Getting a cancer diagnosis can be a painful and emotionally taxing process, especially when battling a rare form of the disease. A mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that occurs way down the line because of unusual asbestos exposure. What’s worse is that this cancer takes no time to spread around your body, making treatment more extensive. So when you first hear about your diagnosis, chances are you may be well in your seventies.
Consequently, you may find yourself stuck in a vicious cycle of dealing with symptoms and trying to contain the disease. Therefore, a glance at what you face as a mesothelioma patient may help you tackle the condition better. So, here’s what you need to know about having mesothelioma:
- Learn About Acquiring Funds
Mesothelioma is an expensive illness. The cost of diagnosing the disease to administering treatment can put a dent in your budget and possibly drain your savings. Since mesothelioma stems from unusual asbestos exposure, you have the opportunity to use the legal system and sue all the entities responsible for making you sick. You may have gotten exposure by working in an asbestos company, living in an older house constructed in the 1980s, or because you served in the military. Consulting with a qualified mesothelioma attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for the damages caused by asbestos exposure.
War veterans make up over 33% of mesothelioma cases, and the reason is that older military-grade weapons contained asbestos in them. So if you served in the armed forces, there is a high chance the seeds of cancer got planted there, and in such circumstances, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center can be your savior. The establishment provides you with treatment options and compensations legally and fairly. You should file for a lawsuit to get your fair due, and the money you win will help you pay for your treatments and remove financial stress from your back.
- Dealing with the Symptoms
A mesothelioma patient can get cancer around four regions of their body: the heart, the abdomen, the testicles, or the lungs. But, since over 70% of cases occur in the lungs, the symptoms most mesothelioma patients face are similar. You may feel a sharp radiating pain in your chest, cough up blood, have trouble breathing, and find it hard to speak.
As cancer starts to spread, known as metastasis, the tumor cells may end up in your lymph system and form a massive lump somewhere else in your body. The tumor cells may also branch out and spread in your blood, leading to newer growths around your body. These symptoms require a doctor to provide you with pills, straight into treatment, or establish preventive measures to tone down the symptoms.
- Getting the Relevant Treatment and Letting Side Effects Pass
Treatment for mesothelioma includes cancer medication. You will need Tito to get chemotherapy to reduce the cells, radiation to take care of the ramming cells, and surgery to remove the mass. Chemo and radiation don’t stop after one session. Depending on the stage and how widespread the tumor is, you may get several rounds.
Malignant tumors also get treatment options like targeted cells therapy, where a high dosage medication gets introduced in your body. This therapy will identify all cancer cells and work on eradicating them. The trouble with high dosage medication is you will have to deal with the unpleasant side effects of using them. These include a loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, and throwing up frequently. There is also a chance you may pass out from the medication’s toll on your body.
- Drastic Change in Lifestyle
Your lifestyle will also change at home, requiring you to seek assistance in the form of a live-in nurse. This can be difficult for you and make you feel embarrassed for leaning on others for support. Your changed lifestyle will also include eating a very selective diet which may not be delicious or easy to digest. You may also need to use medications to power through the pain, fight nausea, and counter insomnia.
Sometimes even if cancer has cleared from your body, there is still a chance of the disease recurring and a low survival rate. It also becomes more challenging for your body to fight the illness since cancer can wear you down the older you get. You may also get mental health conditions like depression and anxiety while fighting mesothelioma.
- Becoming Estranged From Friends and Family
Painful illnesses like mesothelioma can make you push your friends and family away. This inadvertently may impact your mental health and make you suffer under the weight of your illness.
As cancer begins to spread and your treatment gets more intensive, you may choose to become wholly confined in bed away from anyone. While it’s recommended that you continue to mingle with friends and family, it’s understandable why you would push them away. The only way to work through social withdrawals is to seek therapy,
Final Thoughts
Mesothelioma is painful and expensive, often costing you more than money. As a mesothelioma patient, you will get compensation depending on how you get cancer. If you’re a veteran, there are institutes in place to help you. This will help you pay for the testaments you need to contain cancer.
The symptoms of living with mesothelioma are equally debilitating. However, getting treated is no easy feat. You will get exposed to high dosage medication and even surgeries to remove the tumor cells as much as possible. As a result, you will face numerous side effects, which will lead to a drastic change in lifestyle. This may make dealing with mesothelioma a lonely affair.
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