Health
Care & Support for Mesothelioma Patients
(August 23rd, 2008)
 If you have been
diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are a million things that come
to mind ranging from what type of treatments you should obtain,
what mesothelioma specialist to attend to as well as what Cancer
center offers the best clinical trials for your case. Your health
care team consists of mesothelioma doctors, nurses, cancer social
workers, psychologists, home care specialists and nutritionists
can all assist you while you progress through these difficult times.
Below, we take a look at the role of each of these entities for
your health care & successful treatment.
i) Yourself as the Patient
Your role as the patient is the first and foremost. It is your
responsibility to be an informed patient by asking questions about
your lung cancer, treatment options available and how far malignant
tumors have grown in your lungs, if any. Your responsibility is
to clarify any issues with your mesothelioma doctor and be informed
about treatment choices you make. Here is a good summary of how
to make the most of your time when you have an appointment with
a mesothelioma doctor:
- Write up a list of questions you want to ask about your treatment.
Ask about the type of mesothelioma your lungs have developed, what
diagnosis steps were taken to diagnose that lung cancer, what type
of treatments ranging from chemotherapy, palliative care or radiotherapy
is available to you and which one is best. Write down any symptoms
such as difficulty breathing or excessive cough, etc that you may
be experiencing and ask your doctor about these symptoms and what
they might indicate.
- If possible, take a friend or family member with you who can
take notes, help you ask questions and be a mentor. Also if possible,
tape record your conversation so that if you forget to ask an important
question, you can always rewind the tape and book another appointment
or call the doctor to ask the missed question.
- Ask to get copies of brochures about mesothelioma, symptoms and
treatment options available. This brochure can include useful information
such as nutrition, home care options available, pain management
& support groups available to support you in times of distress.
ii) Nurses
Most specialized cancer treatment centers have nurses who specialize
in supporting patients with mesothelioma lung cancer or other types
of cancer. These nurses are experts at implementing treatment plans
approved by your doctor, trained to administer side effects, ascites
or fluids that can accumulate in the lungs and do routine tests.
If you plan to stay at the specialized cancer treatment center,
it is essential to develop good working relationships with nurses
as they will be the ones taking care of you 24/7. After leaving
the hospital, you can request a nurse to visit you a few times covered
under your health insurance. This has to be approved by your doctor.
iii) Social Workers
Social workers are a good support group if you have been recently
diagnosed with mesothelioma and are overwhelmed by the social effects
of such Cancer. Examples of social workers include oncology social
workers whose main task is to help those recently diagnosed with
Cancer, any type of cancer for that matter. Clinical social workers
specialize in providing counseling and family therapy for patients
suffering from all types of Cancer. Hospital social workers on the
other hand can help arrange transportation for your visits between
different support groups and the treatment center, as well as help
you understand your diagnosis & treatment options and help you
deal with aftermaths of such actions.
iv) Psychologists & Psychiatrists
When a cancer patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer,
the patient could easily feel emotional depression and the help
of a psychologist can help improve the quality of life for the patient
and remove emotional distress. It is important to select a good
psychologist that is an expert in helping people with anxiety, depression
and lack of hope. Afterall, good emotional health is an essential
of life. Psychiatrists are medical doctors in providing psychological
help to their patients and can recommend & prescribe medicines
such as antidepressants and sleep aids; psychologists however cannot
prescribe medicines.
v) Nutritionists & Dietitians
Nutrition is a very important factor for restoring the good quality
of life for patients recently diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer.
Most patients tend to lose weight after being diagnosed with mesothelioma
because of emotional distress or depression and continuing doctor
visits & treatment appointments. It makes sense for a recently
diagnosed mesothelioma patient to hire a dietitian or a nutritionist
that can help you remain strong and not fall weak, intake enough
calories into your body by making healthier food choices, and eat
vitans & proteins and maintain a healthy weight. They can also
help you deal with cholesterol & diabetes. Dietitians can recommend
diets that will help reduce the side effects of cancer treatments
such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
vi) Hospice & Home Care
Hospice care is the term used when patients live in a cancer treatment
facility and receive palliative care from caring nurses and doctors.
The nurses help monitor and control the patient's symptoms as well
as provide emotional & spiritual support. There are other specialized
cancer hospitals that are dedicated to provide support & aid
for cancer patients. Home care nurses on the other hand can come
to your house and provide you with bathing, food preparation and
household chore help. This can be covered by your health insurance,
so be sure to check up with your health insurance company. Specialized
mesothelioma doctors can refer you to home care nurses that are
trained specifically for cancer patients.
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