Aftercare treatment for Mesothelioma
After a patient is diagnosed with Mesothelioma, treatment usually is more directed toward keeping the patient comfortable and helping them cope both physically and emotionally with the symptoms of the cancer. Surgical treatments in the best of cases, (those diagnosed in the earliest stages) provide maybe a 5-year survival rate in about 10% of cases. Surgery cannot remove all of the Mesothelium, because this would cause the patient imminent death.
Radiation is used post-operation to keep the growth of the tumor away from the chest wall track. Long-term survival is not usually expected when a patient is diagnosed with Mesothelioma.
Since the Mesothelioma cancer is most always fatal, the aftercare treatment is usually of the controlling the physical pain, and the emotional and psychological stress of the patient. Patients may choose to participate in clinical studies, where new medicines are being tried and tested. These studies will help reduce costs to the patient’s treatment. They also help to find cures for patients who are diagnosed in the future.
Chemotherapy is given along with other procedures depending on the patient’s stage of Mesothelioma. It is administered through pills or intravenously. The negative component of chemotherapy is the toxic levels that cause severe side effects. These can include vomiting, hair loss, weight loss and physical fatigue. A patient is given drugs after the chemotherapy to counteract the side effects. Chemotherapy is administered to the whole body, not just the affected area, thus as the potential to affect other areas producing more unwanted side effects.
To add to a patients comfort and well being, meditation and relaxation techniques are used to help the patient cope with the pain and stress of Mesothelioma Cancer. It is also important for the patient to have a support system of loving family and friends, to help ease their experience with the disease.
A patient can and should seek a Mesothelioma attorney, to get compensation from former employer’s who contributed to their exposure of asbestos particles. This settlement will help cover the costs of treatment, which can be very expensive for the Mesothelioma patient.