Have you, a loved one or a close friend recently been diagnosed with cancer?

Than the chances are your emotions have run the full gambit of disbelief, confusion, sadness, fear and finally you got really pissed off. I too have lived thru this and until I got to the final stage " Being Really Pissed Off" my life was in a great turmoil. I found once I got mad it was much easier to fight this horrible disease. In recent short four week period our family found out that my younger sister Ingrid, age 48 has breast cancer that has migrated into her breast bone and I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. As upset as I was for myself, ironically I feel fortunate that I only have prostate cancer. I guess it is similar to the story about the man who was upset because he had no shoes until he saw a man with no feet.

You never believe that it can happen to you or your family. You eat right, exercise. don't smoke and drink very little. Than BAM life throws you a curve. Get over it as soon as possible and enjoy your life. Now is the time to get informed. What exactly can you expect? What treatment is available and which is best for me? Confused? Overwhelmed? You are not alone. Your doctors are your best source for answers to your questions and concerns as what the hell you do next. However, do not leave it entirely up to them, do your research as well. I hope this site will assist you in beginning your education. Luck be with you, enjoy your Family. I spend as much time with my wife, two children and 3 grand daughters as humanly possible.

High Risk Jobs / Benzene Exposure

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Environmental risk factors include benzene, smoking cigarettes, and prior exposure to chemotherapy drugs.

Benzene Exposure and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Exposure in the work place to benzene use may cause Acute myelogenous leukemia. While benzene has been banned in the United States for over 20 years, workers are still exposed to significant amounts of benzene poisoning when working with petroleum products. Most workers come into contact with benzene by breathing it into their lungs or absorbing it through their skin when working with solvents. In the U.S. millions of workers are exposed to significant amounts of benzene every year. Even small amounts of exposure to benzene can cause Acute myelogenous leukemia cancer.

AML High Risk Jobs include:

Adhesive production
Barge Workers
Chemical Workers
Dock Workers
Gasoline distribution workers
Industrial plant workers who use solvents
Newspaper Press Workers
Offshore Workers
Painters
Paper and Pulp
Pesticide Manufacturing
Pipefittlers
Printers
Refinery Workers
Rubber Workers
Shoe / Leather workers
Synthetic Rubber Production
Tankermen
Truck Drivers

At Risk Benzene Exposure:

Benzene production workers include anyone who works around the following:

· Automotive gasoline Fumes
· Industrial Solvents
· Oil and Coal Emissions
· Paint

AML and Cigarettes:

Although many people know that smoking is responsible for most cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, and larynx, few realize that it can affect cells that do not come into direct contact with smoke. Cancer-causing substances in tobacco smoke are absorbed by the lungs and spread through the bloodstream damaging normal cells and causing AML leukemia.

Prior Exposure to Chemotherapy Drugs

Patients with other cancers who are treated with certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely to develop AML. The drugs most often associated with these secondary (post-treatment) leukemias include mechlorethamine, procarbazine, chlorambucil, etoposide, teniposide and to a lesser degree, cyclophosphamide.

Combining these drugs with radiation therapy further increases the risk. Most secondary leukemias are cases of AML and occur within 9 years after treatment of Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or childhood ALL. Secondary leukemias sometimes occur following treatment of breast, ovarian, or other cancers. Chemotherapy does not work as well for patients with secondary Acute myelogenous leukemia.

Useful Information Links

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania :

OncoLink was founded in 1994 by Penn cancer specialists with a mission to help cancer patients, families, health care professionals and the general public get accurate cancer-related information at no charge. Recent changes have been made to OncoLink to update the look and feel of our site.

OncoLink is designed to make it easy for the general public to navigate through the pages to obtain the information that they want. The home page has buttons and hypertext links. If you click on the buttons or the underlined text with your mouse, you will go directly to your area of interest

American Cancer Society : Prevention & Early Detection

Can you prevent cancer or reduce your cancer risk? How can you detect cancer early? What are the risk factors for different types of cancer? Concerned about cancer because it runs in your family? Frequently exposed to tobacco or environmental hazards? Just want to stay healthy? You can find answers to these questions and more using the resources in this area

American Institute for Cancer Research :

Since its founding in 1982, the American Institute for Cancer Research has grown into the nation's leading charity in the field of diet, nutrition and cancer. AICR supports research into the role of diet and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of cancer. It also offers a wide range of cancer prevention education programs.

Association of Cancer Online Resources :

The heart of ACOR is a large collection of cancer-related Internet mailing lists , which delivered 1,847,431 e-mail messages last week to subscribers.
In addition to supporting the mailing lists, ACOR develops and hosts state-of-the-art Internet-based knowledge systems that allow the public to find and use credible information relevant to their illness.

Canadian Cancer Society :

Welcome to the Canadian Cancer Society website – we are a national, community-based organization of volunteers, whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.

CancerCare :

CancerCare is a national non-profit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. CancerCare programs—including counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help—are provided by trained oncology social workers and are completely free of charge. Founded in 1944, CancerCare now provides individual help to more than 90,000 people each year, in addition to the more than one million people who gain information and resources from its website.

Cancer News :

Cancer News on the Net® is dedicated to bringing patients and their families the latest news and information on cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This service is offered for free as our gift to you. Hopefully, you will find it helpful. The only thing we ask is that you let us know how we can improve!

Cancer.com :

Cancer.com was developed by Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., as part of our dedication to cancer research and education. Cancer.com is our way of supporting the cancer community by simplifying the way patients search for cancer information online. Ortho Biotech strives to touch the lives of as many people as possible, in the ways most beneficial to them. And we hope we continue to make an impact. Check back often for updates. We welcome your suggestions for improving this site

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute :

The mission of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is to provide expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases.

Leukemia :

Welcome to Leukemia

Leukemia covers all aspects of the research and treatment of leukemia and allied diseases, as well as relevant studies on normal hemopoiesis. Leukemia aims at publishing good, solid, innovative science, applied to both pure and translational research.

Leukemia Research Foundation :

Welcome to the Leukemia Research Foundation (LRF). Please join us on our journey in pursuit of the Foundation's Mission: To conquer leukemia, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes by funding research into their causes and cures, and to enrich the quality of life of those touched by these diseases.

Leukemia Information Center :

The Leukemia Information Center is an educational library of comprehensive information on adult myelogenous leukemia (AML) for healthcare professionals and consumers in the United States.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society :

An excellent resource site for up to date information, as well as finding local support and programs

MedicineNet.com :

MedicineNet.com is an online, healthcare media publishing company. It provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers via its robust, user-friendly, interactive web site. Since 1996, MedicineNet.com has had a highly accomplished, uniquely experienced team of qualified executives in the fields of medicine, healthcare, Internet technology, and business to bring you the most comprehensive, sought after healthcare information anywhere. Nationally recognized, 100% Doctor-Produced by a network of over 70 U.S. Board Certified Physicians, MedicineNet.com is the trusted source for online health and medical information.

Medifocus.com

Medifocus.com offers you trustworthy, expert medical information, giving you more control over your health.At Medifocus, we understand that being fully informed is your first defense, so we tell you all about the illness, leading physicians and researchers and centers of clinical knowledge and research.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center :

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's tradition of care began more than 100 years ago. In 1884, the cornerstone of the New York Cancer Hospital -- what was later to become Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases -- was laid. In 1948, we dedicated the Sloan-Kettering Institute to foster innovative basic-science research focused on cancer. In 1960, we formally joined Memorial Hospital and the Sloan-Kettering Institute to become Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

METL: Molecular Epidemiology & Toxicology Laboratory :

Benzene Exposure Clearly Linked with MDS

1997 marked the 100th anniversary of the first descriptions of aplastic anemia in people exposed to benzene. The literature is now replete with case reports of aplastic anemia and other blood dyscrasias caused by benzene.

National Cancer Institute : US National Institutes of Health

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Act of 1937, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research and training. The National Cancer Act of 1971 broadened the scope and responsibilities of the NCI and created the National Cancer Program. Over the years, legislative amendments have maintained the NCI authorities and responsibilities and added new information dissemination New England Journal of Medicine n mandates as well as a requirement to assess the incorporation of state-of-the-art cancer treatments into clinical practice.

The National Exposure to Benzene Organization :

Another attorney sponsored information site to get you as client.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute :

An excellent site from a leading cancer research organization with many high quality links and information sources.

New England Journal of Medicine :

Benzene and leukemia. An epidemiologic risk assessment

Patient-Centered Guides:

Patient- Centered Guides are a mix of medical, practical and emotional information, grounded in Western medicine, told by people who have been there. As with our other publishing programs, this series grew out of recognizing a need for a particular kind of information. The writers and editors in this series have encountered illnesses that have threatened or changed their lives.

Why St. Jude for Your Child’s Leukemia Treatment?

St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility anywhere. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

We are where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do more science, more quickly. Where doctors across the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients. Where no one pays for treatment beyond what is covered by insurance, and those without insurance are never asked to pay. We've built America's 3rd-largest health-care charity, with a model that keeps the costs down and the funds flowing, so the science never stops

This information is not intended to be anything but helpfuul, nor are we in the medical or legal field, I am simply another person with similar life experience