Category: living with mesothelioma

The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

In its early stages of development, mesothelioma really has no symptoms. People don’t feel sick or have anything obvious going on that they would pick up on and be able to address. However, that doesn’t mean the disease isn’t developing. When the mesothelioma tumors get large enough, chest pain and shortness of breath will start… Continue reading The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

What to expect after a mesothelioma diagnosis

Getting a cancer diagnosis is never good news. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer with only 2,000- 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the US each year and most cases can be traced to occupational asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is considered incurable, but in recent years doctors have learned how to better treat and diagnose this particular cancer.… Continue reading What to expect after a mesothelioma diagnosis

Job Discrimination Protection for Cancer Patients

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offer protection against discrimination on the job. You are protected against discrimination from your employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The act also emphasizes that, if necessary, you should be provided “reasonable accommodations” in order to continue with your job. Under… Continue reading Job Discrimination Protection for Cancer Patients

Get medical advice

Individuals that experience symptoms associated with occupational diseases should seek medical advice as soon as they notice symptoms. The sooner these types of diseases are diagnosed and treated the better the prognosis is for patients. There are doctors who specialize in occupational medicine but they are very rare. Of the 800,000 physicians in the United… Continue reading Get medical advice

How to Manage Late Effects of Chemotherapy Drugs

Once a cancer patient’s treatments have ended, there is still a chance that he or she can experience side effects. Some side effects can continue after treatment or surface months or years after treatment. There is not a lot of concrete information that is known about cancer treatment side effects, but they can vary by… Continue reading How to Manage Late Effects of Chemotherapy Drugs

Constipation

Chemotherapy drug treatment can cause a patient to experience constipation, or the uncomfortable passage of hard, dry stools that are infrequent. Some symptoms include bloating, cramping, increased gas and pain. About 50 percent of cancer patients experience constipation. Other side effects can occur from this condition such as decreased appetite and nausea. Drugs That Cause… Continue reading Constipation

Fatigue as a side effect

Chemotherapy drug treatments can be effective, but they also seem to be linked to intense fatigue. Drugs that often cause cancer-related fatigue are vinblastine, cisplatin and vincristine. The severity of fatigue may vary by individual, but almost 90 percent of cancer patients experience some level of fatigue related to cancer treatment at some time during… Continue reading Fatigue as a side effect

Oral Mucositis – Sores in Mouth and Throat

Some chemotherapy drugs can cause sores in the mouth or throat because they inhibit the replacement of the healthy cells. The condition that causes sores in the mouth is known as stomatitis, and a comparable condition in the throat is known as pharyngitis.   The lining of the mouth starts to become pale and dry. As… Continue reading Oral Mucositis – Sores in Mouth and Throat

Religion and Spirituality

Some patients may take solace in their religious or spiritual beliefs after receiving their diagnosis.  Patients can often experience an outlet of their pent-up emotions through prayer and meditation.  Many studies have shown that patients who employ such practices have better psychological outlooks during treatment than those who do not.  Also, many clergymen have been… Continue reading Religion and Spirituality