Interesting New York Times article: -

RARE CANCER SEEN IN 41 HOMOSEXUALS
Outbreak Occurs Among Men in New York and California
-8 Died Inside 2 Years by Lawrence K. Altman

Doctors in New York and California have diagnosed among homosexual
men 41 cases of a rare and often rapidly fatal form of cancer. Eight of
the
victims died less than 24 months after the diagnosis was made.
The cause of the outbreak is unknown, and there is as yet no evidence of
contagion. But the doctors who have made the diagnoses, mostly in New York
City and the San Francisco Bay area, are alerting other physicians who
treat large numbers of homosexual men to the problem in an effort to help
identify more cases and to reduce the delay in offering chemotherapy
treatment.
The sudden appearance of the cancer, called Kaposi’s Sarcoma, has prompted
a medical investigation that experts say could have as much scientific as
public health importance because of what it may teach about determining
the causes of more common types of cancer.

First Appears in Spots
Doctors have been taught in the past that the cancer usually
appeared
first in spots on the legs and that the disease took a slow course of
up to 10
years. But these recent cases have shown that it appears in one or more
violet-colored spots anywhere on the body. The spots generally do not
itch or cause
other symptoms, often can be mistaken for bruises, sometimes appear
as lumps
and can turn brown after a period
of time . The cancer often causes swollen lymph glands and then kills
by
spreading throughout the body.
Doctors investigating the outbreak believe that many cases have gone
undetected because of the rarity of the condition and the difficulty even
dermatologists may have in diagnosing it.
In a letter alerting other physicians to the problem, Dr. Alvin E.
Friedman-Kien of New York University Medical Center, one of the
investigators, described the appearance of the outbreak as “rather
devastating.”
Dr. Friedman-Kien said in an interview yesterday that he knew of 41
cases collated in the last five weeks, with the cases themselves dating
to
the past 30 months. The Federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is
expected to publish the first description of the outbreak in its weekly
report
today, according to a spokesman,
Dr. James Curran. The report notes 26 of the cases-20 in New York and
six in California.
There is no national registry of cancer victims, but the nationwide
incidence of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in the past had been estimated by the
Centers for Disease Control to be less than six-one-hundreds of a case per
100,000
people annually, or about two cases in every three million people.
However,
the disease accounts for up to 9 percent of all cancers in a belt across
equatorial
Africa, where it commonly affects children and young adults.
In the United States, it has primarily affected men older than 50 years:
But in the recent cases, doctors at nine medical centers in New York and
seven
hospitals in California have been diagnosing the condition among younger
men, all of
whom said in the course of standard diagnostic interviews that they were
homosexual. Although the ages of the patients have ranged from 26 to 51
years, many have been under 40, with the mean at 39.
Nine of the 41 cases known to Dr. Friedman-Kien were diagnosed in
California, and several of those victims reported that they had been in
New York in the period preceding the diagnosis. Dr. Friedman-Kien said
that his
colleagues were checking on reports of two victims diagnosed in
Copenhagen, one of
whom had visited New York.Viral Infections Indicated
No one medical investigator has yet interviewed all the victims, Dr.
Curran said. According to Dr. Friedman Kien, the reporting doctors said
that most cases had involved homosexual men who have had multiple and
frequent sexual encounters with different partners, as many as 10 sexual
encounters each night up to four timesa week.
Many of the patients have also been treated for viral infections such as
herpes, cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B as well as parasitic infections
such as amebiasis and giardiasis. Many patients also reported that they
had used drugs
such as amyl nitrite and LSD to heighten sexual pleasure.
Cancer is not believed to be contagious, but conditions that might
precipitate it, such as particular viruses or environmental factors, might
account for an outbreak among a single group.
The medical investigators say some indirect evidence actually points away
from contagion as a cause. None of the patients knew each other, although
the
theoretical possibility that some may have had sexual contact with a
person with Kaposi’s Sarcoma at some point in thepast could not be
excluded,
Dr. Friedman-Kien said.
Dr. Curran said there was no apparent danger to non homosexuals from
contagion. “The best evidence against contagion,” he said, “is that no
cases have been reported to date outside the homosexual community or in
women.”
Dr. Friedman-Kien said he had tested nine of the victims and found
severe defects in their immunological systems. The patients had serious
malfunctions of two types of cells called T and B cell lymphocytes, which
have
important roles in fighting infections and cancer.
But Dr. Friedman-Kien emphasized that the researchers did not know
whether the immunological defects were the underlying problem or had
developed secondarily to the infections or drug use.
The research team is testing various hypotheses, one of which is a
possible link between past infection with cytomegalovirus and development
of Kaposi’s Sarcoma.

Paul thinks he is so clever by leaving off the date of his so called New
York Times article. Did you think that you might confuse some one new to
HIV/AIDS into thinking this was a current article rather then a 20+ year old
story?

Gary Stein

"PaulKing" <aimulti@aimultimedia.com> wrote in message
news:9cad8875f4685564281658fc9ff7ec9d@localhost.ta lkabouthealthnetwork.com...

The story is not twenty years old. I don't have the actual date but it is
from just a few years ago.

Another cheap attempt to confuse readers.

You are really pathetic!

http://www.health-report.co.uk/benze...cal.htm#Cancer
EXTRACT


* Benzene exposure also occurs from using condoms

How can benzene affect my health?

Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high
levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches,
tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods
containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the
stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.

The major effect of benzene from long-term (365 days or longer) exposure
is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can
cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anaemia. It can also cause
excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance
for infection.

Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had
irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries.
It is not known whether benzene exposure affects the developing foetus in
pregnant women or fertility in men.

Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and
bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene. Back to Top

How likely is benzene to cause cancer?

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that
benzene is a known human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to high levels of
benzene in the air can cause leukaemia, cancer of the blood-forming
organs.

WITH LINK TO: -

Benzene, Lubricants and AIDS

http://www.health-report.co.uk/benze...ts-condoms.htm

A MUST READ IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW CONDOMS CAUSE IMMUNE SUPPRESSION

Has anyone seen the non stop TV commercial regarding Benzene litagation
being run by James Sokolove on Direct TV channels. They talk about the
rubber industry and Benzene induced cancers.

http://www.jimsokolove.com/case_type...ental/benzene/


Benzene

Benzene and Leukemia

The Department of Health & Human Services has determined that benzene is a
known human carcinogen - a chemical or physical agent that causes cancer.

Themost common cancer caused by benzene exposure is acute myelogenous
leukemia (AML). Benzene is also reported to cause Hodgkin's Disease and
lymphoma.

The following diseases are associated with benzene exposure:

* Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
* Acute Lymphatic Leukemia
* Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
* Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia
* Hodgkin's Disease

Studies have shown that people exposed to benzene for less than 5 years
have developed, and died from, leukemia. Even short-term exposure to high
levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and
death.

How might you be exposed to benzene? Benzene ranks in the top 20 chemicals
for production volume in the United States.

Get a Free Case Evaluation
The law limits the amount of time after a patient incurs an injury to file
suit. The amount of time varies based on the theory of liability and the
state in which the patient files the suit.

If you or a loved one has developed leukemia or has been injured due to
benzene exposure, contact us. We can help you understand your rights and
options, and ensure that you have the opportunity to seek compensation for
your injuries. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case and to learn
your legal rights.



About Benzene

Benzene is one of the top 20 most-produced chemicals in the United States,
used primarily in the production of plastics and chemical products.
Significant quantities of benzene are found or used in oil refineries and
some types of chemical plants. It is also used in the manufacture of
pharmaceuticals, detergents, and explosives. As an industrial chemical, it
is used frequently as a solvent in the chemical and drug industries.

Benzene has also been used in more common commercial and even household
products such as paint, paint thinners, glues, pesticides, and gasoline.
It is found in inks, furniture wax, plastics, and rubber. Benzene is also
found in emissions from burning coal and oil, vehicle exhaust,
evaporations from gasoline stations, and tobacco smoke.

Benzene is also known as carbon oil, benzine, benzol, and phenyl hydride.
Benzene Products:

* plastics and resins
* nylon and synthetic fibers
* some types of rubbers (including natural latex)
* lubricants
* dyes and detergents
* pesticides

What effect can benzene exposure have on my health?

According to the National Insitutes of Health (NIH), "chronic exposure to
benzene is known to lead to progressive degeneration of the bone marrow
and…eventual leukemia."

Benzene exposure that has no apparent effect on the exposed person right
away may still result in diseases such as cancer and blood disorders.
Twenty or more years may pass before people begin to develop symptoms.


Who's at risk from benzene exposure?
Benzene Exposure Risks

More than three million workers are potentially exposed to benzene every
year. The use of benzene as a solvent has been banned in the US for more
than 20 years, but unfortunately, there is still benzene in most petroleum
solvents. Workers may inhale vapors from the solvent or absorb vapors
through their skin.

On Sun, 09 May 2004 19:45:18 -0400, "PaulKing"
<aimulti@aimultimedia.com> wrote:

Wow. And you are either lying or ignorant. The fact is:

Altman, Lawrence K., "Rare Cancer Seen in 41 Homosexuals," New York
Times, July 3, 1981, p. A20.

George M. Carter

Thanks for saving me the trouble of looking it up George. Paul is such a
completely clueless troll that he seems to get confused by his own attempts
at being clever.

I recognized the article before I had finished reading the first paragraph
as I am sure you probably did also. You and I have been at this since the
beginning of the epidemic sadly there are fewer of us every year who can
remember back to those dark early days.

Did I read somewhere that there was an oral history project underway
attempting to document the human side of AIDS from those who saw the
epidemic start and have managed to survive to tell there story?

Gary Stein

"GMCarter" <fiar@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:beiu9096f4gm87fuhrravt2oi77a8om42q@4ax.com...

On Mon, 10 May 2004 20:43:46 GMT, "Gary Stein" <ge.stein@verizon.net>
wrote:
snip...
I'm sure there are--the one I know about is an ACT UP oral history.
See the great website at:
http://www.actupny.org/

and specifically:
http://www.actuporalhistory.org/

also there is documentation at the NY Public Library:
http://www.actupny.org/nypl/

George M. Carter

"Gary Stein" <ge.stein@verizon.net> wrote in message

I do hope so. I was chatting to a young doctor at the HIV clinic recently
and I told him I'd had my first HIV test in 1988. He advised me he was
still at school back then and he'd never heard of AIDS. When I told him
that they weren't sure about how long the window period was back then,
thinking it might even be years, he looked at me as if I was green cheese.
Of course, I had real reason to be interested in that question then. :-)

Moira, the Faerie Godmother