http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/larynx_cancer Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:56:48 -0800 pixel-app en http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13581 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13581 larynx and other ailments.

The two types of smokeless tobacco are chewing tobacco and snuff.  Chewing tobacco is sold in loose leaf, twist, and plug forms; snuff comes in moist, dry, and sachet forms.  The most popular form of smokeless tobacco today is moist snuff.  Hecht notes that smokeless tobacco—which can cause oral and pancreatic cancer—contains carcinogens called nitrosamines in levels similar to nitrosamines in cigarettes.  Nitrosamine levels in smokeless tobacco are about 1,000 times higher than in other consumer products and beyond the content allowed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in products such as beer and bacon.  Products touting low nitrosamine claims don't eliminate the risk, according to Hecht.  An enormous amount of indirect evidence indicates that nitrosamines are human carcinogens and tobacco-specific nitrosamines are one of the major groups of chemical carcinogens in tobacco products, no doubt responsible for the link between tobacco use and cancer.   

Smokeless tobacco is also associated with cancers of the esophagus, larynx, and stomach and an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. 
 Also, 40-60% of smokeless tobacco users exhibit leukoplakia in the area of the mouth where the tobacco is held, usually within a few months of beginning regular use.  Leukoplakia is regarded as precancerous with a malignant transformation rate of up to six percent. 
 Other oral side effects include gingival recession, teeth staining, taste loss, and bad breath as well as an increase in dental caries due to the higher sugar content in the product.  Nicotine in smokeless tobacco is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and is addicting; smokeless tobacco users have similar, or even higher, levels of nicotine than those who smoke a pack or more daily. 
Withdrawal is the same from tobacco whether smoked or not.

The tobacco industry has targeted male adolescents with its aggressive advertising and ads associate smokeless tobacco with rodeos, rock stars, and sports heroes; smokeless tobacco companies sponsor rock concerts, rodeos, auto racing and tractor pulls.  Manufacturers of these products have altered the nicotine content and pH, added flavors, and packaged moist snuff in sachets as starter products which allow users to move on to higher levels of nicotine addiction as tolerance increases.  Smokeless tobacco products bear a warning label about health risks, but sales of moist snuff have continued to increase in the U.S., notes Hecht.  Of the estimated 10 million users of smokeless tobacco, three million are under 21, almost 25% start by the sixth grade, and almost 75% by the ninth grade.  Over five percent of adult American males and one percent of females use smokeless tobacco.  

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/larynx_cancer Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/larynx_cancer Asbestos Linked to Larynx Cancer (Laryngeal Cancer) According to the American Cancer Society, more than 9,000 Americans will be diagnosed this year with cancer of the larynx. Larynx cancer, also know as laryngeal cancer is also caused by smoking and alcohol abuse. The larynx, or the voice box, is a tube- shaped organ in the neck that is approximately 2 inches in length. Our larynx is used on a regular basis when we breathe, swallow, or talk. Larynx cancer arises most frequently in people over the age of 55. According to U.S statistics, men are 4 times as likely to be diagnosed with larynx cancer then females.

New Research Findings
On June 6, 2006, new research was released from the Institute of Medicine linking asbestos to larynx cancer. Asbestos, commonly used in building insulation and additional products until the mid-1970s, has long been considered the main culprit of lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases along with larynx cancer can takes years to be diagnosed. The Institute of Medicine report, said a review found consistent evidence of asbestos-linked larynx cancer in a number of studies of both workers and the general population. "Inhaled fibers pass through the larynx and may deposit there," the report said, adding, "there are reports of fibers and asbestos bodies being recovered from the laryngeal tissues."

Symptoms of Larynx Cancer
The symptoms of cancer of the larynx are determined primarily on the dimensions and location of the tumor. The vocal cords are where most cases of larynx cancer are found. These tumors are seldom painful, but cause hoarseness or other alterations to your voice. Tumors in the area above the vocal cords can cause a lump on the neck, a sore throat, or an earache. Tumors that begin in the area below the vocal cords are rare. They can make it hard to breathe, and breathing may be noisy.

A persistent cough or the feelings of a lump in the throat are other warning signs of cancer of the larynx. As the tumor grows, it can cause pain, weight loss, bad breath, and frequent choking on food. In some cases, a tumor in the larynx can make it hard to swallow.

Legal Rights for Asbestos Workers Diagnosed with Larynx Cancer
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and been diagnosed with larynx cancer, contact Parker & Waichman, LLP for a free case evaluation. Call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or fill out the short form to the right.]]>