Helping Mesothelioma Patients Make End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that begins in the mesothelium, or thin lining on the surface of the pleura (lungs), peritoneum (abdomen), or pericardium (heart). Malignant mesothelioma is primarily caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was once widely used in many industrial products, such as insulation, ceiling and roofing materials, brake linings, and wall panelings. Each year in the United States up to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed. Numbers are even higher in other areas of the world.
Mesothelioma is not easily diagnosed or confirmed. Frequently, patients are somewhere between 50 to 70 years old when diagnosed due to how long it takes for symptoms to develop after initial exposure. Also, symptoms are non-specific and therefore are often misidentified as some other type of cancer or respiratory disease. Because of the difficulty in identifying and the long latency period, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until the tumors have reached advanced stages.
For many mesothelioma patients and their family members, there are months of struggle in finding out the diagnosis and then going through medical interventions, only to find out that the cancer is too advanced for further treatment. "Advanced mesothelioma" means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and can not be cured or is beyond the stage of responding to any kind of therapy.
Learning that your cancer is untreatable and you have only a short time to live can cause feelings of devastation, anxiety and fear. It can be hard to accept that most patients with this type of cancer typically live less than a year.
Once over the initial shock, there are some things that a patient and caregiver can do to help during such difficult times. One is to learn as much as possible about what to expect and also explore options where choices do exist. Another is to continue to demand excellent care from your medical team and on-going support from others. Talking about any concerns, as well as any regrets and specific wishes you may have can be very helpful. Make sure to write down how you wish to live and how you wish to die, and enlist the help of others to make sure this happens. Having a support group to share any feelings and express grief can be hugely supportive.
Other avenues to explore are whether there are any existing treatments that could slow the progression of the disease or help alleviate any pain or side effects. Palliative care and hospice workers should be able to help keep the patient in as much comfort as possible. Find out from your oncology specialist what other options may exist in your area.
Patients diagnosed with stage IV cancer typically have four options: standard, frontline treatments, alternative therapies, hospice, and/or home care. Patients often make choices based upon recommendations by the doctors, nurses, family members and caregivers. If possible, advance care directives are known which ensure wishes are followed until the end.
Mesothelioma, like most cancers, takes an emotional and physical toll on everyone. Although having conversations about dying can be uncomfortable to initiate, it can ensure that patients as well as loved ones have more control, dignity and peace throughout the process. A good network of support and well thought out strategies can help. Financial, legal and emotional burdens for loved ones can be lessened by advanced planning. As difficult as it can be to talk about death, being able to do so will benefit everyone.
Being diagnosed with advanced stage mesothelioma is challenging. For some, it is also a time for resolving unfinished business, dealing with regrets, realizing what is important in life, and really feeling gratitude for the moments of kindness, peace and love that exist. Every person has their own reaction and approach to dying. It's important to be mindful that not everyone will be comfortable expressing thoughts and emotions about approaching the end of life, and to respect individual preferences.
For information on ways to receive legal or financial help to cover costs of treatment, make sure to contact a mesothelioma attorney who specializes only in handling cases involving asbestos exposure and liability. Like oncologists who specialize in asbestos related diseases, experienced mesothelioma lawyers will be able to help you much more quickly and successfully than attorneys who handle other types of cases.
Many patients and caregivers wish they had known to ask certain questions before the cancer had progressed too far. If you have been diagnosed with late stage mesothelioma and want to have the most choice in the months ahead, please do not hesitate on having these conversations.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was once widely used in many industrial products, such as insulation, ceiling and roofing materials, brake linings, and wall panelings. Each year in the United States up to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed. Numbers are even higher in other areas of the world.
Mesothelioma is not easily diagnosed or confirmed. Frequently, patients are somewhere between 50 to 70 years old when diagnosed due to how long it takes for symptoms to develop after initial exposure. Also, symptoms are non-specific and therefore are often misidentified as some other type of cancer or respiratory disease. Because of the difficulty in identifying and the long latency period, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until the tumors have reached advanced stages.
For many mesothelioma patients and their family members, there are months of struggle in finding out the diagnosis and then going through medical interventions, only to find out that the cancer is too advanced for further treatment. "Advanced mesothelioma" means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and can not be cured or is beyond the stage of responding to any kind of therapy.
Learning that your cancer is untreatable and you have only a short time to live can cause feelings of devastation, anxiety and fear. It can be hard to accept that most patients with this type of cancer typically live less than a year.
Once over the initial shock, there are some things that a patient and caregiver can do to help during such difficult times. One is to learn as much as possible about what to expect and also explore options where choices do exist. Another is to continue to demand excellent care from your medical team and on-going support from others. Talking about any concerns, as well as any regrets and specific wishes you may have can be very helpful. Make sure to write down how you wish to live and how you wish to die, and enlist the help of others to make sure this happens. Having a support group to share any feelings and express grief can be hugely supportive.
Other avenues to explore are whether there are any existing treatments that could slow the progression of the disease or help alleviate any pain or side effects. Palliative care and hospice workers should be able to help keep the patient in as much comfort as possible. Find out from your oncology specialist what other options may exist in your area.
Patients diagnosed with stage IV cancer typically have four options: standard, frontline treatments, alternative therapies, hospice, and/or home care. Patients often make choices based upon recommendations by the doctors, nurses, family members and caregivers. If possible, advance care directives are known which ensure wishes are followed until the end.
Mesothelioma, like most cancers, takes an emotional and physical toll on everyone. Although having conversations about dying can be uncomfortable to initiate, it can ensure that patients as well as loved ones have more control, dignity and peace throughout the process. A good network of support and well thought out strategies can help. Financial, legal and emotional burdens for loved ones can be lessened by advanced planning. As difficult as it can be to talk about death, being able to do so will benefit everyone.
Being diagnosed with advanced stage mesothelioma is challenging. For some, it is also a time for resolving unfinished business, dealing with regrets, realizing what is important in life, and really feeling gratitude for the moments of kindness, peace and love that exist. Every person has their own reaction and approach to dying. It's important to be mindful that not everyone will be comfortable expressing thoughts and emotions about approaching the end of life, and to respect individual preferences.
For information on ways to receive legal or financial help to cover costs of treatment, make sure to contact a mesothelioma attorney who specializes only in handling cases involving asbestos exposure and liability. Like oncologists who specialize in asbestos related diseases, experienced mesothelioma lawyers will be able to help you much more quickly and successfully than attorneys who handle other types of cases.
Many patients and caregivers wish they had known to ask certain questions before the cancer had progressed too far. If you have been diagnosed with late stage mesothelioma and want to have the most choice in the months ahead, please do not hesitate on having these conversations.
About the Author:
Sally Clapper is a representative for the law offices of Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason in Sausalito, CA. If you or someone you know is in need of a mesothelioma lawyer, please contact the firm at 1-800-440-4262. As legal experts in the field of mesothelioma, the firm's attorneys are recognized as some of the leading plaintiffs' asbestos lawyers in the nation.
