Seven Surprising Facts About Mesothelioma
Author: Brad Richardson | July 31st, 2017
1. Only a handful of doctors have experience with the disease
Because of its rarity, mesothelioma isn’t often seen by doctors. Many doctors lack the experience to effectively treat the disease. Instead, the work with other types of cancer. This doesn’t mean that you can only see experienced doctors, but it does mean that you should. Someone who has only worked with a few mesothelioma victims is not an expert in the field. You deserve to see someone who is a specialist in aggressive cancer. For the best treatment, you need the best doctor. And that means looking for someone with experience.
You may not live in the vicinity of an expert. But you shouldn’t rule out seeing them. You may be able to visit the expert less often or get help from a charity. Before you rule out a specialist for their location, look into it. Going to the right doctor could be what saves your life.
2. There is more than one form of treatment for the disease
You may see a doctor about your mesothelioma and get one option. However, that’s not your only option. There are always other forms of treatment. It’s all about finding one that works well for you.
The problem with many of the traditional treatment methods is the brutality. They can leave your body devastated. Sometimes, they result in a very poor quality of life. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to undergo a surgery that could leave them bedridden, that surgery is not a good choice. You need to look into other treatment methods.
For one, you may be able to find a clinical trial. Although there’s no guarantee the trial will work, it will give you a chance to test out the latest developments. Because there are so few victims of the disease and there is still no cure, there’s no shortage of trials. You can find one and try it. You may end up getting some great results from it. But you won’t know until you try,
There are also less conventional treatments. People often turn to holistic medicine to fight cancer. Some use an approach that mixes holistic and traditional medicine. At the very least, you may end up building up your immune system and living healthier. That’s enough to help you fight cancer and it may improve your quality of life.
You may opt to go with traditional treatment. All that matters is that you consider your options. Don’t box yourself in, and do some research. Choose whatever option you like best.
3. North America Still Mines Asbestos
With so many asbestos-caused deaths, you would think that mining it would be unnecessary. However, people in Canada still mine asbestos. It’s been banned in just under 50 countries. But some developing countries still use it. And there are even some products in North America that contain traces of asbestos.
Asbestos exposure is extremely dangerous. And if that’s not enough for people to stop using it, the only way to stop them is to speak out about it. There are several groups that advocate the banning of asbestos mining. If it matters to you, speak up about it.
4. Many Mesothelioma Sufferers are Veterans
About ⅓ of all people with a mesothelioma diagnosis are veterans. People who served in the Armed Forces were often exposed to asbestos. In fact, Navy ships from before 1980 often had asbestos on them. Today, many of those veterans suffer from the consequences of their exposure.
Of course, there are other demographics who are more prone to mesothelioma. Those who worked in the construction trade often worked with materials laced with asbestos.
5. People can Survive with the Disease
For many mesothelioma sufferers, the disease works quickly. However, there is hope. People have been known to live longer than five years with the disease. In fact, some have lived for as long as 15 years with mesothelioma. And many of those survivors live active lifestyles.
It’s important to remember that there is hope after a mesothelioma diagnosis. You’re not the only one to have it, and you can find comfort in the company of other victims. There are many support groups out there for those who are in your shoes. Stay positive and surround yourself with love. Check out mesothelioma help and cancer resources for more tips. They may be the key to you beating the disease.
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