Five Things You Should Do if Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Article by Shane Lima
A mesothelioma diagnosis is one of the most devastating medical news a patient can receive. Mesothelioma cancer develops in the lining of large internal organs, spreads throughout the body and often kills the patient. While a mesothelioma diagnosis might be overwhelming, the patient can do several things to cope better with this new reality.
1. Receive a Detailed Diagnosis & Prognosis From Your DoctorAfter the initial trauma of receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis has eased, discuss your diagnosis and prognosis with your doctor. He or she will explain what type of mesothelioma you have, which organs are affected and how far the cancer has spread. The doctor will also help you understand how the cancer might progress and how the mesothelioma treatment will affect your body. Finally, the doctor might show you statistics of similar cancer patients to help you understand what might happen in the future.
2. Create an Effective Pain Management PlanMesothelioma cancer sometimes can cause significant pain and discomfort. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma, often causes fluid retention in the lungs. This might feel very uncomfortable. If the tumors enlarge and press against the nerves, the patient might feel pain in various parts of the body. However, today