Sunday, September 2, 2012

Commonly Asked Questions About Mesothelioma Clinical Trial

Commonly Asked Questions About Mesothelioma Clinical Trial
Most people have some concerns about taking part in a clinical trial, often because they re not really sure what it will mean for them. Taking time to get as much information as you need before you decide is the best way to be sure that you will make the choice that is right for you. These are the commonly asked questions about mesothelioma clinical trials:

1 Is the clinical trial risky?

Yes, all clinical trials have risks. Every medical test, drug, or procedure has risks. The risk may be greater in a clinical trial because some aspects of any new treatment are unknown. This is especially true of phase I and II clinical trials, where the treatment has been studied in fewer people.

Perhaps a more important question is whether the risks are outweighed by the possible benefits. Since mesothelioma cancer is often a terminal disease with the current treatment modalities offering little hope in terms of cure, most victims are often willing to accept a certain amount of risk for a chance to be helped, but it is always important to be realistic about what this chance is. Ask your doctor to give you an idea of what the possible benefits are, and exactly what benefit is likely for you.

With this in mind, you can make a more informed decision. Some people may decide that any chance of being helped is worth the risk, while others may not. Others may be willing to take certain risks to help others.

2 Will I just be used as an experimental guinea pig?

There s no denying that the ultimate purpose of a clinical trial is to answer a medical question. People who take part in clinical trials may need to do certain things or have certain tests done to stay in the study.

But this does not mean that you will not get excellent, compassionate care while in the study. In fact, most people enrolled in clinical trials appreciate the extra attention they get from their health care team. In 2005, the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups surveyed over 1,700 people with cancer on their awareness and attitudes about clinical trials. Only a few had taken part in clinical trials. But most of those who did were very satisfied: 96 said they were treated with dignity and respect, 92 said they had a positive experience, and 91 would recommend that family or friends take part in a clinical trial if faced with cancer.

3 Will I get a placebo?

Most mesothelioma cancer clinical trials do not use placebos unless they are given along with an active drug. It would be unethical to give someone an inactive medicine as it would deny the mesothelioma victim of availing themselves of the available treatment for the cancer.

The very least you should expect from any clinical trial is to be offered the standard of care already being used.

4 Will my information be kept confidential?

As much as possible, all of your personal and medical information will be kept confidential. Of course, your health care team needs this information to give you with the best possible care, just as they would if you were not in a clinical trial.

Medical information that is important for the study, such as test results, is usually put on special forms and into computer databases. This is then given to the people who will analyze the study results. Your information is assigned a number or code ,your name is not on the forms or in the study database. Sometimes, members from the research team or from the Food and Drug Administration may need to look at your medical records to be sure the information they were given is correct. But your personal information is not given to them and is never used in any published study results.


Commonly,Asked,Questions,About,Mesothelioma,Clinical,Trial
|

Commonly Asked Questions After Mesothelioma Treatment

Commonly Asked Questions After Mesothelioma Treatment
There are some questions that will be on the mind of mesothelioma patients after the finish their course of therapy.The common questions are:

1 Can I be assured the cancer will never come back?

No, it is not possible to guarantee that once you have completed cancer treatment your cancer will never come back. Although your doctor may say, Your cancer is gone or I think I removed all the cancer or I see no evidence of any cancer, the fact remains that there is always a chance that there are some cancer cells left in your body that survived, even though they cannot be seen or found with any test used today. These cells can begin to grow over time and cause your cancer to recur.

And while you don t want to ever think about the chance of having a second cancer, it is possible. Having one cancer doesn t make you immune to having a second or even a third different cancer.

Some people find it very hard to get this thought out of their minds. While it is useful to take measures to prepare for the chance that the cancer can return, for some people the thought can become a fear that interferes with daily life. Some people deal with these thoughts by distraction, or by focusing on what is most important to them on a day to day basis. Others must take further measures, such as joining a peer support group or seeing a mental health professional. After the stress of cancer, the way you deal with the emotional pain can be key to moving on with your life.

2 Is a no cancer guarantee possible?

Cancer is not predictable. The outlook for mesothelioma cancer in p[articular is very dismal, most people do not survive beyond 1 year so no doctor can guarantee cancer will stay gone forever.

A recurrent cancer starts with cancer cells that the first treatment didn t fully remove or destroy. Some clusters of cancer cells may have been too small to be detected in follow up tests, scans, or blood work. This does not mean that you got the wrong treatment. It does not mean that you did anything wrong after treatment, either. It means that a small number of cancer cells survived the treatment you had. Over time, these cells grew into tumors or cancer that your doctor could finally detect as a recurrence.

Just as it happened the first time, there is also a chance that your normal cells may, for any number of reasons, develop the same damage in their DNA. (DNA holds genetic information on cell growth, division, and function.) This damage then causes a gene (a small section of DNA) to change (mutate). When genes mutate, they can become oncogenes, which allow cells to become cancer cells that divide quickly and out of control.

There is also something called a tumor suppressor gene, which tells cells when to repair damaged DNA and when to die (a normal process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death). This gene is like the brake pedal on a car. Just as a brake keeps a car from going too fast, a tumor suppressor gene keeps the cell from dividing too quickly. When tumor suppressor genes are mutated or turned off ? that is, when the brakes fail ? the cells divide very fast, allowing cancer cells to develop. Changes in tumor suppressor genes can be inherited (you are born with them), or they can happen during your life.

Not all of the growth factors for cancer cells have been found yet. Even though treatment may seem to have gotten rid of all of the cancer, there may be just one tiny cancer cell left someplace in the body. This cell may not cause any harm for many years. Suddenly, something can happen that will change the immune system and the cell becomes active, grows, and makes other cells. The result is a cancer recurrence.

What should I look for if I am worried about a recurrence?

It is easy to obsess about every ache and pain if you are worried about your cancer returning. But in reality, there are few major symptoms that could mean serious problems. If you have any of the problems listed below, tell your doctor at once.

* return of the cancer symptoms you had before (for example, a lump or new growth where your cancer first started)

* new or unusual pain that seems unrelated to an injury and does not go away

* weight loss without trying

* bleeding or unexplained bruising

* a rash or allergic reaction, such as swelling, severe itching, or wheezing

* chills or fevers

* headaches

* shortness of breath

* bloody stools or blood in your urine

* lumps, bumps, or swelling

* nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or trouble swallowing

* cough that doesn t go away

* any other signs mentioned by your doctor or nurse or any unusual symptoms that you just can t explain

Whenever you have a symptom, your first thought might be that your cancer has returned. Remember that there are illnesses and medical problems that have nothing to do with your previous cancer. You can still get colds, infections, arthritis, heart problems, etc. ? just like anyone else. As with any illness, your doctor is the best person to find the cause of your symptoms.

What about future health problems I might get from cancer treatment?

You should also know that some cancer treatments may cause health problems later on. These problems may not appear right away and some don t show up until years after treatment. Ask your doctor:

* if the treatment you had will put you at risk for short or long term problems

* what those problems are and how you can recognize them

* what you should do if you notice them

* what you should do to take care of your health

What does 5 year survival rate mean?

The 5 year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who are alive at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these people live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. The 5 year rate is used as a standard way to discuss prognosis or the survival outlook.

You may also hear the term 5 year relative survival rate. Relative survival compares survival among cancer patients to that of people not diagnosed with cancer, but of the same age, race, and sex. It is used to adjust for normal life expectancy when cancer is not present. 5 year relative survival rates are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis (long term outlook) for groups of patients with a certain type and stage of cancer. But they cannot be used to predict individual cases.

Keep in mind that 5 year rates are based on patients who were diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago. These statistics may no longer be accurate because improved treatments often result in a better outlook for those who were diagnosed more recently.

There is another point to remember when talking about survival rates. Survival rates look at survival only, not whether the person is cancer free 5 years after diagnosis. They are based on a group of people of all ages and health conditions diagnosed with a certain type of cancer. These statistics include people diagnosed early and those diagnosed late. As with any statistics, they should only be used to get an idea of the overall picture. They cannot be used to predict any one person s outcome.

Why won t the doctor say, You are cured ?

Most doctors avoid using the term cure because it means that your cancer is totally cured. As we have discussed, this is almost impossible to say in any case of mesothelioma cancer. The best a doctor can do is say that they can find no signs of cancer in your body at this time. This is most often stated as No evidence of disease. Your doctor may continue to follow you closely for many years and do tests to watch for any signs of cancer recurrence. There is no harm in assuring yourself that you are cancer free if that s what all the evidence shows. Enjoy the feeling that you do not have cancer. But always remember that it is still possible for cancer to come back even after you have been cancer free for 5 years or more.


malignant mesothelioma,mesothelioma,mesothelioma cancer
|

Communicating Our Attitude

Communicating Our Attitude
The goal of successful marketing is to create long lasting relationships with your prospects by marketing your business with passion. When you're not excited about what you're doing, no one else will be either. Our passion for what we do in business is communicated through our attitude. Our attitude comes shining through in a variety of ways. How can you create an attitude that paves the way to success for you and your business?

1. You are what you speak. The words we use say everything about who we are and what we are about. Our spoken words are probably one of the most obvious ways we communicate our attitude to others. Think about what you say before you speak. Will it serve to build connection, community or relationship with others? If not, consider saying something else or even saying nothing. There's a lot of wisdom in the words ??if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.?

2. Dress for success. How you dress and the colors you wear communicate a lot about who you are. Find clothing that accents your best features. Make sure your clothes are properly tailored, neat, and wrinkle-free. If necessary, work with a personal shopper who can help you select apparel that is stylish and fits for the image that you wish to communicate. Consider how different colors look on you and how they make you feel. Wear clothes that you enjoy so you'll come across in a more powerful way with potential customers or clients. While ?clothes don't make the man or woman?, they certainly speak volumes about what we think about ourselves and what we wish to project.

3. Be punctual. Thomas C. Haliburton said, ?Punctuality is the soul of business.? Arriving on time for customer meetings, speaking engagements, meetings with vendors, or anything else you do in your business, shows that you respect others. Respect is the foundation for creating great long-term relationships with your clients. Showing up and on time is one of the best ways to show someone that you care about them. By keeping your commitments to others, you are acknowledging them and their needs. Caring about your customers must be your number one priority since it is through your relationships that you build your business. No one knows how much you care until you show them? by showing up.

4. Respond to emails several times each day. Nowadays, email is the most frequently used method of communication. Make it a goal to answer emails within eighthours. If you cannot answer emails during that timeframe, at least send back a reply that you have received the person's email and that you will respond by a certain date and time. Never leave people wondering about whether you've received their email or not. If you don't answer promptly, you are perceived as not being on top of things, that you aren't detail oriented or, worse, that you don't care about your customers. Don't hesitate when it comes to communications. Set aside a couple times per day when you will concentrate solely on reading and replying to your email.

5. Return calls within hours. Time is of the essence when it comes to doing business. The difference between getting a new client can hinge on returning a phone call in a timely manner. You never know when you might be missing a time critical opportunity. A prompt response communicates an attitude that you value serving others and that you respect their time and their deadlines. In today's competitive environment, if people don't get the prompt attention they desire, it's easy for them to seek out your competitor. Avoid missing opportunities to grow your business; plan two to three times each day to return calls.

6. Take responsibility. We communicate our attitude through the responsibilities we take upon ourselves. People can sense when we take full responsibility for our actions and the resulting outcomes. We communicate an aura of strength, confidence and leadership, which makes us even more attractive to the people with whom we do business. Think about how you can step up and take even more responsibility for your business and the results you achieve.

7. Take action. Successful business owners are people in action. They don't wait for life to happen, they make life happen. Taking action communicates an attitude of excitement and accomplishment, which others find extremely attractive. Action tells others that you are a leader, that you move things forward, that you can make things happen, and most important, that you are confident doing what needs to be done. Just as people watch things that move, they watch people that move.

8. Body language. Along with the words that we speak, our bodies are probably the next most obvious way that we communicate our attitude to others. It's as if we are walking billboards. Everything from your facial gestures to the way you sit and position your arms and legs, communicates volumes about who you are and your attitude towards others. Observe people who exhibit positive, open, and welcoming body language and try to emulate them. Read about body language and create a new way of being that represents what you most want to convey. One book I recommend is I Know What You're Thinking by Dr. Lillian Glass.

9. Change your thinking; change your attitude. We all know that thoughts influence how we feel. They also influence the words we speak as well as our body language. Our thoughts become the filters through which we perceive the world. By changing our thoughts, we'll automatically change our attitude. We wear our thoughts everywhere we go. Make sure you're showing your best self at all times.

10. Smile. A smile is the universal sign of welcome and friendship. Nothing warms the heart of another, melts the tension of a situation, or endears people to us, than delivering a smile with sincerity. Practice smiling at everyone and everything. Incorporate it as a healthy habit. Not only does a smile affect others, it has an automatic effect on how you perceive everything around you. People are attracted to people who make them feel good. Start attracting people to you and your business by wearing a smile.

? Copyright 2004 by Alicia Smith


Communicating, attitude, business, punctuality, marketing, responsibility, body language, action, dress for success, change thinking
|

5 Great Places To Learn About Marketing

5 Great Places To Learn About Marketing
Knowledge of marketing is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to start a new business, especially an online business. No matter how great your product is, or how low your prices are, people won t be able to buy from you if they can t find you! There are a number of resources that will help you get a head start in learning about marketing and getting a head start in leading your business in the right direction.

Forums

Forums in many cases are a largely underappreciated online resource. You can learn, discuss and inquire about nearly any topic in forums, and there a number of forums dedicated solely to marketing tactics. While you may think that people with a good marketing strategy will keep it close their chest, in reality some of the best marketing strategies involve working together to improve the reputation of both companies. By visiting these forums, reading posts, and asking questions, you will start to have a strong understanding of just what it takes to market your product.

Affiliate Marketing

This is a marketing strategy and a learning process in one. Many companies and businesses will partner with other companies and businesses. Through this partnership each company can benefit from the marketing strategies of the other. So to this end companies will offer help and information to companies that partner with them.

Colleges and Universities

This may seem like an obvious but sometimes impractical choice. But what many people do not understand is that if you want to go to college to just take one course on marketing, you can easily do that. They will gladly allow you to take whatever course you choose even if you do not wish to seek a degree. This will allow you to take and invest only in the classes you want. These classes also have the benefit of teaching you cutting edge methods from people who have proven the success of the methods that they teach.

Search Engines

By doing a simple search online you can find a number of resources and articles that will give you tips and tricks on marketing. While some of these articles may give you outdated or useless information, with some research you can start to recognize for yourself which articles are useful and which are not. Though this method may take more work than some of the others it has the benefit of being free and giving you exposure to these marketing methods first hand.

The Library

This may seem like another obvious place, but your local library or bookstore offers a great resource to learn about marketing. Books are being published almost daily on the new marketing strategies and ideas. If you have the self discipline to teach yourself this is probably one of the easiest and best ways to learn marketing.

If you have a good idea of the type of employment you want and what the requirements for computer use will be, it will make it easier to know whether you need extensive training or just a little brush up on your skills.


Learn About Marketing,
|

Communicating With Excellence Keeps Your Business Growing

Communicating With Excellence Keeps Your Business Growing
Communications is the lifeline of your business. When you start out it is not as difficult because you have fewer clients and your time is not spread across as many tasks. But as you grow, something happens along the way; you get busier because you are dealing with a larger customer base. That creates problems in handling everything.

You time management skills become more important as you try to keep everything under control. But it isn?t good enough just to have good time management skills. You need tools to help you manage your time. Fortunately, you can add an 800 number and PBX system to your business to help you.

Clients and Prospects Call You. With a communications system in place that handles inbound calls, not only are you freed from having to take each call, you supply each caller with the ability to navigate to where they need to be. Whether it is a specific person or department or just information that you place on the system, they will route their own calls. This is the way companies do business in today?s world. It is especially important if you are doing business around the world (who wants to stay awake 24x7 answering calls?).

Calls are Handled Efficiently. With a properly set up 800 number and PBX system, the calls that come in are routed to the location that they need to be based on their own choices. With specific information and Q amp A extensions, you can give your customers or prospects specifics on product information or step by step instructions on product usage or minor repairs. It is helpful for times when your business is not ?open? and you cannot be there to help in person.

Your Time is Maximized. How many times have you been interrupted when all you needed was to just complete one simple task? With an 800 number and PBX system you can determine a set time that is convenient to you answer and handle calls. Not only is this good for you, but it is good for your customers and prospects as well. No one likes to feel like they are an imposition. When you are best able to handle calls is the time that you will be at your best in helping your callers.

Communicating is Easier. These 800 numbers not only make it easier to contact you, it saves your customers and prospects money by allowing them to call you toll free. Because of this, you will experience an increase in the number of calls to your business. But knowing that your PBX system is there to handle them makes communicating easier and less of a hassle.

A growing business places demands on you. Would it not be better to plan for growth right now, instead of waiting until the growth is beating you to death? Communications excellence is not and option for your business. You have to maintain your ability to serve your customers and prospects with consistency. An 800 number and PBX system gives you that in a simple, easy to use and affordable package.


800 number, PBX system. telecommunications, phone, communications
|

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Common Resume Blunders

Common Resume Blunders
It seems pretty straightforward: list your job history, education, and maybe some awards. Voila?you have a resume. Unfortunately, writing a great resume is an art form rather than a cut and paste job, which is why so many resumes are, well, pretty awful. The bad news is that people often make the very same mistakes; the good news is that you can avoid these common resume blunders if you know what they are.

?Substituting duties for accomplishments. It?s easy to simply list the tasks that you performed within a particular position, but it?s not as effective as demonstrating the results you achieved. Instead of, ?Trained volunteers,? make it mean something by adding, ?Trained volunteers to perform critical duties, saving the organization 10 in payroll costs.?

?Leaving doubt about the position you?re applying for. Whether an objective is outdated or not is a hotly debated topic, but everyone agrees that a resume doesn?t do any good if the hiring team can?t decipher the position you?re after. An objective or summary at the top helps the company successfully route your resume to a decision maker. Most companies have enough resumes coming in that there?s no reason for them to spend 10 minutes trying to figure out if you?re applying for a sales job or an accounting position. They?ll just toss it.

?Using ?I? language rather than ?you? language. Look at resumes you?ve used in the past. Chances are you?ll find statements that are far more about you than they are about what you?ll do for the lucky company that hires you. Most start out with something like, ?I want to use my experience to secure a challenging job with a thriving company.? Yeah, so does everybody. Problem solve for potential employers: tell them what you can provide that others can?t: 10 years of design experience that will elevate the graphic department and attract new clients, for example, or a desire to increase their same store sales by 15 the first year by providing advanced training to regional managers.

?Dazzling with your vocabulary rather than your skills. It?s tempting to pepper your resume with three dollar words to demonstrate how smart you are, but here?s the kicker: employers expect you to be smart. Most aren?t in the habit of hiring dumb as rocks employees. So rather than trying to weave in every word you learned in your high school English class, focus on concise, error free language that demonstrates what you?ll bring to the organization, rather than your amazing resemblance to a dictionary.

?Don?t throw the kitchen sink at them. If you?ve been in the workforce for 40 years, you undoubtedly have skills and experience that any employer would be lucky to have. But what you did in 1965?with a few rare exceptions?doesn?t hold a lot of sway with employers and may, in fact, open you up to age discrimination. Most resume experts hold to a ?Rule of 15? even for the most senior executives. Don?t go farther back than 15 years in your job history, though you can list essential accomplishments outside that timeframe in another section.

?Choose the right words. Everyone knows that proofreading a resume is a must, but too many people count spellcheck as a thorough editing. The problem is that spellcheck doesn?t flag words that are spelled correctly but used improperly. ?There? and ?their,? ?affect? and ?effect,? ?its? and ?it?s?those are just the tip of the iceberg. Did you start your ?won? (own) company last year? Or perhaps your former boss counted on you to be ?discrete? (meaning separate), rather than ?discreet,? which is the marvelous character trait you?re hoping to convey. If you have any doubt about your own ability to detect these subtleties, get help from a knowledgeable friend or professional editor.


resume service, resume services, professional resume service, resume mistakes
|

Commonly Asked Legal Mesothelioma Questions

Commonly Asked Legal Mesothelioma Questions
A diagnosis of mesothelioma raises a lot of legal challenges for the victim as you try and pursue legal options to get your deserved compensation.These are some of the commonly asked questions that you will be seeking answers for when you are pursuing your case:

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure.

How many related deaths are recorded due to mesothelioma?

Approximately three percent of cancer related deaths in the United States are attributed to mesothelioma annually.

How many new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year?

In the United States, between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually.

How long does Mesothelioma take to develop?

Mesothelioma symptoms typically show up is between 15 and 40 years after asbestos exposure.

What health hazards are associated with asbestos exposure?

Asbestos exposure can cause numerous maladies that range from debilitating to absolutely fatal. Some of the common asbestos related diseases include:

?Asbestos lung cancer

?Asbestos warts

?Asbestosis (may develop into fatal cancer)

?Diffuse pleural thickening

?Fibrosis

?Malignant mesothelioma

Can I sue for compensation if I have mesothelioma?

Yes, you can. You will likely be suing the manufacturers of asbestos products, but each case is different depending on how you were exposed.

Should I hire a mesothelioma lawyer and what should I look for?

Yes, it is best to hire a mesothelioma lawyer who specializes in these types of cases, as mesothelioma lawyers are experts in asbestos exposure and the related diseases. The lawyer s team of investigators can track down the cause of your exposure and find the companies that are responsible. You should not hire just any other type of lawyer.

I was exposed to asbestos in the Navy can i sue the military?

No, your can not sue the military nor the Navy. The companies that produced the asbestos laden materials are responsible for resulting illness, not the government or the military.

What factors determine the level of compensation in mesothelioma cases?

There are many different factors that determine the amount of compensation you might be entitled to. Some of the major factors will include: the medical expenses incurred from illness; lost wages from inability to work; pain and suffering; the state laws; and the companies that are responsible for exposure.

Is it every case that goes to court? Or are there some cases that are settled out of court?

Many cases never go to court because the companies settle before trial. Each case is unique and there is always the chance that your case may need to go to court.

Is there a time limit for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit?

Yes, each state has a statute of limitations for how long you have to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. The best thing to do is hire a mesothelioma lawyer and file a case as soon as you are diagnosed.

In what jurisdiction will I file my mesothelioma lawsuit?

That will be decided by you and your mesothelioma lawyer once he or she has the important information about your case. The jurisdictions for filing may be plentiful and the decision is one that can impact the outcome of your case. Talk to your mesothelioma lawyer about which jurisdiction is best to file your claim.

I don t know where I was exposed to asbestos can I still sue?

Yes, even if you don t know where you were exposed to asbestos, you can still sue. Your mesothelioma lawyer and their team of investigators will work hard to pinpoint the place or places where you were exposed to asbestos and which companies are responsible for those products.

If I file my mesothelioma lawsuit out of state, will I have to travel?

No, you will not have to travel. Your mesothelioma lawyer will come to you to perform an interview, record your deposition, and will go to court on your behalf.

Does smoking cause mesothelioma?

Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. If you are a smoker and you have mesothelioma, you can still launch a mesothelioma lawsuit. Smoking however limits the chances of survival of a mesothelioma patient.

Who is at risk for developing this kind of cancer?

Workers in the following occupations and workplaces are at risk for developing mesothelioma or another asbestos related disease:

?Auto Mechanics

?Boilermakers

?Carpenters

?Construction Workers

?Drywall Tapers

?Electricians

?Fire Fighters

?Industrial Workers

?Insulators

?Iron Workers

?Machinists

?Merchant Marines

?Metal Lathers

?Millwrights

?Navy Vets

?Oil Refinery Workers

?Painters

?Pipe fitters and plumbers

Is hiring a lawyer expensive?

No, most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only receive compensation if and when you do. They will take a percentage of your awarded compensation, which will be determined upon hire. Most lawyers take 35 40 of the compensation you get.

Where do I find a mesothelioma lawyer?

Mesothelioma lawyers are found throughout the country, you can look on the internet for resources about available mesothelioma lawyers and you can also check relevant Law registries for information. Also you can ask your health team about available mesothelioma lawfirms in your area.


Commonly,Asked,Legal,Mesothelioma,Questions
|