Hearing that you have mesothelioma can be devastating. All of the television commercials tell us that it is caused by asbestos and has no known cure. But, you don’t have to live without hope.
Reread the title of this article. Living with mesothelioma is the key. No matter what is said about the disease, the way to gain peace of mind is to seek options for the best possible quality of life with the cancer.
Learn and Research Mesothelioma
Your first line of defense is knowledge. Learn all that you can about the disease and your particular diagnosis. Early detection is still the best way to approach a favorable treatment. Because the cancer has such a long latency period, if you experience any symptoms that are unusual for you, visit a doctor. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life, mention it on your medical history and in person with your doctor.
Treatment Options
Find out about all of the treatment options for mesothelioma. Accepted treatments are radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Depending on the stage of cancer and if there is any lymph node involvement, all may be an option for you. Lymph node involvement means that the cancer has potentially spread to other areas of the body. Metastasis is not unusual with pleural mesothelioma since the lungs supply blood and oxygen to the entire body.
If your doctor doesn’t mention a course of treatment, bring it up. Be sure that you are hearing all choices that you have at your disposal before making an informed decision.
Most of us know what radiation and chemotherapy are used for but not the surgical options for treatment. Surgery is often done when mesothelioma is diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. It is often palliative rather than a way to cure the condition. Sufferers are able to alleviate many symptoms so they are not in constant pain.
For pleural mesothelioma, the treatment options may include thoracentesis, pleurodesis, and pleurectomy. Fluid may be removed to alleviate pressure when breathing. Also, using a medium like talc to “stick” the pleura to each other can help prevent buildup of more fluid in the pleural space. Finally, removing parts of the pleura can help reduce the number of cancer cells.
There are also experimental treatments available. They are not to cure the cancer but to help alleviate symptoms and can help stop the advance of the cancer. It all depends on the type of treatment and the stage of your cancer.
Planning for the present and the future
A diagnosis of mesothelioma gives you the option of filing a lawsuit against the company that used or supplied the asbestos. This does two things when you win:
- Helps with medical costs
- Secures your family’s future if you leave them
A lawsuit can take a long time to settle, but you are setting something in motion not only for yourself but also for your family.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is not immediately fatal in many cases. Living with the condition means different things to different people. More treatment options help it mean the most it can to you.