about people, its disheartening.  I enjoyed the viewing - it made me think and thats something i do alot of.  like vicky & kathy say - things happen for a reason.  I got good news with my 3 month blood work and almost dont know how to accept it - i've been getting blindsided for the past 5 or 6 years - getting hep c just topped it off....BUT  i got good news...i'm undetectable and i watched ur film and things do happen for a reason.
thanks tonyz.
<3michelle

[bon_vivant]

Kathy.... you are such a hoot... can't wait to see how you are gonna fare on these meds... they make me wound up tighter than a drum.... Ha!

nyhepc... Oh I am sure you are not.... & I still miss them.... especially in TRAFFIC... but being as my better half has NEVER smoked... it gave me a little more desire... all I could think of was, with him being a non-smoker... it must have been aweful when he was smoochin on me.... so my mint habit was expensive too... LoL.....

I laughed when I got up North & saw How expensive those boogers were up there... 54 bucks a carton.... & I thought Geez, Glad I am not smokin anymore & can use that money for other things... & then caught myself saying... well then WHY are you even LOOKING... LoL so I still crave them!

[Tony-z]

I didn't intend for this link to be a discussion about each persons religion...Just want some feed back on the message in the story...

I am not trying to convert....Sorry if thats what came across.


              Blessings

                 TonyZ

************  

"Show me a person who doesn't laugh

and I'll s Show you a person with a Toe tag

[nyhepc]

guilty, i'm afraid. am i the only one?????

[Tony-z]

<font size="2" color="#6600cc">All things in the universe and on earth, happen for a reason...Many time we just don't see the coralation....</font>

<font size="5" color="#ff0000">Congratulations on being Undetectable</font><P>
<P>

<font size="2" color="#0000cc">Blessings


                      TonyZ</font>

[friole]

so make brownies

[bon_vivant]

LoL... SURE... Why Not!!!!
:)

[token]

don't, you are right, things do happen for a reason... and to tell you the truth if I had a chance to go through it agian I wouldn't change a thing because I've learnt and grown so much as a person...and this thing has made me only want to life my life more fully than ever before, and honestly, I can't say that I haven't lived it before...