About Charles
Based in Morristown, NJ, Charles Licastro is a highly successful home improvement specialist who values family and community above all else. He grew up learning about all aspects of building and masonry from not only his family but those within the industry that he knew from his neighborhood. Charles continued the family legacy of top-notch work and founded a thriving home improvement industry that has been serving his community for over four decades.
As a man who is more involved than most in his community, it comes as no surprise that Charles Licastro is deeply involved in causes that may affect those around him. He frequently makes donations to the Make a Wish Foundation and the ALS Foundation as well as causes such as cystic fibrosis. However, Mr. Licastro is especially committed to heart and lung health after a personal scare with cancer.
Recently, Charles Licastro went to his doctor for a routine visit and was referred to a specialist who ultimately diagnosed him with lung cancer. Charles was blown away and deeply affected as he had never smoked. He sought a second opinion only to discover he, in fact, did not have lung cancer at all. This brush with the possibility of cancer or even death led him to become an advocate for early detection, prevention, and treatment of the disease.
Charles Licastro is passionate about educating people on the risks of lung cancer and other diseases. After losing his sister, Maria, Charles also became more aware of the impact people’s decisions have on their health. Maria was a longtime smoker, which drastically increased her risk for contracting lung cancer. After her diagnosis, Maria denied that she had cancer, causing valuable time to be wasted. By the time she came around, it was too late. Maria passed away at the age of 51.
Charles does not want another person to experience what his family went through. It is important to him that people exposed to cigarettes (either by smoking or living around smokers) or radon speak with their doctor about their risk of cancer. Charles is also of the mindset that people should be checked out if they have any suspicion that their health is faltering. When something doesn’t seem right, book an appointment, even if it seems unnecessary. It is better to be overly precautious than to find out too late.
Due to this experience, Charles Licastro remains committed to living a healthier lifestyle and is fortunate enough to work in the home improvement industry where he is active on a near-daily basis. His grandchildren are a strong motivator for staying healthy and energetic enough to keep up with them and watch them grow. Throughout his health journey, his family was his support and motivation, and they continue to assist him in his endeavors to help others battle health issues and raise awareness for causes that deserve more attention and funding.
Growing up in a community of masons and construction industry experts inspired Charles Licastro to use the knowledge he had amassed throughout his young adult life to pursue a career in home improvement. He founded his own company and expanded from his small operation in his family’s house to a small shop to a large showroom today. After over 44 years of operating his business, Charles Licastro continues the family tradition and enjoys every second spent helping others by improving their homes. In his spare time, Charles Licastro spends time with his wife, two children, and two grandchildren. They all share a love of travel and frequent their family home on the Jersey Shore and vacation every summer together in Florida, where Charles loves to boat, fish, and just spend time in the great outdoors.
Lung Cancer: Part One – A Deep Dive In Understanding What It Is
Lung cancer has impacted the vast majority of society in one shape or another with one person out of 16 being diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States. The chance for a man to develop lung cancer is 1 in 15, with a 1 in 17 chance for women. It is the number one leading cause of death for cancer patients—and your risk increases significantly if you decide to smoke. It is a disease that impacts many but is still poorly understood in many ways.
The Definition of Cancer
Lung cancer consists of abnormal cells that rapidly grow within the lungs. The out of control cells invade other parts of the body and create tumors. While the cells start within the lungs, they spread to other lymph nodes in other areas. The disease directly impacts the respiratory system and leaves damage in its wake. There are two forms of cells: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). The SCLC grow faster and have a higher chance to spread compared to their counterpart.
The Cause?
Cancer can result from multiple different factors, though there is one that stands out as a majority cause. 80% of cases are caused by smoking. It can also develop in those that have been exposed to other substances such as asbestos, radon, or radioactive dust. Another cause of the ailment can come from gene mutations that occur as people age. In regards to smoking, the longer and more often you smoke, the higher your chances of it developing. The moment that you stop smoking or cut down will diminish the possibility, but that depends on how much you smoked previously.
How Do You Prevent it?
The first step is just to stop or reduce the amount that you smoke—a daunting task for many. Visit the American Cancer Society’s website for more information on how to get started. Avoid secondhand smoke and jobs that bring you direct contact with arsenic, or asbestos. Ensure that the levels of radon in your home are minimal. Radon is a radioactive gas that is released from soil, natural gas, and certain building materials. You are unable to see or smell it, so hiring a professional or DIY kit to test the levels of your home is ideal. If you have dangerous levels of radon in your home, the first step is to prevent it from entering your home through sub-slab depressurization. This moves air underneath the foundation to vent the area and reduce in your home.
It’s important to understand what cancer is to treat it and prevent it. We have the opportunity to minimize our chances to develop the illness and should take every action to do so. Stay tuned for the conclusion of this two-part mini-series where we will discuss the symptoms of lung cancer and the next steps you should take.
Why Early Detection Is Key With Lung Cancer
Lung cancer doesn’t just impact you; it also affects those around you. Deaths caused by the lung disease lead in terms of cancer mortality for both men and women. In both genders, the disease is the second most common form of cancer. More deaths result from the lung disease than if you combine the deaths that stem from colon, prostate, and breast cancer. The bottom line is that lung cancer is a deadly disease and travels quickly.
Now, you should know that lung cancer can be prevented. This isn’t for every case; there are instances that individuals are diagnosed with lung cancer even though they have not been exposed to known risk factors.
Tobacco
The leading cause of cancer is smoking, with almost 80% of deaths from the lung disease believed to be linked to the activity. You increase your chances of lung cancer the longer you smoke. Don’t ignore the dangers that cigar and pipe smoking bring either; both are just as likely to cause the disease.
For those that don’t smoke, even being near other smokers poses a danger. Secondhand smoke is believed to be linked to 7,000 lung cancer-related deaths every year.
Radon
You cannot taste, smell, or see this radioactive natural gas, but it stems from when uranium breaks down from rocks. The gas is the leading cause amongst non-smokers for lung cancer. The radon levels in the environment are so low that it is not dangerous; but indoors is another story. The gas can be more concentrated, and breathing in even a small amount of it exposes your lungs and increases your risk.
These aren’t the only risk factors that you should be on the lookout for. Reduce your exposure to asbestos, chemicals and minerals, such as vinyl, chloride, and arsenic, and finally reduce the amount of air pollution you breathe in. You can do this by wearing masks that filter out air pollution as well as avoiding areas that can have unwanted chemicals without proper gear.
Yet, the most crucial piece of information that you should take from this article is that if you are diagnosed or you feel that something is wrong in your body, do not waste time getting it checked out by a doctor. Early detection is vital when it comes to lung cancer. It changes what you can do moving forward as well as what you should do. Early detection can help give you more treatment options.
My sister, Maria, passed away last year. She was only 51, was a longtime smoker and was unaware that she had cancer until she had an accident at work. Maria had fallen off a stool at work, and when she went to get a CT on her back, they discovered the lung disease. At first, she didn’t want to face what she had; she ended up losing precious time because of that.
Please, if you have any doubts or suspicions get checked immediately. Go to the doctor, see a lung specialist, don’t procrastinate on this.
In the memory of Maria, please don’t procrastinate.
3 Facts To Know About Your Lungs
Your lungs serve an important function as part of the respiratory system. Every time you inhale, you bring in much-needed oxygen to fuel the cells in your body and exhale unwanted waste products.
In case you didn’t know, your lungs aren’t actually the same size. Your right and left lung aren’t actually the same size. The right lung has three sections and your left has two, leaving enough space for your ribs. The sternum and ribcage protect your lungs and other essential organs in your chest. While you think you may know everything there is to know about the two organs, there may be some facts that surprise you.
1. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is created to warn individuals how specific air conditions can impact their health. If you notice a thick smog in the air, it may be wise to check the index and see the level of air quality. If you see an AQHI of 7-10, the air is hazardous to your health, while a 10+ is exceptionally hazardous.
Ensure your lung’s health by avoiding the outside in certain conditions. If you want to exercise, consider doing it inside on a machine, follow along to workout videos, or do light yoga. If you absolutely need to go outside, then wear a mask to limit your exposure to the pollutants. The type of protection you wear will depend on the type of pollutant in the air and how the mask is used. Different protective gear will have a range of factors, if it is 5 or 10 percent, that means it will filter out all but whatever number of pollution. For example, if you have a 3 percent cover, that means it will filter out all but 3 percent of the pollution.
2. If you have shortness of breath that comes out of nowhere, chronic or sudden, don’t ignore it. It may be a sign of an underlying health issue. Not all shortness of breath is abnormal though. If you run to catch up to someone at work to speak with them or do other strenuous activity such as going up the stairs quickly, that is typically normal.
When looking to correct your shortness of breath, you must first find the underlying cause. If it is a result of pneumonia or asthma, it can be treated and should be done asap. If the problem cannot be managed, prescription medication may be the next step. It will help you improve the feeling that you get when you’re out of breath.
3. Hyperventilation is caused by anxiety or fear, and breathing with a paper bag over your mouth isn’t the only tactic to help it. Handle the issue that is causing you undue stress then purse your lips and breathe. If that does not work then close one nostril and breathe through the other. The aim is to calm down and breathe slowly.
Your lungs are an essential part of the body’s function. Every time you breathe you get rid of more than 70% of the body’s waste. Ensure that you take care of your lungs by watching air quality and paying attention to moments where you are short of breath. Not only that but being able to handle situations where you or someone else is hyperventilating is key to helping them through the situation.