A study published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology revealed that some drugs developed to help with bone density loss can reduce the chances of developing colon cancer. Women who take bisphosphonates like Boniva and Fosamax were shown to reduce the risk of contracting colon cancer by 59 percent in post-menopausal women. Previous studies have shown bisphosphonates helped reduce the instances of breast cancer which along with lung cancer kills many women per year.
The various lung cancers that people contract kill millions of men and women annually. One type of lung cancer called mesothelioma has an extremely high mortality rate. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and heart called the mesothelium. Cancer in the lining of the lings is more common and can be directly linked to asbestos exposure. Chemotherapy and radiation can delay the growth of mesothelioma but most individuals with this type of cancer will die within a few to several months of diagnosis.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that if inhaled can lead to the development of mesothelioma and other cardio-pulmonary diseases. Mesothelioma is one of the rare cancers where its caused can be directly linked to asbestos. For much of the twentieth century asbestos was used as a building material. Once the health risks associated with asbestos were discovered the use or the toxic material was banned in US. However many people were exposed to the hazardous material especially people who worked in construction industries and shipyards.
