After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
6 Must-Know Facts for New Patients
Now that your mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, successfully treating and managing the disease becomes your priority.
Although you’ll be dealing with a wide range of emotions, here are six things patients must know after diagnosis to help better manage the disease.
1. Your doctor is your partner in managing the disease.
Now is not the time for shyness. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor plenty of questions after your diagnosis:
- How long will my treatment take?
- What precautions will I have to take while recovering?
- Will I be restricted from hobbies and typical daily activities?
- Can I go back to work?
2. Prepare for extensive follow-up tests.
After diagnosis, your doctor will order more tests to determine the size of the tumor and if it has spread. This is critical to determining the best medical treatment for you, and extensive testing may be necessary.
Follow-up tests typically include a variety of ultrasounds and scans that measure abnormal cell activity, where the cancer has spread, and if it has spread to the heart and lymph nodes.
3. Carefully consider treatment options.
Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are possible treatment options.
With your doctor’s help, carefully consider the pros and cons of each medical treatment. They have different risks, side effects and likelihoods of success.
4. Learn about the disease.
Understanding how the disease affects your body is important. Online resources can help, as well as medical literature. Be realistic about how the disease might change your lifestyle.
The more you learn about mesothelioma and how to combat it, the better your chances of making the best decision that can prolong your survival rate.
5. Join a support group or seek professional counseling.
Mesothelioma patients deal with a wide-range of emotions, and dealing with symptoms can be difficult at times. In additional to medical issues, you’ll be having emotional ones as well.
Get professional help and counseling to better manage your illness. Joining a support group can be a good option, because the other participants can relate to the feelings you may experience.
6. Understand your legal rights.
For decades, corporations knowingly exposed employees to toxic asbestos — and you were victimized through no fault of your own. As a result, employers and manufacturers worldwide have since paid millions in legal claims to mesothelioma sufferers and their families.
Our patient support center can help you contact an attorney to determine if you have rights to a legal claim.
