Important Advice to Help You Cope With a Mesothelioma Loss

Unfortunately mesothelioma is often a terminal disease leading most times to the death of our loved ones.

When a person loses someone important to them, they go through a normal process called grieving. Grieving is a natural and expected process which, over time, can allow the person to accept and understand their loss. Grieving involves feeling many different emotions over time, all of which help the person come to terms with the loss of a loved one.

Bereavement and mourning are both part of the grieving process. Bereavement is what a person goes through when someone close to them dies. It is the state of having suffered a loss. Mourning is the outward expression of loss and grief. Mourning includes rituals and other actions that are specific to each person’s culture, personality, and religion.

Ideally, the bereaved person will work through the process of grieving. With time and support, they will accept and make sense of the loss, experience the pain, and adapt to a new life and identity.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one to mesothelioma, the following suggestions may help you cope with the loss:

-Let yourself feel the pain and all the other emotions as well. Don’t tell yourself how to feel or let others tell you how you should feel.

-Be patient with the process. Don’t pressure yourself with expectations. Accept that you need to experience your pain, your emotions, and your own way of healing all in your own time. Don’t judge your emotions or compare yourself to others. Remember that no one else can tell you how you should mourn and when to stop.

-Let your emotions flow outside, do not bottle them up. If you feel like crying go ahead and cry. It is good for your for healing.

-Get support. Talk about your loss, your memories, and your experience of the life and death of your loved one. Do not think you are protecting your family and friends by not expressing your sadness. Ask others for what you need. Find and talk to others who have lost a loved one.

-Try to maintain your normal lifestyle. Avoid major life changes (for example, moving, changing jobs, changing important relationships) within the first year of bereavement. This will allow you to keep your roots and some sense of security.

-Take care of yourself: eat well and exercise. Physical activity is a good way to release tension. Allow yourself small physical pleasures that help you renew yourself, like hot baths, naps, and favorite foods.

-Do not take too much alcohol or using other drugs. This can only compound your problems, it can harm your body as well as dull your emotions. It is likely to slow your recovery and may cause new problems.

-Forgive yourself for all the things you said or didn’t say or do.Do not heap unnecessary blames on your self. Compassion and forgiveness for yourself and others is important in healing.

-Give yourself a break from grief. Although you must work through grief, you do not need to focus on it all the time. It is healthy to find distractions like going to a movie, dinner, or a ball game; reading a good book; listening to music; or getting a massage or manicure.

-Prepare for holidays and anniversaries knowing that strong feelings may come back. Decide if you want to keep certain traditions or create new ones. Plan in advance how you want to spend your time and with whom. Do something to honor the memory of your loved one.

-Join a bereavement support group. Other people can encourage, guide, and comfort you. They can also offer practical suggestions and information, and help you feel less alone. If you can’t find a group near you, online groups may be helpful.

When you feel ready, do something creative. Things you could do include:

* write a letter to the person who died to say everything you wish you could say to them

* keep a journal

* make a scrapbook

* paint pictures

* plant flowers or trees

* involve yourself in a cause or activity that the deceased loved

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How Can Mesothelioma Pain Be Treated Medically Without The Use Of Medication?

Some people have mesothelioma cancer pain that is not relieved by drugs or non-medical methods. When this happens, some other medical non drug related methods can be used to relieve the cancer pain. These other methods include:

- Procedures to help stop pain impulses from going through the nerves

Surgery

Nerve pathways that carry pain impulses to the brain can be blocked,leading to reduced pain perception. To block these pathways, a neurosurgeon may cut nerves, usually near the spinal cord. When the nerves that relay pain are destroyed, feelings of pain, pressure, and temperature can no longer be felt. Only surgeons with special skills, who are also expert in pain management should do this kind of surgery. These surgeons normally work with other pain specialists to explore other methods of pain control before they cut nerves.

Nerve block

A nerve block is a procedure where a local anesthetic (a numbing drug), which may be combined with a steroid, is injected into or around a nerve or into the space around the spinal cord to block pain. After the injection, the nerve is no longer able to relay pain so the pain is relieved for some time. For longer lasting pain relief, phenol or alcohol can be injected. A nerve block may cause muscle paralysis or a loss of all feeling in the affected area.

Spinal analgesia

Low doses of pain medicine may be injected into the fluid around the spine (called intrathecal injection). If this works, a tube and a pump may be used to deliver the pain medicine directly into the spinal fluid to control the pain. Morphine is often used for this purpose, and you can still have side effects like itching and constipation. Surgery is done to put the small pump into your body.

Epidural

Certain kinds of pain may respond to pain medicine that is injected into the space around the layers of the spine. If this works, a pump can be implanted so that you can get pain medicines directly around the nerves. Numbness or weakness of the treated area can result.

Other cancer treatments might be given to shrink the tumor:

Sometimes,when mesothelioma cancer pain is caused by the size of the tumor pressing on nearby pain sensitive nerves,the tumor size can be reduced by shrinking the tumor to relieve the pressure effect of the tumor on the nearby nerves, thus reducing pain.These method is not aimed at achieving a cure for the cancer , it is just aimed at reducing the pain caused by the cancer. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation may be used in this way.There are also some surgical procedures that can also be used to shrink the tumors ,these surgeries are known as debulking procedures.

Radioactive injections are sometimes used when the cancer has spread to many places in the bone — the radioactive drug settles in the bones near the cancer and helps to stop its growth and relieve pain. In a few cases, other treatments like radiofrequency ablation can be used in certain areas of the body. In this treatment, electrodes are inserted near the tumor to heat and destroy the cancer.

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What are Some Common Treatments for Mesothelioma?

Treatments for mesothelioma vary and there is far more information available than can be covered thoroughly, here. So, you are encouraged to read up on as much information as you can find as well as ask your doctor for recommendations specific to your needs, and why he recommends the treatments he does. With that in mind, let this article direct you to some reliable sources of information to help you fully understand your medical team’s recommendations and all of your options before you choose a course of treatment.

There is a very nice and thorough Guide for Malignant Mesothelioma available from the American Cancer Society that you can read online or download as a PDF file. This guide, along with several other sources gives good explanations of this disease, treatment options, and much more information. The treatment options available to you may differ significantly from other people’s, based upon a number of factors. These include:

What part of your body is involved. The stage of the mesothelioma. The degree of metastasis–how far it has spread. The type of cells, as identified with a microscope. Your age. Your preferences.

You may hear some discouraging information about treatment or survival statistics, but don’t give up hope. Many of these statistics include survival rates based on early treatment outcomes, which can skew the current rates. Specialists and researchers are having more and more success with newer methods of treatment, and those in leading cancer centers are making notable progress.

The most common treatments for mesothelioma include:

Surgical removal of the cancerous cells. This is the most common treatment. Surgery might be done to remove cancerous portions of the mesothelial lining, some of the adjacent tissue, possibly an entire lung (pneumonectomy), part of the diaphragm, or the affected portions of the peritoneal lining and adjacent tissue. Chemotherapy, drugs to destroy the cancer cells. Most chemotherapy drugs are administered by intravenous injection (IV) over several treatments scheduled several weeks apart. In peritoneal mesothelioma, heated chemotherapy may be administered after surgery. Radiation therapy to destroy the cancer cells. X-rays can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, which improves the success of surgery. A combination of two or three of the above treatments

Palliative treatments of mesothelioma intended to relieve symptoms and control pain may include surgery or radiation therapy along with procedures such as paracentesis or thoracentesis (depending upon the location of the cancer), and pleurectomy to remove part of the tumor, but not all of it. These latter treatments involve draining fluid from the affected areas and then injecting drugs to prevent accumulation of more fluid in those spaces.

Other treatments come in the form of clinical trials. These are treatments that are being studied by researchers to see if they are effective and if so, how effective under varying conditions. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial you can learn more from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1–800–4–CANCER. You will need to talk to your doctor about current trials and your eligibility for these. You can also download the National Cancer Institute’s booklet “Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies.”

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Mesothelioma Cancer -Workers Compensation

As more employees developed illness caused by asbestos exposure in the early 20th century, asbestos companies and the companies that insured them began to worry about the future of their business endeavors.Exposure to asbestos has been well documented to be linked with the development of various diseases like asbestosis,lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer and most victims of asbestos diseases were exposed at their place of work to the asbestos fibers. In order to protect themselves against impending lawsuits these asbestos and insurance companies requested workers’ compensation laws be passed to include diseases caused by asbestos exposure. By the late-1930s, many states across the US had established compensation laws for victims coping with asbestos-induced diseases.

However, these laws vary by state and have naturally changed and adapted over the years. The unfortunate fact about workers’ compensation claims, is that they are typically more complicated to resolve than injury claims. A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine confirmed that the majority of those suffering with asbestos-related disease rarely receive workers’ compensation benefits, because the vast majority of filed claims that were studied went “unresolved.”

To learn more about the workers’ compensation laws in your state, contact the state’s workers’ compensation board. Depending on classification of employment, asbestos victims may be able to apply for various types of compensation-but achieving eligibility and actually receiving compensation is not guaranteed.

For example, if exposure occurred during employment with a federal agency, such employees may be eligible for compensation through the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program or the Employment Standards Administration’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. Additionally, employees of the maritime industry may be eligible for the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program, but this is the very program that was the subject of the aforementioned study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine that proved the majority of asbestos claims went unresolved.

For these reasons, individuals dealing with an illness caused by occupational asbestos exposure have a better opportunity to receive fair compensation through a personal injury lawsuit (or a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of a family member if the victim has passed away). When dealing with personal injury caused by asbestos exposure, experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers typically do not file a claim against the employer (unless the employer is an asbestos company). Instead, a lawsuit is filed against the manufacturers of asbestos products, which are completely liable due to full awareness of the health hazards their products caused.

To secure good and just compensation for undue medical illness caused by occupational asbestos exposure, it is best to contact an experienced mesothelioma and asbestos lawyer that have the knowledge and experience to effectively fight for the rights of those who have been occupationally exposed to asbestos. By hiring an experienced attorney, you increase your opportunity to receive compensation that will fully cover all the medical costs incurred from treating asbestos-related disease, as well as provide for your family’s financial future.

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Commonly Asked Questions After Mesothelioma Treatment

There are some questions that will be on the mind of mesothelioma patients after the finish their course of therapy.The common questions are:

1- Can I be assured the cancer will never come back?

No, it is not possible to guarantee that once you have completed cancer treatment your cancer will never come back. Although your doctor may say, “Your cancer is gone” or “I think I removed all the cancer” or “I see no evidence of any cancer,” the fact remains that there is always a chance that there are some cancer cells left in your body that survived, even though they cannot be seen or found with any test used today. These cells can begin to grow over time and cause your cancer to recur.

And while you don’t want to ever think about the chance of having a second cancer, it is possible. Having one cancer doesn’t make you immune to having a second or even a third different cancer.

Some people find it very hard to get this thought out of their minds. While it is useful to take measures to prepare for the chance that the cancer can return, for some people the thought can become a fear that interferes with daily life. Some people deal with these thoughts by distraction, or by focusing on what is most important to them on a day-to-day basis. Others must take further measures, such as joining a peer support group or seeing a mental health professional. After the stress of cancer, the way you deal with the emotional pain can be key to moving on with your life.

2- Is a “no-cancer guarantee” possible?

Cancer is not predictable. The outlook for mesothelioma cancer in p[articular is very dismal, most people do not survive beyond 1 year so no doctor can guarantee cancer will stay gone forever.

A recurrent cancer starts with cancer cells that the first treatment didn’t fully remove or destroy. Some clusters of cancer cells may have been too small to be detected in follow-up tests, scans, or blood work. This does not mean that you got the wrong treatment. It does not mean that you did anything wrong after treatment, either. It means that a small number of cancer cells survived the treatment you had. Over time, these cells grew into tumors or cancer that your doctor could finally detect as a recurrence.

Just as it happened the first time, there is also a chance that your normal cells may, for any number of reasons, develop the same damage in their DNA. (DNA holds genetic information on cell growth, division, and function.) This damage then causes a gene (a small section of DNA) to change (mutate). When genes mutate, they can become oncogenes, which allow cells to become cancer cells that divide quickly and out of control.

There is also something called a tumor suppressor gene, which tells cells when to repair damaged DNA and when to die (a normal process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death). This gene is like the brake pedal on a car. Just as a brake keeps a car from going too fast, a tumor suppressor gene keeps the cell from dividing too quickly. When tumor suppressor genes are mutated or turned off – that is, when the brakes fail – the cells divide very fast, allowing cancer cells to develop. Changes in tumor suppressor genes can be inherited (you are born with them), or they can happen during your life.

Not all of the growth factors for cancer cells have been found yet. Even though treatment may seem to have gotten rid of all of the cancer, there may be just one tiny cancer cell left someplace in the body. This cell may not cause any harm for many years. Suddenly, something can happen that will change the immune system and the cell becomes active, grows, and makes other cells. The result is a cancer recurrence.

-What should I look for if I am worried about a recurrence?

It is easy to obsess about every ache and pain if you are worried about your cancer returning. But in reality, there are few major symptoms that could mean serious problems. If you have any of the problems listed below, tell your doctor at once.

* return of the cancer symptoms you had before (for example, a lump or new growth where your cancer first started)
* new or unusual pain that seems unrelated to an injury and does not go away
* weight loss without trying
* bleeding or unexplained bruising
* a rash or allergic reaction, such as swelling, severe itching, or wheezing
* chills or fevers
* headaches
* shortness of breath
* bloody stools or blood in your urine
* lumps, bumps, or swelling
* nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or trouble swallowing
* cough that doesn’t go away
* any other signs mentioned by your doctor or nurse or any unusual symptoms that you just can’t explain

Whenever you have a symptom, your first thought might be that your cancer has returned. Remember that there are illnesses and medical problems that have nothing to do with your previous cancer. You can still get colds, infections, arthritis, heart problems, etc. – just like anyone else. As with any illness, your doctor is the best person to find the cause of your symptoms.

-What about future health problems I might get from cancer treatment?

You should also know that some cancer treatments may cause health problems later on. These problems may not appear right away and some don’t show up until years after treatment. Ask your doctor:

* if the treatment you had will put you at risk for short- or long-term problems
* what those problems are and how you can recognize them
* what you should do if you notice them
* what you should do to take care of your health

-What does “5-year survival rate” mean?

The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who are alive at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these people live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. The 5-year rate is used as a standard way to discuss prognosis or the survival outlook.

You may also hear the term 5-year relative survival rate. Relative survival compares survival among cancer patients to that of people not diagnosed with cancer, but of the same age, race, and sex. It is used to adjust for normal life expectancy when cancer is not present. 5-year relative survival rates are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis (long-term outlook) for groups of patients with a certain type and stage of cancer. But they cannot be used to predict individual cases.

Keep in mind that 5-year rates are based on patients who were diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago. These statistics may no longer be accurate because improved treatments often result in a better outlook for those who were diagnosed more recently.

There is another point to remember when talking about survival rates. Survival rates look at survival only, not whether the person is cancer-free 5 years after diagnosis. They are based on a group of people of all ages and health conditions diagnosed with a certain type of cancer. These statistics include people diagnosed early and those diagnosed late. As with any statistics, they should only be used to get an idea of the overall picture. They cannot be used to predict any one person’s outcome.

-Why won’t the doctor say, “You are cured”?

Most doctors avoid using the term “cure” because it means that your cancer is totally cured. As we have discussed, this is almost impossible to say in any case of mesothelioma cancer. The best a doctor can do is say that they can find no signs of cancer in your body at this time. This is most often stated as “No evidence of disease.” Your doctor may continue to follow you closely for many years and do tests to watch for any signs of cancer recurrence. There is no harm in assuring yourself that you are cancer-free if that’s what all the evidence shows. Enjoy the feeling that you do not have cancer. But always remember that it is still possible for cancer to come back even after you have been cancer-free for 5 years or more.

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Great Advice on How You Can Help a Grieving Mesothelioma Relative

Since most mesothelioma victims die within a year of diagnosis,friends and well wishers of the relatives of the mesothelioma victims are often at loss at how they can help the grieving relatives of the mesothelioma victims who have passed on.This article gives some very useful advice for friends of such relatives.

Most people feel awkward when trying to comfort someone who is grieving. We just do not know what to say or do. These following suggestions can guide you:

What should you say?

-Do not deny the situation,acknowledge the reality of the present situation. Example: “I heard that your_____ died.” Use the word “died.” This shows that you are more open to talk about how the person really feels.

-Show and express your genuine concern. Example: “I’m sorry to hear that this happened to you.”

-Be genuine in your communication and don’t hide your feelings. Example: “I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care.”

-Offer your support. Example: ” IF there is anything i can do to help please let me know.”

-Ask how the bereaved person feels. Don’t assume you know how they will feel on any given day.

What to do

-Be there. Even if you do not know what to say, your presence alone at such times can be very comforting.

-Listen and give support. But do not try to force someone to talk if they are not ready to talk.

-Be a good listener. Accept whatever feelings the person expresses rather than telling them how they should cope with the loss. Never tell them how they should feel.

-Give reassurance without minimizing the loss. Try to have empathy with the person without assuming you know exactly how they feel.

-Offer to help with errands, shopping, housework, cooking, driving, or yard work. Sometimes people want help and sometimes they don’t. Although they may not take you up on your offer, remember they are not rejecting you or your friendship.

-Avoid telling the person “You’re so strong.” This puts pressure on the person to hold in feelings and keep acting “strong.”

-Continue to offer support even after the first shock wears off. Recovery takes a long time.

-It may help to check in with the bereaved on anniversaries of the death, marriage, and birthday of the deceased, since those can be especially difficult.

If the grieving person begins to abuse alcohol or drugs, neglects personal hygiene, develops physical problems, or talks about suicide, it may be a sign of complicated grief or depression. You or someone close to them should suggest to them to get professional help.

If you notice that the grieving person is showing suicidal tendencies,make sure you do not leave the person alone to be by himself/herself.Make sure that the person gets help from his/her doctor or the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. someone is thinking about suicide, do not leave him or her alone. If that is not possible, call 911. If you can safely do so, remove firearms and other tools for suicide.

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Great Advice on How You Can Help a Grieving Mesothelioma Relative

Since most mesothelioma victims die within a year of diagnosis,friends and well wishers of the relatives of the mesothelioma victims are often at loss at how they can help the grieving relatives of the mesothelioma victims who have passed on.This article gives some very useful advice for friends of such relatives.

Most people feel awkward when trying to comfort someone who is grieving. We just do not know what to say or do. These following suggestions can guide you:

What should you say?

-Do not deny the situation,acknowledge the reality of the present situation. Example: “I heard that your_____ died.” Use the word “died.” This shows that you are more open to talk about how the person really feels.

-Show and express your genuine concern. Example: “I’m sorry to hear that this happened to you.”

-Be genuine in your communication and don’t hide your feelings. Example: “I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care.”

-Offer your support. Example: ” IF there is anything i can do to help please let me know.”

-Ask how the bereaved person feels. Don’t assume you know how they will feel on any given day.

What to do

-Be there. Even if you do not know what to say, your presence alone at such times can be very comforting.

-Listen and give support. But do not try to force someone to talk if they are not ready to talk.

-Be a good listener. Accept whatever feelings the person expresses rather than telling them how they should cope with the loss. Never tell them how they should feel.

-Give reassurance without minimizing the loss. Try to have empathy with the person without assuming you know exactly how they feel.

-Offer to help with errands, shopping, housework, cooking, driving, or yard work. Sometimes people want help and sometimes they don’t. Although they may not take you up on your offer, remember they are not rejecting you or your friendship.

-Avoid telling the person “You’re so strong.” This puts pressure on the person to hold in feelings and keep acting “strong.”

-Continue to offer support even after the first shock wears off. Recovery takes a long time.

-It may help to check in with the bereaved on anniversaries of the death, marriage, and birthday of the deceased, since those can be especially difficult.

If the grieving person begins to abuse alcohol or drugs, neglects personal hygiene, develops physical problems, or talks about suicide, it may be a sign of complicated grief or depression. You or someone close to them should suggest to them to get professional help.

If you notice that the grieving person is showing suicidal tendencies,make sure you do not leave the person alone to be by himself/herself.Make sure that the person gets help from his/her doctor or the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. someone is thinking about suicide, do not leave him or her alone. If that is not possible, call 911. If you can safely do so, remove firearms and other tools for suicide.

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