Mesothelioma Treatment Team

It's about mesothelioma treatment team, and listen it . Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that requires experts — lots of experts to properly treat you. Your treatment team should include various cancer experts, social workers, mental health professionals, and more. A patient with Mesothelioma needs different types of care from different types of professionals. Not only will the patient require a doctor who is experienced in treating this rare cancer, but a surgeon as well. Mesothelioma affects the entire body, and emotions and mental health too. The cost of treatment can seem outrageous, and the patient may want to file a lawsuit if the cause of the mesothelioma is work-related asbestos exposure. The patient will need a lot of help. And those helpers are out there. 

Mesothelioma: Major Team Players

To treat this condition, there are a few medical experts that must be included on the treatment team. "We generally will have patients be treated by a multidisciplinary team that will include a surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist," says David Rice, MD, associate professor and director of the mesothelioma program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Other experts and members of the treatment team may be involved depending on the needs of the individual.

Here are the roles the team members play:

• A medical oncologist. This doctor helps develop the treatment plan, according to your particular diagnosis. He'll give you your checkups and schedule and review tests to see how well your treatment is working.
• Radiation oncologist. If you need radiation therapy, this is the doctor who will administer the radiation and work with you throughout that treatment process.
• Surgeon. If you need surgery to remove the tumor and other affected areas, this expert is the one who will do the job.
• Oncology nurse. If you need medications like chemotherapy, your oncology nurse will be the one taking care of you. Your nurse will be around to help you through your treatment, and is a valuable member of your treatment team.
• Dietitian or nutritionist. If you are losing too much weight during your mesothelioma treatment, you may need to meet with a dietitian or nutritionist. These experts can help you find nutritious, high-calorie foods to add pounds and give you the strength and energy you need to keep fighting cancer.
• Mental health therapist. Mesothelioma is a difficult diagnosis to accept, particularly if you have a poor prognosis. You may feel afraid, confused, and angry, and it's important to deal with those feelings. If you need someone to talk to you about the emotional effects of your diagnosis, a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other therapist may be added to your treatment team to help you cope.
• Social worker. If you need help navigating your health insurance plan, paying for your treatment, finding a support group or couples counseling, or seeking a qualified lawyer for a lawsuit, a social worker can help. These experts are often employed by the hospital or cancer center, and are there to help you through this ordeal.
• Rehabilitation therapist. If you need help recovering after surgery or other treatment, a physical, occupational, recreational, or respiratory therapist can help you recover and get you back to your daily activities.
• Home health aide. The surgeries for mesothelioma can be major, painful affairs. If you can't manage on your own when you get home from the hospital, a home health aid can help with bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and tidying up your house.
• Hospice care. This service is offered to mesothelioma patients who are only seeking palliative care, to relieve pain and discomfort, and who are no longer aggressively seeking a cure for their mesothelioma. Hospice experts can also provide great comfort and support to the families during this difficult time. Hospice care can be received at home or in the hospital.

When treating mesothelioma, don't forget to take care of all of you. Don't neglect your emotional needs, or physical needs like nutrition, home assistance, and rehabilitation.

Dealing with health insurance companies and lawyers is the last thing that you want to do when you should be focusing on your health. So know what help is available to you, and talk to your doctor or cancer center staff about who should be on your treatment team.(source everydayhealth)

Asbestos: From Miracle Material to Carcinogen

Once a common industrial material, asbestos is now shunned as a carcinogen. Before it was found to be a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance, asbestos was hailed as a miracle material by industries. Resistant to heat, fire, chemicals, and the weather, the fibrous mineral was used at the end of the 19th century and continued in widespread use throughout much of the 20th century, surging during World War II and peaking in the 1960s. 

Asbestos comes in two main forms: chrysotile, or white asbestos, which is made of curly fibers, and amphibole asbestos, which has straight fibers. Amphibole asbestos is further subdivided into subgroups. These include crocidolite (blue asbestos), and amosite (brown asbestos). 

Where Was Asbestos Used? 

In its heyday, asbestos was used extensively in the manufacturing, automotive, ship-building, and construction industries. Among some of its more common uses were:

• Building insulation
• Roofing shingles and siding
• Ceiling and floor tiles
• Paints and plasters
• Cement additive
• Automotive brake linings and clutch pads
• Wrappings for shipboard boilers and steam lines

In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that asbestos was utilized in the construction of 750,000 public buildings in the United States. To this day, asbestos can be found in many older buildings, hidden under old coats of paint or wrapped around basement steam pipes.

Over the years, asbestos also found its way into a surprising variety of consumer products, including children's crayons, cosmetics and talcum powder, hair dryers, garden products, and space heaters, to name a few.

While the adverse health effects of asbestos became obvious early in the 20th century among asbestos miners, it was not until the 1970s that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the EPA began to regulate the substance, and not until 1987 that the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that asbestos was a carcinogen in humans. In 1989, the EPA announced a ban on new uses of asbestos. However, following an appellate court ruling in 1991, some uses of the substance — such as in cement boards and coatings that are encapsulated — were permitted to continue. 

How Is Asbestos Harmful? 

Asbestos poses a health hazard when the tiny asbestos fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Because of its fibrous character, inhaled asbestos can get embedded in the lungs or the lining of the lungs (the pleura) where it can accumulate with repeated or long-term exposure. Eventually, the fibers can cause scarring and inflammation and result in breathing problems or other serious health problems, including asbestosis, fibrosis of the lungs,  lung cancer, and mesothelioma- cancer of the mesothelioma, the lining of many organs throughout the body. 

Can Asbestos Be Avoided? 

It is impossible to completely avoid asbestos exposure. There are low levels of asbestos around us in the air, water, and soil, not to mention in the some of the older buildings we occupy. In spite of this, Mesothelioma  remains a very rare cancer. Most of the people who got sick from asbestos exposure were constantly exposed to it on the job, such as asbestos miners, shipyard workers, construction workers, building demolition workers, and automobile workers. Today, an estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and other industries are still exposed to asbestos at work, but under conditions stringently regulated by the OSHA and the EPA.(source everydayhealth)

Asbestos in the Home

If you live in a home that's more than 40 years old, it could have some asbestos in it, somewhere. But there's no need to panic: If it's in good shape, leave it alone; if it's not, call a professional. Building materials and products made today do not have asbestos in them, but if you live in an older home — dating back to the 1970s or earlier — there is a good possibility that asbestos may have been used somewhere in its construction. 

For example, older homes may have asbestos in:

• Insulation blankets and tape around steam pipes, boilers, or heat ducts
• Asbestos roofing or siding
• Patching and joint compounds used on walls and ceilings
• Textured paints
• The backing of floor tiles or sheet flooring
• Cement board used as insulation around furnaces or wood burning stoves
• Wood and coal stove door gaskets
• Sprayed-on soundproofing or acoustic plaster
• Attic insulation, for houses insulated between 1930 and 1950

You can’t identify asbestos just by looking at it — a special microscope is required for that.

Asbestos: Leaving Well Enough Alone

 

If you have asbestos in your home, don't be unduly alarmed. If the material has not deteriorated, then it is probably not a threat for mesothelioma and other health problems, and you can safely leave it alone. In fact, it is always best to leave intact asbestos alone.

However, you will want to check on it occasionally to be sure it stays intact. Don't touch the asbestos; just visually check it for rips, abrasions, or water damage — these may be signs that some fibers are being released. As a further precaution, you may want to limit access to the asbestos-ridden area, such as locking the door to the basement if you have undamaged asbestos covering your boiler or steam pipes. 

Asbestos: How to Tell if It’s the Real Stuff

 

When in doubt, assume a suspected material is asbestos and then get it professionally tested to make sure. It's important to consult a professional who is trained and equipped to handle and test asbestos. If you try to sample the material yourself, you may end up stirring up the fibers and making them airborne, which is exactly what you don't want.

If the material in your home is asbestos, and it is damaged and could shed fibers, then leaving it alone is no longer an option. Your two options are repair or removal. 

Asbestos: Repairing It

 

This usually means bringing in an asbestos professional to cover the asbestos to prevent particles from becoming airborne either by:

• Sealing the asbestos. Also called "encapsulating," this is done by covering the asbestos material with a sealant that binds the asbestos fibers together or covers them with a coating that prevents any fibers from escaping. This option sometimes is used for pipe and boiler insulation.
• Covering the asbestos. Also called "enclosing," this involves wrapping the asbestos with a protective outer jacket.

The advantage of the repair option is that it is less expensive; the disadvantage is that the asbestos is still there, and it may be harder to get to and cost more money if you want to remove it later, say in a renovation.

Asbestos: Removing It

 

Removal is both the ultimate fix and a bit of a risk, because the asbestos will be disrupted when it is removed. This is always a job for a qualified professional who is knowledgeable, experienced, and equipped to contain the asbestos while removing it. Removal is the preferred option when the damaged asbestos is extensive and repair is not possible, or when major changes to your home will disturb the asbestos. 

Asbestos: Finding a Qualified Professional

 

For your own peace of mind, you may want an asbestos professional to inspect your home, take any necessary samples, and make recommendations.

Asbestos testing, abatement, and removal companies are listed online and in the telephone book, or you can get a referral from your local building department. Before you pick a company, get client references and cost estimates from other companies. You should also check with the Better Business Bureau, because there have been reports of some asbestos removal companies recommending removal of non-asbestos materials.(source everydayhealth)

Mesothelioma by the Numbers

Mesothelioma is a rare but serious cancer linked primarily to asbestos exposure. Find out who is most at risk. Mesothelioma is a rare but serious form of cancer that affects the tissue lining of various organs — especially the lungs. The majority of people who are diagnosed with the condition have been exposed to asbestos, usually at their job. Here are some key statistics on mesothelioma:

• Mesothelioma is rare compared to most other cancers.

In 2005, there were an estimated 4,361 people in the United States living with the disease, with nearly 60 percent of them men. Each year, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed.

• Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, is the most common type of mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for about 75 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses; peritoneal mesothelioma (which affects the abdominal cavity) is the next most common type, accounting for 10 to 20 percent of cases.

• The average survival time for mesothelioma ranges between 4 and 18 months.

But about 10 percent of people with mesothelioma live at least five years after being diagnosed, and in rare cases of slow-growing mesothelioma, patients can live up to 20 years from diagnosis.

• Asbestos exposure at work is the leading cause of mesothelioma.

Between 70 and 80 percent of patients with mesothelioma say they were exposed to asbestos at work. But the disease also has occurred in people with no obvious asbestos exposure.

• The time between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma symptoms can be very long.

Mesothelioma often takes decades to produce symptoms, sometimes as long as 30 to 40 years.

• Mesothelioma is considered a disease of older people.

Because the disease usually takes so long to appear, about three-quarters of people with mesothelioma are 65 years or older.

• In the United States, mesothelioma predominantly affects men.

Mesolthelioma is four times more common in men than women in the United States. This may be because men have had more exposure to asbestos in the workplace than women.

• Mesothelioma impacts whites and Latinos more than other racial groups.

In the United States, the mesothelioma rate in whites and Latinos is roughly twice the rate in African-Americans and four times the rate in Asian-Americans. Between 1999 and 2005, 95 percent of mesothelioma deaths occurred in whites.

• After decades on the rise, deaths from mesothelioma may soon start to decline.

The annual number of mesothelioma deaths increased from 2,482 in 1999 to 2,704 in 2005, but annual deaths are expected to reach their maximum by 2010, and then decline. This is largely due to fewer people being exposed to asbestos in the workplace as a result of government regulations.

• An estimated 1.3 million industrial workers still face significant asbestos exposure at work.

However, today asbestos exposure is rigorously regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to minimize health risks.

• Some industries pose more risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma than others.

Shipyards present the highest risk, followed by industrial and chemicals plants, petroleum refineries, electric power utilities, and the construction industry.(source everydayhealth)

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Around the World

Although many countries ban or restrict the use of asbestos, that ban is not universal. Some developing countries continue to mine and use asbestos – considered a toxic mineral by nearly all health officials – because it is relatively inexpensive compared to other substitute products. Surprisingly, the United States has not completely banned asbestos – only six asbestos products are banned while many other asbestos-containing products continue to be used in the U.S. Keep reading to learn more about other countries and how asbestos is regulated around the globe.

Governments of India and Vietnam, among others, maintain that because some types of asbestos are less harmful than others, safe handling will prevent exposure. That position opposes the view of the World Health Organization (WHO), which argues that the best way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop mining and using asbestos altogether.

WHO officials estimate that 125 million people around the world are annually exposed to asbestos in the workplace, and the International Labor Organization says about 100,000 workers die each year from an asbestos-related disease.

In 2010, the American Public Health Association joined the call of at least three major international health organizations in asking for a global ban on asbestos use. The World Federation of Public Health Organizations, the International Commission on Occupational Health, and the International Trade Union Confederation earlier recommended such a ban.

According to Jock McCulloch and Geoffrey Tweedale, authors of Defending the Indefensible: The Global Asbestos Industry and its Fight for Survival, “Asbestos is still mined and used in the developing world, where the problems that were experienced in America and Europe in the 20th century are now being duplicated in China, Russia, India and other countries in the Far East.”

Here is a list of countries with well-documented histories of asbestos production and use and what is being done to limit exposure.

Canada

Well known for its cold weather and love of hockey, Canada has recently been recognized as the country responsible for not adding asbestos to the international hazardous list. Canada’s asbestos mining efforts started around 1850 when chrysotile asbestos deposits were discovered in Thetford. By 1876, approximately 50 tons of asbestos were being mined in Quebec. By the 1950s, the annual mining haul was more than 900,000 tons.

In early 2011, the Jeffrey Mine in Asbestos, Quebec, received scrutiny after the Canadian government proposed a $58 million grant to reopen the mine. Because private investors failed to raise $25 million by the July 1, 2011 deadline to purchase to mine, the grant from the Quebec government has been delayed for an unknown amount of time. This delay is intended to give investors more time to raise funds.

As recently as June 2011, Canada again decided not to support adding chrysotile asbestos to the list of hazardous substances in the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty that promotes unity and responsibility about exporting and importing hazardous chemicals and substances. Canada is the only G8 country that has not voted to include asbestos in the treaty.

Despite its hard-line position, Canada actually uses very little asbestos. It exports 96 percent of the mined mineral to Asian countries.

India

The second-most populous country with more than 1.2 billion people, India’s extensive use of asbestos will likely have a significant impact on the future health of the country’s population. Experts predict a pattern similar to what developed in the United States over the past 50 years: a dramatic rise in the number of cases of asbestos-related diseases.

India no longer mines asbestos, but it is the top importer of Canadian asbestos. About 20 years ago, India handled 500,000 tons of asbestos cement roofing. Today, that number is closer to four million tons.

India in 2011 changed its long-held stance and voted to add asbestos to the hazardous list at the 2011 Rotterdam Convention. The Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) is a group of scientists, doctor, public health researchers, trade unions, activists and civil society groups that condemn the use of asbestos and push for an immediate ban on asbestos. BANI has been successful in drawing attention to the hazards and toxic effects of asbestos exposure.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom in 1931 introduced the Asbestos Industry Regulations. At the time, the regulations determined only the “safe” level of exposure. In 1960, the legal exposure limit was increased, placing workers at a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. By 1968, the standards for exposure levels were lowered to reduce the risk of contracting disease.

England, though, is paying for years of higher level exposure. In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, 2,249 people in the UK died of mesothelioma. The UK has prohibited the trade, application and supply of crocidolite and amosite asbestos since the 1980s. Chrysotile asbestos was prohibited in 1999.

Australia

Australia is another country with a sweeping history of asbestos use, although its heavy-use years are long gone. Its peak year was 1975 when the country used about 70,000 tons. But years of overuse impacted the long-term health of Australian citizens: There were 551 deaths related to mesothelioma cancer documented in 2007.

Perhaps no place in the world can show the toxicity of asbestos better than the town of Wittenoom in Western Australia. Mining began there in 1939, and eventually the predominant asbestos was crocidolite, replacing the less-toxic chrysotile asbestos. Multiple health reports indicate that exposure to crocidolite asbestos leads to an increase in the development of asbestos-related diseases.

Because of Wittenoom’s long history of mining and the exposures that occurred as a result of that history, Western Australia has the highest rate of mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancers in the world. The town was shut down in 1966 because of low profits and rising concerns for asbestos-related diseases.

Russia

Russia, which is the largest country in the world in terms of land mass, also leads the planet in asbestos production. In 2000, asbestos productions reached approximately 700,000 tons, much more than Canada and China. By the year 2008, mining produced more than one million tons of asbestos.

Russia’s high production numbers stem from the city Asbest, located about 900 miles northeast of Moscow. Once known as “the dying city” because of its high rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, Asbest is home to a mine that measures seven miles long, one-and-a-half-miles wide and more than 1,000 feet deep.

About 500,000 tons of asbestos is gathered from the mine each year.

Unlike Canada, Russia has remained a large user of asbestos. It is the world’s third-largest consumer, trailing only China and India. Russia has widely used asbestos in roofing materials, automobile brakes and insulation. About 3,000 asbestos-containing products have been labeled as safe by the Chief Sanitary Officer of Russia.

Annual asbestos-related deaths were 10,400 in 2005. With little opposition towards the use of asbestos, Russia will likely continue to use and export this toxic substance.

South Africa

South Africa began mining asbestos around 1883 after a crocidolite asbestos mine was established in the Northern Cape region in Koegas. The country developed into a major producer of crocidolite asbestos, supplying Australia and the United Kingdom with the heat-resistant mineral for many years during the 20th century.

South Africa’s mining of asbestos peaked in 1977 at 380,000 tons, making it the third-largest supplier in the world. But within a decade, the Northern Cape mines were closed because of the medical risks involved and a growing concern of asbestos-related litigation.

Because the health effects of asbestos exposure were largely hidden by the asbestos mining industry, there was little public awareness of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases until the late 1970s. Following the lead of the Northern Cape mines, several other asbestos mines in South Africa also closed, and residents of Prieska formed Concerned People Against Asbestos (CPAA), which focuses on improving access to compensation for citizens battling asbestos-related diseases.

China

China is one of the world’s largest producers of asbestos. The country mined more than 450,000 tons in 2000, a total that placed it behind only Russia in asbestos production. Since, Chinese production has fallen. Its mining total fell to about 280,000 tons in 2008.

Unlike Canada, Chinese manufacturers and builders consume large amounts of asbestos, using it for roofing materials, walls, brake pads, gaskets and cloth. Jukka Takala, director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, believes the annual Chinese death toll from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases could reach as high as 15,000 by 2035.

At the 2009 Asian Asbestos Conference, a ‘Hong Kong Declaration Towards a Complete Ban on all forms of Asbestos’ and asbestos processing was recommended. The declaration asked for asbestos use to be phased out and recognized the need of assistance for those suffering from asbestos-related diseases.

Brazil

Brazil is the world's third-largest producer of asbestos. It is also the third-largest exporter, shipping primarily to Asia, Mexico and Colombia. Although exporting asbestos brings in a significant amount of revenue for exporters, Brazil keeps a large share of the mineral within its borders. The country used 94,000 tons as recently as 2007, ranking it No. 5 among the world's asbestos consumers.

There are 11 Brazilian companies that continue to mine asbestos and produce asbestos-containing products. The production generates about $1.3 billion annually for the country's economy. While these companies employ nearly 3,500 people, the asbestos industry says mining the toxic substance creates about 200,000 jobs.

Estimates predict the rate of mesothelioma and asbestos-related deaths will continue rising in Brazil's future. Dr. Ubiratan de Paula Santos, a pulmonologist at the University of São Paulo Medical School, treats about 20 mesothelioma cases a year, and he says that number is slowly climbing. The majority of his patients are current and former asbestos plant workers.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is one of the world's largest producers of asbestos, mining 230,000 tons of it in 2009. While Kazakhstan exports most of the mineral it mines, it does consume some. Houses, apartment buildings, hospitals, school, commercial buildings, brakes and other products are manufactured with asbestos products. Recent developments, however, may turn this trend.

In 2009, 75 participants of a conference on the use of chrysotile asbestos and its health effects recommended the Kazakh government support a national program to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Since the conference, the first of its kind in Kazakhstan, other seminars on the side effects of asbestos have pushed the notion that Kazakh citizens are ill-informed about asbestos-containing materials. Those leading the seminars say there is now stronger public participation in monitoring existing asbestos regulations. (asbestos.com)

The Right Diet to Manage Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma and its treatment can exhaust the body, leaving little energy to cook or even eat a healthy meal. But if your weight gets too low, you won't have the strength to fight mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma and its treatment  can cause stress, anxiety, and a lack of appetite — all factors that can result in quick weight loss.

Eating well may not be at the top of your list, but it should be. To fight mesothelioma and tolerate treatment, patients need to eat nutritiously and maintain a healthy weight, advises David Rice, MD, an associate professor and director of the mesothelioma program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. For people who struggle with low body weight while undergoing cancer treatment, Dr. Rice recommends they work with a nutritionist to increase calories in a healthy way, and regain weight safely.

Mesothelioma: Why Weight Matters

The benefits of eating a well-balanced diet during cancer treatment are plentiful. Proper nutrition can:

• Reduce your risk of infection
• Improve the pace of your recovery
• Boost your energy and stamina
• Improve your mood
• Help you maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce your risk of treatment side effects

Mesothelioma: What to Eat

So what mix of healthy foods will make you feel better before, during, and after mesothelioma treatment? Try the following foods known to promote healing:

• Fruits and vegetables. These healthy diet staples are rich in antioxidants, which help to protect and restore the body. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E, as well as selenium. Eat a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables to get the antioxidants that you need — but avoid taking supplements while undergoing treatment.
• Fat. Your body needs fat to survive — and you may need a little extra to keep your weight up during mesothelioma treatment. Fat supplies the body with energy, which you need now more than ever. But that doesn't mean diving into a pint of ice cream — selecting healthy fats is important. Choose sources of unsaturated fat like olive oil, nuts, avocado, and seafood.
• Protein. Protein helps boost your immune system, and rebuild tissues damaged by mesothelioma. Get plenty of protein — especially after you've undergone treatment — in the form of chicken, fish, and lean meats, soy products, nuts and dried beans, dairy foods, lentils, and peas.
• Carbs. Your body needs carbohydrates for energy — especially as you continue to fight mesothelioma. Choose whole-grain carbohydrates, including whole-wheat bread, pasta, cereals, and brown rice. Corn and potatoes can also be good sources of carbohydrates.
• Water. Every cell in your body needs water to function. Without enough water, you can quickly become dehydrated — an avoidable health problem you don't want to deal with on top of mesothelioma. It's easy to forget to drink enough water, but make an effort to drink at least eight glasses a day to stay hydrated.

Your oncologist may recommend that you work with a dietitian to create the right nutrition plan for your needs, before, during, and after your mesothelioma treatment. Maintaining proper nutrition can help your body stay as healthy as possible even in the face of mesothelioma treatment.(source everydayhealth)

Mesothelioma: Beyond the Medical Needs

Dealing with mesothelioma is more than one person can shoulder — but services are available to help you and your family get through this difficult time. probably need help in coping with how mesothelioma has affected your life — from medical treatment to paying your expenses to dealing with the emotional aftershocks. Many hospitals and cancer centers have social workers on staff to help people with mesothelioma coordinate all the services they need, including counseling and therapy for themselves and their families, and home care when necessary. 

Mesothelioma: Seeking Out a Social Worker
There is no one-size-fits-all service package when it comes to dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. For this reason, it's important to talk with a social worker, often available through your hospital or other health care provider.

"A social worker or skilled nurse case manager [can advise] the family about its different needs," says Tanis Hernandez, MSW, outreach coordinator for the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Mont.

A social worker can evaluate whether an individual or family needs help contacting a lawyer — about advance directives like a durable power of attorney for health care or a potential lawsuit if the disease was caused by working conditions — or a therapist about individual or family counseling, hospice care, and home health care. 

Mesothelioma: Available Services

Here are some services that are available, and how they can help you:

• Counseling. This can come in the form of individual counseling for the person with mesothelioma, the caregiver, the spouse, or individual family members, says Hernandez. Group counseling for the patient and family, or caregiver, is also important. This will provide a safe environment to discuss fears, concerns, and the responsibilities that each face. Support groups are also an option for patients, caregivers, and families to talk about their experiences and get advice from others.
• Respite care. When you get out of the hospital after treatment, you may need someone to take care of you until you can resume daily tasks. You and your family may worry about who can help while everyone is at work — and that's where respite care comes in. Hernandez says that nurses can provide home care and help with dressing, bathing, and feeding while caregivers go to work, lunch, or even just take a break.
• Legal help. There are legal documents worth considering after a mesothelioma diagnosis, says Hernandez, like a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR). These advance directives should be considered before you become too ill. A social worker can help you figure out which ones you need, and tell you how to have them prepared. You may also want to talk with an attorney about filing a potential lawsuit regarding how you contracted mesothelioma. Your social worker or case manager may be able to recommend a good law firm, or some advocacy organizations to point you in the right direction.
• Religious services. You may be interested in — or confused by — faith and religion right now. You may want to talk to a spiritual leader, like a priest, minister, chaplain, or rabbi, about what you're going through. Whether you find peace in spirituality or you have questions, a social worker can also recommend spiritual counseling for you and your family.
• Pain management. Significant pain from a mesothelioma tumor or following surgery is very common in people with this disease. If you have pain from your illness or treatment that you can't manage with a doctor's help, seeing a pain management specialist or visiting a pain center is an option. These specialists focus on controlling pain, and may offer more ways to do that than your doctor does.

It may take some time to digest and accept a mesothelioma diagnosis. Once you're ready, take comfort in knowing that resources are available to help you deal with the aspects of your life affected by this disease.(source everydayhealth)