Cancer Pages Article:
Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed- Questions to ask
Following diagnosis, uppermost amongst a patient's thoughts will be these..."Am I going to die?", "Will I be in much pain?". As there is no cure for mesothelioma it is important that the patient is advised that with modern treatment they can, for months or years, live a normal life for most of the time. And that the modern drugs are very effective at keeping pain under control and relieving it.
Obviously the treatment aspect is extremely important and the patient and close relatives must ensure that they get the consultant and doctors to explain comprehensively how it is all going to work. It is advisable to compile a list of questions to put to the medical staff prior to any appointments or consultations and to get a relative or close friend to go along with the patient.
I would advise taking a look on the internet for information about the disease and printing out relevant bits. I did this when my father was diagnosed with stomach cancer. When I showed the consultant what I had been studying, I sensed a more open discussion and perhaps a few more technical details were covered that otherwise might not have been.
There is no harm in taking notes with you and you might even consider taping the discussion. These are potentially highly stressful and upsetting meetings which might mean that you don't remember all that was said. You'll want to know where and when the treatments will take place.
Include questions about possible side effects and the range and type of drugs they will be taking. And how the drugs will be taken, injection, by mouth, intravenous etc.
Difficulties arise when a question is asked about how long the patient has got to live. It is impossible for the doctor to predict the future exactly for an individual patient and they would be putting unecessary pressure on themselves if they did. This uncertainty is not good for the patient and vague answers never satisfy anyone. I would push the doctor for an educated guess based on his experience and the results he has at hand. This is only my opinion. I would want to know if I've got months (which could be two or three) or years (which could be 12 months).
Fears can often be worse than reality. That is why it is important to collate as much knowledge about the illness and disease as possible. Discussing this new knowledge with friends and relatives can help relieve the stress as the treatment progresses.
(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Information on Mesothelioma, providing information about mesothelioma and mesothelioma news.
Related Cancer News and Articles From ezinearticles.com
Cancer can occur in many areas of the body and behaves differently depending on its type and origin. Cancer consists of more than 100 different diseases, all characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer is a major health problem in North America, striking an estimated 1.4 million people a year and rising. It strikes men, women and children in every country of the world and it is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
People often think that cancer is due to fate or predetermined by your genes. Cancer may have a genetic predisposition, but it is not fate that causes cancer.
There are worrying trends of increased testicular cancer cases in the last few decades. Luckily, recent advances mean that it is highly treatable. But why is there an increase in the first place? In this article, I'll give you an idea of how cryptochordism, low fertility, environmental factors and the western lifestyle all have a part to play.
The best way to treat cancer is to do everything you can to avoid getting the disease in the first place. Studies show that our immune system is a key component to protecting our body, so why not learn how your can protect your immune system. Emerging medical evidence shows that a practice of daily meditation can actually improve your immune system. Learn the benefits of meditation and the power it has to keep you healthy!
As a cancer victim myself, I have been inundated with all sorts of "support" from friends, relatives and others not so familiar. These efforts to support me came in all sorts of forms from "advice" to pity. While all forms were sincere and well meaning, they were not all equal in the support area.
