Mesothelioma is a rare cancer disease. It is caused by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. When a person inhales asbestos fibers, they move to the end of narrow airways, where they can cause scarring and inflammation in the pleura.
Long-term exposure leads to pleural mesothelioma. On the other hand, when people swallow these microfibrils, they travel down to the abdominal lining and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Men are more likely than women to develop the disease because of occupational asbestos exposure. However, learning about your treatment plan and potential adverse effects will assist you in taking better care of yourself.
Fighting cancer is not easy. Stress can put your mental health at risk. However, there are certain things you can do to make the treatment more comfortable for you. We’ve compiled a list of things that can keep your spirits high while battling mesothelioma.
1. Keep the treatment goals in mind
Setting goals can help you stay motivated, focused, and in control during your mesothelioma treatment. It enables you to accept your current situation and develop plans for the future. Moreover, being aware of the treatment will help you combat depression.
You can search for mesothelioma treatment options online and book an appointment with a specialist. However, it is essential to know that treatment will help you manage pain and improve your quality of life. But will not cure the disease.
2. Take a nutrient-rich diet
A diet rich in nutrients can be very beneficial for mesothelioma patients. Patients who eat a healthy diet are more likely to have more robust immune systems and energy levels to manage treatment. They’ll be able to enjoy life and continue participating in their favorite activities.
Patients are encouraged to eat various fruits and vegetables and high-fiber foods in their meals. Doctors who treat mesothelioma advise patients to eat nutrient-dense meals like eggs, bananas, and salmon. Still, before making any drastic changes to meal plans, consult with your healthcare provider. Your food intake will vary depending on the treatment you choose.
3. Engage in interesting hobbies
Cancer patients should learn new skills and engage in hobbies to spend their time productively. It helps distract patients from their monotonous routine and improves their quality of life.
You can spend time in activities like painting, reading books, enrolling in short-term courses, gardening, and playing games. You can also participate in counseling sessions to express your concerns and fears regarding the sickness. However, try not to exhaust yourself.
4. Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is essential for the body to be healthy and recover from treatment side effects. Patients with mesothelioma have a higher risk of sleeplessness. Obtaining adequate sleep can aid in the healing process.
Sleeping well helps patients feel physically and mentally active and also assists them with coping with the disease. If you can’t get enough sleep because of the pain, consult your doctor for medication. You can also make modifications to your environment to make you sleep better.
5. Stay physically active
Physical activity helps cope with the disease and manage stress. However, don’t overwork your body because treatment may make it weak. Doctors may advise breathing exercises, laughing, and other less strenuous activities.
Patients benefit from exercises that help them develop their muscles. For the patients, a moderate-intensity activity may appear to be a high-intensity activity at first. Take your time and be patient with yourself as you gradually increase your activities.
6. Don’t smoke
Fewer cilia in a smoker’s lungs contribute to an increased chance of developing mesothelioma. Cilia are hair-like structures that sweep debris out of the airways. When a person smokes, the functionality of the cilia is compromised.
As a result, the lungs are unable to eliminate hazardous asbestos particles. Continuing to smoke after a mesothelioma diagnosis might also reduce the overall quality of life. It exacerbates the symptoms of mesothelioma. After a diagnosis, smoking may amplify the adverse effects of traditional treatments and diminish their efficacy.
7. Pain management
Cancer is a disease that causes excruciating discomfort. Its treatments are also excruciatingly unpleasant. Pain from mesothelioma typically affects the chest. Several factors cause pain. For example, cancer entering the neurovascular bundle can cause pain. Other reasons include direct tumor infiltration in ribs, nerve roots, or chest walls.
Patients can select between natural and clinical pain-relieving ways to reduce their pain. Acupuncture, mindfulness, pharmaceuticals, radiation therapy, epidurals, exercise, and nerve blocks are standard methods.
8. Social support
Cancer patients require social and emotional support to live through the painful journey. Mesothelioma support groups help patients, families, and caregivers throughout the disease. Individuals can interact and share their experiences through various organizations’ in-person and online forums.
When patients express what they feel and communicate their concerns, they improve their emotional well-being. It also enhances their quality of life. People living with cancer and their loved ones might benefit from support groups by knowing they are not alone.
These groups aid in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression. In an uncertain moment, connecting with other patients and survivors can bring a feeling of optimism for the future.
Conclusion
When you are diagnosed with cancer, you immediately get an impression about your life drastically altering. It is true to some extent. Accepting that you can cope with mesothelioma in the same way you have dealt with other elements of your life is the first step toward going back to normal.
And, if you use the coping skills mentioned above, you can reduce stress to some level. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos during a previous job or home repair, tell your doctor and ask to be monitored for indicators of asbestos-related disorders.
